Expert Review: Giro Grid MIPS Helmet
Published on 10/12/2022 · 3 min readThis review is my honest opinion of the helmet, which I purchased with my own money in June of 2021.
Winter Park. All photos courtesy of Raphael Alland
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the helmet, which I purchased with my own money in June of 2021.
My take
The Giro Grid MIPS Helmet is the best of the best when it comes to combining comfort with safety. This helmet has all of the technical safety features that an advanced skier needs while being exceptionally lightweight.
About the gear
- Model: 2022 Giro Grid MIPS
- Size: M
About me
- Height: 6’
- Weight: 185 lbs
- Head circumference: 57cm
- Goggles: Giro Contour
- Experience: 5 years of snowboarding/skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought this helmet: June 2021
- Days tested: 70ish
- Where I’ve used it: Colorado and Cali
- How I’ve used it: Resort skiing only
How it performs
What I was looking for
I needed to replace my Giro Emerge after taking a nasty fall. I’ve had two other Giro helmets and found them to be super comfortable. So I decided that I wanted to continue using Giro helmets.
Monarch
Why I chose this gear
The Giro Grid was a new option for me when I did my search. I was wowed by all of the tech that Giro put into this helmet, especially the spherical construction. Also, since this helmet is targeted at backcountry skiers/riders, it is amazingly lightweight.
Beaver Creek
What I love about it
- Protection: The new spherical construction from MIPS is absolutely top-of-the-line when it comes to protection. It has a “ball and socket” system that better protects one’s head in impacts from all directions.
- Comfort: The Grid helmet is very comfortable, thanks mostly to its lightweight design. Additionally, the inside has a super soft liner.
- Fit system: This helmet has an adjustable dial that can move up to 6cm. It is easy to use with gloves on.
- Breathability: The Giro Grid helmet features adjustable venting and stack vent technology. It allows me to dump excess heat very quickly and easily.
- Goggle compatibility: I’ve had no issues when pairing this helmet with my Giro goggles. There’s no gap and no fogging.
- Weight: At only 400g, this helmet is incredibly lightweight.
- Quality of Materials: This helmet is very high quality in all of its materials. There has been no evidence of fading over time. The liner is comfortable, and the chin strap buckle is also easy to use.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Durability: After a season of use, the helmet has sustained a few scratches. Nothing impacted performance, but they are visible.
- Other: This helmet isn’t as warm when compared to other Giro helmets.
Winter Park
Favorite moment with this gear
I have a lot of favorite moments from last season with this helmet. It got me through skiing from October to May. I was comfortable for hot opening and closing days, and I stayed dry in a 44” snowstorm. I haven’t had a bad moment with this helmet.
Value for the money vs. other options
Although this helmet is the top-of-the-line offering from Giro (retailing at $280), the Giro Grid is on par with top-shelf helmets from other brands (i.e., Smith). With the safety features in this helmet, I think it is worth the high dollar value. As someone who has replaced a helmet numerous times from falls (or just dropped it by accident), I still feel that it is worth spending this price.
Final verdict
For someone who is looking for all of the safety tech with unbeatable comfort, the Giro Grid is by far the best option. When I need to replace it, I will purchase another Giro Grid. My wife has the women’s version (Giro Envi), and she agrees with me on all the positives.
