Anti Ordinary A2 Helmet Review: Redefining Snow Safety with a Beanie-Style Design

The Anti Ordinary A2 Helmet is exactly that, anti-ordinary. But what else would you expect from our slightly crazy cousins in Australia? Unsatisfied with the status quo in the snowsports helmet market, and motivated by a significant crash of his own, founder Rob Joseph set out to design a helmet that was safe, comfortable, and stylish enough to appeal even to the most stubborn helmet skeptics. Seven years of testing and innovation later, the Anti Ordinary A2 was born.

What Makes the Anti Ordinary A2 Helmet Unique?

Right out of the box, the A2 stands apart. The helmet is encased in a removable beanie (green in my case) that conceals its innovative dynamic shell. I’ll admit it looks a bit unusual at first, but as Anti Ordinary says, it’s not a helmet for your living room; it’s a helmet for the mountain.

The dynamic PU foam feels surprisingly soft and the helmet frame itself is moldable in your hands, flexing where it’s designed to. The modular, multi-component shell is engineered to move independently from your head on impact, extending impact duration and reducing rotational forces. In plain English: this innovative design helps lower the risk of severe concussion.

Though soft to the touch, the helmet reportedly hardens on impact, a feature I thankfully didn’t have to test personally. Beyond that, the A2 went through rigorous independent testing at Virginia Tech and ranked second safest out of 48 helmets tested, based on criteria developed alongside the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team.

So yes, maybe a little goofy looking indoors, but the certifications and test results left me feeling confident to take it into the field.

A2 Helmet on Snow Test

Until recently, the Tetons have been stuck in a stubborn high-pressure cycle that left snow conditions firm enough to convince even helmet holdouts that a brain bucket might be a good idea this season. Most of my on-snow time is spent exploring the easy-access backcountry around Teton Pass or the more committing terrain of Grand Teton National Park, with occasional resort days mixed in. The A2 joined me in all three environments.

The first time I put it on comfort was the immediate standout. Sure, it may look a little unconventional but I can’t see it when it’s on my head, and it feels fantastic up there. Friends gave me a few chuckles initially, but once goggles went on, most agreed it actually looked pretty sharp.

Let’s be honest though, looks should be low on the priority list when it comes to helmets anyway. This is arguably the most important piece of safety gear a skier or snowboarder owns. The A2’s testing credentials make a strong case, but comfort is what ultimately determines whether you’ll wear it. I can confidently say it’s among the most comfortable helmets I’ve worn in 30 years of skiing, including 15 years of consistent helmet use.

The fit dial took a moment to locate, but once adjusted it felt secure and intuitive. Unlike many helmets that only suit certain head shapes the A2 seems remarkably adaptable, about as close to a universal fit as you can reasonably expect.

Because the helmet is covered by a beanie, there’s no traditional goggle clip. That said, my goggles stayed perfectly in place against the fabric, and I never had to stop mid-run to fuss with them.

Ventilation is subtle but effective. Even under the beanie cover, it kept me comfortable in everything from warm bluebird days to windy and chilly overcast conditions. You can pull the beanie lower for extra ear coverage, or wear a buff underneath just like with most helmets.

Weight-wise, it sits somewhere in the middle. It’s heavier than my ultralight backcountry helmets but lighter than many resort models. It was excellent for Teton Pass laps and resort skiing. For longer ski mountaineering objectives in Grand Teton National Park, I’d probably still choose a lighter helmet purely for the weight savings on big climbs.

Helmet Weight Comparison

Anti Ordinary A2 Helmet Weight for the Large weighs around (600g / 1.3 lbs.), which is compariable to some of the industry leaders:

Detailed Comparison

• All-Mountain Benchmarks (Smith & Giro)

The gold standard for high-end helmets is often the Smith Vantage, which weighs approximately 550g in a size Large. At 600g, the A2 is about 10% heavier than the Vantage. Similarly, the Anon Merak WaveCel weighs roughly 480g, making the A2 nearly 25% heavier.

• Heavier Resort Helmets

The A2 is most comparable to helmets like the Giro Range MIPS, which weighs around 600g–630g. These helmets are designed for durability and “tech” rather than weight savings. 

• Why is it 600g? (The “Feel” vs. The “Scale”)

Anti Ordinary uses a Dynamic Frame and non-Newtonian materials that allow the helmet to be soft but harden on impact. These materials are denser than standard EPS foam.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Easily one of the most comfortable helmets I’ve worn
• Highly adaptable and adjustable fit
• Excellent independent safety test scores
• Fresh, disruptive design in a stagnant helmet market
• Good range of colors

Cons

• Distinctive look may not appeal to everyone
• Expensive, although priced competitively with higher-end helmets

Overall Impression

This isn’t a helmet designed to impress sitting on your shelf, but it absolutely delivers where it matters: on the mountain. You might catch a few double takes at first, but the comfort and safety quickly outweigh any aesthetic hesitation. With goggles on, the slightly “bobblehead” vibe mostly disappears anyway.

Anti Ordinary set out to build a helmet people would actually wear, and in that regard, the A2 succeeds. It’s comfortable enough that you forget it’s there, and casual enough in appearance that some folks might assume you’re still rocking just a beanie, while in reality you’ve got one of the safest helmets in the industry protecting your brain underneath. That combination might be exactly what finally converts the last of the helmet holdouts.

Related TETON Tested Helmet Reviews

1. Smith Maze Helmet Review
2. Outdoor Master Diamond Helmet Review
3. Sweet Protection Ascender MIPS Helmet Review