Do Helmet and Goggle Brands Need to Match?
Not necessarily. While helmets and goggles from the same brand are designed to fit together seamlessly — often called a “lock up” — you can absolutely mix and match brands as long as the fit checks out. The key is alignment, not branding. You just need to make sure there’s no major forehead gap, the sides line up well, and the frame size matches your helmet. That’s what keeps you warm, fog-free, and comfortable.
Love your goggles but know in your heart it’s time for a new helmet? It is possible to upgrade your safety gear without giving up your favorite goggles.
How do I know I need a new helmet?
We will say that finding a helmet that fits correctly and has up to date safety standards is more important than holding on to your old goggles. Helmets should not be too big or too small. They should not cause any pain from pressure points, similar to how a baseball cap worn too tightly would cause discomfort. Helmets should have MIPS technology or a similar protection system for rotational crashes. If a helmet has protected you from a hard crash, or cracked, or been damaged in any way, it’s served it’s purpose and should be replaced. Lastly, the general rule of thumb is that a helmet should be between 3-5 years old.
Helmets and Goggles aligning is called a “Lock Up.” There are a few things to look for when mixing and matching your helmet to your goggles.
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Forehead Gap
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Side Alignment
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Frame Size
Forehead Gap
This is the most noticeable and arguably one of the more important checks for a helmet and goggle combo. When you are wearing your helmet, attach your goggles and pull them on as if you were skiing. You should not be able to see the skin of your forehead. A large gap will feel very cold and will cause discomfort.
A small gap is ok as airflow between your goggles and the edge of your helmet is important to prevent fogging. Otherwise, the goggle should line up very closely with the front of your helmet. If there is no gap at all, make sure your helmet has vents above the goggles or your may experience fogging.
PRO TIP: If you do have a small gap and are worried about being cold, we recommend a headliner or headband to block the wind and cold. Try the Mons Royale Headliner or Headband
Side Alignment
Your goggles should cover a majority of the space between the edge of your goggle and the edge of your helmet. If you goggles are too small, there will be large gaps on either side of the goggles will be too much exposure to the elements on a particularly cold day.
You may still have some exposure here, even with a perfect fit, we just want to limit the gap. If you want a fully protected face, the headliner/headband is a great option or cover the most space possible with a balaclava. We recommend the Le Bent Fractal Midweight Waffle balaclava.
Frame Size
If your goggles are from when you were in middle school and you just bought an adult size large helmet, it may be time to retire the goggs. The above problems will arise with a goggle that’s too small. Goggle manufactures often make the same goggle style in multiple frame sizes, so you may be able to replace them with a larger frame, without giving up your signature style.
What the easiest way to match a helmet to goggles?
If you own a certain brand of helmet and that company makes goggles, they work hard to make sure most of their helmets lock up with their own goggles. It will be easiest to buy the helmet and goggle from the same brand.
However, you are not bound to that. Run through the tests above and you will be pleasantly surprised how many helmets and goggles actually work together. If the lock up is not there, don’t force it. You will have trouble with fogging and cold if the helmet and goggle are not working well together.
PRO TIP: When putting on your helmet, tilt it forward to ensure the front edge is in the middle of your forehead and fitting comfortably, then adjust the fit system. This will help hold the helmet in the correct place on your head and match up better with your goggles.
Check out our Helmet and Goggle Selection.