What Type Of Helmet Is Best?

You must wear a helmet! They are not an accessory! Countless lives have been saved by helmets.

The choice of helmet is mostly personal preference but make sure you stay with a recognized brand of mountaineering, climbing or caving helmet. All these brands are certified for impact and will go far to save your life.

Petzl, Black Diamond, C.A.M.P USA Armour, Mammut, Kong, Edelrid and PMI manufacture great outdoors helmets. Choose a color or style that suits you. If you will be attaching a light source or camera to it, make sure that style accepts it.

Many helmets utilize attachment clips on the side to securely hold the strap of a head lamp. Others will have to be modified to hold a fixed light source or camera mount on the front. You may want to just attach a small flashlight to one side with an available flashlight mount.

Do not use a bicycle helmet, hard hat, boarding or skiing helmet. These helmets are specifically made for their individual sport. They may be more bulky, or not fit as tightly as you would need in a climbing or caving situation.

So, whether you are climbing rocks, caving deep into a mountain, mountaineering or canyoneering,  you need a good helmet that will serve you for years.

One other thing! If you take a fall, your helmet as well as your harness, rope, attachment devices, ascenders and descenders need to be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary. The helmet especially needs inspection and if there are any signs of cracks, punctures or other scars – REPLACE IT! It will NOT hold up to another fall!