Climbing Helmets

[burtim]

I'm in need of a new helmet for climbing. I have been using a modified hardhat with clip on hearing protection, UVEX safety glasses and the chin strap from an old bicycle helmet. Not the perfect thing, but I functional and effective both on the ground and in the air. What I have now is very similar to a Rockman setup.

I've looked at the Petzl's, Kask's, Rockman, Pacific's and others. What do you guys like. Most of them seem to make me look like I just got back from a geek convention, but I know I shouldn't care about "how they look". Have you guys (and gals) got any opinions on helmets. I'm kind of interested more in the Kask ones at this point, but I'm not sure how well I like the eye protection on theirs?

 

[TreeAce]

I have a kask and i love it. I have the visor but only use it some times, like when its to dark for shades or when the wind is blowing crap right at my face and my safety glasses can use back up. The visor does its job considering its not a face shield. I def like the quick adjust head band. I havent used many others so its hard for me to compare but I would think its very hard to beat the kask.

 

[burtim]

Thanks for the reply. Good to know.

BTW Ace, love your videos. They have been inspiring to this old guy!

 

[ATH]

I have a petzl vertex vent and like that. Note that the vented helmets are not approved to use around power.

On the 'geek convention' comment...I hired a friend to drag brush for me a single job a few year ago (just a friend who could use some work, he had no prior tree experience). A couple of weeks later he said "so I was looking at the Sherrill catalog...apparently everybody looks like a dork in those helmets" (I took that to assume he was thinking it was just me :tongue2:

 

[Hddnis]

I had a petzl for years. I didn't like it, but since I spent good money on it so I suffered.

Tried the Pacific and never looked back.

One MUST is that the helmet have a sweatband/pad on the forehead area, or at least be easy to put a standard pad onto. That was one of my big beefs with the petzl.



Mr. HE

 

[beastmaster]

I had a Pacific and it never fit right. Dropped it once from the tree and part of it cracked off(there made to break on inpack)which made it useless. I still wore it tell the liner broke. They wanted 36.00 for a new one. I tried a petzl, but I think a brim is important in case a saw ever kicks back in my face. I now have a rockman and love it. It has the best chin strap I've ever used, looks cool, and if I ever stick my head on a high volt. wire its suppose to offer protection. Rock on Rockman.(plus there reasonable priced) beastmaster

 

[TreeAce]

I had a Pacific and it never fit right. Dropped it once from the tree and part of it cracked off(there made to break on inpack)which made it useless. I still wore it tell the liner broke. They wanted 36.00 for a new one. I tried a petzl, but I think a brim is important in case a saw ever kicks back in my face. I now have a rockman and love it. It has the best chin strap I've ever used, looks cool, and if I ever stick my head on a high volt. wire its suppose to offer protection. Rock on Rockman.(plus there reasonable priced) beastmaster

Interesting thought concerning the brim. Never thought of that. I did notice that with the tiny mini brim on the kask it offers a little bit of eye shade but mostly I found it much easier to look up. Easier on my neck.

 

[ckliff]

watch me get flamed for this comment...

I hate paying 80 to $100 for that bit of plastic. I currently use Petzl, but with my money situation the way it is, someday I may have to pick up a ten dollar hard-hat and improvise the strap. Just sayin'...

 

[deevo]

I have a petzl vertex vent and like that. Note that the vented helmets are not approved to use around power.

On the 'geek convention' comment...I hired a friend to drag brush for me a single job a few year ago (just a friend who could use some work, he had no prior tree experience). A couple of weeks later he said "so I was looking at the Sherrill catalog...apparently everybody looks like a dork in those helmets" (I took that to assume he was thinking it was just me :tongue2:

Never heard you can't use a petzl vent near power lines? Why is that? I've used them for years near power lines (i have a brush cut so no hair sticks out lol!)

 

[Grace Tree]

I hate paying 80 to $100 for that bit of plastic. I currently use Petzl, but with my money situation the way it is, someday I may have to pick up a ten dollar hard-hat and improvise the strap. Just sayin'...

Me too. Way overpriced. For some reason mine start smelling like horse pee. Seriously, I shower every morning but they still start stinking like horse pee. I have 3 Vertex that I keep in rotation to deal with it. I thought they were overpriced at $49. May last one was $80. I'm not paying over $100.
Phil

 

[deevo]

Me too. Way overpriced. For some reason mine start smelling like horse pee. Seriously, I shower every morning but they still start stinking like horse pee. I have 3 Vertex that I keep in rotation to deal with it. I thought they were overpriced at $49. May last one was $80. I'm not paying over $100.
Phil

I did the same thing! 1 of them has the tikka headlamp for night work!

 

[beastmaster]

Me too. Way overpriced. For some reason mine start smelling like horse pee. Seriously, I shower every morning but they still start stinking like horse pee. I have 3 Vertex that I keep in rotation to deal with it. I thought they were overpriced at $49. May last one was $80. I'm not paying over $100.
Phil

Check out the Rockman helmet. It's a lot of helmet for the money. I think I paid 30.00 from Tree Stuff. I have a petzl vertex on the truck my boss bought. Paid like a 125.00 dollars for it and I only wore it once. I feel Like I should be riding on the little bus with it on. The straps hurt my ears. I can't get it to fit right on my little pointed head either. Read some of the reviews for rockman helmets. Beastmaster

 

[ATH]

Never heard you can't use a petzl vent near power lines? Why is that? I've used them for years near power lines (i have a brush cut so no hair sticks out lol!)

That applies to hats with open vents. This is copied from Sherrill's website:

"The Vertex Vent does not meet requirements of the EN397 standard regarding electrical insulation. However, it does meet ANSIZ89.1 - 2003-type-I-class-C and CE EN12492."

Also on their site, there are 2 Rockman hats:
*Rockman "regular" helmet with vents
**Rockman Dielectric helmet without open vents

 

[deevo]

That applies to hats with open vents. This is copied from Sherrill's website:

"The Vertex Vent does not meet requirements of the EN397 standard regarding electrical insulation. However, it does meet ANSIZ89.1 - 2003-type-I-class-C and CE EN12492."

Also on their site, there are 2 Rockman hats:
*Rockman "regular" helmet with vents
**Rockman Dielectric helmet without open vents

Thanks for that!....what if i keep the vents closed? lol! Seriously,thanks for the heads up

 

[BC WetCoast]

We just use regular hard hats with chin straps. Nice thing about them, over climbing helmets, is the brim and channel around the brim manages the rain water. The brim also helps keep rain off the safety glasses. Yes, we work every day, rain, shine, snow and sleet. We work when the mailman packs it in.

 

[sgreanbeans]

I use the vent, but I have always wondered about bike helmets that ya buy for your kids!, they have a high impact rating and you can get it in pink w/ hello kitty on it.

or a tony hawk style skate board helmet, ever seen those dudes take a spill on the half pipe! those Helmets take a serious beating