Climbing helmets for uphill skiing

Hey y'all,

Looking for a new helmet to replace my climbing and skiing helmets that I would be able to use for backcountry skiing and climbing. I know that a climbing helmet even with a CE ski touring cert is never going to offer the same protection as a certified alpine helmet but so be it. I'm looking at the Petzl Sirocco and Meteors as well as maybe the Mammut Wall Rider (but leaning towards petzl for price). I'm really just wondering if anyone has experience using any of those helmets for skiing...how do they interface with layers, goggles, etc... Any info you've got would be helpful as I narrow my options.

Cheers!

I have the Salomon MTN Lab Ski Helmet, which I guess might more fit into the genre of ski helmet for climbing (both climbing and ski certified). Definitely very breathable and comfortable for uphill skinning and has nice compatibility with goggles/headlamps. I haven't tried using it for pure rock climbing, but I don't think there would be any real issue.

I use my Meteor for skiing, and usually wear a skull cap or balaclava underneath. Also, a R2 hoody fits nicely over the helmet.  I’m not sure about goggles, as I use Rudy Project cycling glasses. I have no complaints. 

Grivel Dueto

https://grivel.com/collections/helmets/products/duetto

The new meteor is ski mo focused, designed to work well with goggles.

Camp Speed Comp - it meets both EN alpine ski helmet and climbing helmet certifications. It feels like a slightly heavier climbing helmet on my head, rather than feeling like a ski helmet, if that makes sense. 

that guy named seb wrote:

The new meteor is ski mo focused, designed to work well with goggles.

Yeah that's why I'm learning towards Petzl. Do you know how that fit compares to the sirocco? I was able to try on the latter but not a meteor.

Jared Chrysostom wrote:

Camp Speed Comp - it meets both EN alpine ski helmet and climbing helmet certifications. It feels like a slightly heavier climbing helmet on my head, rather than feeling like a ski helmet, if that makes sense. 

The speed comp has definitely been on my radar...I know this isn't a great reason but the decision to look more into Petzl for this came down to looks. The Speed Comp is a bit out there for me. Thanks for the input though! I think I am going to more heavily consider it given what you said going forward. 

Very happy with my Mammut Alpine Rider.  Watched a friend crash hard using one as a loaner helmet while riding in-bounds.  I have no doubt he'd have been getting a sled ride down from Ski Patrol had he not been wearing it.  I opted for the Mammut as the only other dual-rated helmet I could find at the time, Camp, was too narrow for my skull.  

Sam Untersee wrote:

The speed comp has definitely been on my radar...I know this isn't a great reason but the decision to look more into Petzl for this came down to looks. The Speed Comp is a bit out there for me. Thanks for the input though! I think I am going to more heavily consider it given what you said going forward. 

I recommend the helmet, but I do suggest finding a place to try it on before buying, if possible. The shape doesn’t work for some people. 

Sam Untersee wrote:

Yeah that's why I'm learning towards Petzl. Do you know how that fit compares to the sirocco? I was able to try on the latter but not a meteor.

The sirocco is a little narrower width wise I also found the sirocco to sit quite high on the head not really coming as far down the back as I would like, it feels like I'm wearing a hat rather than a helmet. I can't speak for the fit of the new meteor but the previous-gen I find a little wide but certainly feels allot lower down on my head.

There are quite a few helmets out now that are truly tested and certified for both skiing and climbing. But none of the Petzls are, as far as I know.

Dynafit DNA is one of the lightest.

Movemtn has a few, couple of Camps, Sweet Protection Ascender  and others.

https://skimo.co/helmets

I wear my meteor year-round for all things climbing and skiing, even at the ski resort. I'm not much of a hard charger at the resort so I've been comfortable with that, but can anyone explain what the EN 1077 standard for alpine skiing helmets really adds? Convince me I'm making a grave error wearing the meteor at the ski resort. It's hard not to think that if it's good enough for skiing the steeps and doing skimo stuff, then it should be fine for the groomers.

I love wearing the meteor over my nano air hood, with a lightweight shell and helmet-compatible hood available to pull over the helmet. Warm but very breathable for climbing steep snow in strong cold or wind.

https://blog.weighmyrack.com/helmets-certified-for-climbing-and-skiing/

Also, per WeighMyRack's Andreas in this YouTube comment thread regarding the EN 1077 ski standard:

It's important to differentiate between SKI rated and SKI TOURING rated. the Petzl Meteor is SKI TOURING certified. Our understanding is that this certification was basically created by Petzl and adopted by CE, one reason they are the only brand to currently have a SKI TOURING certified helmet.
The difference between the two certifications isn't clear to us but it seems that the major difference is regarding penetration. The SKI cert. ensures that no objects (ski poles or tree branches) can penetrate any of the holes in the helmet. The SKI TOURING cert, in our understanding, follows similar guidelines to the SKI cert with the exception of the vent penetration testing. Because ski touring typically demands more ventilation, the thought is that you can't create a well ventilated helmet that meets the standard alpine SKI certification.

So it sounds like not a huge difference in the certs, though my relatively low-profile resort MIPS helmet is much heavier and beefier than my Sirocco. I wear my Sirocco for climbs involving ski travel and it works fine with goggles and a thin helmet liner. Putting the goggle strap in the elastic headlamp catch on the Sirocco works well. Any ski tour though, I go with my Giro resort helmet.

I use my mammut wall rider for climbing and skiing. R1 fits nicely underneath. Shells and puffies fit over the top. Goes well with goggles, utilizing the elastic hold down in the back.

What I don’t like about the Sirocco for skiing is the lack of protection on the sides and back of the head. It just doesn’t come down very far.

Related to that, it is a bit unstable on my head. This is caused by the fact that it doesn’t wrap as far down, in combination with the webbbing harness. Most bike and ski helmets, and some climinbg helmets, have a more rigid plastic strap going around the head, that keeps the helmet more secure.

so I tried on both the new meteor and the most recent sirocco in a store today my reflection is as followed

They both fit pretty much exactly the same

The sirocco's webbing makes it feel higher on the head but in reality, they both protect the same amounts both on the side and in the back

the meteors harness is much nicer and feel like it really fits your head

Tried on a new BD helmet the vision, comes further down on the sides and the back making it look less like a penis and looks cooler, negligible weight difference between all of these models.

I think I'd go for the bd in future, it's low profile and seems like it protects more. it's not certified but IMO seems like a bit of a bs certification might get the small one though as it did feel quite roomy inside and the harness was the lower end of the adjustment. (I'd say i have a very medium sized head)

that guy named seb wrote:

Tried on a new BD helmet the vision, comes further down on the sides and the back making it look less like a I think I'd go for the bd in future, it's low profile and seems like it protects more. it's not certified but IMO seems like a bit of a bs certification might get the small one though as it did feel quite roomy inside and the harness was the lower end of the adjustment. (I'd say i have a very medium sized head)I

Looking at the way certification testing is done on different types of helmets definitely provides some great insight. Specifically, climbing/mountaineering vs ski touring vs downhill ski vs bicycle helmet.

For example, a helmet can’t be certified for climbing if it has any vents at the top of the head, but it’s ok for a bicycle helmet, etc.

Demetri V wrote:

Looking at the way certification testing is done on different types of helmets definitely provides some great insight. Specifically, climbing/mountaineering vs ski touring vs downhill ski vs bicycle helmet.

For example, a helmet can’t be certified for climbing if it has any vents at the top of the head, but it’s ok for a bicycle helmet, etc.

That's because it would immediately fail the penetration test. If you actually look into the certification they all are very very similar with a few modifications to specifics stuff like vent size/placement restrictions and different sub classifications.

Your climbing helmet would pass cat b ski helmet certification, bicycle helmet certification and certain work at height certifications.

So in conclusion, having a certification specifically for ski touring which only addition to a normal climbing helmet cert is a limit on vent size, is dumb and really only good for marketing. 

that guy named seb wrote:

So in conclusion, having a certification specifically for ski touring which only addition to a normal climbing helmet cert is a limit on vent size, is dumb and really only good for marketing. 

Depends on where you ski tour and your risk assessment. I'll happily use my dual-certed helmet for spring corn season on Cascade volcanoes. YMMV

C J wrote:

Very happy with my Mammut Alpine Rider.  Watched a friend crash hard using one as a loaner helmet while riding in-bounds.  I have no doubt he'd have been getting a sled ride down from Ski Patrol had he not been wearing it.  I opted for the Mammut as the only other dual-rated helmet I could find at the time, Camp, was too narrow for my skull.  

I also use the Mammut Alpine Rider.  Comfortable, easy to adjust, dual certification for skiing and climbing, works well with my goggles.

Sadly, as will most gear I like, it's discontinued.