Updated November 29th, 2023
Listening to music while skiing can enhance the experience. It just adds a bit more feeling to flying down the slopes. What is the best way to listen to music while skiing? Ski helmet speakers mounted inside the ear pads are a great option that lets you hear music but they still let you hear what is happening around you. We have tried out many of the best options to come up with the best ski helmet speakers available today.
See our top picks below for the best ski helmet speakers. Keep reading for the rest of our recommendations, a guide to ski helmet speakers, and a FAQ.
The 10 Best Ski Helmet Speakers Of 2024
- BEST OVERALL: Alek Nunchucks
- TOP PICK: Outdoor Tech Chips 3.0
- BEST VALUE: Outdoor Master BT01
- BEST INTERCOM SYSTEM: Cardo Paktalk Outdoor
- BEST WIRELESS: Outdoor Tech Chips Ultra 2.0
- BEST WIRED: Outdoor Tech Wired Chips
- Wildhorn Alta
- Sena Snowtalk 2
- Unigear Bombing
- I A S U S Audio
- The 10 Best Ski Helmet Speakers Of 2024
- 1. Best Overall – Aleck Nunchuks
- 2. Top Pick – Outdoor Tech Chips 3.0
- 3. Best Value – Outdoor Master BT01
- 4. Best Intercom – Cardo Packtalk Outdoor
- 5. Best Wireless – Outdoor Tech Chips Ultra 2.0
- 6. Best Wired – Outdoor Tech Wired Chips Adaptable
- 7. Wildhorn Alta
- 8. Sena Snowtalk 2
- 9. Unigear Bombing
- 10. I A S U S Audio Drop-in Helmet Headphones
- Ski Helmet Speaker Guide
- Ski Helmet Speaker FAQ
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1. Best Overall – Aleck Nunchuks
Specifications
- Size – 0.56 inch x 2.25 inch
- Speaker Size – 40mm
- Battery Life – 18 hours
The Aleck Nunchucks are a very popular ski helmet speaker. They have a built in comm feature in addition to being able to play music which lets you talk to other skiers using Nunchucks. The comm feature runs through a phone app so it’s not limited by Bluetooth range. Nunchucks are the recommended helmet speaker by our favorite ski helmet brand Smith.
Nunchucks have a titanium 40mm speaker that gives them good audio quality. They have a sound mixer feature in their phone app that lets you customize the sound quality to your liking. They have true USB-C charging and can be charged in 1 hour with up to 18 hours of play time.
They are controlled by a button on each ear. You need to remember button tap sequences for each ear to control them. They are not quite as straight forward to use as other brands.
See our review of the Aleck Nunchucks to learn more.
What we liked:
- Sound Mixer feature in the App for adjusting the sound quality
- Group communication mode
- Up to 18 hours of battery life
- True USB-C fast charging
- Good audio quality for helmet speakers
What we didn’t like:
- Button tap sequences on each ear for controls can be hard to remember
- Turning power off always triggers Siri/Alexa since they use the same long button push
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2. Top Pick – Outdoor Tech Chips 3.0
Specifications
- Size – 0.5 inch x 2 inch diameter
- Speaker Size – 40 mm
- Battery Life – 13 hours
The Outdoor Tech Chips 3.0 is the latest iteration of their popular Chip series ski helmet speakers. When it comes to ski helmet speakers, Outdoor Tech is the gold standard and the far and away most popular brand. The Chips 3.0 improve upon the Chips 2.0 by changing to a USB-C connector for charging. You don’t have to fumble with an aux cable that can only plug in 1 way anymore. The downside is that they do not have true USB-C circuitry for charging. You must use a USB-C to USB-A cord and 5 volt source. No USB-C fast charging.
The Chips have a button on each speaker that can be used for controlling audio as well as activating Siri or Alexa to make phone calls or do other things on your phone. They have 45mm speakers which produce decent audio quality for inside a ski helmet. Don’t expect it to sound like a concert hall in there while you are skiing.
The Chips 3.0 use Bluetooth wireless to connect to your phone or other device for playing music. They have enough battery for 13 hours of playback. Even with cold temperatures reducing that, you still have enough for a full day skiing before charging.
See our review of the Outdoor Tech Chips 3.0 to learn more.
What we liked:
- Thin enough to not be too noticeable in ear pads
- Good sound quality for helmet speakers
- Long battery life
- Easy to use buttons while wearing gloves and mittens
- Can use to answer phone calls
What we didn’t like:
- Has a USB-C Connector but not a true USB-C charger.
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3. Best Value – Outdoor Master BT01
Specifications
- Size – 0.78 inch x 2.0 inch diameter
- Speaker Size – 40mm
- Battery Life – 10 hours
The Outdoor Master BT01 Bluethooth helmet headphones have up to 10 hours of battery life and 3 control buttons. You can easily change volume or track from the 2 buttons on the left side. The right side button can be used to power on and off the headphones as well as play and pause the music. They are easy to operate wearing gloves. They can also be used for answering phone calls and giving Siri and Alexa commands.
The downside to the BT01 is how thick they are. They are a little over 3/4 inch thick and are only comfortable to wear with a wider helmet with roomy earpads. The Outdoor Master Diamond MIPS is the widest and most comfortable helmet for using these speakers.
They have up to 10 hours of music play and use a micro-USB connector for charging which makes them hard to charge without pulling out the side with the charge port. They have a power saver feature that shuts them down after 5 minutes. I do not like this feature since 5 minutes of talking to friends on the chairlift is more than enough to shut them down every lift ride.
See our full review of the Outdoor Master BT01 to learn more.
What we liked:
- Easy to control with 3 buttons
- Okay but not great sound quality
- Long enough battery life for a day of skiing
- Can play music, answer calls, and work with Siri/Alexa
What we didn’t like:
- Micro-USB charging connector
- Power saver shutdown after 5 minutes
- Too thick to be comfortable with some helmets
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4. Best Intercom – Cardo Packtalk Outdoor
Specifications
- Size – 0.4 inch x 1.6 inch diameter
- Speaker Size – 40mm
- Battery Life – 10 hours
The Cardo Packtalk Outdoor has an advanced intercom system in addition to helmet audio system. It can network with up to 15 other Cardo devices. The range can increase from 0.6 miles for 2 devices up to 5 miles with multiple devices to bounce off of. The unit can be controlled with a voice recognition microphone. It can change volume, play and stop, answer calls, or talk on the intercom all without touching any buttons.
Installation is a little more involved than a standard set of ski helmet speakers. You have to mount the 40mm JBL speakers into the ear pads. A microphone attaches to the neck strap. They give you some sticky tapes and velcro pads to clean up the wiring or attach the speakers if the ear pads have no pockets. They also give you a 3.5mm audio adapter so you can use a set of earbuds for a bike helmet with no earpads.
You have to mount a control unit to the outside of your right ear pad. This works great on most helmets. Some helmets have a zipper for the ear pads. The zipper on a Smith Vantage opens left to right so the opening with an almost closed zipper is on the wrong side. The zipper on a Smith Nexus and Smith Survey open right to left which works great.
What we liked:
- Ability to communicate with up to 15 skiers
- Longer range possible with networked controllers
- Easy to recharge with control unit on the outside of helmet
- Good sound quality
- Low profile thin speakers that are less noticeable when wearing helmet
What we didn’t like:
- Some helmets have zippers on ear pads that open the opposite way needed for the end that goes to the controller.
- High cost
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5. Best Wireless – Outdoor Tech Chips Ultra 2.0
Specifications
- Size – 0.5 inch x 2 inch diameter
- Speaker Size – 40mm
- Battery Life – 12 to 14 hours
The Outdoor Tech Chips 2.0 Ultra are a true wireless ski helmet speaker. The 2 speakers have no wire connecting them. This makes installation easy since there is no wire to feed around the back of your head between the speakers. The 2.0 Ultra’s come with a case that is used for charging that can completely charge them in 1.5 hours. Sound quality and speaker design is similar to the standards Chips 2.0 and 3.0. You won’t mistake your helmet for an opera house but it sounds pretty good.
The downside to the Chips 2.0 Ultra is that you have to remove both speakers from the helmet to charge them. After charging you have to put them back in and hope you get the left and right in the correct side every time. The other downside is the price. You have to pay $100 more to lose the wire between the speakers.
What we liked:
- True wireless with no connecting wire between speakers
- Easy to install because there is no wire to feed
- Easy to use 2 button controls
What we didn’t like:
- You have to remove both speakers to charge them
- High price
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6. Best Wired – Outdoor Tech Wired Chips Adaptable
Specifications
- Size – 0.5 inch x 2 inch diameter
- Speaker Size – 40mm
- Battery Life – n/a
The Outdoor Tech Wired Chips Adaptable are wired ski helmet speakers and need no recharging. They run off your phone or other device and will play as long as that has power. They are always ready to go since they have no battery of their own. They come with adapters so they will work with a Lightning, 3.5mm or USB-C connector.
The Wired Chips have the same sound quality as the wireless Chips speakers. It is good for something that plays inside a ski helmet. They easily get loud enough to play over any background noise from skiing. They are controlled with 1 button on one speaker that does play and pause. It can also skip tracks. Everything else is controlled by a small FOB on the cord. You have to fish it out to change volume.
The downside to wired helmet speakers is the cord. You have to connect them to your device with a cord running from the helmet to your jacket or backpack where you keep it. You have to remember to unhook it when you take your helmet off to avoid breaking any of the connections. They are about 1/3rd the price of the wireless Chips.
What we liked:
- Low cost
- No battery to charge
- Comes with 3.5mm, Lightning and USB-C adapters to work with almost any device
- Good volume and sound quality
What we didn’t like:
- You have to run a wire from your helmet to your phone or other device
- Most controls are done with a small FOB on the cord instead of buttons on the speakers
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7. Wildhorn Alta
Specifications
- Size – 0.78 inch x 2.0 inch diameter
- Speaker Size – 40mm
- Battery Life – 10 hours
The Wildhorn Alta Bluetooth wireless ski helmet speakers are a good low cost option. They have okay sound quality but aren’t as loud as some of the other helmet speakers. They do have the advantage of 3 buttons for control. You can use the up and down buttons on the left speaker to change volume and change track without pulling out your phone. The large right button can start and stop and also power up and down and pair the speakers.
The biggest downside to the Alta is their thickness. The 2 button speaker is a little over 3/4 inch thick because of the ridge down the center. You need a helmet with wide roomy feeling ear pads to use these.
The Alta speaker uses an older micro-USB or USB-B connector for charging. They have about 10 hours of music playing time on a charge.
See our review of the Wildhorn Alta Helmet Speakers to learn more.
What we liked:
- Easy to install
- 2 buttons on left ear make it easy to change volume and change tracks
- Can answer phones and activate Siri/Alexa
- IP45 water resistance rating
What we didn’t like:
- Micro-USB charging connector
- Not the strongest for sound quality
- Too thick to be comfortable with some helmets
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8. Sena Snowtalk 2
Specifications
- Size – 0.7 inch x 2.2 inch diameter
- Speaker Size – 32mm
- Battery Life – 6 hours talking
The Sena Snowtalk 2 has a built in Bluetooth intercom that can work up to 710 yards and lets you connect up to 4 skiers at once. It lets you talk and listen without needing to press any buttons. When your not using it as an intercom it works as a regular set of wireless helmet speakers that can play music.
The microphone connects into the side of one of the speakers. The microphone attaches to the chin strap on your helmet for easy talking. The connector for the microphone does not have a real secure attachment to the speaker and can easily become disconnected. Some users add a rubber band to hold it in so it doesn’t bounce loose.
The Snowtalk 2 speakers are just under 3/4 inch thick. They are too thick to be comfortable in a lot of ski helmets. You will feel them inside the ear pads while wearing them with any ski helmet.
What we liked:
- Bluetooth intercom feature with up to 710 meter range and 4 skiers
- Intercom doesn’t require a connected phone to use
- Smartphone app for setup and playing music
- Microphone can be removed when solo skiing and just playing music
What we didn’t like:
- Speakers are too thick to be comfortable in many helmets
- Microphone connector can easily come out of the speaker
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9. Unigear Bombing
Specifications
- Size – 0.7 inch x 2.1 inch diameter
- Speaker Size – 40mm
- Battery Life – 10 hours
The Unigear Bombing Helmet Speakers are a good budget true wireless ski helmet speaker set. They use a magnetic charge cord that in theory should make them easy to charge. This helps with aligning the connector if you open the earpad pockets but don’t pull the speakers out to charge them. In practice the magnetic connector is sensitive and doesn’t have a strong grip to the speakers. You still need to pull them out to charge.
They have 40mm drivers in them which produce decent sound quality. They do not get as loud as other helmet speakers. If you just want some background music they are fine. If you want to drown out all other sounds but your music while skiing these are not the choice for you.
These are easy to install since there is no wiring. The paring process is easy and straight forward. These are thicker than other wireless systems like the ODT Chips 2.0. They are almost 3/4 inch thick which means that you will feel them in almost any helmet you put them in. If earpad pressure gives you a headache, these will be problematic.
What we liked:
- Low cost for an all wireless system
- Can be used for music or controlling Siri
- Easy to install with no wires
What we didn’t like:
- Magnetic charge cord is finicky and easily disconnects
- Not as loud as other helmet speakers
- Too thick to be comfortable in many helmets
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10. I A S U S Audio Drop-in Helmet Headphones
Specifications
- Size – 0.4 inch x 1.8 inch diameter
- Speaker Size – 40mm
- Battery Life – n/a
The I A S U S Audio Drop-In Helmet Speakers are a very basic set of wired helmet speakers. They do not have any controls on the speaker. They use a simple 3.5mm connector and cord to connect your phone to the speakers. They come with a 40 inch cord extension so you can detach them from your phone without digging your phone out of your pocket. You need to use your phone for all controls. There is no buttons or microphone built in.
They only come with a 3.5mm plug so you will need an adapter for other connectors. The speakers are thin at 0.4 inches. These are a good solution if you find most other helmet speakers are too thick and cause ear pain or headaches. These are about as thin as it is possible to get.
They speakers have decent sound quality. They are limited in how loud they can play.
What we liked:
- Very low cost
- Speakers are very thin
- Simple basic drop in speakers
What we didn’t like:
- Only comes with a 3.5mm plug
- Not very loud
- No controls on the speakers
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Ski Helmet Speaker Guide
How do you pick the best ski helmet speakers for you? Do you want wired or wireless? Do you care a lot about sound quality and how loud they can play? Do you want speakers that also double as an intercom or walkie talkie with your ski friends? Let’s get into what you should look for when buying ski helmet speakers.
Earbuds vs Ski Helmet Speakers
Earbuds are cheap and there is a ton of options out there both wired and wireless. Why should you mount speakers into your helmet instead of earbuds? If you are like me, you can’t stand having something shoved in your ear all day. It’s also very easy to lose a wireless earbud in a fall. Earbuds tend to block out more of the surrounding noise, like other skiers, since they go into your ear. Noise canceling ear buds are even worse for this.
You need to be able to hear what is going on around you while skiing. You need to be able to hear another yelling at you or coming very close. Helmet speakers still allow you to hear all the noise you can normally hear while wearing a ski helmet. You just hear music added to the background. There is nothing stuck in your ear so they are more comfortable.
Wired vs Wireless
Wired ski helmet speakers are much cheaper than wireless ones. Wireless ones are easier to install since there is less wires to run. You don’t have to think about disconnecting a wire to your phone when you take your helmet off. If you’re wearing wired speakers you do.
Wired helmet speakers that run off the power from your phone tend to be quieter than wireless speakers that have their own power supply. If loud is important to you, go for one of the higher end wireless designs.
Sound Quality and Volume
There is some improvement in sound quality with the more expensive helmet speakers such as Chips and Aleck Nunchucks. They use better speakers and sound circuits. That isn’t to say they are way way better.
Helmet speakers with their own power supply/battery tend to have a louder range. They have the battery and aren’t dependent on the limited amount of current available from your phone’s headphone jack.
A larger diameter speaker driver will tend to have better sound quality than a smaller driver. 40-45mm is kind of the standard size for most helmet headphone speakers.
Speaker Size
Some people get headaches from ear pressure from ski helmet ear pads pressing against their ears. I am one of them. There are very few ski helmets I can wear for more than a couple of hours without getting a headache. Ski helmet speakers can vary from as thin as 0.4 inches to about 0.8 inches thick. Throwing something 0.8 inches thick into your helmet ear pads will add to the pressure against your ears. Thin speakers are a lot less noticeable.
Some ski helmets that are designed to accept ski helmet speakers have removable chunks of foam in the earpad where the speakers go. I have never seen one more than about 1/4 thick. When you throw something 3/4 inch thick into it, you’re still adding 1/2 inch to the thickness of the ear pad on each side.
Some helmets have much wider and deeper ear pads that work with thick helmet speakers. The Outdoor Master Diamond is the best helmets I have tried for use with thick speakers. It has very deep ear pads so you can put something thick in there before it pushes out far enough to feel while wearing the helmet.
Battery Duration
Battery duration can vary from as much as 18 hours down to 10 hours or less. 10 hours is just enough to get through one ski day. It might get you through 2 depending on how often you turn it off. 18 hours might get you several ski days on a charge.
Controls
Controlling a set of ski helmet speakers can be a little challenging because no one wants to take off their ski gloves every time they want to pause or hit play. Most wireless ski helmet speakers have 1 large button on each speaker which can be easily pressed through the helmet while wearing a thick glove. Some like the Wildhorn Alta and Outdoor Master BT01 have 2 buttons on one ear for 3 buttons total. 2 to 3 buttons for all the controls means that you’ll need to use some combinations of tapping and button presses to do all the commands.
Most wired helmet speakers have a lot less control than wireless systems have. Some like the I A S U S speakers don’t have any controls and you do everything with your phone or listening device.
Some more advanced systems like the Cardo Packtalk Outdoor can control everything with voice commands. It has a couple of buttons and a roller also.
Intercom and Walkie Talkie Systems
If you want to talk to your friends while skiing, then consider getting a set of speakers with an intercom system. These allow Bluetooth connection between speaker sets or a phone app connection. They can have range up to 1/2 mile with Bluetooth connection or farther if they use your phone connection instead.
Price
There are ski and snowboard helmet speakers for as little as $25 on Amazon to well over $200 for a wireless set with an intercom. If you don’t care about wireless and you don’t need to use it as an intercom you can get good sound for a lot less money.
Ski Helmet Speaker FAQ
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Doug Ryan
Co-Founder & Chief Editor
I grew up back east in Pennsylvania and learned to ski on a family trip to Killington, Vermont when I was 6. I immediately fell in love with the mountains and outdoors and have been skiing across the US and Canada ever since. I went to school for Mechanical Engineering, and have a Master’s Degree in Material Science and Reliability.
I am a total gear nerd and love learning how things work and thinking about how they could be improved. Nothing excites me more than trying out new gear. I’d rather spend 3 hours taking my bike apart and learning how to change something than go to a bike shop. These days I reside in Michigan by the Great Lakes and go skiing, biking, and boating as much as possible.
doug@adventuregearinsider.com
