Petzl Sirocco Helmet Review

Check out my Petzl Sirocco review

Nice write up Avi, just one comment if I may. The helmet is made of expanded polypropylene (EPP) which gives it a lot of its characteristics (weight, rebound, etc.). Polystyrene is found in the Elios and the Meteor helmets.

After lots of attempts, I've been unable to configure the straps so that the Scirocco doesn't flop forward or backward on my head. It's one or the other. A helmet should stay firmly on the head when you try to move it from side to side, front to back, or back to front, or it may be pushed aside by the rock wall or ledge that you may crash into. A bike helmet would provide much better protection.

Thanks Arthur!

George, are you wearing the correct size? I had some success moving the chin straps further forward and tightening the back strap a little.

I would agree with George: took a look at this helmet and couldn't get it to seat correctly on my head while just playing around in the shop.

Especially with impact protection from a fall I expect a good fit and lateral protection, seems the bulk of this might be prone to catching and being knocked around on one's head. Will trade a few grams for avoiding a skull fracture any day (and ease of use).

Found the straps to be a PITA, ease of adjustment being nice if one is adding layers under the helmet.

Why does it get such a low cost rating. Ha ha.

I've been wearing one lately... I find the straps not perfect, I'll keep fooling with them. The strap design could be much worse though, so it's not really a complaint. Just not as simple as putting it on and turning a knob.

I"m also not a weight weenie, but holy crap this helmet is light. Now if they could only make helmets smaller, I still hit my extra big head on stuff.

The magnet closure is way too clever for its own good- a solution in search of a problem. More than once I have strapped in and double-checked my helmet, only to find the chinstrap unclipped and swaying in the breeze at an inconvenient crux. And no, you can't fix it one-handed. This needs to change.

Other than that (and the Ronald McPenis look), I love it.

The magnet is an example of a high-tech, single-handed "convienience" that actually creates more hassle and may not even allow fastening. The magnet attracts iron oxide present in dirt. When just a little crud collects around the magnets, the fastener can't be fastened, even with two hands.

I read a comment somewhere that they look like a 'botched circumcision'.

Couldn't agree more.