The unseasonably cold stretch that lasted for about 10 consecutive days came to an end on Saturday when above-freezing temperatures provided skiers and riders with soft early spring-like snow. The consistent cold had snow-making operations going virtually non-stop over the period, allowing our own backyard ski area, Mount Peter, in Warwick, to open for the season this weekend.

I skied at Hunter on Saturday and conditions were firm and fast for the first few runs but it softened to a nice early spring consistency by noon as temperatures rose to the low 40s. The sun was muted by a layer of clouds that kept conditions from getting any heavier. Hunter’s management had the west side open with super steep Claire’s run, ungroomed and Wayout, as the two runs of choice in that part of the resort. You could get a glimpse of the new trails and the six-pack express chair that will compose the Hunter North section of the Resort – that pod should be open within the next week.

Thoughts on head gear

My skiing buddy last Thursday wasn’t wearing a helmet so I asked him why. He said he just hadn’t gotten around to getting one and he told me that even his 13-year-old daughter, who wears a helmet, was bugging him for not wearing one. You can guess what happened next. He turns to me during a break in the lodge and says, “Okay, you’re the expert. What are the things to look for in buying a helmet?”

Me being me, I told him, I’ll do some research on the latest gear and the best way to evaluate the right helmet for you. That’s exactly what I did and not surprisingly, after reading a lot of online reviews and reports on helmets, the two most important criteria are safety and fit. Let’s take a look at some easy steps to follow when deciding on the right helmet for you.

So how do you tell if a helmet is safe? There are three main organizations that test for helmet safety: the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM); the European Committee for Standardization (ECS); and, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Ski and snowboard helmets are tested for blunt impact protection, sharp and pointed object penetration, chin-strap resistance, area of coverage, field of vision and clearance between the head and shell. The ECS ratings on helmets will be indicated by the designation “CEN,” which stands for “Common European Norm” and is a minimal impact safety rating. The ASTM rating is more rigorous and has been adopted by the CPSC.

Next is the fitting process. Start by measuring your head. Use a soft measuring tape and wrap it around your head about an inch above your eyebrows and ears. Since helmet sizes use the metric system it would be a good idea to use a tape that measures in centimeters, unless you want to go through the conversion exercise. If you arrive at a measurement of say, 56 centimeters, you will likely fall into a medium size helmet (55-58 cm) category. When you try on the helmet it should be snug, but not too tight with any pressure points.

Try the “shake test.” If you shake your head and the helmet moves on its own or separately from your head, it’s too big. The fit should be such that the helmet only moves if your skin moves; in other words, a snug fit. Now you can buckle the chin strap and set it to a comfortable fit, but the strap should not be used to try to tighten the fit on your head because it will not do that. Better helmets have adjustable wheels on the back above the neckline and others have an in-form fit system – these allow you to adjust the fit, especially if you want to wear a hoodie with a facemask on those extra cold days. The most advanced helmets have padding and air-fitting systems that can also fine tune the fit.

There are hard- and soft-shell helmets to choose from and they differ in their ability to absorb shocks. Hard-shell helmets are designed to absorb one very large impact while soft-shell helmets are meant for multiple milder impacts. The latter are preferable for the skier or rider who likes to play in terrain parks where spills are more frequent.

There are two types of hard-shell constructed helmets. In-molded construction utilizes a thin, hard plastic outer shell that is molded to an expanded polystyrene foam liner to absorb shock. This type allows for less rebound with an impact because the liner will collapse; they are also very lightweight. The hard shell acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) system uses a thick, tough plastic shell that is pre-formed and glued onto a pre-molded, hard-foam interior and liner.

Soft shell helmets are often designed for multiple, less intense impacts, but there are some that offer an additional layer of protection. Newer soft-shell models feature two foam densities, with softer foam against your head transitioning to denser foam against the outer shell for hard-impact protection.

You should also consider the type of venting systems that are available. All helmets are vented but not all helmets have adjustable venting. Adjustable venting is a blessing on those ultra-cold days when you want your noggin’ sealed in tightly under a hoodie inside the helmet.

I would recommend you start your helmet purchase process online where you can review all of the above and then evaluate helmets to fit your needs and budget. Then you can go to a ski and snowboard shop to try on the helmets that you’ve researched.

Think helmets and safety, and happy skiing and riding!

Al Neubert’s ski column appears on Thursdays in the Times Herald-Record and on the web at recordonline.com/sports.