Giro Ratio MIPS Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Affordable, adjustable vents, MIPS, adjustable dial
Cons: Heavy, larger profile
Manufacturer: Giro
Our Verdict
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Giro Ratio MIPS | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | | | |
| Price | $99.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $143.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $98.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $77.22 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $69.95 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Affordable, adjustable vents, MIPS, adjustable dial | Comfortable, warm, vents well, style points, compatible with most goggles | Comfortable, warm, well vented, great hearing ability, easy to adjust | Protective features, lightweight, adjustable ventilation, versatile | Simple, comfortable, protective |
| Cons | Heavy, larger profile | Pricey | Runs a bit small, heavier than most | Earpads are challenging to remove, dial hard to use with gloves, style | Fixed open vents, goggle compatibility |
| Bottom Line | Equipped with MIPS, adjustable vents, and an adjustable dial, this model has high-end features and strong performance at a stellar price | Deemed best of the best by our testers, there isn't a better combination of performance available from any model we have tested | Revolutionary helmet that takes safety and style to the next level | Equally at home on the skin track as the resort, we reached for this friendly-priced helmet frequently on ski tours | A protective, rugged helmet offered at a very reasonable price |
| Rating Categories | Giro Ratio MIPS | Smith Vantage MIPS | Scott Symbol 2 Plus D | Smith Mission MIPS | Giro Ledge |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Ventilation (20%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Goggle Compatibility (10%) | |||||
| Style (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Giro Ratio MIPS | Smith Vantage MIPS | Scott Symbol 2 Plus D | Smith Mission MIPS | Giro Ledge |
| Measured Weight (in ounces) | 21.7 oz | 17.7 oz | 19.8 oz | 16.9 oz | 17.0 oz |
| Adjustment System | In form dial | Boa Fit System | RAS 2 system | Adjustable Dial Fit System | Removable Auto Loc 2 Fit System |
| # of Vents? | 10 | 20 | 44 | 18 | 8 |
| Number of Sizes | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Removable Ear Covers? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Goggle Attachment? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Visor? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Audio Compatibility? | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Certifications | CE EN 1077 | ASTM F 2040, CE EN 1077 Class B | EN1077:2007, Class B, EN12492:2012 | ASTM F 2040, CE EN 1077:2007 CLASS B | ASTM F2040-11/CE EN1077 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Giro Ratio stands out for incorporating "premium" features without the high dollar MSRP. This injection-molded helmet offers adjustable vents, MIPS, and Giro's In-Form dial adjustment system. It can hang with the high-priced models in our review fleet and is great for the budget-minded weekend skier.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
The Giro Ratio is molded to fit a long oval head shape but can accommodate other shapes quite well. The helmet had no pressure points on any testers who have round and intermediate oval head shapes.
The Ratio can provide a comfortable full day out for most users. The soft ear pads and In-Form fit system enhance the user experience. The earpads have a nice next to skin feel and are snug but do not squeeze the ears. However, we found a slight breeze on our ears when traveling at speeds above 20. The In Form System provides plenty of adjustment to snug up to different head sizes. The dial is very accessible and easy to turn with a glove or mittens on. The harness is contoured nicely to cup the lower part of your head, making it more comfortable.
Riders who typically ride without a helmet might find this helmet a little too bulky when riding. This helmet's weight and profile are more noticeable when riding than other models in our review. Overall, this is a comfortable helmet for most riders' needs.
Warmth
The Giro Ratio provides enough warmth that most people should be able to ski in slightly below freezing weather without a buff or beanie. On a 27-degree F morning, our tester was able to ride in this helmet comfortably. For reference, this tester is a self-proclaimed "cold weenie."
The helmet lining and adjustable vents help this helmet maintain heat, but it is not the warmest helmet that we have tested. The synthetic lining is about 1cm centimeter thick, which helped block some of the air from the front intake vents. Six of the helmet's ten vents can be open or closed to trap the heat in and block any cold air from getting to the top of your head when riding. On cold days, its warmth was hindered by the slight breeze we felt on our ears.
Ventalation
For a helmet of this price point and construction, it shines in ventilation. As discussed above, it has adjustable ventilation to dump or retain heat to your desire. It has ten medium-large sized vents that let this helmet dump heat rather efficiently.
The helmet liner is warm around the ears and temple area but begins to transition to more of a thick mesh near the top. This design seemed to help heat escape faster than those that maintained consistent thickness. The earpads are very easy to remove if the day is warmer than you were expecting. If you are having too much fun to go to the car, you can place them in a medium-sized pocket to keep riding.
This helmet did have a moderate amount of wind noise when riding at speeds above ten mph.
Weight
For weight, we consult the scales and pay hyperattention to how each helmet feels on our head. The Ratio is on the heavier and more noticeable side of the spectrum, given its injection-molded construction. Its size and weight relegate it to primarily a resort helmet.
A size Medium in the Ratio came in at 21.7 oz on our scale. That is not outrageous given its construction style and feature set, especially compared to past models. However, we found its large profile and weight to be the primary cons associated with this helmet.
Goggle Compatibility
Manufacturers continue to place increased emphasis on ensuring a smooth, seamless intersection between goggle and helmet. The Ratio always avoided the infamous "gaper gap" and aesthetically would be the most compatible with spherical lens googles.
We never had a gaper gap when wearing this helmet. That is the main priority of this metric. This helmet's large profile overhung the frame of our cylindrical (flat) goggles by a half-inch or so. While purely aesthetic, we feel the curved lens goggles will co-exist with this model better. It also has two front vents to direct fresh air into your goggles and minimizes the chances of fogging up.
This helmet has a pretty standard goggle retainer system. It's a medium density plastic hook to trap your goggle strap. This provides reasonable goggle security but could be prone to breaking in colder weather if handled aggressively.
Style
The Ratio finds a good balance between being skate and skier style. We polled friends and fellow riders to gauge the style of each helmet. The Ratio received middle road styles reviews by boarders and skiers.
The Ratio comes in several color options, helping to match your outerwear if that matters to you. Take your pick. Across between both skiers and snowboarders, the main drawback to its style was its larger size. Ultimately, style is subjective, and we appreciate the simple, sleek look of this helmet.
Value
This product packs a lot of value into its approachable price tag. If we were shopping for a budget helmet, the Ratio is hard to pass up. When your friends see the yellow MIPS dot and adjustable vents, they will think you spent more money than you did. That is the pinnacle of a good value.
Conclusion
The Giro Ratio MIPS takes puts the icing on the value cake. Featured with MIPS, adjustable vents, a warm liner, and an adjustable dial system, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better value.
— Isaac Laredo