If you’re climbing outdoors, you should wear a helmet. Whether ice or rock, it is highly likely that a chunk of earth could pull lose and come directly down at you. If you are not wearing a helmet, you could sustain a pretty serious injury.
| Image | Name | Price | Weight | Review Rating (Amazon) | Warranty | Link |
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Petzl Sirocco Helmet | $129.95 | 5.6-5.9oz | 4.3 | 3y manufacturer | Link |
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Black Diamond Vapor Helmet | $139.95 | 8oz | 4.7 | 1y | Link |
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Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet | $59.95 | 10-11oz | 4.6 | 1y | Link |
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Petzl Meteor Climbing Helmet | $99.95 | 7.8oz | 4.5 | 3y manufacturer | Link |
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Mammut Rock Rider Helmet | $79.95 | 8.8-9.17oz | n/a | Limited | Link |
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Camp USA Armour Helmet | $41-$167.18 | 12oz | 4.6 | 3y limited | Link |
Let’s look at each of these individually, then you can make your own decision as to which is right for you.
Petzl Sirocco
From the manufacturer:
The SIROCCO is designed to respond to the needs of climbers and mountaineers for reduced weight and for protection. Its head-covering shape, lower in the rear, offers reinforced protection. Optimized volume on the head, along with excellent ventilation, provide maximum comfort.
Our take:
The Sirocco is a super light helmet designed for those who really care about weight. It’s constructed from polypropylene and polycarbonate, which leads to less resilience through multiple falls. However, it’ll definitely protect your noodle through the first one.
Final word: for the truly weight-conscious, a great choice. But be prepared to replace it after a hard fall.
Price: $129.95 MSRP
Black Diamond Vapor
From the manufacturer:
Providing ultralight, low-profile protection, unparalleled ventilation and a secure and super-comfortable fit, the Black Diamond Vapor helmet is a go-anywhere cragging lid that proves helmets aren’t just for multi-pitch trad climbs and big alpine faces. We engineered a sheet of Kevlar and a series of carbon rods in between co-molded EPS foam and a polycarbonate shell to keep the weight at a minimum while keeping you protected. The Vapor’s ratcheting suspension tucks into the helmet for compact storage in your pack or haul bag, and removable headlamp clips secure your light on pre-dawn starts or when rapping after dark.
Our take:
Black Diamond makes great helmets, and this is their top of the line mountaineering and climbing helmet. It’s light (just 8oz) with well-constructed and placed ventilation holes that many say work great.
The Vapor is constructed of foam covered in a polycarbonate shell, which is pretty standard. It has a ratched closure on the back, also pretty standard, and includes headlamp clips for those early morning adventures.
Final word: Compare this to the Petzl Sirocco if you’re looking for light and fast. If you can get it on sale, scoop it up.
Price: 139.95 MSRP
Black Diamond Half Dome
From the manufacturer:
Completely redesigned from the ground up, the Black Diamond Half Dome is the evolution of our most popular climbing helmet. With an improved fit and weight savings of more than 40 grams over the original, the Half Dome is an all-purpose workhorse ideal for everything from trad cragging to alpine expeditions. We also added a custom-designed wheel adjuster for quick, secure and precise adjustments.
Our take:
There’s a reason this helmet is the most popular one you’ll see at the crags. The Half Dome helmet is Black Diamond’s entry level helmet.
It’s reasonably light (10-11oz depending on size), available everywhere, and has the rear dial fitment system to adjust to almost anyone’s head. It’s durable, has a headlamp clip, and won’t break the bank.
The downside is that it’s made for 80% of people, so it doesn’t exactly have a performance fit. It sits a bit higher off the head than most of the other helmets here.
Final word: great beginner helmet if you’re on a budget, but when you get into more hardcore climbing and hard alpine territory you’ll want something lighter and more performance-oriented.
Price: $59.95 MSRP
Petzl Meteor
From the manufacturer:
Lightness and comfort have made the METEOR helmet a signature product for climbing and mountaineering. This model has the advantage of large openings for excellent ventilation. Its innovative adjustment system allows each climber to adjust his/her helmet to head shape. The METEOR also comes with a new magnetic buckle which allows the chinstrap to be attached with one hand.
Our take:
The Petzl Meteor is the Petzl helmet a step below the Sirocco, so it gives up a bit on weight while giving a bit better durability and a lower price. If you’ve been in the Black Diamond Half Dome and want to take a step up without dropping $150 on a helmet, this is a great next step.
It fits well with a performance fit, though it is a bit more bulky than some of the higher priced helmets. It’ll keep your noggin safe, fit better than cheaper helmets, and still not break the bank.
Final word: a good intermediate step up before you are ready for or can afford the top of the line.
Price: $99.95 MSRP
Mammut Rock Rider
From the manufacturer:
The Rock Rider is an extremely light in-mold climbing helmet, suitable for a wide spectrum of applications: from sport climbing to alpine multi-pitch routes, and from classic high-altitude tours to ice and mixed climbing – this helmet offers outstanding performance in all kinds of terrain! Sixteen ventilation openings combined with air channels inside, the helmet ensure an optimal temperature during strenuous climbing routes. The versatile, adjustable wearing system guarantees a perfect fit and high comfort. For easy transport to the rock, the adjustment system can be folded into the helmet shell. For early morning starts in the mountains, the Rock Rider’s four stable clips can be used to safely and securely attach a headlamp.
Our take:
Mammut’s tagline is “absolute alpine”, which means these helmets are made for the big mountains. The Rock Rider is ideally used for big wall climbing, though can also work for alpine and sport climbing. It can of course be used on via ferratas as well if that is your thing, but for $80 it’s expensive for climbing sideways on fixed lines.
Final word: a good entry-level helmet, slightly more expensive but also higher performance than the Black Diamond Half Dome.
Price: $79.95 MSRP
Camp USA Armour
From the manufacturer:
The wildly popular Armour delivers a precise fit, superior protection and a striking look with seven color options—all at a great value! The molded ABS shell has a total of 10 vents on the sides for excellent ventilation. Fast and secure adjustment system makes the helmet ready to use on any adventure. Available in 6 colors.
Our take:
The Camp USA Armour is a very very similar helmet to the Black Diamond Half Dome, making it a great entry level helmet. Of course, Camp USA doesn’t have the brand or the distribution that Black Diamond enjoys so you likely will not see it in stores.
Final word: a decent beginner choice, but you’ll have to order it online.
Price: $59.95 MSRP
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