Sandbox · Technology
What’s inside
a Sandbox.
Sandbox started as the snowboarders' helmet: a low-profile shape riders could actually film in, that works with any goggle. Here is what goes into one, layer by layer, and what each part is for.
01 · The shell
ABS vs polycarbonate
Every Sandbox snow helmet is built the same way at heart: an outer shell over a liner of EPS foam. The shell spreads the force of a hit and protects the foam. The foam is what absorbs the impact. Where our helmets differ is the shell.
The Classic 2.0 and Icon use an injection-moulded ABS shell. It's a tough, resilient plastic, moulded on its own and then joined to the EPS liner. It handles knocks well, which suits a helmet that gets thrown in the truck and dropped in the lift line.
The Profile and Legend X are in-mould: a thin polycarbonate shell is fused to the EPS foam as the foam is moulded, so the two become one piece. The shell is very thin, so the helmet comes out light: the Legend X weighs 400 g in Medium and 440 g in Large, measured by the test lab.
| ABS hard shell | In-mould polycarbonate | |
|---|---|---|
| Models | Classic 2.0, Icon, Brain Buckets, Kids, Low Rider | Profile, Legend X |
| Shell | Injection-moulded ABS, tough and resilient, then joined to the EPS | Thin polycarbonate, fused to the EPS in the mould |
| Strength | Takes knocks and daily wear well | Light |
| Liner | EPS foam | EPS foam |
| Certification | CE EN 1077:2007 Class B | CE EN 1077:2007 Class B |
Both kinds pass the same certification, CE EN 1077:2007 Class B. Lighter isn't safer and tougher isn't safer. Pick the shape and fit you like.
02 · The foam
EPS: it crushes so your head doesn’t
EPS is expanded polystyrene: thousands of tiny foam beads fused together. In a crash the beads crush, and crushing is what soaks up the energy before it reaches your head. As Snell puts it, “the crushable helmet liner absorbs the impact shock by collapsing itself.”
That means EPS works once. The foam doesn't spring back, and the thin shell can hide a dent. Replace your helmet after any crash where your head hit, even if it looks fine. Snell also recommends replacing a helmet after five years of normal use, since putting it on and taking it off wears down the pads and the foam.
03 · Rotation
Mips® safety system
Most crashes don't hit you straight on. You fall at an angle, and an angled hit turns the head as well as stopping it. Mips says “rotational motion is a common cause for concussions and more severe brain injury in oblique hits to the head.”
The Mips® safety system adds a low-friction layer inside the helmet, between the comfort liner and the EPS foam. In Mips' words, it “allows a multi-directional movement of 10-15mm on certain angled impacts, intended to help reduce rotational force to the head.”
Mips tunes the layer to each helmet model and size, and every size is tested before it can carry the yellow dot. You can't add it to a helmet afterwards.
Sandbox helmets with Mips®
- Classic 2.0 Snow MIPS (Kids to XL)
- Icon Snow MIPS
- Icon Brain Bucket MIPS
- Profile MIPS
No helmet or impact protection system can protect you from every injury. Never remove, move or tamper with the Mips layer, and don't ride a helmet whose Mips layer is damaged or out of place.
04 · Comfort
Grid fleece liner
On top of the EPS foam sits our grid fleece and breathable mesh comfort liner. The grid fleece is really great at heat management: excess heat escapes through the grid lines while the little plush squares keep you warm. It's removable and washable too.
- Grid fleece and breathable mesh
- Removable and washable
- Ear pads with audio pockets (Classic, Icon)
- Brain Buckets: no ear pads, fit pads instead
Asia Fit uses the same shell with a liner shaped for the Asian market, in XS/S, M/L and L/XL.
05 · Fit
Dial it in
The back dial Fit System has anchor points on either side of the helmet, so a turn at the back draws the fit in evenly. You can adjust it one-handed as the day goes on.
Snaps shut with gloves on.
Profile · Legend XA slide-on, slide-off goggle clip with three positions, so you can work around your goggle strap adjusters.
IconHolds the strap at the back and comes off when you don’t want it.
Profile · Legend X| Head size (cm) | Kids | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic 2.0 | 48–54 | 52–54 | 55–57 | 58–61 | 63–67 |
| Icon | 48–54 | 52–54 | 55–58 | 59–61 | 63–67 |
Sandbox helmets fit small, so please size up, especially if you wear a beanie, balaclava, or goggles underneath. Measure around your head just above the eyebrows and ears, keeping the tape level.
06 · Standards
Certification
Our snow helmets are certified to CE EN 1077:2007, Class B, for alpine skiers and snowboarders. The standard tests shock absorption, resistance to penetration, the retention system and field of vision. In the shock test the headform must not see more than 250 g.
Class B is the reduced-coverage class, built to allow more ventilation and hearing. EN 1077:2007 is one of the standards Health Canada accepts for ski and snowboard helmets.
07 · Every model
Which helmet has what
| Model | Shell | Mips® version | Fit | Liner | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic 2.0 Snow | ABS + EPS | Yes, Kids to XL | Back dial | Grid fleece + mesh | EN 1077 B |
| Icon Snow | ABS + EPS | Yes | Back dial · Trip Clip | Grid fleece | EN 1077 B |
| Profile | In-mould PC + EPS | Yes | Dial · magnet buckle | Vented comfort liner | EN 1077 B · UKCA |
| Legend X | In-mould PC + EPS | No | Back dial · magnet buckle | Vented grid fleece | EN 1077 B · UKCA |
| Icon Brain Bucket | ABS + EPS | Yes | Back dial + skate fit pads | No ear pads | EN 1077 B · UKCA |
| Classic 2.0 Brain Bucket | ABS + EPS | No | Fit pads | No ear pads | EN 1077 B |
| Low Rider | ABS + EVA | No | — | EVA liner | EN 1385 (water sports) |
Questions
Which Sandbox helmets have MIPS?
The ones with MIPS in the name: the Classic 2.0 Snow MIPS (Kids to XL), the Icon Snow MIPS, the Icon Brain Bucket MIPS and the Profile MIPS. MIPS® is a low-friction layer inside the helmet that helps reduce rotational forces in certain impacts.
ABS or polycarbonate: which is better?
Neither is safer: both pass CE EN 1077:2007 Class B. The ABS Classic 2.0 and Icon are tough and take knocks well. The in-mould polycarbonate Profile and Legend X have a thin shell fused to the foam, so they are lighter. Choose by shape and fit.
Is it certified for snowboarding?
Our Snow helmets are certified to CE EN 1077:2007, Class B, for alpine skiers and snowboarders. Street and Low Rider models carry skate/bike or water-sports certification instead.
When should I replace my helmet?
After any crash where your head hit, even if the helmet looks fine, because the EPS foam crushes once and stays crushed. Snell also recommends replacing a helmet after five years of normal use.
Will my goggles fit?
Yes. Sandbox helmets work with any goggle brand.
Can I wash the liner?
Yes. The grid fleece comfort liner comes out and is washable.
What is Asia Fit?
The same shell with a liner shaped for the Asian market, in XS/S, M/L and L/XL.