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K2 Scepter Snowsport Helmet

Cool Comfort

Louie Dawson making a spring 2004 backcountry mountain descent in Colorado -- with his K2 Scepter helmet.

Reviewed by Louie Dawson III             

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In the fourteen years of my life as a skier, I've owned a ton of helmets. I think I even remember my first one, a big blue bucket my dad bought me at a yard sale -- it made my head look like a record size mellon. In the last few years I've realized what I want in a helmet, and the K2 Scepter delivers. Here's why:

Ventilation:
My head gets hot -- uphill or down. The Scepter has six large vent holes in the top, with a sliding closure I can easily operate with gloves. Four other mesh covered holes toward the back also provide cooling. These are always open, but could be covered from the inside with a bit of duct tape. Adding to all that, the Scepter is lined with a cooling mesh material that really wicked the sweat off my head. The liner is easy to pull out and wash.

Look:
Scepter is compact and streamlined, with enough style to look good -- but not like Star Wars. The goggle strap groove in the back is big and deep, with a burly snap strap that's replaceable if it breaks. A big thing for me is goggle gap, and my goggles fit the Scepter with little or no gap at my forehead.

Weight:
I want my helmet light. Scepter's "Litecap" shell is a plastic shield that's molded over the foam so it's super strong but still feels as light as a hat.

Earflaps:
I like soft earflaps so I can easily slip my helmet in my backpack while I'm hiking up. Scepter's flaps are well padded, but still fold easily, and are removable for really hot days.

Favorite helmet? So far -- yep!

Overall Comfort:
Some of those helmets my dad made me wear really hurt my head. Some had hard places that dug into my scalp and forehead. Scepter is completely lined with soft stuff that feels great. As for fit, by getting the correct size and using the fit pads, it's perfect.

I can't think of anything I don't like about the Scepter -- except that my mom might make me wear that geeky sun visor you can get for it. Other than that, it's great!

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Helmet Testing Trip Memorial Weekend 2004 (click images to enlarge)
On the way up -- we saw a newborn elk on this ridge.	Louie at the summit, getting his tip money out for the guide.	This is Boone's back yard, thanks sir!
Boone cranks a classic arc.	Louie likes to feel the power in his skis.	Fine form -- lifelong skier Boone glides out.
Luke tests the fit of his helmet. He shot a bunch of video so we'll enjoy that soon!	The descent was so beautiful Boone said "let's do it again," so we climbed to near the top and yep, did it again!	Sun decking at the cabin after a long morning of ski mountaineering. The watermelon was tasty.
It wasn't so much a helmet "testing" trip as a helmet wearing trip. These kids only fall a few times a year and almost never biff in the backcountry -- but the upper face was rock hard and steep, and us dads were glad to see the brain buckets in use. As for testing helmets for protection -- we'll leave that up to the X-games snowsport ski and snowboard athletes.

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