Best Helmet for Oversized Goggles

BW,

I’m guessing the lack of response might have something to do with the relative obscurity of Von Zipper Fishbowl Goggles and just how “oversize” they really are. 

In my case, when I bought the Smith Knowledge Turbo-fan goggles designed for use over glasses I also neglected to take my helmet with me when shopping for goggles.  The Smith Turbofans are (relatively) big goggles (much larger than the Smith I/Os I’ll use this season since I got contacts for skiing) and would not work with my Giro G10 helmet (pushed goggles down on my nose).  Went helmet shopping with the new goggles and after trying on everything I could find eventually determined that the Smith Variant-Brim helmet worked perfectly with the “oversize” goggles. 

Imagine that, Smith helmets being compatible with Smith goggles – sometimes I’m a little slow.  (Though it was only the Variant-Brim model that worked for me). 

Thus you might give that helmet a try.  Bottom line; don’t shop for one without the other.  

And BTW, curious what prompted you to choose the “Von Zippers” given the excellent selection of more mainstream - read “helmet compatible” -  goggles available these days?

Unsure if you already were aware but there sometimes is an adjustment in the back of the helmet to help adjust the vertical positioning.  Be sure you try out the different settings.

But yea, everyone's head is different, so you will have to just try it out.

I've used some thick foam weatherstripping inside my helmet to bump it up about an 1/8th inch to give my goggles a little more room between helmet and nose.  It worked out for me, not sure what impact it would have should I actually bash my head though.

See what I did there?

Seriously though, a helmet with a few minor comfort adjustments is better than no helmet, and for me, better than a helmet that scrunches goggles down on the bridge of the nose.

In my experience, jdleuck has it completely right: the Smith Variant Brim helmets have better clearance than other designs. My wife had this exact problem and the only helmet that would even remotely work was the Variant Brim.

But it doesn't have to be that model in particular. Like belly buttons, helmets seem to divide themselves into two broad categories: innies and outies. The innies like the Variant Brim have brims that are concave, that is the inner surface is cupped inwards. The reason for this is often that the brim is actually a designed element using more than one material (foam + plastic). These fit oversized goggles the best.

Many other helmets -- particularly the less expensive ones -- have molded foam brims that bulge outwards. Probably this is cheaper to manufacture. I have found that these helmets tend to contact the goggles in the middle of the bulge, wasting precious millimeters. Imagine squashing your goggles just 5mm down your nose and spending the whole day like that. Recipe for a snotty nose, in my experience.

By sheer coincidence my OSBE "visor" ski helmet has loads of room for my Smith TurboFan goggles. Of course with that capacious helmet I don't wear goggles at all: there is so much airflow underneath the visor that my glasses simply never fog over.

Beat my Variant Brim all the time.  Brim still intact.  Get it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bad Wolf 

 

Just to follow up on this. I went to Backcountry to order the helmet and checked out the reviews. There are seventeen reviews for the brim version and over half of them complain about the brim easily breaking. The problem then appears to be that the brim is not detachable, but an integral part of the helmet. When the brim breaks the helmet starts to separate. Almost everyone does say how warm, comfortable and well fitting the helmet is. they also praise the vents. of course it does come brimless.

 

Just for reference I found the popular colors and sizes on St Bernard Sports for $70 less than Backcountry.

 

BW

Generally speaking these are supposed to.  Brims, or mouth guards etc act like a lever which can break your neck if they catch on ground in a fall, etc.  Hence they are designed to be "break away".  Helmets should be replaced after impacts.  However, I personally wouldnt worry about it, as helmets have almost no safety benefit for most people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bad Wolf 

 

Because most people never fall on their heads or because helmets don't work when they do, or......

Well not to open this can of worms.  But generally both.  Do your own research on this subject, and believe who you choose.  Many propenents for and against.  2 statistics I generally go by are: There are 0.5 head injuries per million skier visits.  There are 2.5 head injuries per million car trips.  Meaning, you are far more likley to suffer a head injury driving to and from the ski hill then you are skiing, ie you are better off wearing your helmet in the car.  Second, it is fair to say significantley more people use helmets today, then they did say 10 years ago.  If helmets do offer a tangible benefit, then surely there would have been a reduction in the number of head injuries associated with skiing in that time, right?  Well there hasnt been.  Head injury rates have remained constant.  This has caused some issues at places like Whistler, where SS is now required to wear helmets while in uniform, yet Ski Patrol isnt.  While not public, WB acknowledges to staff there is no evidence supporting helmet use...its more of "band wagon" thing. 

For reference, I am not against helmets.  I have used one from well over 30 years having been an active ski racer.  But I wore them for racing only.  I still think for certain things people should wear helmets, racing, park and pipe or if you are ripping at high speed around rocks etc on big mountain lines.  But that is not most people, who cruise or ski marked trails at moderate speed.  The push to helmets has been driven by clever marketing, not much else.

And now there will be 100 posts of people telling of how their helmet saved their life while they were skiing.

Smith Brim helmets are useless with smith power goggles, the phucking brim is in the way of putting the goggles on and taking them off...
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skidude72 

Well not to open this can of worms.  But generally both.  Do your own research on this subject, and believe who you choose.  Many propenents for and against.  2 statistics I generally go by are: There are 0.5 head injuries per million skier visits.  There are 2.5 head injuries per million car trips.  Meaning, you are far more likley to suffer a head injury driving to and from the ski hill then you are skiing, ie you are better off wearing your helmet in the car.  Second, it is fair to say significantley more people use helmets today, then they did say 10 years ago.  If helmets do offer a tangible benefit, then surely there would have been a reduction in the number of head injuries associated with skiing in that time, right?  Well there hasnt been.  Head injury rates have remained constant.  This has caused some issues at places like Whistler, where SS is now required to wear helmets while in uniform, yet Ski Patrol isnt.  While not public, WB acknowledges to staff there is no evidence supporting helmet use...its more of "band wagon" thing. 

 

 

Driving to Alpine Meadows from the north, a line of cars a quarter mile long turning into Squaw valley--guy passes them all on the wrong side of a double yellow and pulls in behind me (wife and kids in the car).  We Turn in to AM Road--covered with ice. guy passes me on a blind curve/double yellow and arrives at the parking lot (30 seconds before us) gets out, puts on a helmet, and goes skiing. Go figure. (A few choice words were said--don't piss off my wife).