Helmet and Kneepads

[fisheater]

I’ve been skiing more glades, and skiing a softer boot in more demanding conditions. So again I am thinking more about a helmet and kneepads.
For the helmet I’m leaning toward a bike helmet, only because I’m concerned about a regular helmet being too warm. The drawback being cold days, when my normal cold day knit hat would be too bulky.
Any helmet advice would be appreciated. I don’t know anything about them. I do know that even though I’m hard headed I’m no match for a tree.
As for the kneepads, I’m finding myself getting lower in the Alaska 75. I’m getting my knees into the powder. I may have distance to hard objects, but I would rather not find out unprotected. In reality my 196 FT X and Alaska combo really is pretty old school. So what are you wearing? I asked this before and @Verskis mentioned a soft mountain bike kneepad. I am hoping for one that feels like nothing, but protects like steel plate. I know that isn’t realistic.
Thank you,
Bob

[connyro]

When I used to wear knee pads I used the Black Diamond telekneesis https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/e ... -kneepads/
They are comfortable and effective and not too bulky. I now use them mainly for when I take the snowmobile out for exploring for new ski terrain. They really help when kneeling on the seat when maneuvering and also keep aging knees warm.

I can't stand skiing in the BC with a helmet on. Way to restricting and hot/sweaty. For me personally, I'm from the old school of thought that more and more protection leads to overconfidence and clumsiness which in turn leads to more risk taking and accidents

[fgd135]

I always wear kneepads and a helmet when riding lifts, and sometimes take 'em along in the backcountry. It's a great idea to carry some pads and a helmet for what you're doing, and it's a pretty common sight around here to see bc skiers, both tele, and those who have gone over to the dark side, wearing/carrying helmets.
Once, while tele skiing at Loveland Pass, a buddy of mine scraped a stump with a knee, no kneepads, with very bad results for him...but he can still walk, after his patella was replaced, which is good. Ever since then I've worn kneepads for the dh parts of tours.
Helmet? I personally think a modern ski helmet is more effective protection than a bike helmet, but any helmet is better than no helmet, imho, so wear the bike helmet if that's what you have.
We could discuss the pros and cons of helmet wear forever, but anecdotally, helmets are effective protection for some types of falls, certainly not for every accident, of course, or for everybody.
Strap this gear on your pack for tours, put it on for the dh laps, good luck!

[Woodserson]

I have tried both the Black Diamond and Voile kneepads.

The Black Diamonds are lighter and slimmer and fit inside pants with ease, but I have had mixed results with the straps. The straps go through a plastic hinge-door that snaps closed, and while it is secure it is a pain to put on and off multiple times (gloves have to come off). Also, I have found that the straps tend to wander a bit and the straps bunch up behind the knee after much moving around. I have stopped using these skiing and I use them around the house when I'm doing maintenance and am crawling around a bunch. YMMV on these, and these would be the less obtrusive kneepad. Their slimness is appealing.

The Voile pads are heavier and bigger and more akin to what you wear in construction or skateboarding. The straps tighten though an overall-pants buckle that clips in place on posts on the pad. They are much easier to take on and off, and the straps don't migrate to behind the knee. I now use these nordic skating and skiing despite the extra grams and bulk.

[grm]

Have used black diamonds and Arc’teryx. Prefer the Arc’teryx as I seem to get a bit of bursitis with the BD’s. Maybe I had them too snug, and though they cover the top of my knee better, I am more comfortable with the Arc’s.

And even if they don’t seem to cover the upper knee as well, they seem to do the job just fine. I’ve hit the ski as well as rocks and trees, and have had great protection.

I think somehow if the BD’s are comfortable for you they would give a bit better coverage.

[lowangle al]

I have an old pair of Marmut hard shells that were telemark specific. They have a pocket on the inside of the knee that came with a felt kneepad. I replaced them with a plastic knee pad and wore them at the resort. I was able to use the felt kneepads inside of my softshell pants by slipping them through a slit I made in the double fabric in the knee area. It was much more comfortable to have them attatched to my pants than my knees. You are probably familiar with the concept from carhart pants that have a slit for a kneepad. I rarely wear my hardshells and the softshell are too tight so I go without kneepads anymore, something I never would have done my first 35 years or so of skiing.

I've never worn a helmet but I can see the need for crowded resorts, tree skiing, or steeps with exposed rock.

[bornaginalpiner]

When I used to wear knee pads I used the Black Diamond telekneesis https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/e ... -kneepads/
They are comfortable and effective and not too bulky. I now use them mainly for when I take the snowmobile out for exploring for new ski terrain. They really help when kneeling on the seat when maneuvering and also keep aging knees warm.

I can't stand skiing in the BC with a helmet on. Way to restricting and hot/sweaty. For me personally, I'm from the old school of thought that more and more protection leads to overconfidence and clumsiness which in turn leads to more risk taking and accidents

I've been using the black diamond knee pads for a very long time and find them very comfortable. As for a helmet, I think a bicycle helmet would be fine in the right weather. Personally, I have a Giro helmet that has vents and that's very comfortable as well. It's basically a bicycle helmet when I take the ear pads off and open the vents. Actually, it's much cooler for your head than quite a few bicycle helmets I've seen. Just not as cool as my bicycle helmet.

[randoskier]

For a helmet maybe use a climbing helmet? The BD Half Dome at 50 bucks is a good cheaper one and it is adjustable to your head size. It also comes in orange to match the Paris pulk.

Helmets offer some but not total protection. My German friend hit his head on a snow bank alpine skiing in bad vizz in France about a decade ago. He was wearing a ski helmet and was not going exceptionally fast. He finished his ski vacation and then two days later had a massive stroke because it had been hemorrhaging since the fall. He was an orthopedic surgeon with a good practice, he is now a wine salesman. It took him more than a year in a Swiss specialized hospital to regain speech and full movement. He used to speak fluent German, English, and French. His German is 100% now, French is gone, and last time I saw him he told me his English is a "baustelle" (construction site). A brave guy, he lectures stroke survivors what to expect and how to roll with the changes in their new lives He began sking again about five years ago.

If your head is important enough to invest a hundred bucks- then a dual-use mountaineering/ski-touring helmet is probably your best bet- CAMP here in Italy makes the Speed 2 for about 99 bucks and at about the same price- the Petzl Meteor which looks better still.

(Meteor- "Meteor is the first CE-certified ski touring helmet. Optimal integration points for ski goggles or visors, making it a thoughtfully styled helmet that is optimized for ski touring. This helmet does not meet the requirements of the EN 1077 standard for alpine ski helmets.")

Here is the scoop on the Meteor 2019-


Mind your head.

[randoskier]

I still have my ancient Petzl Ecrins Roc helmet- I would never wear it skiing though, too dorky, has kept a few rocks n chunks of ice off of me head though.

[fisheater]

When I used to wear knee pads I used the Black Diamond telekneesis https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/e ... -kneepads/
They are comfortable and effective and not too bulky. I now use them mainly for when I take the snowmobile out for exploring for new ski terrain. They really help when kneeling on the seat when maneuvering and also keep aging knees warm.

I can't stand skiing in the BC with a helmet on. Way to restricting and hot/sweaty. For me personally, I'm from the old school of thought that more and more protection leads to overconfidence and clumsiness which in turn leads to more risk taking and accidents

I understand what you’re saying about overconfidence. However I wear a helmet on my mountain bike, I never needed it, but for riding fast on twisty tree lined trails it doesn’t hurt. The tree skiing I’m starting to do is way sketchier than my mountain bike trails. @randoskier started me looking at mountaineering helmets, which have more airflow. Believe me when I say I’m not a helmet guy, but for tree skiing if it can keep me from being a full time drooler it might be worth it