The Giro Owen’s sleek design and premium features have earned it the top spot for us when it comes to snowsports headgear. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
In the world of ski and snowboard helmets, it’s not uncommon for tech-forward headgear to start to look a little, well, techy. Think heavy on the vents, a slider here, a slider there, a spoiler. Okay, maybe not a spoiler but you get the gist. All this to say it’s refreshing to discover a helmet that’s packed with features but finds novel ways to integrate them into a simple, streamlined aesthetic. Enter the Giro Owen Spherical Helmet ($240). Over the past two seasons, I’ve had the opportunity to put the Owen through its paces in a range of weather conditions – from warm spring days at Mammoth Mountain, California to a rain-turned-hail-turned-snow day in Park City, Utah. I’ve dipped into trees hunting for pow stashes, taking tree branches to the noggin and even taken a handful of unintended spills. The Owen has kept up through it all.
Bottom Line: After two full seasons on the mountain, I can say the Owen is the ideal helmet for in-bounds riders looking for a skate-inspired streamlined look that also packs all of the safety and comfort features of similar helmets in the same price range.
Related: Best Ski and Snowboard Helmets | Best Snowboard Goggles
Giro Owen Spherical Helmet
Price: $240
Construction: In-mold
Weight: 514 g
Ventilation: Eight vents, internally adjustable
Key Features: Mips Spherical, dialed fit, magnetic buckle, compatible with helmet audio systems
| Pros | Cons |
| Lightweight, low-profile design | Pricey compared to basic helmets |
| Spherical MIPS for next-level safety | Might be overbuilt for casual skiers and riders |
| Seamless goggle integration | Fewer vents compared to other helmets in the category |
| Premium comfort and fit | Interior venting switch is not ideal for gear fiddlers |
A seamless fit, even with my Smith goggles. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
My Experience with the Giro Owen Spherical
Looking at the Owen’s outline, the design is to the point. No frills, even. Instead of being heavily vented up and around the entire shell, the Owen features two vents up front and six in the back. Giro even bills the Owen’s overall design as being inspired by their Ledge helmet, which is a bang-for-buck favorite among park riders and skiers. Park helmets are often made with hard shell construction, which makes them heavier but more durable. And given the Owen’s look, I expected it to be a little heavy.
I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled it out of the box, though, and it was much lighter than expected. Before testing the Owen, I also had no experience with Giro’s Spherical technology. When I first got the helmet in my hands, though, I stuck a fist in the center and began wiggling the liner a bit and immediately understood what Giro means when they describe it as a “ball-and-socket design.” Moving in any direction, the liner had a bit of play within the shell, which is designed to redirect impact forces. Lastly, initial impressions on fit. I ordered the Giro Owen Spherical in a size large, which is what I would typically wear in a helmet or ball cap. This turned out to be ideal. With the rear dial fully cranked I could get away without wearing anything underneath except for a thin neck gaiter or loosen the fit if the day called for a beanie.
Clean lines are just one of the many things we like about the Giro Owen Spherical. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
Testing Grounds
Nestled in California’s Eastern Sierra, Mammoth Mountain was the primary testing ground for this test. While Mammoth is known for big storms that roll through contributing to long seasons and prodigious base depths, Mammoth is also known for its wind. Which means you’ve gotta find your happy place riding a chair through 40 mph gusts or you may be cutting your season short. High winds may be some of the best conditions to test a helmet, honestly. Like a leaky roof in the rain, a windy day will put a helmet’s venting to the test and quickly tell you if a helmet’s got any cold spots. Winds will also whistle in your ears testing the warmth of your ear pads while also showing you if your ear pads muffle outside noise too much so that you can’t hear your friend planning the next run with you on the chair.
I also had the opportunity to get a few days in at Park City, Utah over the last two seasons with one day in particular providing rain, hail, and snow in the course of several hours. Not great conditions for skiing and riding, but pretty great for putting a piece of gear to the test.
Giro’s In Form 2 Fit system provides a superbly comfortable fit and a wide range of adjustability. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
What I like about the Giro Owen
Fit & Comfort: Warm and Low-Profile
Over the course of two seasons, as expected, Mammoth had a handful of blustery days and the Giro Owen Spherical shined. The Ionic+ padding was thick enough to provide continued warmth for a full day on the mountain but not overly so as to cause overheating. In the past, I have always worn a beanie underneath my helmet for added warmth, but found the helmet was warm enough on its own in temps well into the low teens. Front vents were sufficient to prevent my goggles from fogging up both on sunny days and in low-visibility conditions. And I was super happy that even my non-Giro goggles (I have a pair of Smiths) had a seamless fit.
The Owen’s In Form 2 Fit system features a dial in the back that was easily adjusted with a pair of gloves on. Personally, I’ve had issues in the past with overly padded helmets that ride super high and have a bobblehead look. The Giro Owen’s integrated padding was soft and comfortable without being overly thick, contributing to a lower-sitting feel.
What sets the Owen apart, though, is Giro’s innovative Stealth Thermostat Control. Instead of switches to open and close vents located on the outer shell of the helmet, the Owen has a switch integrated on the inside of the helmet to maintain the understated look. In practice, I’m not one to keep adjusting my vents throughout the day – I keep ‘em closed for the most part (see also: 40 mph gusts) – so I was totally fine with this compromise. For other skiers and riders who like to adjust their vents throughout the day without needing to remove their helmet, sacrificing ease of use for style points may not be ideal.
Tech: Mips Spherical
As I mentioned at the top, prior to getting my hands on the Owen I wasn’t at all familiar with Giro’s Spherical tech. But one look under the hood and the function becomes clear. Developed in partnership with Mips, Giro’s Spherical Technology uses a ball-and-socket design with two separate liners to manage impact forces. The outer EPS layer protects against high-speed impacts while the inner EPP layer protects against slower-speed falls. The ball-and-socket design also allows the outer shell to rotate independently from the inner liner, reducing rotational impact forces. Most importantly, the addition of this cutting-edge tech goes virtually unnoticed on a normal day. The helmet doesn’t ride any higher than others, for example, and while there’s some play with the interior liner and outer shell, there’s no loose feel on top of the head.
Interior venting is great for those who don’t need to adjust while on the mountain, but for those who do, it complicates the process. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
Drawbacks of the Owen
Venting:
One of the major differences between the Giro Owen and other helmets in the same price point is venting. Compared, say, the Smith Vantage that features 21 adjustable vents, the Owen’s six vents will undoubtedly be less airy. For me, I don’t mind this. As a person that runs really cold on the mountain I’m hardly ever trying to dump heat. For others that tend to run really warm and are looking for a helmet that will keep them from sweating all day, the Owen’s venting system is likely not sufficient.
Additionally, the Owen’s Stealth Thermostat Control ain’t for everyone. Personally, I don’t fiddle much with my gear once I’m on the mountain. So, I was fine with setting the vents of the helmet either opened or closed for the day and leaving them. For others that prefer to adjust their gear throughout the day as conditions change, physically having to remove your helmet to open and close the vents of your helmet may not be ideal.
Cost:
At $240, the Giro Owen Spherical isn’t the cheapest helmet out there. But, when you consider what you’re getting—cutting-edge safety tech, lightweight design, supreme comfort, and top-tier ventilation—it’s a no-brainer investment for serious skiers and riders. For less experienced skiers and riders, though, the higher-end features may not be worth the added cost.
There’s plenty of awesome headgear on the market, but the Giro Owen is far and away one of our favorites. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
The Competition
While the Giro Owen Spherical is our pick for best overall ski and snowboard helmet for its many high-end features and emphasis on a straightforward aesthetic, skate-inspired helmets aren’t for everyone. Especially, if it means fewer features and less adjustability. Similarly, the lack of venting may work fine in bounds, but less so booting up a couloir when vents are your friend. On both fronts, the Smith Vantage may be a better option. While the Vantage retails for $30 more than the Owen Spherical it features 21 adjustable vents that open and close using two switches on the outer part of the shell, and has a plush, comfortable interior for all-day use. For off-piste enthusiasts who aren’t eager to buy a backcountry-specific helmet and an in-bounds one, the Vantage is a better quiver-killer option. Like the Giro Owen, a ball cap or beanie fits easily underneath, and the weight is comparable if a tiny bit heavier. An integrated visor is a nice touch for added shade in sunny conditions, as well as eliminating that darn gaper gap with non-Smith goggles.
For those looking for solid headwear under $200, the Smith Method Mips and Giro Ledge are great options as well. The Owen takes its design cues from the Giro Ledge, a hard shell helmet built with the needs of park skiers and riders in mind. The Ledge Mips retails for $105, which is a steal for a helmet equipped with Mips. For all-mountain skiers and riders who prefer cutting some weight with in-mold construction, the Smith Method is a great no-frills option. However, it lacks the adjustability of higher price point options. See more options in our guide to Ski and Snowboard Helmets.
For those interested in premium features without the techy look, the Giro Owen steals the show. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Giro Owen Spherical is an ideal in-bounds helmet for the style-oriented skier or rider looking for the premium features of a high-end helmet in an understated package. Spherical tech is completely unique to Giro and ups the ante on standard Mips, which has become an industry standard. Still, the Owen’s not the most airy helmet out there and it’s not as simple as other helmets to adjust on the fly. So, definitely consider these factors before pulling the trigger. For those looking for a helmet that perfectly blends style and performance, though, look no further.
CHECK PRICE ON EVOEditor’s Note: For more top-tier helmet options, check out our guide to The Best Ski/Snowboard Helmets, and don’t miss our guide to The Best Snowboard Goggles. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
The Best Snowboard Goggles of 2025
