The Best High-Tech Protective Gear for Skiers and Snowboarders

My first ski helmet was ridiculous. Whenever I wore it, it looked like I had an upside-down fruit bowl on my head.

I initially bought it back around 2002, a time when just a quarter of skiers wore helmets, according to the National Ski Areas Association’s annual survey. And no wonder: Back then, ski goggles and helmets were often shaped incompatibly with each other, and neither had any impressive optical or safety technology. These days, however, on-slope protection and style has come a long way, and people have embraced the results. Last year, a full 90% of skiers and snowboarders donned helmets, according to an updated survey.