Men's Journal

We rounded up the best new buckets, looking for the perfect combination of fit, features, and lightness.

By Steve Mazzucchi; Photographs by Michael Pirrocco

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GIRO SEAM

The design team at Giro clearly knows what works in a helmet. We loved the single large tab on top that opens 10 vents — it’s so immediately accessible, a polar bear could work it. And like a Rolex’s second hand, the fit dial in back continuously spins rather than stopping at detents, so you’re never stuck a half-click away from the perfect fit. Giro’s only (minor) misstep: an immovable chin-strap pad that we found irksome when first sizing the helmet. [$170; giro.com]
Rating: 9 out of 10.

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SMITH MAZE

The 11.5-ounce Maze is so lightweight that we forgot we had it on until we hugged a tree at Whistler and walked away with just a headache. Smith was able to make the lightest CE-certified lid on the market by skimping on basic amenities — you can’t adjust the fit, and there’s only one vent to unplug. Maybe we were lucky, but our test Maze fit us perfectly. Besides, we’ll gladly trade a little less air for not feeling like a bobblehead all day. [$100; smithoptics.com] Rating: 8 out of 10.

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POC RECEPTOR BUG TANNER HALL PRO MODEL

Seven-time X Games gold medalist and backcountry ace Tanner Hall is known for his versatility. So is his signature helmet — with a little work. Opening the vents means removing (and stashing) a panel; adjusting the fit requires swapping pads in and out. We liked the snap-in sun-blocking brim, though, and a two-layer construction that protects against punctures better than other lids. [$130; pocsports.com]
Rating: 7 out of 10.

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K2 CROSSFIRE PRO

The Crossfire is hefty, at 20 ounces, but luxuriously appointed. Cushy leather-trimmed padding on the inside makes it feel like a pillow is strapped to your head. The six front vents can be opened or closed with two tabs that are easy to flick even with gloves. Ear-protector headphones come standard, too (they cost extra on the Smith, POC, and Giro; unavailable on the Shred). Unless you’re a Lycra-clad, weight-obsessed racer, you’ll appreciate theCrossfire’s extras. [$150; k2skis.com]
Rating: 8 out of 10.

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SHRED TOUPEE DELUXE

Olympian and World Cup giant slalom champ Ted Ligety founded Shred Optics in 2006, and the Toupee Deluxe is his company’s best cranium protector. It has no killer app, except that at 14 ounces, it’s the lightest adjustable-fit helmet we tested. Like the POC, aeration is a DIY affair, making you remove (and try not to lose) vent plugs. It’s a more futureproof but far costlier choice for ounce-counters than the spartan Smith. [$299; shredoptics.com] Rating: 8 out of 10.

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This article originally appeared in the November 2009 issue of Men’s Journal.