Anyone a non-helmet enthusiast?

I ride horses: I have worn a helmet for 44 years. I ride a bike: I have worn a helmet for 10 years. I ski and I've now worn a helmet for 3 seasons. It's not about peer-pressure: it's not about fitting in or going with the trend. For me, it's about realising that my decision to NOT do something reasonable to protect my own safety when doing something risky is a pretty big insult to any who loves me and who would be left to care for me if I needed 24/7 care due to an injury which I might have avoided by just putting the damn thing on. *shrugs* Just my two-penn'orth ...

I have personally been put under peer group pressure, and suffered comments like "dont you value you brain?" which nag away at you.

By disrespect, I mean look at those who have suffered trauma or injury, or worse still those who have died. Yes I think the media over dramatise cases that are high profile like Natasha Richardson and then theres always a campaign in the media to get people wearing helmets afterwards. Wearing a helmet can save your life, but look at the unfortunate case of Schumaccher - what life does he now have, and people have already said it may have been better had he NOT been wearing a helmet as he would have sadly died but it would have saved a lot of possible future heartbreak and stress for him and his family.

What did it for me was watching THE CRASH REEL about Kevin Pearce, real life documentary that went horribly wrong and shows the effects on him and his family and their lives. I felt disrespectful to people like him by dissing helmets.

However, I do go back and agree with what Ian says, that its personal choice and I would happily leave the lid at home and ski without it many a day. I do however think it will in time be made compulsory so the choice will be taken away from us all, which is sad.

How do all you non lid wearers get insurance? I probably wouldn't have started wearing a helmet if my insurance policy hadn't stipulated that I have to but now that I do the helmet doesn't really bother me that much. The worst bit is having to use goggles instead of sunglasses. I had just spent hundreds on a pair of Oakleys with prescription lenses but now I can't wear them because they look stupid with my helmet!

My insurance ...from my bank,,,doesn't mention helmets at all...

Skied for 30 years no helmet. Pulled of chair lift last year, smacked head, sparko for 2 mins I'm told. Now have helmet because of someone else's inability to ride a chair lift. Find it ok if a tad warm at times. I have spotted more and more insurance company's insisting on helmets so I fear the day will come when if you want insurance it will be compulsory.

My insurance stipulates nothing about wearing a lid. But that will all change in time I am sure.
Thats what I hate, the pressure certain groups put others under.

I'm 6'9" tall & all the marks are on the back of my helmet where people have pulled the bar down on a chair lift & not checked or looked!!
My wife has twice had someone let their ski's slip & hit her on her head, whilst waiting for a gondola .
It's not always about the skiing, I just feel that it's about reducing the odds.
I think it's the best £100 I've spent on the 2 helmets, a bit like insurance, when something's happened you're glad you've got it.
At the end of the day it's your personal choice, they certainly don't make you a better skier.

As a very average skier I actually found that a helmet gave me more confidence and did actually help my skiing by increasing the speed that I felt comfortable with and was clearly capable of!....best thing I ever did was to get a helmet and I don't even notice I have it on most of the time.....give it a try!!!