I'm looking for pictures of cool helmets. Got one?

I'm giving a talk on climbing safety and I'd love to show some pictures of what people have done to make their helmets unique and cool.

Email me yours and I'll give you creds if I use it.
don@50interviews.com

Thanks,
Don McGrath

George Lowe had a white Joe Brown helmet with a bull's eye painted on it. Sorry no pictures.

If people don't wear helmets because they aren't "cool" then they can make their own adult decision to take a rock to the face. Won't lose any sleep over it.

Spicing up the Sirocco

Shuksan summit with the tiger

It took forever to whittle this.

imgur.com/Y6lwE.jpg

Have a nice day!

I see you

Daniel Evans wrote:If people don't wear helmets because they aren't "cool" then they can make their own adult decision to take a rock to the face. Won't lose any sleep over it.

I don't think most people care if they are cool or not. The problem is they are uncomfortable. Lets face it unless I am climbing in those 1% of areas where there is really a risk of rock fall i am not going to bother wearing one because they are just annoying. If someone can come up with a helmet that feels like wearing nothing I would consider using one.

mountainproject.com/v/helme…

you might find something useful on this thread aswell.

To each their own. My BD half dome feels fine, looks good, and doesn't bother me at all even on long multipitch climbs. My shoes & harness cause more pain/discomfort than any helmet I've ever owned.

Climbing is a high risk activity and it is your choice as to what safety precautions you take to mitigate the hazards. Me personally, I can't think of a good reason not to wear one so I will continue to do so. If you don't then great, but I wouldn't waste my time or efforts trying to put together a powerpoint to kids to show them how cool they are. Tell them this, "Find one you like, wear it. Here are stories where a helmet saved someone's life (See Rock & Ice for references). Ultimately it's your choice if you decide to wear it." Seems simple to me? Maybe I'm just being an asshole. I climb with people who prefer not to wear them, and it doesn't bother me as it's their choice in the end.

ViperScale wrote: I don't think most people care if they are cool or not. The problem is they are uncomfortable. Lets face it unless I am climbing in those 1% of areas where there is really a risk of rock fall i am not going to bother wearing one because they are just annoying. If someone can come up with a helmet that feels like wearing nothing I would consider using one.

Modern sport climbing helmets do indeed feel like nothing.
Protection against bonking your head during a fall is a far more important reason than for protection against rockfall.

Two quick anecdotes, then you can do whatever you like (which you are going to do anyway)....

A woman was killed a few years ago at City of Rocks on a super-popular 5.8 sport route. The original bolt protecting the crux wasn't in the best spot, where it's nearly impossible to not get the rope behind your leg in a fall, pretty much guaranteeing an inverted fall - she smacked the back of her head. No helmet.

A guy was killed in Little Cottonwood Canyon at the Hellgate Cliffs (limestone, sport) when a mountain goat above the cliffs dislodged a toaster-oven sized rock, hitting him in the head. He was wearing a helmet.

Marc801 wrote:A guy was killed in Little Cottonwood Canyon at the Hellgate Cliffs (limestone, sport) when a mountain goat above the cliffs dislodged a toaster-oven sized rock, hitting him in the head. He was wearing a helmet.

Those goats really do hate the climbers at that crag.

vimeo.com/144245412

I've heard using sharpie to mark up your helmets severely weakens the helmet, rendering it useless ;)

Marc801 wrote: Modern sport climbing helmets do indeed feel like nothing. Protection against bonking your head during a fall is a far more important reason than for protection against rockfall. Two quick anecdotes, then you can do whatever you like (which you are going to do anyway).... A woman was killed a few years ago at City of Rocks on a super-popular 5.8 sport route. The original bolt protecting the crux wasn't in the best spot, where it's nearly impossible to not get the rope behind your leg in a fall, pretty much guaranteeing an inverted fall - she smacked the back of her head. No helmet. A guy was killed in Little Cottonwood Canyon at the Hellgate Cliffs (limestone, sport) when a mountain goat above the cliffs dislodged a toaster-oven sized rock, hitting him in the head. He was wearing a helmet.

Same goes with motorcycle helmets. They provide protection but also increase your chance of getting in an accident.

I have done the math and i would rather enjoy climbing more than risk the chance of dying because I don't have one on. Heck we are climbing to begin with if you want to be safe stay at home and watch TV! (my guess is you have a greater chance of dying driving to the crag than you do climbing at the crag)

Motorcycle helmets do not increase the chance of getting in an accident. Not sure you know what you are talking about. Horrible argument. But do your thing brother.

You ever seen the aftermath of a motorcycle accident of someone not wearing a helmet? 1. They're dead as shit 2. Their brains paint a red carpet for a good 15 ft. Novel thought, millions of motorist wear helmets while riding motorcycles and seem to do just fine. Don't drive like an asshole, but that's a different subject.

"I have done the math and i would rather enjoy climbing more than risk the chance of dying because I don't have one on."

Sorry but this is the dumbest thing I've read all day. Translation "I don't feel cool wearing one." But again to each their own. Wish you the best (not sarcasm).

Tapawingo wrote:I've heard using sharpie to mark up your helmets severely weakens the helmet, rendering it useless ;)

Some helmets with sharpie artwork aren't meant to be worn ;) At least that is the case of the one we have.

Jer Collins got cool helmets, you should check em' out! :D

Daniel Evans wrote:You ever seen the aftermath of a motorcycle accident of someone not wearing a helmet? 1. They're dead as shit 2. Their brains paint a red carpet for a good 15 ft. Novel thought, millions of motorist wear helmets while riding motorcycles and seem to do just fine. Don't drive like an asshole, but that's a different subject.

Statistics over the years show that you have a higher chance of getting in a wreck while wearing a helmet and it comes out to be about the same danger of wearing and not wearing one.

Old Man Winter painting