The Salomon Mtn Lab ($290) was one of the first fully backcountry-focused ski helmets released, and still a stalwart of the category. It prioritizes ventilation and low weight over plushness and warmth, which is par for the course for touring-specific lids. Even so, it offers decent comfort and coziness thanks to a removable merino wool liner and ear pads, which many touring helmets don't have (including the rival Smith Summit MIPS). Twelve always-open vents provide excellent airflow, and at 14.1 ounces, it’s one of the lightest helmets available. While it lacks MIPS and isn’t super durable, it makes up for that with triple-norm certification and a focus on versatility.
Comfort
Warmth
Ventilation
Weight & Bulk
Durability
Sustainability
Weight
14.1 oz.
Construction
In-mold
Vents
12 (fixed)
MIPS
No
Pros
Cons
Salomon Mtn Lab
For this season's top lids, see our guide to the Best Ski Helmets.
For an ultralight helmet built with ski mountaineering in mind, the Salomon Mtn Lab is surprisingly comfortable. I wouldn’t call it plush, but the removable merino wool liner and ear pads give it a softer, more wearable feel than other weight-conscious models such as the Smith Summit MIPS (which lacks a liner) and the Giro Grid Spherical (which has a removable liner but isn’t as cushy). On long descents, I barely noticed it on my head, and I appreciated the micro-adjustable fit dial, which let me fine-tune the snugness to match my layers and confidence level.
That said, the comfort is still minimal compared to resort-focused lids such as the Smith Level MIPS. The padding is thin, and the ear flaps barely cover my ears. On cold days, I wore a balaclava underneath to help trap heat and block drafts, which worked well but wasn’t exactly luxurious. I also wish the helmet’s shape hugged my head a bit lower—it sits relatively high, and the rounded profile made it feel slightly bulky, even if this helmet isn’t heavy at all. The fit system worked smoothly, and the dial was easy to operate when I had gloves on, and I liked having the option to swap in the included summer liner when conditions warmed up. Overall, while the Salomon Mtn Lab can’t match a dedicated resort lid for luxury, you shouldn’t mind wearing it if you’re booting up a couloir for an hour.
The Mtn Lab wasn’t built to keep your head toasty—it was built to keep you cool when your heart’s pumping on an ascent. Between the dozen always-open vents and the minimalist padding, this helmet runs colder than any resort model I’ve worn. On spring ski tours or sunny, high-output days, that’s a major win. But when the temperature drops, you’ll need to supplement it with a beanie or balaclava if you want to stay comfortable.
I used this helmet on a range of days, from sunny laps to below-freezing mornings. The vent design dumped heat quickly, and I never had to worry about sweat buildup or goggle fog. But wind and snow also found their way in pretty easily, even with the ear pads installed. I don’t run particularly cold, so I made it work—but I definitely wouldn’t call this a cozy ski helmet. Still, it outperformed the Smith Summit in this regard, thanks to its merino liner and slightly better coverage.
The Salomon Mtn Lab excels when it comes to airflow. With six massive vents on top and six more on the sides—all 12 are fixed and always open—this helmet is tailor-made for long climbs, warm temps, and aerobic backcountry travel. I never overheated while wearing it, even when I had a hood on, and my goggles stayed fog-free all day.
Compared to the Summit, which has 33 tiny vents, the Mtn Lab’s fewer-but-larger openings actually feel more effective in real-world use. (It also feels airier than the Giro Grid, which has some adjustable vents.) There’s no adjustability, so you’ll get a constant stream of airflow whether you want it or not—on spring missions and steep bootpacks, I found that to be a benefit. If ventilation is at the top of your list, this helmet delivers.
At 14.1 ounces, the Mtn Lab is one of the lightest helmets I’ve ever worn. It’s tied with the Giro Grid and Smith Method MIPS as the lightest model Better Trail has tested, and it's a couple of ounces lighter than the Summit, which weighs 1 pound. That featherweight feel was noticeable both on my head and on my pack—it never felt like a burden to carry or wear.
What keeps the score in this category from being a perfect 5 is the Mtn Lab’s bulk. The helmet has a tall, rounded profile that sits higher on my head than I’d like. It doesn’t pack down as cleanly as the Summit either, especially with the liner and ear pads attached—the Summit’s fit dial compresses down nicely so that it lies flat on your pack, and it lacks ear pads. The Mtn Lab thus presents a bit of a tradeoff: You get warmth and removable components, but at the cost of an increased silhouette. Still, for most ski tourers, the low weight alone should be enough to justify the Mtn Lab’s place in your kit.
Here’s where the Mtn Lab stumbles. Its polycarbonate in-mold construction is great at maintaining a minimal weight, but it’s also delicate. My helmet arrived with a dent in the shell, and I noticed another small deformation after just a few days of light use. That doesn’t inspire confidence, which is always a bummer, but especially so given the Mtn Lab’s high price tag (by comparison, the hardier Summit costs $15 less at $235).
The plastic chin buckle also felt a little cheap compared to the magnetic systems found on pricier helmets, like the Grid. Everything else—from the adjustment dial to the shell materials—seemed well-built and functional, but the durability just isn’t on par with hybrid or ABS-based ski helmets. If you treat the Mtn Lab gently and store it carefully, you’ll probably get a few seasons out of it. But if you’re rough on your gear, this might not be the best choice.
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Longevity
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Recycled Materials
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Responsible Manufacturing
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Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
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This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
Merino Liners and Seasonal Options
The Salomon Mtn Lab ships with both a cozy merino wool winter liner and ear pads, as well as a breathable summer liner. Both liners are easy to swap in and out, and the ear flaps attach securely but come away cleanly for warm days or if you prefer to layer with a beanie.
Triple-Certification
This helmet is certified for skiing, climbing, and biking, which grants it added appeal for ski mountaineers or anyone using their helmet across multiple sports. It’s rare to find a model that checks all three boxes; the Grid, for example, is only ski certified, and the Summit lacks biking certification.
No MIPS
This is one of the few high-end helmets that doesn’t include MIPS or any rotational impact system, which the Grid and Summit both have. While that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker for some backcountry skiers, it’s worth noting for folks who prioritize head protection on high-speed descents.
My head measures about 22.25 inches, and I tested the Salomon Mtn Lab in a medium. The fit was spot on with the winter liner and ear flaps installed, and I never had to max out the dial. Even without the padding, it stayed in place well enough.
Compared to the lower-profile Smith Summit, the Mtn Lab felt taller and more bulbous, both visually and in how it rode on my head. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but if you’re sensitive to fit or aesthetics, that shape might take some getting used to.
Smith Summit MIPS ($235): Lightweight and Feature-Lite
The Summit MIPS is slightly heavier (1 lb.) but more compact and folds flatter for stashing on your backpack. It has more always-open vents—33 to be exact—but none are as large as those on the Mtn Lab. While the Summit includes MIPS, it lacks both a liner and ear flaps, making it colder and less comfortable if you want to push the helmet into resort use. The Summit is also more durable, though, thanks to its hybrid shell. If nabbing a pure backcountry bucket is your priority, we’d pick this one over the Mtn Lab—but the latter helmet is more versatile overall, including being bike-certified. For more, read our Smith Summit review.
Smith Method MIPS ($145): Light, Affordable, and Resort-Ready
If you’re looking for a helmet that straddles both resort and backcountry use, the Method MIPS might be a smart budget pick. It weighs the same as the Mtn Lab, but it’s warmer and more comfortable thanks to a plush liner. That said, it lacks a dial fit system and isn’t meant for backcountry skiing. It doesn’t vent nearly as well, and lacks a removable liner. For casual users or those who don’t want to spring for a dedicated touring lid, the Method offers solid performance at a much lower price—but doesn’t match the Mtn Lab’s out-of-bounds focus. To learn more, check out our Method MIPS review.
One of the first backcountry-focused ski helmets, the Mtn Lab is still a stalwart of the category. It prioritizes ventilation and low weight over plushness and warmth, yet still offers a level of comfort and versatility not often seen among touring lids. With triple certification, it can also be worn for biking and climbing.
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Certified for skiing and mountaineering and with an exceptionally light, packable build, this helmet is a backcountry specialist. It’s our current favorite for big days touring and ski mountaineering, but its minimalist build is out of place at the resort.
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Warmth
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Light and low profile, the Smith Method bucks the trend of large and bulky entry-level lids. You also get Smith’s premium energy-absorbing Koroyd and a cozy interior, but we missed having a micro-adjustable fit system.
Comfort
Warmth
Ventilation
Weight & Bulk
Durability
Sustainability
If you’re a weight-conscious ski tourer or ski mountaineer looking for a helmet that vents well, provides confidence if you’re cruising up a couloir, and stays comfortable during long descents, the Salomon Mtn Lab is a top-tier option. Its merino liner, triple-norm certification, and smart fit system make it versatile and capable in a wide range of terrain. But its dent-prone shell and lack of MIPS could give pause to more safety-conscious skiers or anyone who’s hard on their gear. Overall, for folks seeking a breathable, reliable ski helmet to anchor a dedicated touring kit—and who don’t mind babying it a little—the Mtn Lab is still one of the best options out there.
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