REASONS TO BUY
Great price to value ratio
Covers all bases
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Not flashy
Nothing particularly innovative
Giro Nine MIPS Review
A great, basic helmet that gets the job done similar to higher end models but without any flash or pizzazz
Giro Nine MIPS
Credit: REI
RELATED: Best Ski Helmets
Our Verdict
Our Best Bang for Your Buck Award winner, the Giro Nine MIPS, is the epitome of the everyman helmet. It's been Giro's flagship since some of us were learning to ski as children. We wouldn't be opposed to a picture of the Nine being placed in the dictionary next to the term 'ski helmet.' Now Giro is stepping up its game. The latest iteration of the Nine now comes with MIPS technology, a system designed to reduce rotational forces on impact and lessen the chance of serious injury. It's a good helmet; it does its job well. It's not loaded with the bells and whistles of some of our higher-rated helmets. It's not pushing the envelope of technology and innovation. It's just a good, solid, reliable helmet with MIPS added in. While the Giro Nine MIPS would certainly work for anyone, it's probably best suited to the occasional skier or even weekend warriors. You're not going to break the bank purchasing one, and you're not going to feel let down rocking it at your local hill.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Giro Nine MIPS is an institution. It's a quality, reliable helmet, unlikely to truly wow you, but near-guaranteed not to let you down either.
Performance Comparison
This MIPS-equipped Giro helmet feels similar to the high-end models without the sticker shock.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Comfort
The Nine MIPS fits like your favorite pair of sweatpants. It's not some over-hyped micro-fiber, 1000 thread count affair, it's just comfortable. The in-form fit system is just another version of the cinch wheel at the back of many of the helmets we tested. We did find that, while similar, the various systems, all intended to personalize the fit of the inner liner, didn't always perform the same.
Comparatively, the Giro Zone scores well in that it really seemed to snug up the full circumference of your head. Oddly, Giro decided to go with a different inner fit system for the Nine, and while it's certainly not as impressive as the Zone, it still does a good job of providing a more custom fit. Finally, the ear pads are surprisingly soft and surprisingly thick (aka warm), a small but important feature.
Nothing too exciting in the comfort department, but also nothing that deterred us. On cold mornings, the thick earpads were a welcome addition.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Warmth
The Nine MIPS scored well on warmth, due in large part to the fact that, while there are twelve vents on the outer shell, you can seal off ten of those twelve with a slider on the top of the helmet. The only two that remain exposed to the elements are on the far back of the helmet out of the normal flow of air.
Given the number of them, there is a noticeable difference between having the vents open and having them closed. On a stormy day, we were perfectly warm in the Nine.
Staying warm on a stormy day in Tahoe under the Giro Nine.
Credit: Wes Berkshire
Ventilation
Again, this is your standard helmet. It's not going to blow you away with the amazing ventilation, but it's not going to leave you sweating like Santa's reindeer on Christmas Eve either. There are a fairly impressive 12 total vents on the Giro Nine MIPS, with two located under the front brim (think just above the top of your goggles).
They're not giant, air-sucking gaps of ventilation, but there are enough of them evenly spread around your head to keep you well vented in all but the balmiest of conditions. You may find yourself a little moist on those last days of the year in late April (or into May if you're lucky), but in just about any other condition, the venting on the Giro Nine MIPS will keep you cool.
The Giro Nine MIPS doesn't skimp on the vents, and nearly all of them can be open and closed with the slider on top of the helmet.
Weight
We were pleasantly surprised when the Giro Nine MIPS weighed in at a svelte 15.4 ounces. While certainly not our lightest helmet (check out the incredibly lightweight Salomon MTN Lab if you are seeking weight first), it certainly puts it on the lighter end of the scale. For many, this is something you won't even notice, but for smaller skiers or those who trek uphill in the backcountry with some frequency, the Nine is a solid choice. Again, as with so many other categories, it isn't the standard-bearer, but it puts in a solid effort.
Goggle Compatibility
The Giro Nine MIPS does a very nice job of integrating goggles with the helmet. A somewhat standard clip keeps your goggle strap in place in the back. Then there is a nice, though subtle, groove along the sides to keep your goggles at the right level, a feature we were a little surprised not to see in many of the other models we tested.
While there's no brim on the front of the helmet, there is an appreciable ledge for the top of your goggles to cozy up against. That ledge also features two vents that should align with the top of your goggles, helping to keep the air flowing through and the fog out.
We tried multiple goggles on while riding with the Giro Nine, and didn't have any issues. Quite goggle compatible!
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Style
Did we mention that the Giro Nine is the archetype on which all other helmets have evolved? It's the quintessence. The design hasn't changed immensely over the years. Not because the fine folks at Giro are lazy, but because it works. There's nothing flashy about the style and design of the Nine, but there's an element of classic going on here. Smooth from front to back, slight grooves leading in and out of the vents, nothing fancy, just a good-looking helmet.
When you jump off (little) kickers, people are less likely to notice your helmet's style. But we have no qualms with the looks of this one.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Value
Value is the domain of the Giro Nine and the crux of its Best Buy status. This is not a flimsy, concussion-from-a-pine-cone kind of helmet. The Nine is a great value. The MIPS technology alone proves that this is a quality skid lid, not to mention the myriad of features that, while not flashy or innovative, hold their own with many of the more expensive helmets we tested. Consider this, Giro has been making the Nine for over a decade, that's a proven track record. The bottom line is that this helmet is a solid reminder that you don't have to take out a second mortgage to have quality ski gear.
If it fits your head, it's more likely to fit your budget than several other models out there, while still performing admirably. A great product.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Conclusion
The Giro Nine MIPS is a great helmet at a great price. There aren't many skiers out there who wouldn't find it at least an adequate solution. If you're in the market, the Nine is worth a look.
—
Wes Berkshire
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