Mandatory helmets in the gym?!

Round those totems out with some offset nuts (only, of course), and a single pink tricam. Definitely on all ovals (biner shift?),all lockers (only way to reallllly feel safe, right?), and if it's not all new, don't even bother (two words.... MICRO FRACTURES.. they plague all used gear, even after one short fall, and we are all going to die.)

I climb with this exact rack, but only mock-lead on top-rope, cuz I'm not crazy.

Tradiban wrote:

I have heard that the insurance company that insures most gyms is considering requiring all users to wear helmets including bouldering, top roping, and leading. Anyone else get wind of that? You may think I'm trolling but this came from a credible source.

Interesting bleedover from FB.

and only 3/10

I heard rumors at my gym that they were going to start banning guys from wearing spandex... i think they are being really sexist.

The outdoor Entre Pris walls in downtown Chicago owned by the city actually do require helmets for everything - just as you say- even bouldering. But my understanding is that they are NOT with a standard climbing gym insurer, and they instead have an “amusement park” sort of insurance. It’s pretty ridiculous - however their lack of set screws in an outdoor setting leaves you with about 30% spinners so the bouldering helmets start to make some sense....

Actually it does. Do you remember the orientation fiasco?

Edit: I concede that you are right to a point, they aren't going to walk in and declare that everyone must wear helmets now but I think it's obvious that insurance companies have a vested interest and take actions to influence the safety practices in the businesses they insure. 

AND,

"'I know that "Sender City" and the existing "Funtopia"s do but that part of those gyms is just a tourist attraction.'"  Who the heck is going to go to a climbing gym as a "tourist attraction"?  I know there's some boring and bored people out there (only boring people get bored) but seriously!!??

It was a rough day for me, but still great overall, makes all those typically super awesome great days even better!!!  I seriously question everything about the OP's post, but it did make me laugh at the OP's topic and post which in light of today I needed!  Thanks OP, no hate, just saying...

Khoi wrote:

I've worked for 2 climbing gyms and from what I can recall of my most recent perusal of their accident logs the vast majority (over 80%) of injuries are ankle injuries (bouldering falls), followed by injuries to some other part of the leg, followed by injuries to some part of the arm, followed by injuries to some part of the torso.

I can only recall ONE head injury: "Accidentally punched herself in the eye during lead fall"

"What did you say to Pei Mei to make him make you punch yourself?"

Beean wrote:

Next they're gonna make us wear shirts too.

My gym actually did that about a year ago

Sean Peter wrote:

The outdoor Entre Pris walls in downtown Chicago owned by the city actually do require helmets for everything - just as you say- even bouldering. But my understanding is that they are NOT with a standard climbing gym insurer, and they instead have an “amusement park” sort of insurance. It’s pretty ridiculous - however their lack of set screws in an outdoor setting leaves you with about 30% spinners so the bouldering helmets start to make some sense....

Yes, the distinction between "amusment park" insurance and "health club" insurance is becoming more blurred, especially with these tourist attraction type sections in gyms now. I am assuming that is one reason why the possibility of a helmet requirement is on the table. 

"Deep Throat" and I didn't discuss this but local permitting could also play a role, if the city believes you are an amusement park they will regulate you as such.

Tradgic Yogurt wrote:

"What did you say to Pei Mei to make him make you punch yourself?"

As a diabetic I have blacked out at my house and found myself covered in blood on the floor 4-5 hours later multi times. I think I am up to 5 1-3 inch cuts on my face from it now.

ViperScale . wrote:

As a diabetic I have blacked out at my house and found myself covered in blood on the floor 4-5 hours later multi times. I think I am up to 5 1-3 inch cuts on my face from it now.

Viper, perhaps you should start wearing a helmet at all times.

Gnar Gnar

How else are you gonna go-pro all the sends braj?

Tradiban wrote:

I have heard that the insurance company that insures most gyms is considering requiring all users to wear helmets including bouldering, top roping, and leading. Anyone else get wind of that? You may think I'm trolling but this came from a credible source.

You have made this climbing offseason far more entertaining than it had any right to be.

Too many threads about gyms.

Russ Keane wrote:

Too many threads about gyms.

More PAS/grigri/best shoe threads! How about all those link cams exploding and recalled aliens failing?

You think I'm joking or that helmets in gyms are insane but that future isn't too far away. Go on a bike tour? Helmet. Skydive? Helmet. There's a huge list of similar activities out there that require helmets and when you start classifying them, which is what insurance companies do, climbing gyms start to look similar and with more gyms and more participation those injury numbers and most importantly costs aka payouts start adding up.

Edit: The whole insurance debate centers around if gyms are "fitness facilities" or "amusment parks" of course none of us think they are an amusement park but from an insurance perspective the risks are closer to that then they are to a fitness facility.

Thank you Tradyfan, prognosticator of safety trends in the outdoor industry.

0.5/10

Tradiban wrote:

 but I don't have time to create a new email and username blah, blah blah.

You don’t have time?  Now that’s some funny shit right there. 

Tradiban wrote:

You think I'm joking or that helmets in gyms are insane but that future isn't too far away. Go on a bike tour? Helmet. Skydive? Helmet. There's a huge list of similar activities out there that require helmets and when you start classifying them, which is what insurance companies do, climbing gyms start to look similar and with more gyms and more participation those injury numbers and most importantly costs aka payouts start adding up.

Edit: The whole insurance debate centers around if gyms are "fitness facilities" or "amusment parks" of course none of us think they are an amusement park but from an insurance perspective the risks are closer to that then they are to a fitness facility.

You'd actually have to make some sort of case that there are a significant number of injuries (and thus insurance claims) happening in climbing gyms that would be PREVENTED or LESSENED by helmets. I've seen quite a few climbing gym injuries and none of them were head injuries. I suspect that the vast majority of indoor climbing injuries are sprained ankles and wrists from bad boulder falls. Probably finger injuries, too. 

AndrewArroz wrote:

You'd actually have to make some sort of case that there are a significant number of injuries (and thus insurance claims) happening in climbing gyms that would be PREVENTED or LESSENED by helmets. I've seen quite a few climbing gym injuries and none of them were head injuries. I suspect that the vast majority of indoor climbing injuries are sprained ankles and wrists from bad boulder falls. Probably finger injuries, too. 

It's an even higher bar than you state. An injury doesn't mean that an insurance claim will happen, or be successful. I would be curious just how many successful claims are made towards climbing gyms each year, and what percentage of those successful claims involve head injuries. My guess is not all that many, but it's just a guess.