The primary piece of safety equipment you should wear while snowmobiling is a helmet. All extreme sports require a helmet for impact protection, and snowmobiling is no different. With this sport, though, you need protection from both the cold and potential head trauma in the event of a crash. This means that your snowmobile helmet has to do double-duty while not fogging up or impeding your vision.
Choosing a snowmobile helmet involves several factors in terms of fit, features and necessary accessories, and this guide by the staff here at Bright Power Sports should help you figure out what you need in a snowmobile helmet. If you have any further snowmobile gear questions after reading, come visit us at our Lincoln Park location!
Snowmobile helmets are similar to motorcycle and motocross helmets in that they offer full-face coverage and eye protection from flying debris (in this case, snow and ice instead of road dust). You’ll want a helmet that is DOT or Snell certified to meet the minimum requirements for crash test standards.
Snowmobile helmets need to have a few other features that make them differ from other extreme sport helmets, though. Since you’re out in the cold, your helmet is likely to fog up with your warm breath or perspiration. A dual-pane visor can help prevent frost from building up and fogging your view. A breath box can direct your exhaled air downward and away from your field of vision, too. Air vents that open and close at the front and back will also help to regulate your temperature and prevent fogging. A chin curtain can prevent cold air from seeping in under your helmet.
Another essential feature in a snowmobile visor is UV protection. The glare of sunlight on white snow can cause snow blindness, and winter sports participants can still get sunburned even though it’s cold outside.
A few styles of snowmobile helmet are available on the market. They all offer great protection, so your ideal choice really comes down to fit and preference.
Modular helmets are very popular as the entire front of the helmet can flip up as necessary, which is good for glasses wearers. Some have communication equipment pockets at the ears as well. All of these come with a breath box and a snow shield, and some come with sun visors that flip down.
These helmets protect your face in a similar fashion to modular helmets, but they do not have a movable front section. They also have breath boxes and dual lens shields, and sometimes a sun visor that flips up or down. Full-face helmets offer the most protection from the cold and in a crash.
These are the snow version of a motocross helmet, which does not have a face shield. This means that you’ll have to attach a separate breath box to keep your nose and face warm. You will also need a pair of goggles for eye protection with this style. This can feel more freeing to some users than the above styles, and is great for more active riders who race.
These helmets are a combination of the full face and snocross styles. They have a dual lens shield and breath box along with a duckbill visor that helps to block sunlight. This combination style is newer and is becoming more popular with snowmobile riders who would rather have a full face shield instead of wearing goggles.
Because of the cold and other factors, you’ll need to add some accessories to your helmet to give yourself the most comfortable and secure riding experience. You need to keep your face and eyes protected and keep yourself warm so consider adding the following accessories to your ensemble.
A balaclava is a fabric face and head mask with eyeholes and breathing holes. It adds insulation under your helmet and keep your skin warm. Some extend down to the neck or even the shoulders to better protect you from cold and snow.
If you choose a helmet that doesn’t have a face mask, you will want a pair of goggles to wear for protection from flying debris and snow. These can be tinted for UV protection and have anti-fog properties of their own.
Still need a snowmobile to fulfill your winter adventure dreams? Stop by our Lincoln Park location today to see our full range of snowmobiles for sale by all the top brands. Bright Power Sports proudly serves the city of Detroit as well as all of Wayne County, Michigan.
