There is a ton of protective gear out there, but if you’re new to skiing, you might not know what you do or don’t need. Over the last couple decades, the industry has made some big improvements making gear safer and more comfortable. With this, there are many more options out there on the market—and this guide will help you figure out what will work best for your personal needs.

I’ve been skiing over 20 years, and I’m currently a Team Rider for Hovland Snowskates. Over the years, I have unfortunately experienced several different injuries, from torn ligaments, to concussions, to bruised bones, and more. Because of this, I’ve grown to really focus on ways to keep myself healthy season after season. I’ve tried a lot of different types of protective gear, and am here to share what I believe are the best options out there today.

In this article, we’ll cover the four main groups of protective gear: Helmets, Pads, Mouthguards, and Backcountry Gear. If you have no intentions of going into the backcountry, you can skip over the last section, as it is specifically for backcountry skiers.

Helmets

Do I Need a Helmet?

We all know it’s better for our brains to wear a helmet when skiing, but many people still choose not to. A lot of people don’t like to wear them because they’re uncomfortable, or seen as an added cost, or whatever reason they find not to wear one. However, I highly suggest using one for your safety on the snow. And if you're reading this, you’re probably in the market for more protection—not less.

Is It Time to Replace Your Current Helmet?

Most experts recommend a new helmet at least every 5 years, or after one single high impact event. The majority of helmets are only designed to protect against one big impact, similar to the airbag in your car. Once it's been used, it needs to be replaced.

What Fits Your Needs?

The most important things to pay attention to are how your helmet fits, and what kind of terrain you frequent. Any ski helmet is going to add more protection, but if you’re taking risks like hitting huge cliffs, or spending a lot of time in the terrain park, there are levels of safety ratings available for most racing, park, and backcountry-specific helmets.

Fit

A helmet should fit snugly around your head, and should not be able to slide around on your head. If it’s moving around when you shake your head, it probably won’t stay in place when you fall, either. This being said, if you like to wear a face mask, buff, or beanie under your helmet, make sure to try them on with each other to make sure it will all fit comfortably.

Common Features

Companies offer all sorts of features on helmets such as MIPS, ventilation, adjustable fits, liners, and removable ear flaps.

• MIPS: MIPS is a multi-directional impact protection system designed to lower the amount of impact your brain receives. With MIPS, there are multiple layers within the helmet, which allows the layers to shift in the case of an angled impact. This means that part of the force of impact is being distributed to the helmet itself, instead of directly to your brain.
• Ventilation: Many helmets offer some form of ventilation to make sure you don’t get too hot or sweaty on the hill. Sometimes, these are fixed vents that are always open, and sometimes they are adjustable so you can choose to have them open or closed. Different helmets will have a different number and size of vents, so if you get hot easily, make sure to pay attention to the vent options.
• Adjustable Fit: Not all, but many, helmets come with some form of adjustability to make sure the helmet fits snug around your head. In general, this will be a dial at the back of the helmet that cinches the helmet around your head. Sometimes, there are sliders or velcro straps to adjust how low the helmet sits on the back of your head.
• Removable Ear Flaps: Some helmets have a shell that covers the ears to protect from impact, and others have a soft ear flap. If you want to ski all spring, and even into summer, you’ll want to make sure your helmet isn’t too warm. Removable ear flaps are a great feature for 3-season use, as they can greatly affect how warm a helmet is.

To see our Expert helmet recommendations, click here.

Pads

If you find yourself with aching joints, or are somehow always covered in bruises, or maybe just want some extra protection for learning new tricks in the terrain park, you’ll want to get some pads. In my experience, I’ve found that lightweight/slim pads work the best, because they can comfortably fit underneath your ski gear and won’t hinder your range of motion. We will cover knee/elbow pads and hip/butt pads, as well as spine protection. Most people don’t need all of these, but they are the common options available. Figure out what your needs are, and use this article as a guide for what suits your ski style best.

Knee/Elbow & Hip/Butt Pads

Knee/elbow and hip/butt pads are generally more helpful for snowboarders, but if you find yourself injuring your knees or elbows, or with a sore butt, these may be helpful. These pads vary in price from ~$25 to sometimes $100+, and come in a variety of materials for different uses.

Materials: Hard Shell, Foam, and Gel

• Hard Shell: These are hard plastic shells that cover your boney bits. They are generally cheap, and prevent scrapes from rocks or metal. However, they are bulky to wear under ski pants, can restrict movement, and are only an option for knee/elbow pads.
• Foam: This padding wraps and covers your elbows/knees. They are also generally cheap, and provide cushioning during impact. They are also lightweight. However, they don’t provide protection as well as gel or hardshells.
• Gel: Designed to be soft and flexible, but firms up during impact to protect your elbows or knees. Gel padding is really comfortable and has high impact absorption. However, it can be quite expensive.

Fit: Sleeves and Straps

• Sleeves: These pads are attached to a sleeve that you slide over your elbow or knee, and generally use elastic to hold them in place.
• Straps: These pads have velcro straps to wrap around your elbow/knee to hold them in place.

There aren’t a lot of elbow/knee and hip/butt pads designed specifically for skiing or snowboarding, but most mountain biking pads also work great and are a good option to consider. My top brands to check out are POC, Sweet Protection, and Fox Racing.

Spine Protection

Whether you’re racing, shredding in the park, or exploring the backcountry, spine protection is a commonly overlooked piece of ski gear. Spines are pretty easy to injure when skiing, and can lead to life-altering injuries. Spine protection was popularized through ski racing, but now many people have seen the benefits and wear them for everyday skiing. This section will discuss the different fit options, constructions, and impact ratings.

Fit Options: Straps, Vests, and Backpack Liners

• Straps: Strapped spine protectors have straps that go around your shoulders, chest, and waist to hold the pads in place.
• Vests: Vest spine protectors have the spinal padding built into a lightweight vest to wear underneath your ski gear.
• Backpack Liners: Backpack liners are spine protectors that are usually designed for a specific backpack, and can be placed inside a sleeve within the backpack.

Construction

In general, spine protectors are made out of various types of foam, which helps keep them lightweight and allow a full range of motion when wearing them. There are some spine protectors that have a thin hard plastic shell on the outside. Foam will generally be more comfortable, but if you are racing or skiing freeride, the hardshells are worth looking into for extra protection. Different types of foam have more or less impact absorption, so make sure to check the impact ratings before buying.

Impact Ratings

The main impact test used is the EN1621-2. This is a test where they measure the amount of force ‘felt’ beneath the spine protector when a weight is projected into it at speed. A level one result allows up to 18kN, while level two only allows 9kN (meaning level two absorbs much more impact). If you’re just looking for some extra padding, any foam pads will be fine, but if you’re skiing a lot of park, backcountry, or racing, you’ll want to find an option with at least a level one rating to protect your spine from hard impacts. If you ski really hard, or compete at high levels, try to find level two protection to make sure you’re properly protected.

My favorite brands for spine protectors are POC, Sweet Protection, and Shred. If you go with a name brand, expect to pay $100 to $200. But if you don’t need anything with impact ratings, there are also some really affordable options on Amazon just for a bit of extra padding when on the hill.

Mouthguards

Mouthguards are probably the most overlooked piece of protective equipment for skiing, but are one of the best. Most people associate mouthguards with contact sports like football, hockey, or boxing, but they play a crucial role in brain health over time.

Helmets are great for protecting against hard impacts like metal, rocks, or trees, but mouthguards protect the brain from being jostled around during a crash. It’s this jostling that causes long-term brain damage, because without a mouthguard, your jaw sends the force of an impact straight to your brain and rattles it. With a mouthguard, this is lessened, and can offer a lot of protection for your brain and teeth.

Most brands, like SISU, back their product with dental insurance—meaning that if you somehow damage your teeth while wearing one, you’ll be covered.

Mouthguard Options: Moldable and Universal

• Moldable: With these, you can heat the mouthguard in some hot water and then put it in for a few minutes to form a perfect fit. These are generally thinner than the universal options, but offer just as much protection and don’t get in the way of talking or breathing.
• Universal: These are generic, soft rubber mouthguards that you can just pop in and use. They are typically cheaper, but can be bulky and sometimes annoying to wear.

My go to choice is the SISU Aero. It’s around $20, and is really thin and moldable, so you can talk with it in and barely notice it’s there.

Find the Best Protective Gear for You

Most people definitely do not need all the gear on this list, but it’s important to know what options are available to fit your needs. I recommend that everybody use a helmet, because it is truly worth the investment: Your brain is not something you want to injure. Additionally, it keeps you warm, and there are tons of options at all price points.

If you fall a lot, or are just learning and don’t want to get slowed down by injuries, grab some pads and make those falls a little softer so you can keep skiing all day long. And if you’re skiing freeride, park, or just like to ski more extreme terrain, take a look at the mouthguards and spine protection to keep you safe.

If you have any more questions, or need help finding your perfect fit, chat with a Curated Winter Sports Expert for free, personalized recommendations.