Helmet while indoor leading?

Ok please don’t rip me a new one right off the bat. I’m aware that there won’t be any indoor rock fall (unless your routesetter has a peculiar sense of humor) and that as a result, your belayer doesn’t need one. I wear a helmet when leading outside, and was more concerned about falling funny or a bad belayer/smacking into a volume or hold. I’m very attached to my brain cells and don’t have many to spare- even if my helmet stops a minor concussion inside I’ll be happy. So- has anybody smacked their noggin inside? Thoughts for or against?

Thanks.

While it's 100% possible to bang your head indoors, most people feel comfortable enough lead climbing to avoid putting their leg behind the rope and flipping upside down, which is essentially the only way that can happen. Gym falls are pretty clean.

I occasionally see people who do do this. Well like, there's this one dude I always see at my gym with a bright helmet on. Also, at my local gym's lead classes, they make the students wear helmets. I don't think it's a terrible idea.... and I am wondering if one day helmets will start being required by gyms? I wouldn't say I'm for it, but again, I could see it happening in future

Also, I have seen the occasional cellphone fall out of some ones pocket from 40' up, so not quite rockfall, but....

You asked this question yesterday.

Why the second post?

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/123845196/helmet-for-indoor-leads#ForumMessage-123845319

Routesetters usually design the routes with cruxes, bolting in places such that a wall or ground impact is really unlikely. 

Have a friend that took multiple inverted falls, one of which she smacked her head pretty good.  I've seen people wear helmets indoors occasionally. If you're concerned about it just wear the helmet, dude. 

I took a fall and my foot caught on a protruding jug and it sent me upside down resulting in me hitting my head. Worst lead fall I've ever had and I wish I had worn a helmet.

A local climber took a small fall bouldering and experienced a life changing TBI and now always wears a helmet.

FrankPS wrote:

You asked this question yesterday.

Why the second post?

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/123845196/helmet-for-indoor-leads#ForumMessage-123845319

Whoops- sorry, new to MP and thought I hit the back arrow from the other one. I thought it deleted. 

If anything, wear your bike helmet. It's designed for the type of impact you're concerned about. There are climbing helmets that offer some level of protection (which I'd say so least 90% of us are using instead of the turtle shell style) but it's definitely a secondary feature and not tested for. 

Totally reasonable and smart. I've seen horrible head injuries in the gym during my 30 years of climbing. 

Frankly, the worst gym injury I've ever witnessed was a foot that got literally avulsed off the lower leg. Guy took a ~ 10' lead fall with rope stretch on a vertical wall where there was a fairly protuberant hold jutting out below him. Force=mass x accel. Be careful what you climb above. 

Thank you all for the helpful input and my apologies about the other post- not sure how to remove it, but it’s now locked. I’ll be going with a helmet indoors, damn the funny looks. Cheers and happy (safe!) climbing.

Where else would you put the GoPro?

thomas ellis wrote:

I took a fall and my foot caught on a protruding jug and it sent me upside down resulting in me hitting my head. Worst lead fall I've ever had and I wish I had worn a helmet.

A local climber took a small fall bouldering and experienced a life changing TBI and now always wears a helmet.

I hit my head bouldering on a rock. could have been a very bad outcome. I bring a helmet bouldering and wear it when the landing area isn't flat dirt. I still feel subconscious about it, even though I know no one cares. 

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote:

Where else would you put the GoPro?

https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-go-pro-butt-plug-camera-mount-22911

PWZ wrote:

https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-go-pro-butt-plug-camera-mount-22911

I have questions.

1. Would this fall out while climbing? Does it change the rating?

2. How did you discover this product? I can only assume that you created it.

3. What sort of ads am I going to start seeing now that I’ve clicked on that?

Adam Fleming wrote:

If anything, wear your bike helmet. It's designed for the type of impact you're concerned about. There are climbing helmets that offer some level of protection (which I'd say so least 90% of us are using instead of the turtle shell style) but it's definitely a secondary feature and not tested for. 

Everyone will laugh at you if you wear a bike helmet in the gym.

Tradiban wrote:

Everyone will laugh at you if you wear a bike helmet in the gym.

Excellent! I’ll improve their day. 

I wear a bike helmet sometimes skiing... Who gives a crap about others / a laugh. 

You'll be laughing last with a well protected brain. 

I recently was heckled for excess sunscreen on my face... My reply: 'enjoy getting your metastatic melanoma...' 

People love to judge and comment. 

I met a young Doctor in his residency at the local bouldering spot.  He was wearing a helmet bouldering a traverse about 3 ft off the ground.  I was curious and asked why given the height and he replied, "I paid $250,000 for the knowledge in this brain, so a helmet seems like a good idea."  I still think about that interaction and believe he is quite right.  Anyhoo, you do you.  Who cares what others think if you feel safer and are having fun!

Everyone's risk tolerance is different.

I have seen helmets outside bouldering, inside top roping, none when doing stupid shit on motorcycles, etc...

Wearing a helmet allows me to climb with my legs behind the rope at all times 10/10 would recommend. A truly freeing experience.