The Sweet Protection Grimnir leads the brand’s offerings with durability and advanced protection. And we got a first look test at the next-generation Grimnir, which is stronger but 25% lighter than its predecessor.
Ski helmets obviously protect skiers from some impacts. But for me, they’re also a key layer to protect against wind, cold, and the errant branch that might whack me while I’m ripping through the trees.
So when Sweet Protection reached out saying its top-of-the-line helmet is getting a lot lighter, I listened up. I’ve been skiing with a Grimnir helmet for a few years now, and I love the comfort, warmth, and durability of the helmet. It stands apart with “penetration proof” vents, which have a stainless steel grill to prevent rocks from punching through in case of a bad fall.
And now, all that goodness weighs a lot less than before.
I had a chance to ski in the new Grimnir 2Vi MIPS on a very windy, somewhat cold day at Eldora Mountain in Colorado last week. And my impression of the new helmet is excellent. Read on for my initial testing impressions of the Sweet Protection Grimnir 2Vi MIPS.
Sweet Protection Grimnir 2Vi MIPS Ski Helmet
Sweet Protection intends the Grimnir as a big-mountain freeride helmet. It’s very tough, with a carbon fiber shell meant to take big hits. Unlike a lot of helmets, a protective grid covers even the vents to prevent sharp rock penetration in event of a crash.
But on this version of the Grimnir, a new type of pre-preg carbon fiber “variable elasticity shell material” faces the elements. Coupled with a “multi-density shock absorbing liner” and two-layer MIPS, this helmet claims a lot of tech improvements.
What do they mean? Well, in short, the elastic shell and shock-absorbing liner work with the shape of the head to minimize forces felt in a fall.
I’m not going to go whack my head into rocks to find out. But Sweet Protection’s claims (versus its previous models) are impressive.
First Look Review: Grimnir 2Vi MIPS
So, how does it work in the field? In a couple of words, very well.
First, the helmet is much lighter than the last version of the Grimnir. This is important because, while the Grimnir was well-received by customers, one major gripe was the weight. Now, it weighs in at about 630 g (1 pound 6 ounces), down from 700 g for the old model. This is still on the heavier end of the ski helmet spectrum, but it’s much closer in line with competitors.
The new model also has 10 closable, penetration-proof vent ports, an excellent update from the old model. I shut them during the extremely windy testing period and appreciated the extra warmth on my head.
A few other notable updates include an optimized fit for Sweet Protection ski goggles. I found in testing that they did fit very well into the helmet, with zero gaps and no air infiltration to my forehead, even when skiing fast in cold weather.
Overall, the new Grimnir is a very comfortable helmet. I only had a few hours of testing in this model, which hits the market in fall 2021, but so far it looks promising. It’s an expensive helmet with a $400 price tag. So it’s not likely to be common on the mountain.
But for those looking for a super-protective lid for big terrain, it will be worth investigating.
