The Atomic Backland Helmet Review

Atomic has been making fantastic skis since 1955. I even use their ski boots to go splitboarding. Their helmets are much less known so when the chance to check out the Atomic Backlands helmet came along I jumped on it. Where other helmets aim to be understated the Atomic Backland helmet is all business. It packs in all the safety tech you could want, is comfortable as heck and let’s others know you’re here to tour fast and listen to Daft Punk.

Certifications

The Atomic Backlands is a penta-certified helmet that keeps you covered from snowflakes, to ski mountaineering and the bike ride that gets you there.

EN 1077:2007 (skiing)
EN 12492:2012 (climbing)
EN 1078:2012, CPSC 1203 (cycling)
ASTMF2040 (skiing and snowboarding)
CPSC 1203 (cycling)

In case you forget the certifications, they are written on the back and reflective

Safety Features

The Atomic Backland Helmet fits in every safety feature you could ever imagine starting with Holo Core. This is a Hybrid EPP (expanded Polypropylene) In-Mold Construction that looks like an egg carton. It is designed to take impact forces and crumple before the wearer does.

Atomic also uses its own AMID (Atomic Multi-Directionional Deflector). This is a dual-density foam system that is designed to deflect impact forces and thus absorb impact energy and redirect it away from the wearer. According to Atomi, this provides up to 40% higher impact protection than industry safety standards. Anything that provides more safety is good in my books. I most definitely did not test this feature out.

For more, check out Atomic’s YouTube page.

Finally, Atomic includes a Recco reflector in the Backlands helmet.

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360 Fit inside

No expense is spared in the fit of the Atomic BI’acklands helmet. This begins with the 360-degree fit system. It closes much like the boa on the back though it is made of more plastic than the boa. As you rotate the dial it doesn’t just shrink the fit from the back but tightens a band around your entire head. The back piece of the 360 fit system can also be raised or lowered to match the back of your head.

There are two included liner options with the Backlands helmet. The full cap ski lining is like a shaped beanie that includes 3D molded ear flaps. This is the liner I would choose on a cold day when I may not want to wear a beanie underneath or I am heading to the resort as it is certainly warm enough to tackle most days without a beanie underneath. It is also easily removed for day-to-day changes.

The second “liner” is the Skimo liner. I write liner in brackets as it is essentially pads around the inside of the helmet to keep your bare skin from having to touch the helmet’s plastic. There is no warmth associated with it at all.

All the Flair

This helmet has a very large silhouette. On both My Anon M4 and M5 goggles I have to extend the strap to its maximum to get them to stay on. Alternatively, I have gone new-school and worn my goggles under the helmet to mitigate stretching my goggle strap.

At the back of the helmet is a large goggle-keeper strap. On both sides, there are extra straps to orient your goggles but I find they oddly kink the goggle strap when they are placed on top of the helmet. I rarely used these two straps.

Small things make a huge difference and nowhere is this more evident than in the chin strap buckle. MAGNETS! Atomic has partnered with Fidlock for the chin strap buckle. It closes by just bringing the two halves together thanks to the magnets. Simply side the two halves sideways and they open. I love this so much that I have been trying to track down a way to buy them for every buckle I have.

At the back of the helmet are colour-matched reflective elements. Without shining a direct light on the helmet you would not even know it is there.

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Who is the Atomic Backlands Helmet for?

The Atomic Backland helmet is the luxury liner of the bunch. It has all the bells and whistles with its triple sports certifications, custom safety materials and all the straps. Despite having a large silhouette on the outside, it is very comfortable and it has MAGNETS. It does everything and if you do not mind the unconventional looks, it’ll be the one helmet to rule them all.

Looking to pick up the Atomic Backland helmet. Head on over to Atomic.

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