Giro Ratio MIPS Review

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 excellent 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 does not create any pressure points on testers with round or 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 accessible and easy to turn with gloves or mittens on. The harness is contoured nicely to cup the lower part of your head, making it more comfortable.

Riders who typically go without a helmet might find this helmet a little too bulky. This helmet's weight and profile are more noticeable when riding than other models in our review. But, 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 could ride in this helmet comfortably. For reference, this tester is a self-proclaimed "cold weenie." It earned an average score for the group.

The helmet lining and adjustable vents help this helmet maintain heat. It is not the warmest helmet we have tested, but you can quickly remedy that with an extra torso layer. The synthetic lining is about 1cm centimeter thick, which helped block some 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

While somewhat unexpected in a helmet of this price point and construction, the Ratio shines in ventilation. As discussed above, it has adjustable ventilation to dump or retain heat to your desire. Ten medium/large vents let this helmet dump heat relatively 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 expected. If you are having too much fun to go to the car, you can place them in a pocket of your jacket 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 the head. Unsurprising, given its injection-molded construction, the Ratio is on the heavier and more noticeable side of the spectrum. Its size and weight relegate it to primarily a resort helmet. It earned one of the lowest scores of the group.

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 of this helmet.

Goggle Compatibility

Manufacturers continue to place increased emphasis on ensuring a smooth, seamless intersection between our goggles 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. It 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 both skier and snowboarder groups, the main drawback to its style was its larger size. Ultimately, fashion is subjective, and we appreciate this helmet's simple, sleek look.

Should You Buy the Giro Ratio MIPS?

The Giro Ratio MIPS 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. Although it is not as techy or as comfortable as other helmets, it does its job well, and we highly recommend the Ratio to casual resort riders who want to stick to a budget.

What Other Ski Helmets Should You Consider?

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. But if you have the funds to build your dream ski getup, and want the best of the best, we recommend the Smith Vantage MIPS