Giro Ski Helmets Australia: How to Choose the Right Giro Helmet
Shopping for a Giro ski or snowboard helmet can get confusing pretty quickly.
You’ll come across terms such as Mips®, Spherical Technology™, In Form™ Fit, Thermostat Control™, Stack Vent™, in-mould construction and hybrid construction – but what do they actually mean, and which features matter for the way you ski or snowboard?
Giro makes everything from straightforward resort helmets through to lightweight premium helmets with advanced fit, ventilation and impact-management technology.
The right Giro helmet isn’t necessarily the most expensive one. Start with correct fit, then consider the features that suit where and how you’ll use it.
Here’s what to look for when buying a Giro ski helmet in Australia
Which Giro Ski Helmet Should I Choose?
The best Giro helmet for you depends on what you value most.
If you want a comfortable all-round helmet for resort skiing, look for Mips protection, an adjustable fit system and good ventilation.
If keeping weight down matters, consider an in-mould Giro helmet.
If you want Giro’s more advanced impact-management technology, look at models featuring Spherical Technology powered by Mips.
If you tend to get hot while skiing, a helmet with adjustable Thermostat Control ventilation can be useful.
And if you wear prescription glasses or prefer an integrated visor, a shield helmet such as the Giro Orbit Spherical may be worth considering.
What Is Mips in a Giro Ski Helmet?
Mips stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System.
It is designed to allow a small amount of movement between the head and helmet during certain angled impacts.
This movement is intended to help reduce some of the rotational motion that may otherwise be transferred to the head.
You’ll find Mips technology across many Giro ski and snowboard helmets, from accessible resort models through to premium helmets.
No helmet can prevent every head or brain injury, so Mips should be considered alongside correct sizing, helmet fit, comfort and certified helmet construction.
Giro Mips vs Spherical: What’s the Difference?
This is one of the most common points of confusion when comparing Giro helmets.
Mips
Mips uses a low-friction system designed to allow movement between the head and helmet during certain angled impacts.
Spherical Technology
Giro Spherical Technology is powered by Mips, but takes a different approach.
Instead of using a conventional internal Mips liner, Spherical helmets use two separate layers of impact-absorbing foam that can move relative to one another.
Giro describes this movement as similar to a ball-and-socket joint.
The two foam layers can also use different densities to help manage different impact energies.
You’ll generally find Spherical Technology in Giro’s more premium snow helmets.
What Size Giro Ski Helmet Do I Need?
Correct helmet sizing is one of the most important parts of choosing a snow helmet.
Use a soft measuring tape and measure the circumference of your head in centimetres.
Position the tape around the widest part of your head, roughly 2.5 cm above your eyebrows and just above your ears.
The helmet should feel snug and secure without uncomfortable pressure points.
A correctly fitted helmet should not move around independently when you shake your head.
Giro adult snow helmet sizing commonly falls around:
Small: 52–55.5 cm
Medium: 55.5–59 cm
Large: 59–62.5 cm
XL: 62.5–65 cm
Sizing can vary between models, so always check the size information provided for the specific Giro helmet you are buying.
Giro In Form Fit System Explained
Many Giro ski helmets use the In Form Fit System.
A dial at the back of the helmet allows you to fine-tune how securely the helmet fits around your head.
This makes it easy to adjust your helmet throughout the day – including while wearing gloves.
Some premium Giro helmets use In Form 2, a lighter and lower-profile version of the system.
Certain models also include Vertical Tuning, which allows you to adjust how the helmet sits in relation to your goggles.
This can help create a better helmet and goggle fit.
Hard-Shell vs In-Mould vs Hybrid Giro Helmets
The construction method has a noticeable effect on helmet weight, durability and ventilation.
Hard-Shell Construction
Hard-shell helmets use a durable outer shell combined with an impact-absorbing foam liner.
They tend to offer a solid, durable construction and are commonly used in Giro helmets designed to provide good performance at a more accessible price.
In-Mould Construction
In-mould construction fuses the lightweight outer shell directly to the impact-absorbing foam liner.
This helps create a lighter helmet and allows greater flexibility in ventilation design.
If you’re travelling overseas to ski in Japan, Canada, Europe or the USA, reducing helmet weight can also be helpful when packing snow gear.
Hybrid Construction
Hybrid helmets combine elements of both hard-shell and in-mould construction.
The aim is to balance durability, low weight and ventilation.
You’ll find hybrid construction in some of Giro’s premium snow helmets.
Giro Helmet Ventilation Explained
Ventilation can make a significant difference to helmet comfort.
Australian snow conditions can change dramatically during a single day – from cold and windy chairlift rides to sunny afternoons where you quickly start overheating.
The same applies overseas, whether you’re skiing powder in Japan or spending a cold morning on the mountain in Canada.
Giro uses several different ventilation systems.
Super Cool Vents
Super Cool vents help warm air escape while allowing cooler air to circulate through the helmet.
Passive Aggressive Venting
Passive Aggressive Venting uses carefully positioned exterior vents and internal channels to keep air moving through the helmet.
There are no switches or sliders to adjust.
Thermostat Control
Thermostat Control allows you to manually adjust helmet ventilation.
Close the vents when conditions are cold and windy.
Open them when the temperature rises or you start working harder.
Stealth Thermostat Control
Stealth Thermostat Control provides adjustable ventilation while keeping the control more discreetly integrated into the helmet design.
What Is Giro Stack Vent?
Fogging goggles are one of the most annoying problems on the mountain.
Warm air naturally rises from the top of your goggles.
Giro Stack Vent technology positions helmet ventilation above the goggles to help this warm air escape.
Good helmet and goggle ventilation won’t eliminate fogging in every situation, but it can help improve airflow through the system.
Do Giro Goggles Fit Giro Helmets?
Giro designs its helmets and goggles around what it calls Seamless Compatibility.
This means the shape of the helmet and goggles is designed to work together while also helping their respective ventilation systems line up correctly.
You don’t have to wear Giro goggles with a Giro helmet.
However, choosing both from Giro can make it easier to achieve a clean, comfortable fit without an awkward gap between your helmet and goggles.
What Is a Fidlock Magnetic Buckle?
Some Giro snow helmets use a Fidlock magnetic buckle.
Instead of trying to line up a traditional buckle while wearing gloves, magnets help guide the buckle together.
It’s a relatively small feature, but it can make putting your helmet on and taking it off noticeably easier.
What Is a Giro Shield Helmet?
A shield helmet combines a ski helmet and integrated eye protection into one system.
Rather than wearing separate ski goggles, a visor or shield sits across the front of the helmet.
The Giro Orbit Spherical, for example, combines an integrated VIVID shield with optics by ZEISS with Spherical Technology powered by Mips.
Shield helmets can be particularly useful for skiers who wear prescription glasses, as they often provide more room around the face than conventional ski goggles.
Which Giro Technology Should I Look For?
If you’re comparing Giro ski helmets, use this as a simple starting point.
Good all-round resort helmet:
Mips + adjustable fit
Lightweight helmet:
In-mould construction
Premium impact-management technology:
Spherical Technology powered by Mips
More temperature control:
Thermostat Control ventilation
Better helmet and goggle airflow:
Stack Vent
Easy adjustment:
In Form or In Form 2 Fit System
Helmet and visor combination:
Giro shield helmet such as the Orbit Spherical
There isn’t one Giro helmet that is automatically best for everybody.
Fit should always come first.
Giro Ski Helmet FAQs
Are Giro helmets suitable for skiing and snowboarding?
Yes. Giro snow helmets are designed for snow sports and many models are suitable for both skiing and snowboarding.
Choose based on fit, construction, ventilation and features rather than whether you ski or snowboard.
Is Mips worth having in a ski helmet?
Mips is designed to help reduce rotational motion transferred to the head during certain angled impacts.
For many people buying a new helmet, it is a useful feature to consider alongside correct fit, helmet construction and comfort.
Is Giro Spherical the same as Mips?
Not exactly.
Giro Spherical Technology is powered by Mips, but uses two foam layers that can move relative to one another rather than a conventional internal Mips liner.
Is Spherical better than Mips?
Spherical is Giro’s more sophisticated implementation of Mips technology and is generally found in higher-end helmets.
That doesn’t mean everybody needs a Spherical helmet.
A correctly fitting Mips helmet may be a better choice than a more expensive helmet that doesn’t fit your head properly.
How should a Giro ski helmet fit?
Your helmet should feel snug around your entire head without painful pressure points.
It should stay securely in position when you move your head.
Use Giro’s centimetre sizing as your starting point, then fine-tune the fit using the helmet’s adjustment system.
Do Giro helmets work with other brands of ski goggles?
Yes.
However, Giro helmets and Giro goggles are designed together for Seamless Compatibility, which can make it easier to achieve a good fit and ventilation between the two products.
Can I wear glasses under a Giro ski helmet?
The helmet itself usually isn’t the issue – the goggles are.
If wearing glasses under traditional ski goggles is uncomfortable, consider compatible OTG goggles or a shield helmet such as the Giro Orbit Spherical.
Should I replace my ski helmet after a crash?
A ski helmet should be replaced after a significant impact.
Damage to the internal impact-absorbing liner may not always be visible from the outside.
If you’re unsure whether a helmet has been compromised, replacing it is the safer option.
Shop Giro Ski Helmets in Australia
At Ski & Board Online, we stock a range of Giro ski and snowboard helmets for Australian skiers and riders.
You can compare Giro helmets with Mips, Spherical Technology, adjustable fit systems, lightweight in-mould construction, ventilation systems and integrated shield designs.
Whether you’re skiing locally at Buller, Hotham, Perisher or Thredbo, or heading overseas to Japan, Canada, Europe or the USA, choosing a helmet that fits correctly should always be your starting point.
