Every rider needs to wear a helmet when they ride. And there are some excellent options for women’s specific snowboard helmets out there for female riders to choose from.
I’m a snowboarding instructor, and I’m also a female snowboarder. I’ve worn many different helmets over the years, and I’ve also seen many others on my students’ heads. I know what to look for in a good, high-quality option.
The Smith Mirage MIPS is my pick for the best women’s snowboard helmet. This is a comfortable option that will give you excellent safety thanks to high-quality construction. It’s a great helmet all-around.
There are a few other top helmets that I’ll show you in this post, so you can find one that works best to meet your needs or preferences in the snow.
Let’s get after it.
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Who Should Get This
These helmets are for all female skiers. No matter where you board, how experienced you are, or your preferred style, you need a solid helmet. All of the options here are highly recommended in terms of comfort, value, and performance.
The helmets on this list also come with customizable comfort features. That means they work perfectly for female riders with unique head shapes that may be too big or too small for regular unisex helmets.
Top Women’s Snowboard Helmets
Here are my picks for the best women’s snowboard helmets.
1. Smith Mirage MIPS
- Best for: Overall
- Key features: MIPS tech, Aerocore build, adjustable ventilation, dial fit system, snapfit ear pads, audio compatible
- Construction: Two-layer In-Mold, Areocore
- Safety: ASTM F 2040/ CE EN 1077:2007 Class B
- Cost: $$$
My choice for the best overall women’s snowboard helmet is the Smith Mirage MIPS. This option will give you the best of both worlds when it comes to protection and comfort.
The helmet has a 2-layer construction that allows it to boast MIPS technology that is fully designed to keep your head and brain better protected in a fall. This works by giving you sliding protection that can spread the impact out over a larger surface area.
The Mirage also utilizes an Aerocore construction to keep it very lightweight for added comfort. This design also increases safety and airflow thanks to a Koroyd honeycomb material. It is another feature that adds to comfort and performance.
The helmet also comes with a high number of vents, 14 in total, with adjustable ventilation. You can adjust a little nob to get your desired amount of airflow. It has an adjustable dial fit system to let you get the perfect fit.
Additional features include removable ear pads and audio compatibility.
If you want audio compatibility, you’ll need to purchase it separately.
==> You can also get it on Smith Optics or Evo or DICK’S.
2. Anon Women’s Griffon
- Best for: The Money
- Key features: Affordable, comfortable, lightweight, strong, passive ventilation, BOA fit system
- Construction: In-mold, EPS liner
- Safety: ASTM 2040 / CE 1077 B
- Cost: $
The Anon Women’s Griffon is my choice for the best women’s snowboard helmet for the money. This is a great budget option that will keep your head safe while also keeping your bank account happy.
The Griffon is made with in-mold shell construction that adds a lot of safety and protection from impact. This design incorporates a strong polycarbonate shell with an EPS liner that gives excellent safety while remaining light in weight.
You also get a passive ventilation system that uses critically placed air vents to suck in cooler air as you ride and funnel it in and out of the helmet very effectively. It adds a lot of comfort and will keep moisture from building up.
A 360-degree BOA fit system allows you to get a customized fit. You can quickly dial in a snug fit around your entire head with the twist of the BOA dial. This will stay firmly in place as you ride all over the mountain.
I also like the easy-to-use Fidlock snap buckles because you can use them with gloves on. A fleece liner and ear pads keep you warm as well.
The Griffon can have a somewhat tight fit, especially if you want to wear a hat or beanie underneath.
==> You can also get it on Walmart or Fun-sport-vision.
3. Smith Women’s Vantage
- Best for: Comfort
- Key features: MIPS tech, comfortable, lightweight, climate control vents, BOA fit system, AirEvac
- Construction: Aerocore, Hybrid SL shell
- Safety: ASTM F 2040 / CE EN 1077 2007 Class B / CPSC CE EN 1078
- Cost: $$$$
If you are looking for a very comfortable women’s snowboard helmet, look no further than the Smith Women’s Vantage. This is a women’s specific design of another very popular option from Smith.
Outstanding comfort is made possible by a combination of features. The Vantage has excellent ventilation thanks to an AirEvac system that channels warm air across your head and low-profile climate control regulators.
It also has a BOA fit system that lets you get the perfect fit across the entire circumference of your head. With the turn of a dial, you can tighten up the helmet just right and have reliable performance at all times.
The helmet also has removable Snapfit ear pads that help seal out the wind and keep you warm. You can take them out when the conditions heat up for customized comfort. The X-static performance lining is another nice touch.
The Vantage is expensive, and all of this comfort comes at a price.
==> You can also get it on Smith Optics or Evo or Backcountry.
4. Giro Avera
- Best for: Fit
- Key features: Great fit, adjustable venting, In Form 2 fit system, vertical tuning, audio compatible,
- Construction: In-Mold, Polycarbonate, Foam
- Safety: CE EN 1077 B
- Cost: $$
The Giro Avera fits great. If you are looking for a helmet that will sit on your head the way a helmet is supposed to, this is my recommended option.
An In Form 2 fit system is key to achieving this. It’s a low-profile adjustment system that lets you get a customized size dialed in for your head shape in seconds. You just need to twist a dial until it’s perfect, and you will be ready to go.
In-mold construction makes the Avera very durable and impact resistant. This uses a polycarbonate outer layer with a foam liner for superior protection.
It also comes with excellent ventilation thanks to an adjustable airflow system that lets you change things up with the slide of a button and stacked vents that help your goggles stay fog-free.
The helmet is also compatible with Giro goggles and audio systems, but you’ll have to spend extra to get that benefit.
==> You can also get it on DICK’S or Outdoor Action or Evo.
How to Choose Women’s Snowboard Helmets
Here are a few factors/things that I think you should consider before buying a helmet.
Durability
The first aspect to consider when getting a helmet is its durability. It needs to protect you during hard crashes, which means you want a sturdy construction that can stand up to impacts.
Focus on in-molded models or ones made with double-shell construction.
Hybrid and semi-hard shells do the job as well. The goal is to get a tough material that will protect during each and every fall.
Comfort
After durability, you want to focus on comfort. Some helmets, while strong, pinch your head or sit too wide and let in cold air. A snug-fitting model prevents that issue.
Try to get a helmet that fits your head in a way that sits snugly without causing any discomfort. Beyond that, also look for models that come with special padding or internal lining that give you extra cushion.
Ventilation
Snowboarding takes place in a lot of cold environments, but you will sweat as you move around. You need a helmet with ample ventilation to let cold air in and push hot air out. Open venting systems, which utilize a series of holes built into the helmet, do the job.
However, adjustable or plug systems tend to be better options because they enable you to open up your helmet when you’re hot and shut the vents when it gets cold.
Useful Tips
Your helmet always needs to sit on your head in the right way. You can always guess what size your helmet is, but knowing how to choose correctly is essential. This article from Evo outlines some sizing tips so you’ll never be caught unaware.
Helmets add one vital layer of protection to your ensemble, but they are far from the only way to stay safe out on the mountain. Any rider, new or old, needs to practice the basics. Always follow these tips when riding.
My Verdict
My choice for the best women’s snowboarding helmet is the Smith Mirage MIPS. This model gives you outstanding safety and impact protection thanks to the MIPS tech while also providing a lot of comfort so you can wear it all day long.
All of the models mentioned in this list are explicitly geared towards female riders. These are some of the best helmets around and will keep you protected when you are out in the snow riding tough.
You don’t have to get a women’s specific helmet, but they can offer a more precise fit that will go a long way toward keeping you safer and more comfortable when you ride.
About Lorraine