My Favorite Hat is a Helmet!

Note: This is a revised and updated version of a post previously published on November 22, 2014, but it seems worth sharing again, while a lot of the US is in the midst of a snowy winter.

I hardly ever wear a hat

I like hats - but I look terrible in them.  Something about the shape of my head and my hair just means that they never fit right.  I rarely wear a hat.

But - - there is one exception.  My ski helmet!

I never wore a helmet when I was younger

When I learned to ski as a pre-teen, there was no such thing as a ski helmet.  About 20 years ago, you might have spotted a ski helmet worn in a ski resort terrain park; then parents gradually started buying them for their small children.  

An article published by the International Skiing Association, Ski Helmets, How We Got Here, states “from 1995 until 2010, helmet use increased from 5% to 76%. Over that period, the rate of serious head injuries dropped by about 65%.” That's a pretty impressive statistic!

Not exactly cute, but it makes you look smart when you wear one

Gradually, more and more skiers over the past few decades have begun to realize helmets are a good way to protect their brainpower.  I was finally one of them.

It took a bit of convincing - I actually bought several but returned them without ever wearing them. I just felt really ugly every time I tried them on.

Finally, I found one that really fit, and I conquered my vanity. It has adjustable air vents for temperature control, a removable (washable) liner, warm ear muffs, and (my favorite) a dial to loosen or tighten the fit.  (Giro calls this their “in-form fit system.”)

Helmets are available at a wide range of prices.  

Even the most expensive price tag would seem like pennies, however, compared to a hospital bill ...  or a casket. 

The very first time I wore my ski helmet, I became a convert.  

Right away, I realized there are three good reasons to wear a helmet

1. A helmet keeps your head warm
2. A helmet makes you look smart
3. A helmet can help prevent a head injury

Instead of feeling like I looked silly, I felt “cool.” I was now one of the smart people on the slopes,- protecting our heads! My helmet was light-weight, comfortable all day, and kept me warmer than any other head covering I had previously worn.

Now I never waste time looking for the right wool hat, while getting ready to ski.  

I just grab my helmet.

Whether you plan to ski, snowboard, or sled, please put on a helmet before you slide down those snowy slopes.

 It's the smartest, most comfortable, and safest thing to do.

So, what's my second-favorite hat?  My horseback riding helmet, of course!

One final but important point: 

While wearing a helmet may protect your head in a fall or crash, it is not a guarantee against injury. Always ski, snowboard, or sled responsibly, don’t take risks that exceed your abilities, and don’t ever let a helmet give you a false sense of security.

Do you wear a helmet when you are doing any sports?

I linked up this post with the Style Me Bloggers: when they asked bloggers to write about their favorite hats.)  

This post contains affiliate links. The opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own.