Helmets

Best Lightweight Ski Helmets for Backcountry Touring

Updated October 1, 2026 · By Kyle Joeckel

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — some links are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. More

For most backcountry skiers, the Salomon MTN Lab is the best all-around lightweight touring helmet because it's dual-certified for skiing and climbing and ventilates well on long skin tracks; go with the Black Diamond Vapor if weight is your only priority and you're willing to sacrifice some insulation.

A resort helmet built for chairlift laps is overkill weight-wise once you're putting in vertical under your own power. I don't tour nearly as much as some of my friends back in Colorado, but every one of them has made the switch to a dedicated lightweight touring lid, and the difference on a long approach is obvious.

Our top pick · Best overall

Salomon MTN Lab

Check price on Amazon →

Compare at a glance

Best for	Product	Why it stands out
Best overall	Salomon MTN Lab	Dual-certified for skiing and climbing	Check price →
Best ultralight	Black Diamond Vapor	Extremely low weight for a certified helmet	Check price →
Best for mixed resort and touring use	Smith Vantage MIPS	MIPS rotational protection system	Check price →
Best budget-friendly option	POC Obex Spin	Good ventilation for aerobic uphill effort	Check price →

What to look for

Actual weight in grams, not marketing language like 'lightweight' - the best touring helmets land meaningfully lighter than standard resort helmets, often in the 300-450g range
Dual certification for both skiing (EN 1077) and climbing (EN 12492) if you're doing any technical skinning or booting where you might also use the helmet with a harness
Ventilation design - look for large fixed vent ports or hybrid shells rather than a sealed resort-style shell, since body heat builds up fast on a skin track
Compatibility with goggles and a headlamp clip, since touring often means pre-dawn starts and you don't want a helmet that fights your goggle strap
Avoid uncertified off-brand 'ultralight' helmets with no stated EN rating - that missing certification number is the giveaway that the foam liner hasn't been tested to the same impact standard

Best overall

Salomon MTN Lab

Purpose-built for ski mountaineering with dual EN 1077/EN 12492 certification and solid ventilation, this is the helmet most touring partners I know actually reach for. It's not the one to buy if you mostly ski resort laps and only tour a handful of days a year - a standard resort helmet will serve you better there.

Dual-certified for skiing and climbing
Ventilated shell for uphill breathability
Lightweight construction without feeling flimsy

Check price on Amazon →

Best ultralight

Black Diamond Vapor

This is about as light as a certified touring helmet gets, which makes it a favorite for spring couloir missions and long approaches, but the minimal foam and open-vent design means it runs cold and offers less cushioning than bulkier options - skip it if you ski mostly in deep cold or want more protective coverage.

Extremely low weight for a certified helmet
Climbing and skiing dual certification
Minimalist shell designed for long approaches

Check price on Amazon →

Best for mixed resort and touring use

Smith Vantage MIPS

Heavier than a dedicated touring helmet but with Smith's AirEvac ventilation system and MIPS protection, this is the better pick if you split your season between resort laps and the occasional tour and don't want to own two helmets.

MIPS rotational protection system
Adjustable AirEvac ventilation channels
More ear and head coverage than minimalist touring helmets

Check price on Amazon →

Best budget-friendly option

POC Obex Spin

A lighter, well-ventilated helmet from POC's lineup that costs less than their top-tier touring-specific models, making it a reasonable entry point if you're touring occasionally and don't need a climbing certification. It lacks the dedicated mountaineering certification of the MTN Lab or Vapor, so hardcore technical tourers should look elsewhere.

Good ventilation for aerobic uphill effort
SPIN rotational protection technology
Lighter than most standard resort helmets

Check price on Amazon →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a special helmet for backcountry ski touring?

You don't strictly need one, but a dedicated touring helmet is noticeably lighter and better ventilated than a standard resort helmet, which makes a real difference on long skin tracks where you're generating body heat and climbing for hours instead of riding a lift.

What does EN 12492 certification mean on a ski helmet?

EN 12492 is the European climbing helmet standard, and helmets dual-certified with both EN 1077 (ski) and EN 12492 (climbing) are rated for impact protection in mountaineering-style falls, which matters if your touring involves any booting, scrambling, or glacier travel alongside skiing.

Are lightweight touring helmets as protective as regular ski helmets?

Certified lightweight touring helmets meet the same EN 1077 ski safety standard as standard resort helmets, they just use less padding and more ventilation to cut weight, so protection levels are comparable for ski-specific impacts even though they may feel less plush.

Can I use a touring helmet at the resort too?

Yes, most lightweight touring helmets work fine at the resort, though they typically run colder and have less ear coverage than a dedicated resort helmet, so if you're skiing lift-served powder days in deep cold, a helmet like the Smith Vantage MIPS with more coverage will be more comfortable.

Why do touring helmets weigh less than resort helmets?

Touring helmets cut weight by using less foam padding, more open venting, and often a hybrid or in-mold shell construction instead of a thicker hard-shell design, all of which reduces the strain on your neck during long uphill climbs.

More guides

Best Ski Helmets for Big Heads Best Ski Helmets for Glasses Wearers Best Women's Ski Helmets With a Real Ponytail Fit The Best Ski & Snowboard Helmets Best Action Camera Mounts for Ski Helmets Best All-Mountain Ski Bindings for Advanced Skiers

As an Amazon Associate, Summit Vetted earns from qualifying purchases — at no additional cost to you. Links on this page are affiliate links; picks are based on real, verifiable product details and honest opinion. We never invent ratings or reviews.