Gear Review: Giro Nine.10 Snow Helmet

Value Rating: 8 Durability Rating: 10 Overall Rating: 9 Location of Test: Mt. Bachelor Duration: Single Day Product Name: Nine.10 Product Brand: Giro Best Use: Snow sports helmet Sizes: S, M, L, XL The Full Review: The Giro Nine.10 helmet is great. I justify that by stating this is the first helmet I have owned. I'm a bit older and wearing a helmet while snowboarding was definitely not "cool". Brain injuries are also not cool. I don't ride all that often every season so I didn't want to break the bank and Next Adventure had this helmet on sale. This helmet has a lot of features for the price. The only thing you are really missing is MIPS and the ability to open or close the vents. My first day riding with this was at Mt Bachelor on a wonderfully sunny powder day. It’s easy to get the fit dialed in just right with or without a beanie. It has an easy turn dial to adjust the sizing and the chin strap has plush padding so you don't even notice it. The other great thing is you don't feel like an alien wearing this thing. People are not going to come up to you and ask what planet you're from. It's a perception thing but since this was my first go round with a helmet I didn't want something that makes my head look massive. A couple other final thoughts. The ear pads are plush and comfortable but didn't impair my ability to hear things around me or others clearly. There are a lot of vents which helped me to stay cool but keep in mind if you run cold you might not like the fact you can close them up or you will want to be wearing a beanie underneath. Personally, I run hot and the fresh air helped keep me comfortable and prevent goggle fog. This brings me around to my last point. I have an older pair of Dragon DX goggles. These fit perfectly with this helmet and I experienced no goggle fog. Easiest thing to do is bring your goggles with you when you go to try on helmets to make sure you get a nice seamless fit. I definitely recommend this helmet especially at the price point. The Good: Lots of features for the price. Comfortable with or without a beanie. Easy to get the fit dialed in just how you need it to be. The Bad: No mesh in the vent holes to prevent snow from entering or building up. The Bottom Line: Great helmet for the price.