In my opinion, when looking to get a climbing helmet, you really just want to be sure that it can do one thing (and do it well) – protect your noggin.
Climbing outside introduces a lot of potential ways to hurt your head. Some of these ways include banging your head against the wall, falling rocks, and even falling pieces of gear that your partner has dropped from above you.
This is where helmets come in. Your head is your most important body part and you need to protect it at all costs. Unlike arms and legs, you do not have a back up head to rely on if something happens.
It is important to keep that in mind when looking to get the right helmet for you. However, just because a helmet is more expensive than another, does not mean it will be better at protecting your head. All climbing helmets must meet specific safety criteria to be certified.
My recommended climbing helmet is the Black Diamond Half Dome. You can check out its current price on Amazon here.
Continue on to see what you should be looking for when buying a climbing helmet and an explanation for why I recommend the one that I do.
What To Look For When Buying A Climbing Helmet
The two most common safety standards climbing helmets must meet are the ones detailed in UIAA 106 and EN 12492. It should be noted that these standards do not account for side or back impacts such as hitting your head against the rock when falling.
When buying a helmet, you will want one that meets the UIAA 106 and/or EN 12492 safety standards AND has been tested for side and back impacts.
In addition to meeting the UIAA and EN safety standards, you will want your climbing helmet to be:
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Breathable
While having a helmet that looks super cool is neat, at the end of the day looks don’t matter as much as comfort and function. Having a helmet that you are confident in will allow you to focus on the climb itself knowing you are protected.
My Recommended Climbing Helmet
The Black Diamond Half Dome is a very good helmet and incredibly budget friendly.
Black Diamond is one of the leading climbing gear brands because they consistently put out high quality products year after year. Their Half Dome helmet is the perfect example of this.
The Black Diamond Half Dome is incredibly adjustable and a lot of climbers have praised how well it fits their head. While it may not be the lightest helmet on the market, its heaviness doesn’t come without any benefits. It is heavier than other lightweight helmets due to its high quality ABS outer shell which is able to sustain large forces from above.
At the end of the day, it is all about protecting your noggin and the Black Diamond Half Dome does just that at a very affordable price as far as climbing helmets go.
If you are willing to invest more money into your climbing helmet, you can opt to go with the Black Diamond Vision MIPS.
The main perk of the Vision MIPS is the protection it provides against damage to the brain caused by rotational motion. It truly provides the best protection for your head while climbing, however, that protection does not come without a premium.
You can check out the current price of the Black Diamond Vision MIPS on Amazon here.