Climbing Helmets

The right helmet makes the difference between wearing and not, and the Petzl Meteor.

The right helmet makes the difference between wearing and not.

A solid all-around helmet with a good price point.

A "workhorse" helmet, as the manufacturer describes it.

The debate over plastic versus foam helmets has divided climbers ever since expanded polypropylene was molded into melon shapes. Do you go with the ol’ reliable hard shell, or dish out the extra cash for a lighter but less durable foam dome?

The Penta is CE and UIAA certified, and has a plastic veneer that protects the exterior. It is as light on your wallet as it is on your head.

When I saw that the new Vapor weighed just 6.6 ounces, or not that much more than my (official) Broncos ball cap, I figured that the helmet couldn’t possibly amount to much in the way of coverage and protection. Yet the Vapor offers as much head coverage as any helmet, including those of twice the weight.

The new Petzl Sirocco tips the scales at 5.2 ounces.

Field Test of the KONG Scarab climbing helmet. The expensive helmet took rock fall like a champ.

Review of the new climbing helmet by Wild Country, the Rock Lite. Affordable, light-fit and easily adjustable.

It's hard to put a price on your head, but mine is apparently worth $60, or exactly what the new AustriAlpin helmet costs. Here's a Field Test review.