I have no experience with the Ice Halo’s, so I have no comments on them. As for helmets, here are my thoughts:
(1) You’ll often hear, “Any helmet is better than no helmet!” To some extent true. But a couple of major caveats.
(a) If the helmet is ineffective, but wearing the helmet gives you a false sense of security and causes you to be reckless, then the helmet does more harm than good.
(b) I would steer clear of the aerodynamic bike helmets, which, unfortunately, seem to be popular with young kids. I’m talking about the ones with extended, pointed ends at the front and the back. Why anyone would design a helmet that concentrates impact force over a small area and that causes high torque on the neck during impact really beats me.
(2) As riley876 mentioned, no single density foam is ideal for all impacts. That’s why better grade helmets have multiple layers of protection; for example, a hard external shell, an intermediate layer of dense foam, plastic honeycomb, or plastic springs, and an inner liner of soft foam. Some helmets are designed for a single-use, high-impact collision. Other helmets are designed for multiple-use, lower impact collisions.
(3) A helmet must be comfortable; otherwise, it will end up in the junk pile. Comfort depends on several factors, including (a) fit , (b) weight and balance, and (c) ventilation.
(a) If the fit isn’t proper, not only will it be a constant source of irritation, but it might not stay on properly during a crash. Cheaper helmets are “one size fits all” in which you stick on blocks of foam to adjust the fit. Better helmets come in a variety of sizes. The best ones also have an adjustable ratchet headband. For me, a ratchet headband is essential, because I wear glasses. I loosen the headband so I can slip the helmet on without knocking off my glasses. I then tighten the headband. Similarly, before I remove the helmet, I first loosen the headband, so I can slip off the helmet without knocking off my glasses. The combination of an adjustable headband and an adjustable chinstrap gives me great confidence that the helmet will stay in place during a fall. It’s important to go to a store with a good selection and try several on before you buy.
(b) For figure skating, you need a lightweight, well-balanced helmet, especially if you do spins. Cheaper helmets tend to use a solid geometry with heavyweight materials. Better helmets are sculpted to reduce weight, and use lighter weight materials.
(c) You work up a sweat during figure skating, so it’s important that the helmet be well ventilated. Cheaper helmets have solid shells and liners. Better helmets have sculpted shells with flow channels and vent slots, along with vented liners.
(4) If you take lessons, you need to be able to hear the coach. Make sure there are are sound vents over the ears.
(5) If you are considering helmets, take a look at (a) hockey helmets and (b) “snow sports” helmets, including “snow boarding” helmets. My coach thought that hockey helmets would be too bulky and heavy. She suggested I consider snow sports helmets, which several adult skaters at my rink use. I tried on a couple, but they just didn’t fit properly (not right for my head shape). I ended up with an intermediate-grade hockey helmet that had all the features I needed (as discussed above). I’d be interested in peoples’ experiences with ski helmets, which the OP brought up.
(6) Caveats.
(a) Virginia Tech released a study of hockey helmets (HECC certified) last year. Their emphasis was on effectiveness for reducing concussions during high impacts. Their disturbing conclusion was that most hockey helmets, including pro-grade ones, don’t do a good job for protection against concussions. (A Bauer rep said that the current emphasis is on protection against skull fractures.) That said, I don’t plan on taking a header into the boards or butting heads with another player, and I don’t plan to be at the receiving end of a high-speed puck. I have had a few minor falls, and my helmet has provided adequate protection.
(b) Hockey helmets without a face cage and snow sports helmets will not provide protection against a face plant. That is, you can bust up your nose, cheek, and chin.
(c) I personally would not wear any protective device that is likely to pop off during use. I once fell on my butt during a spin. A pad protected my tailbone. But, after the butt plant, my upper body swung backwards, and I hit the back of my head on the ice. My helmet stayed on and I was fine. If I had been wearing a head protector that popped off during the butt plant, I would likely have creamed the back of my head.