Munich  - Winter sports enthusiasts should take along their own ski glasses when buying a ski helmet because not every helmet can be worn with every pair of glasses, said a German ski safely foundation and the German ski association.

The glasses should be flush with the helmet across the face. They should not press on the bone of the nose and neither the helmet nor the glasses should impair the skier's vision.

Whether a skier wears a half-skull or full skull helmet is a matter of taste, experts say. Half-skull helmets differ in many ways, including their soft ear pads, which can be removed on warm days. Children and skiers who race should wear the half-skull model, according to the foundation and the association.

A study conducted in co-operation with the ski safety foundation showed that in the 2006-07 season, more than 55 per cent of the children wore a helmet when skiing. Among adults 26.5 per cent wore a helmet, although usage was higher among men - 27 per cent compared with 24 per cent among women. Not without reason: Male skiers injure their heads more often (11 per cent) than female skiers (9 per cent). (dpa)