Help me upgrade my helmet
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I've come to the conclusion that I'd like a new helmet. My current one (an old Petzl Ecrin Roc) is too bulky and heavier than I'd like. A cursory look at the helmet market tells me that things have changed quite a bit since I was last shopping for a brain bucket. I am looking for something lightweight, less than <=$75, that is low-fitting so it doesn't loll to the side of my head and/or make me look like Toad from Mario Cart, and will protect not just from rocks from above but from potential awkward falls that might cause me to hit my head. I am looking at the Mammut Rock Rider, Wild Country Rock Lite, Edelrid Shield II, BD Tracer, BD Vector, Petzl Meteor III. Given my criteria, would you rule any of the above out or recommend one over the others? |
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Everything you mention works great. 75 dollars can be hard to do. Honestly, a good helmet makes a big difference. Like most things, it really come down to comfort and fit. The "ultra high end" sirocco costs the most and is super light, but if it doesn't fit it's total crap. A BD half dome costs a third the price and may be way more comfortable. There all going to protect your head. Just my two cents. |
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the one that fits best ... regardless of price |
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If you have a cheap head - buy a cheap helmet :). Seriously though, buy the most comfortable one with the fit and features you want. Pretty much all the helmets out there today are safe. |
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bearbreeder wrote:then theres the sirroco which folks stand and sit on ... its also the lightest helmet ...This is surprising to me. I would have figured that it would be the most delicate since it has no shell... |
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scienceguy288 wrote: This is surprising to me. I would have figured that it would be the most delicate since it has no shell...its a different kind of foam ... ;) |
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scienceguy288.....check out the Rock & Ice Magazine helmet review. Chris Rice is incorrect when he indicates that all helmets are safe. Seems most climbing helmets don't adequately protect from side impact (eg an awkward fall), but the Petzl Sirocco does. How much is your brain worth? The Petzl Sirocco is made from the same foam material that automobile bumpers are created from. They maybe expensive and ugly, but the Sirocco does the job of protecting your head better than the rest. |
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By WDW4 |
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Benjamin Chapman wrote:scienceguy288.....check out the Rock & Ice Magazine helmet review. Chris Rice is incorrect when he indicates that all helmets are safe. Seems most climbing helmets don't adequately protect from side impact (eg an awkward fall), but the Petzl Sirocco does. How much is your brain worth? The Petzl Sirocco is made from the same foam material that automobile bumpers are created from. They maybe expensive and ugly, but the Sirocco does the job of protecting your head better than the rest.So is the Sirocco the only helmet that does this? I find that hard to believe. What is "the" Rock & Ice review? It seems you were quoting from this discussion. Besides the debate between Bob and Chef about whether one can still be a badass while wearing a helmet, what I got out of this thread is that (and correct me if I'm wrong), that hard shells do better at the top drop test and the foams do better at side/frontal protection. So, I should be looking for a helmet that is close fitting to the head and wraps around the back and sides as much as possible. I also tracked down [this comparison:]] itkeepsyoualive.com/upload/… which would seem to suggest that the Meteor III offers equally good protection. From what I can gather the ce 1078 cert is for bicycling, so I can't tell if that is more or less stringent than the other more climbing-specific certs. |
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Marmot El Cap? I think it's got pretty reasonable side coverage (but thats from memory, too lazy to google.) |
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The new model Petzl Meteor, at $85-100. Not a hard shell (polystyrene covered by plastic shell), but the best rock climbing helmet that I've used. |
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Danbo1957 wrote:The new model Petzl Meteor, at $85-100. Not a hard shell (polystyrene covered by plastic shell), but the best rock climbing helmet that I've used.Yup. It's between that one and the BD Vector. I'm going to try them both on and go from there... |
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go on steep and cheap. they have a bunch of climbing gear right now. |
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I have the BD Vector and have been using it for three ice seasons now. Great helmet and the fit rocks. My only gripe : It takes up a lot of real estate inside my hood. I've compared the "measurements" with other helmets and by far, the Vector is the elephant in the hood. |