Hockey helmet for ice climbing

Obligatory: I have and use a climbing helmet and am being somewhat facetious with this post.

That being said, I just got a hockey helmet and was thinking that I needed to scratch it up a bit befor I hit the local pond hockey spots so that I don’t look like a total hoser (which I am). That got me thinking that the clear visor could be a move for ice as it could keep the spindrift out of the eyes and you could look directly at your swings without fear of ice in the eyes (Additionally it could protect beginners from tools popping). One problem is the plastic seems way softer than climbing helmets and isn’t designed for sharp blocks of ice to hit it. Will Gadd wore a hockey helmet when testing natural gear placements on helmicken falls, but that was spray ice which I imagine is a lot lighter and softer than water ice.

Again, I’m not actually considering climbing with this thing, but I’m curious as to how the ratings on the helmets might differ since they’re designed for the same medium, just different sports. 

Years ago, Grivel sold a helmet called the Gladiator; which looked a lot like a hockey helmet.

The main problems with anything in front of your face are fogging and not having access to your teeth.

Sometimes you just need your teeth to grab a rope or sling

LL Biner wrote:

Years ago, Grivel sold a helmet called the Gladiator; which looked a lot like a hockey helmet.

The main problems with anything in front of your face are fogging and not having access to your teeth.

Sometimes you just need your teeth to grab a rope or sling

just…. wow! yukiyama.co.jp/ice_info/gea…

the only thing would be weight? 

Danny Deckers wrote:

Obligatory: I have and use a climbing helmet and am being somewhat facetious with this post.

That being said, I just got a hockey helmet and was thinking that I needed to scratch it up a bit befor I hit the local pond hockey spots so that I don’t look like a total hoser (which I am). That got me thinking that the clear visor could be a move for ice as it could keep the spindrift out of the eyes and you could look directly at your swings without fear of ice in the eyes (Additionally it could protect beginners from tools popping). One problem is the plastic seems way softer than climbing helmets and isn’t designed for sharp blocks of ice to hit it. Will Gadd wore a hockey helmet when testing natural gear placements on helmicken falls, but that was spray ice which I imagine is a lot lighter and softer than water ice.

Again, I’m not actually considering climbing with this thing, but I’m curious as to how the ratings on the helmets might differ since they’re designed for the same medium, just different sports. 

I went to Walmart for a helmet and climbed for a few months in a skateboarding helmet.   "Tony Hawk" was my nickname that summer.

Russ Keane wrote:

I went to Walmart for a helmet and climbed for a few months in a skateboarding helmet.   "Tony Hawk" was my nickname that summer.

Fortunately, a quality friend gave "Tony" a helmet so he stopped looking like a wanker at the crag.

I got tired of breaking "climbing" helmets, so for past few years have been using old kayaking helmet.  Agreed, its not "spec", but I'm happy my head is protected from more than "single impact".   have had good eye protection results using safety glasses from local construction supply.  cheap, readily available, and only visibilty issues have been when "swimming upstream" on vertical slurpee.

-Haireball

Russ Keane wrote:

I went to Walmart for a helmet and climbed for a few months in a skateboarding helmet.   "Tony Hawk" was my nickname that summer.

Aaron Mulkey wears a kayaking helmet, Sweet Strutter.

Jumping on to helmet thread.... can anyone id this? Is it a sweet protection helmet with grivel stickers?

Evan Gerry wrote:

Jumping on to helmet thread.... can anyone id this? Is it a sweet protection helmet with grivel stickers?

Yes

Sweet Protection-Strutter

I’ve worn a Petzl helmet (Elios + Boreo) with the Vizion shield for over a decade at this point.  I don’t think there’s a climb I’ve done where I haven’t said “man I’m glad I have this shield on”.  Sometimes I forget to flip it down when I get started and it’s immediately obvious.  

I picked up a set of DIY lexan shields last season from someone on MP who had a local shop cut a batch — I think it worked out to $20/shield which was great.  The shield rarely fogs up although sometimes water can freeze on the outside depending on conditions.  Even still, I’d never climb without it.  

I also coach youth hockey and wear a visor as well for that when on the ice — I’ve taken both sticks and pucks off of it and thankfully not my face, although my teeth aren’t protected...  Our head coach actually wears a full face cage which is even smarter.

I’ve thought about trying one of Petzl’s flip-down chainsaw face screens too but the Vizion has been enough for me and the helmet still packs well enough with it.

Just go Hanson Brothers. No helmet required. 

My friend Jud Thurston doing his Alex Lowe impression long before Alex Lowe was famous.