Giro Omen Ski Helmet and TuneUps Wireless

I admit, I've been pretty stupid these past couple years (ok, maybe the last decade) in my refusal to wear a ski helmet. My pride and arrogance overwhelmed my sensibility—I didn't believe I could hurt my head. And, like many other dolts out there, I thought, who cares? Helmets make you look like a World Cup racer (no offense to those in the profession). All you're missing is the spandex.

Well, a couple of broken clavicles and a good dose of maturity later, I caved to sensibility (we snowboarders don't tend to have much) and went looking for a helmet. The Giro Omen called out to me, not only because of the progressive shape, but also the capability of listening to music with their TuneUps system with Bluetooth technology. Who doesn't want to be rockin' wireless with their iPod?

The helmet's wireless connection to my iPod kept that pesky white cable at bay, and the intuitively-located controls on the earpiece meant I didn't have to rummage through layers to dial up my favorite songs—I didn't even have to remove my gloves to switch tunes (a feature that saved my digits during the -18-degree, ass-numbing weather at Copper Mountain).

The frigid conditions also tested another condition of wearing a helmet: whether it could keep me warm while riding in ridiculously gusty conditions. With Giro's Dual Thermostat controls, I slid a button, and...voila, all 14 vents on the ABS/polycarbonate shell slid shut, sealing in the warmth and keeping out the cold—ideal for that chilly lift ride. Then, as I cruised down the early season fluff, I opened the vents halfway to let out any residual heat and achieved a comfortable temperature in an uncomfortable environment.

Giro also retrofitted their ski helmet fit with a system similar to their well-known bike helmets. With a rotary dial at the back of the head, the "In Form" sizing system allows for easy out-of-the-box adjustment, which will come in handy when I undergo that that biannual buzz cut.

As for comfort, the helmet's weight (a wispy.5 ounces) made me feel like I was still wearing my beanie. But its lightness doesn't mean the Omen shrinks on protective duties—the in-mold construction is just as durable as you'd expect from one of the true leaders in helmet manufacturing. In fact, the only thing I found disconcerting was that the TuneUps ear pieces stuck out like thick screws from the head of some 21st-century Frankenstein. (Looks are still everything.) It's a good thing that they are removable… and optional. Omen $200 (with TuneUps: $369); giro.com

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