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 proprietary 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

Impact Test

While all helmets need to meet a minimum standard to be certified for downhill skiing, that doesn't mean all helmets offer the same protection. To test the helmet's protection capabilities, we went above and beyond; we purchased an extra one and sent it to ACT Lab, an officially certified testing facility.

Their team ran two impact tests using a drop tower, an accelerometer sensor-equipped dummy head, and the new helmet. The first test dropped the helmet from 1 meter (about 3 feet) to simulate forces you'd experience in a typical skiing fall. For the second test, they increased the height to 2.3 meters (about 7.5 feet) to replicate the stronger impacts that can happen during high-speed crashes, collisions, or terrain park accidents.

Using the two sets of raw data provided to us from the lab, we calculated a slow impact (1 meter drop) and fast impact (2.3 meter drop) score and then averaged them. The Ratio received one of the best scores on our impact tests, earning it a spot near the top of the field. If you're shopping for a ski helmet on a budget, but still want top-tier protection, this is the model for you.

Comfort

The Giro Ratio is a comfortable companion for a full day out riding. The helmet's medium-large profile and heavier weight held it back from being a top-scoring model in this metric. The lid felt more noticeable and cumbersome than other models within our reviews. We wore the helmet while at our favorite resorts and analyzed the fit both indoors and out to evaluate the level of padding and fit across various goggles sizes.

Brands often accommodate different head shapes. The Giro Ratio is molded to fit a long oval head shape and can accommodate other shapes quite well thanks to their adjustable dial system. Our team found that this model did not create pressure points on testers with round or intermediate oval head shapes.

The Ratio provides a comfortable full day out for most users. 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 mph. Their proprietary system provides plenty of adjustment to snug up to different head sizes. The dial is accessible and easy to turn while wearing gloves or mittens.

The Ratio easily accommodated large and medium-framed goggles but felt and looked bulky for smaller-frame goggles.

Our favorite helmets are easy to forget about over a riding day. The larger profile and heavier weight made this helmet noticeable throughout the day and hurt its overall score in this metric and appeal to picky and seasoned riders. This is a comfortable helmet perfectly suited for the casual rider.

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. We rode in all different types of weather and pushed the limits of the helmet's inherent warmth.

The helmet lining and adjustable vents help this helmet maintain heat, but it's not the warmest helmet we have tested. With the vents closed, we could comfortably ride without a skull cap on a 27-degree F morning; to be honest, this tester is a self-proclaimed “cold weenie.” The synthetic lining is about 1cm centimeter thick, which helps 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 from the looser fit of the ear pads.

Ventilation

While somewhat unexpected in a helmet at this price point and construction, the Ratio shines in ventilation. As discussed above, it has adjustable ventilation to dump or retain heat as needed. We used this helmet on warm spring days, walked up hills and stairs, and rode our bikes to evaluate the efficiency of the ventilation system.

The Ratio stands out for its price point and six adjustable vents. Most helmets with this feature come at a higher price point. The larger vents allow the helmet to dump heat effectively. The helmet liner is warm around the ears and temple area and begins to transition to more of a thick mesh near the top. This design helped 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 going to the car, you can place them in your jacket pocket to keep riding. The ventilation system of this helmet is also louder than that of some other helmets. Our test team noted that it had more wind noise at around 10mph.

Usability

The Ratio stood out for its premium feature set at a relatively modest price point. We loved the adjustable vents, adjustable dial system, and inclusion of the Mips protection system. We looked at numerous features and gauged the helmet's overall user experience to assess each model's usability.

The Ratio uses a traditional buckle that gives it an average on or off experience, which is more challenging to operate with gloves on when compared to a higher-end magnetic buckle. The adjustable vents offer easy access and temperature control. The sliding tab that controls the vents is easy to access and manipulate with a gloved hand.

The adjustable dial system is a standard in many helmets, but its inclusion, placement, and range improved the experience compared to other versions of this feature. Our team also appreciated the inclusion of the MIPS rotational impact system, which is mandatory in any helmet we recommend or use in our personal riding.

The Ratio is on the spectrum's heavier and more noticeable side. Its size and weight relegate it to primarily a resort helmet. It earned one of the lowest scores of the group.

Should You Buy the Giro Ratio MIPS?

The Ratio puts the icing on the value cake. Featuring 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. The Ratio is hard to pass up if we were shopping for a budget helmet. But if you have the funds to build your dream ski getup and want incredible ventilation and features, we recommend the Smith Vantage MIPS.