When should you replace your ski or snowboard helmet? Experts weigh in as season begins

Has it been a while since you grabbed your helmet for a skiing or snowboarding trip? You might want to double check to make sure it’s safe before the upcoming ski season begins in the Sierra.

“It’s a good idea at the start of the season to do a visual inspection,” said Jens Skjoldborg, a sales specialist at REI in Folsom. “So often it’s about a five-year span (that helmets last).”

The five-year time frame applies whether a helmet has been worn regularly or sat in a closet unused. Helmets also need to be replaced if they’ve taken a blow from a fall as they can lose their integrity.

“Typically inside of the helmet, there will be a date by the manufacturer, and each manufacturer will have a recommended time of replacement,” Skjoldborg said. “That recommended time is based on you not having a hard fall or getting any cracks (in your helmet).”

With most resorts in Tahoe and the surrounding areas opening next month, it’s time for those in the Sacramento region to take inventory of their gear and make sure they’re playing it safe. A study from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine indicated roughly 20% of all injuries on the slopes are head injuries. Johns Hopkins recommends that all skiers and snowboarders wear a helmet.

After five years, “(the foam inside) losses its ability to absorb impact,” said Andrew Serpa of Clark’s Snow Sports in Rancho Cordova. “It just starts to deteriorate. You probably want to refresh and get a new one just because, and especially with heat, it happens much quicker if you aren’t taking it up to the snow with you.”

Fortunately, the popularity of helmets has increased among skiers and riders in recent years. The global market for snow helmets is estimated to have a 3.15% compound annual growth rate, while anecdotally the sales in local stores have increased noticeably.

“I feel like within the last 10 years, you’ve seen a very large spike in helmet usage in the ski and snowboard industry specifically,” Serpa said. “There’s more people on the mountain. People are going bigger on jumps. It’s just better to have that so people can have a good time and get down the hill safely.”

The design of helmets, like any other technical product, has advanced recently. Helmets have become more comfortable, fit more comfortably with goggles and have more features, including improved venting, more comfortable ear flaps and speakers to listen to music or podcasts while on the slopes. They also have improved safety features.

One common feature among newer helmets is a MIPS (multiple impact protection system) safety system. It’s a low friction layer of material beneath the padding that allows for multi-directional movement upon a collision. It’s intended to help reduce rotational force on the head.

“On impact, it will allow your helmet to shift and that way your neck isn’t tweaked,” Serpa said. “It tries to minimize whiplash as much as you can.”

The MIPS system can add $20 to $30 to the price of a helmet, Skjoldborg said. Clarks and REI both sell helmets ranging from $64 to $240, with the more expensive helmets offering more protection and features.