About this Review: This review is my own honest opinion of the ski and snowboard helmet, which I bought with my own money in October 2020.

My take

The Giro Ledge Fit System Mips Helmet is a great snow helmet for anyone wanting a minimalist helmet that is priced pretty low and still provides substantial head protection. This helmet fit great and kept my head warm on some cold days. This helmet would work for all ages depending on head size and all abilities for snowboarding and skiing.

About the gear

• Model: 2020/2021 Giro Ledge Fit System (FS) Mips Helmet
• Size: Small

About me

• Height: 5ft 5in
• Weight: 140lbs
• Head circumference: 48.2 cm
• Goggles: Giro Axis Goggles
• Experience: I have been riding since I was a little kid, and I get out about 100+ days a season.

Test conditions

• When I bought this helmet: October 2020
• Days tested: 100+
• Where I’ve used it: Mostly where I live in Vail and other Colorado resorts
• How I’ve used it: Backcountry and resorts

How it performs

What I was looking for

As a long-time snowboarder, I get a new helmet usually every other year. I have owned two different Giro Ledge helmets and keep coming back. For one, I love Giro products, and second, their price can’t be beaten, as they’re currently selling for less than $100 for a new helmet. They’re also super comfy and fit well with my goggles.

When shopping for a new helmet my main concerns are making sure it fits snug on my head. I wear my goggles underneath my helmet so it also needs to pair well. I have found the Giro Ledge Helmet fits snug and does well with goggles underneath. I also enjoy the price point of this helmet compared to other helmets as in the Smith Code MIPS helmet which is pretty similar and is going for $210. This helmet has all the bells and whistles yet still has a minimalist look, which I enjoy.

Why I chose this gear

I chose this helmet over others because I have owned Giro Ledge helmets in the past, and when I find something that I like and it works with my riding, I usually stick with it. The Giro Ledge MIPS helmet has great placement for their vents, I enjoy having the two right up front to help with airflow and four more placed on top of my helmet, and two placed in the back. I also like that I can remove the earpieces pretty easily without ruining the other part of the liner.

I considered some other Giro helmets, and actually bought the Giro Emerge MIPS Helmet and ended up returning it because it wasn’t adjustable enough to fit snug on my head. I was pretty bummed when I realized that. When looking at helmets, I make sure it has MIPS to have extra protection for my head.

What I love about it

• Protection: This helmet is equipped with Multi-directional Impact Protection System (Mips) technology, so it protects my head when I take a fall. I have never had a concussion before while snowboarding but I feel this helmet has protected me in some falls.
• Comfort: I have tried a lot of helmets in the past, and the Giro Ledge is a comfy helmet and fits snug on my noggin, which is a huge bonus for me.
• Sizing: It was not hard finding the perfect size. The Giro Ledge can be adjusted (see “Fit system” below), and I was able to fit in the small and adjust the helmet to my exact liking.
• Fit system: The Giro Ledge MIPS helmet has The In Form Fit System which makes dialing in the custom fit so much easier over some helmets. The dial at the end of the helmet provides up to 6cm of adjustment and stability
• Breathability: The Giro Ledge allows a decent amount of airflow for breathability all day while riding. The vents are strategically placed to allow the head to breathe and keep goggles from fogging.
• Goggle compatibility: Most days, I wear the Giro Axis Goggles under my helmet and have no gaps or issues. Using Giro goggles with their helmets ensures a great fit and minimal fogging.
• Weight: This helmet is pretty lightweight weighing in at 0.95 Kilograms for the small helmet and does not feel heavy on my head.
• Durability: This helmet is very durable in my book. I have taken some falls and feel this helmet held up. You should be retiring your helmet every 2 seasons, or if you take a bad fall right to your head, you should retire that helmet.
• Quality of materials: Giro uses top-quality materials with all of its gear.
• Style: The Ledge FS Mips Helmet features a skate-style design which is a clean minimalist helmet that features a hard shell construction built for riding all over the mountain.
• Adjustability: Having the In Form Fit system really helps with adjusting the helmet to the perfect size and making sure I can get it nice and snug on my head. Depending on if I am going to be wearing a beanie underneath or not, I might need to size up or down.
• This is a low-profile helmet.
• Warmth: This helmet features a rugged outer shell that is molded and attached to the EPS foam liner. This helmet is made out of Expanded Polystyrene. I stay super warm on cold days, I do wear a beanie underneath the helmet as well.
• Built-in features: The Giro Ledge features Seamless Compatibility with all Giro goggles.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Earpads: I am not a huge fan of earpads in general since I wear a beanie under the helmet and I feel restricted with the earpads so I remove them on every helmet I get right away.

Favorite moment with this gear

I have so many moments with the Giro Ledge FS Mips Helmet, but one of my favorites with this helmet on was when I landed my first backflip on a park jump. I was pretty nervous that day going into it and all the emotions came rushing over me about landing upside down and what if I forgot to rotate all the way around but knowing I had my Giro helmet on, I was ready to go! It was such a great feeling landing and riding away from this trick.

Value for the money vs. other options

This helmet currently is priced at $90 on Curated.com. I can’t beat that for a well-made, durable helmet that will last me seasons to come. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other great options out there. Oakley makes some top-of-the-line helmets: the Oakley Mod3 helmet is a great option that is selling for $165 and offers some similar features as the Giro Ledge FS Mips Helmet.

Final verdict

Overall the Giro Ledge FS Mips Helmet is a well-made, minimal helmet that is durable and ready to rip. This snow helmet is great for anyone who doesn’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a helmet that has everything they need to stay safe riding. I would highly recommend this helmet to any level rider.