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WHY WEAR A HELMET ???

Whilst wearing a ski helmet or snowboard helmet is not compulsory, we would like to bring to your attention our views on why wearing one is a good idea.

I personally started wearing a snowboard helmet back in the 2006/7 ski/snowboard season and have not been seen on the mountain since then without it. Not even for a single day.
The main thing that put me off wearing one in the first place was that I couldn’t find one that suited me. They all made me look like a “bowling-ball head” and most were all just boring black, grey or white. Then one day I spotted one on TV that I really liked the look of. It was snow camouflage in design and the shape of an army helmet. A bit different you might say.
My point is that a lot of people don’t wear them because they think they don’t look good in them, not because they have anything against wearing a helmet and that’s where we come in.
We have chosen a style that is a cross between a skiing helmet and a snowboarding helmet which means it will hopefully appeal to both groups.
We have also gone for designs that will stand out from the crowds when you’re on the slopes. How many times have you been looking out for one of your ski buddies only to find yourself following someone else in a red jacket, black trousers and a black helmet!! Aaaarrrggh!! It will also help you keep an eye on the kids when they’re skiing faster than you down a scary black run!
If you’re still not sure that the ski helmet or snowboard helmet looks good on, try wearing goggles with it. For some reason it really adds to the style either when the goggles are on your face or perched on the front of the helmet. On a practical front, you’ve always got your goggles with you in case of a change in weather. Keep ’em on your helmet and they don’t have to be stuffed in to one of your ski jacket pockets or jammed into your rucksack.

IF YOU’RE HAPPY TO WEAR A HAT THEN WHY NOT WEAR A HELMET?!

Some people might think that ski helmets and snowboard helmets are too hot to wear all the time and their argument is that they wear a hat when it’s cold and snowy and nothing on the warmer, sunnier days. How wet does your beanie or funny alien hat get on a snowy day? VERY wet I would say. Wearing a helmet keeps your head warm and it keeps it dry. It also keeps you safe. On warmer days, simply remove the ear pads to help cool you down. The vents in the helmet will also aid this.

Apart from looking good on the slopes (essential I know), the real reason for wearing a helmet is to keep your head safe and it’s not necessarily what you might do to yourself, it’s what others could do to you. I certainly believe that if someone crashed into me not wearing a helmet whilst I was wearing one, that I would come off better. There are lots of well behaved people on the mountains but there are enough speed-freaks to make me want to protect myself as best as I can.

There is also the school of thought that by wearing a helmet, you then cast your cares aside and ski or ride twice as fast as you would do without one. I for one think this is rubbish. I haven’t changed my style whatsoever. You are what you are and you either like to go fast or you don’t – with or without a helmet.

As for bike helmets, it’s a similar scenario just a different location. Cycling is becoming very popular. It is a cheaper, greener way to commute, it’s a fun and healthy pastime and it’s a great way of getting and keeping fit. It can also be dangerous. Most cycle paths are being used more and more heavily and many of them run alongside busy roads. Other users such as roller-bladers are appearing on them more regularly too. Accidents can and will happen. You would certainly be better off wearing a cycle helmet than not wearing one.

Please understand that this is not a massive sales pitch but some genuine reasons why it is a good idea to wear a helmet. If you choose to agree with us, we hope you find a design or two on our website that you like and that our product will help you have fun on the streets and slopes whilst keeping you safer. We certainly don’t think that the wearing of ski helmets and snowboard helmets or cycle and skate helmets should be compulsory. It should remain a personal choice. If you’re still not convinced, we have collected a number articles and statistics from around the world that look at both the pros and cons. These can all be found in our blog.

Nicky Robins.