We may be entering an era where the debate on helmet wearing in snow sports moves on from whether skiers and boarders should or should not be required to wear one on personal safety versus personal freedom grounds, to one where helmet wearing has become 'the norm' and the question is about 'helmet spec.'
As with cars, manufacturers seem to be moving beyond talk of the safety aspects of helmets and instead are trying to out do one another on the technology they can pack in to this solid piece of kit more and more of us are choosing to put on our heads.
Helmet cams and helmets with sound systems connected to the ear pads have been with us for several seasons now and this winter Salomon introduced an advanced system of venting they described very much like an air con system for cars, or 'the ski helmet cabriolet' as they termed their Alium Thermo Control System (TCS) which will be on more of their range next winter.
And something that Bollé are claiming as a world first will also be with us soon ready for 2012-13 – the heated helmet.
Yes, thanks to Bollé your ears and head need never get cold on the slopes again if you invest £180 (RRP) in the company's new Synergy B-Hot Helmet (available in black or white).
The helmet uses a 'Therm-ic' heating system integrated into the ear pads making it invisible and the rechargable lithium battery will provide up to six hours of operation. Front and rear vents you're your head from over heating if you get too hot.
Throw on to your helmeted-head extra ski kit such as GPS enable Goggle which tell you where you are on the planet, your altitude, speed and heart rate in a mini VDU by your eyes and the safety issues may begin to become less one of protecting your head and more one of keeping aware of the world around you in your hi tec helmet.