Just the idea of wearing one in the trees protects you from branches is enough. I've seen branches impale and gouge ln ugly ways .  i ski in a lot of pine. the branches get broke off low and are sharp stakes that can really cause a lot of damage.  Often I duck and let my helmet take the unknown blow of branches. Sometimes you can blow through them and other times you pay to respect them, If nothing else helmets and goggles save face and scalp.

I don't find them convenient. I find them comforting in the trees. a little armor is a good thing.

A hat takes up a heck of a lot less space in your ski bag, and you can just stuff it in your pocket when you go inside.  You can also wear it for things besides skiing, where even one of my limited fashion sense is aware that a helmet is perhaps not the most appropriate thing to wear on my way to dinner in the evening.  A hat also fits better under my hoods, because a helmet big enough to fit my ginormous head is even bigger.  A hat also works with most any pair of goggles.

It took me years to find a hat that was sufficiently windproof that my forehead wouldn't freeze at the speeds I typically ski, though.  Go figure, shortly after I found one, I decided a helmet would probably deflect tree branches better and started wearing one of those instead..

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanBoisvert 

A hat takes up a heck of a lot less space in your ski bag, and you can just stuff it in your pocket when you go inside. 

Sort of. A helmet is mostly empty, so you can put gloves, goggles, etc inside it.  

I don't care what others do, I like wearing a helmet. Going without one now would be like riding my bike or paddling my kayak without a helmet.
 

The only advantage that a hat has is with hearing. This is actually pretty big in terms of safety for either other skiers/boarders, or in avy terrain, listening for sluff, etc... I've also done a lot of tree skiing w/o a helmet. One might think it was 'crazy', but I never hit a branch with my head. I believe that when one wears a helmet, one's level of 'perceived risk' lowers and you begin to make very different choices than when helmet-less. The trees get tighter, the conditions sketchier, and you keep getting closer and tighter thinking that your helmet will protect you. Same with body armor. All that said, I generally wear a helmet, but certainly not always. Depends on the day, conditions, venue, area or BC, etc... Sure, use a helmet, but make choices like you're wearing a hat if you're really worried about personal injury.

Given that I would probably have major injuries had I not been wearing a helmet the last time I went out, I think I'll stick to wearing one.

Oh Great!  A helmet thread.  I was afraid we'd get through November without  one. 

I wear a helmet.

I have good (actually great) friends who don't wear a helmet.

I make my choice.

I let them make theirs.

At the end of the day, we gather together and have a nice drink and talk about the great day we had. 

^^^ Well put Trekchik

Who would wear a helmet if only for convenince?

NO!

There would be no stinking helmet if I had not promised the wife.  The things guys will say and do for a kitchen pass.  

It would be a hanging flower basket, and the goggles would not fog as bad.

I much prefer a hat, a choice of touque suited to temperature or if it's really cold a fur trapper's hat.

a helmet will not fit in the little compartment on the back of my boot bags with my mitts.  It is much more inconvenient.

I have no trouble with goggles being ripped off my face.

I do not ski into branches with my head; when I ski tight trees I use my ski poles to reinforce my forearms and block.

I don't wear goggles on my forehead; goggles are EYE protection, not forehead protection. 

Other than a very small safety factor, all the benefits go to the proper touque/hat and  the inconvenience goes to the helmet.

However, if it makes my mom happy....

I also would wear my helmet just for convenience.

I originally got it to be a good example (well, that and cracking my head on ice when learning to snowboard), but was surprised how much I like wearing it.

The only time I don't like it is in the spring, when it is too warm (even with vents open and ear flaps removed).

The tree branch thing is big, too.  I have lousy upward-going peripheral vision, so "just avoid them" is not a winning plan.

Ski helmets are expensive.

If ski helmets didn't offer protection from impacts, not including contact with tree branches, I might not own one, as I don't like to ski really tight trees except for this one time, which was great, but I broke my collarbone before lunch that day. One of my best days on snow up to that point, though. Although I've never been injured or inconvenienced by tree branches (knock on wood, pardon the expression), I would include hitting tree branches in the safety column, rather than the convenience/comfort side.

I certainly would not own a ski helmet if they offered only convenience and no safety from impact with tree branches as well as tree trunks, lift towers, hard snow, etc.

If ski helmets offered only convenience and I was given one for free, I probably would wear it when it's snowing. I don't wear goggles unless it's snowing, so the improved goggle/headware interface wouldn't benefit me in fair weather. :)

I have to laugh at all the real shitty reasons a helmet is not convenient. Most having nothing to do with actually skiing.

And there's also the idiocy of "safety gear just makes you ski more dangerously".

Nice troll though BWPA.

My helmet is the only winter hat I have that stays on. Maybe my head's a weird shape, but toques -- woolies, beanies, watch caps, whatever you call 'em -- always work their way up and have to be pulled back down all the time to keep my ears covered. The helmet stays put and my ears don't get frostbitten.

I would wear a helmet no matter what.  For me it's more comfortable.  I always used to futz around with my goggles as they wandered around on my face/head.  Now I don't pay any attention to them after I pull them down over my eyes because the helmet holds them in place without sliding around all over.  Also, as a follicly challenged individual the helmet keeps the wind from freezing my pate.

I'd wear a helmet if for no other reason that it keeps my head warmer than any hat I've ever used. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA 
....also despite being a Helmet thread this is a unique take on it ...

...BUT YOU SAID HELMET AND NOW I HAVE TO STATE MY OPINION ON HELMETS!!!

Yeah, a lot of posts here that don't really address the question in the OP

There are lots of advantages that I see in wearing a helmet.  I'll mention just one:  it's the warmest, most comfortable sort of lid, by far, that I have found.

Oh, and I'm an old dude!  Well, at least I am on most of the boards I visit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA 

whats really strange is that it really is becoming a generational thing. I was skiing with a group of 20+ ski coaches today  aged 21-30 all but one of them wears a helmet. Are we smarter than the old kooks around here? or it just we grew up with it?

 

ghost goggle on forehead meant when your cooling off,hiking or walking around in to a building or something. Mine are not on my forehead while skiing and yes I wear goggle all day I am skiing hard because my eyes water other wise.

 

also despite being a Helmet thread this is a unique take on it at the very least and its not a troll. If it was a troll I wouldnt post in it ever again.

Agree having a convenient place to put your goggles where they won't fog up when you're not using them = score 1 point for helmet (so long as they don't end up on your vent holes and fog up despite the helmet).

This is different, and thanks for posting a new thread; there is no snow here yet.

Another added feature of the helmet is the built in headphones.  They're way more comfortable than earbuds under a hat and you can play the volume low enough that you can hear the music and still hear noises around you.

(...and, if this place is anything like bike forums, I've now introduced the third most hotly argued topic in the world (the first two being:1. wearing a helmet while riding and 2. Campy v. Shimano).  BTW: stay away from ShimaNO...Campy is the only quality component!!!

-Smarty

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecimmortal 

I have to laugh at all the real shitty reasons a helmet is not convenient. Most having nothing to do with actually skiing.

 

And there's also the idiocy of "safety gear just makes you ski more dangerously".

 

Nice troll though BWPA.

 

 

I think you misinterpreted my post earlier post. I wear a helmet most of the time for both safety and convenience. As mentioned, the only thing I don't like about a helmet is not being able to hear as well. That's it. While teaching, I absolutely wear one because of the danger of being hit. Because most of my lifetime ski days were without (yes, I'm old), I know that wearing a helmet does not effect my choices regarding risk, but I don't think that holds true for many skiers who haven't skied without. Same with people who ski in avy terrain with their beacon that they got for Christmas, etc.... that have no idea what they're doing or how to evaluate terrain and snow, but rely on the belief "someone will find me" if they're buried. I'll repeat for clarity, absolutely use a helmet and whatever safety gear you have, but make choices like you're not. There. Now we've properly devolved into a real interwebz helmet thread. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartyiak 

Another added feature of the helmet is the built in headphones.  They're way more comfortable than earbuds under a hat and you can play the volume low enough that you can hear the music and still hear noises around you.

 

(...and, if this place is anything like bike forums, I've now introduced the third most hotly argued topic in the world (the first two being:1. wearing a helmet while riding and 2. Campy v. Shimano).  BTW: stay away from ShimaNO...Campy is the only quality component!!!

 

-Smarty

Campy sucks....just a fashion accessory

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartyiak 

Another added feature of the helmet is the built in headphones.  They're way more comfortable than earbuds under a hat and you can play the volume low enough that you can hear the music and still hear noises around you.

 

(...and, if this place is anything like bike forums, I've now introduced the third most hotly argued topic in the world (the first two being:1. wearing a helmet while riding and 2. Campy v. Shimano).  BTW: stay away from ShimaNO...Campy is the only quality component!!!

 

-Smarty

 

What about Huret?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost 

What about Huret?

 

Gimme Simplex anyday (Super LJ)

Anyone who would wear a helmet for the sole reason to keep one's head warm, must have more money than they know what to do with. I guess I'm the only one who must consider the cost of ski equipment and accessories before deciding what to purchase. A helmet that does protect from injury would not pass my cost / benefit analysis.

"and yes I wear goggle all day I am skiing hard because my eyes water other wise."

I ski softly and my eyes are used to being in the wind from cycling.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA 

whats really strange is that it really is becoming a generational thing. I was skiing with a group of 20+ ski coaches today  aged 21-30 all but one of them wears a helmet. Are we smarter than the old kooks around here? or it just we grew up with it?

My mom bought my first helmet (Bell V1 Pro). I wonder how many of the 20 something ski coaches were put in helmets by their mommies when they were small. Someone who is under 30 probably see helmets as a standard part of the equipment for skiing. An older individual who skied for 20 some years before ever seeing a ski helmet might not.

Of the dozen plus skiers I've met through this website, I can't think of one who doesn't own a ski helmet. Though I didn't know JohnL owned one until I read it here. I guess he only uses it when he skis out west with the big boys. :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by telerod15 

Anyone who would wear a helmet for the sole reason to keep one's head warm, must have more money than they know what to do with.

I'm no rich guy but I think I would pay $100 for a warm noggin even if that was the sole reason for wearing a helmet.

Yup, no bull wheels spinning near me yet =(

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumpfreaq 

I'm no rich guy but I think I would pay $100 for a warm noggin even if that was the sole reason for wearing a helmet.

 

Yup, no bull wheels spinning near me yet =(

You guys must be wearing the wrong hats 

Get a proper toque!

I'm toasty warm and no goggle issues either....

Let me start by saying there is not a ski day that goes by that I don't wear my helmet and there are many reaswons for this. Let me secondly say this, for all those that say they would wear a helmet even if it was just because it was warmer,I question this. How many of the same people wear a helmet Ice Fishing, Hunting, or even to a Football game? None of you, you wear a hat. The convenience part of wearing a helmet comes after the safety fact IMO. Just my .02