Expert Review: Giro Emerge MIPS Helmet
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 twice - once in June of 2020 and once in June of 2021.
My Take
The Giro Emerge MIPS helmet is a great no-frills helmet that is high on the safety tech. I enjoyed this helmet so much that I replaced my 2020 gear with a 2021 model after a fall.
Monarch
About the gear
- Model: 2020 and 2021 Giro Emerge
- Size: M
About me
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 185 lbs
- Head circumference: 57cm
- Goggles: Smith Squad XL and Giro Contour
- Experience: 5 years of snowboarding/skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought this helmet: June 2020 and June 2021
- Days tested: 100ish
- Where I’ve used it: Colorado, Utah, and Cali
- How I’ve used it: Resort skiing and snowboarding
How it performs
What I was looking for
I needed a new helmet to replace my Giro Jackson. I really liked my Giro helmet, so I decided to purchase another one.
A-Basin
Why I chose this gear
I chose this helmet in particular because I found it on sale in hot pink. I was lucky to find it in this incredibly bright color when I purchased it. When it came time to retire it, I bought another identical helmet.
Copper Mountain
What I love about it
- Protection: This helmet is targeted toward the terrain park. Since this is the helmet Giro puts on their Olympic freestyle athletes, it has a lot of safety features needed for a high risk of impacts.
- Liner: The liner on this helmet is super warm and is quite comfy. The liner remained durable after a long season.
- Goggle compatibility: This helmet fits seamlessly with both Giro and Smith goggles. Neither had any issues with gapping.
- Durability: This helmet maintained its durability in minor impacts. The only evidence of impact was from a major impact (which required replacement, as standard with snow helmets). I found that the helmet's cosmetic finish didn’t hold up well.
- Style: This helmet looks very streamlined and comes in a wide range of colors. After all, the hot pink color drove me to buy it.
- Comfort: This helmet is not as light as a true backcountry helmet, but I find it light enough that I never notice it there. The removable ear pads are lined with a very comfortable material, and pulling them out keeps things super comfortable as temperatures climb in spring.
Monarch
Issues I’ve encountered
- Fit system: This helmet does not have an adjustable dial. I found the moveable padding to be cumbersome and it did start to pack out at the end of the season.
- Breathability: While this helmet is very warm, it’s not very breathable. It only has passive venting as well.
- Quality of Materials: This helmet faded quite quickly in the Colorado sun. I went from the guy with the pink helmet to the guy with the orange helmet.
Beaver Creek
Favorite moment with this gear
There is a picture of this moment within this review. My wife and I went to Monarch, and it was already puking snow while we waited for the first chair. Visibility was very poor, and we couldn’t even see the moguls in front of us. However, my wife was happy to follow me because she said that the only reason she could see me was because of my bright pink helmet. I felt like Rudolph!
Value for the money vs. other options
The Giro Emerge is a mid-range price helmet (retails around $150). This is on par with other major brands (i.e., Smith). The benefit of this helmet is one gets all of the safety features of a $200+ helmet at a better price (thanks to the lack of adjustable vents and dial fit system). The Giro Emerge is worth the price for someone who values safety and doesn’t need the bonus features.
Final verdict
The Giro Emerge helmet is a great option for a skier/rider who needs high-end safety and doesn’t care about the bells and whistles. I enjoy this helmet and will miss my hot pink one when it needs to be retired.
