UKC

Is there any reason why my climbing helmet would be unsuitable for skiing?

In reply to mountain monster: Depends on type of climbing helmet? I used my Camp Startech for a few years, not ideal, but got by. Once you get a proper skiing lid you realise how much better it is though.

In reply to mountain monster:

Probable has something to do with that ski helmets have side protection in places a climbing helmet does not, but as the other post says, it has lot to do with the type of climbing helmet you have.

I use a Grivel Gecko, which is a ski / climbing combo. It also has elastic torch retainers which is handy, especially if you night ski.

In reply to Jamie Simpson - Alpine Dragons:
My helmet is a Petzl Ecrin Roc. No side protection other than the overhang of the shell.

In reply to mountain monster: IMO not ideal, but better than some, what type of skiing are you doing? You will probably get a cold head though - take a beanie that fits under it, or a headband if it's warmer. Also check you can wear goggles OK with it, might be very uncomfortable.

If you ski regularly, worth thinking about getting a proper lid, can easily get one for under £50.

In reply to Chris F:
This is something that is worrying me. I am skiing on the Stubai Glacier, today the temperature is -21. If it stays that cold, even with a beanie under I might have problems. I am planning to wear a Montane Extreme. The problem with that is that the hood isn't big enough to go over my helmet. Also I only have glacier glasses not goggles that would protect my face a bit more.

In reply to mountain monster:

I have a proper ski helmet, Petzl Meteor and a Petzl Ecrin.

Ski helmet is great for piste and slack country skiing but too heavy and hot for touring or ski-approach climbing - when doing this I use the Meteor which offers some side and rear protection.

Personally I wouldn't bother with using the Ecrin - think it's be a false sense of security, would rather ski conservatively. But that's just my opinion.

In reply to mountain monster: Dude - this is your head you're talking about. Get the right thing for the job.

In reply to mountain monster: A climbing helmet is only designed for impacts from the top, e.g falling rocks. Ofcourse it does provide some side and rear protection but not as much as a proper ski helmet. It's you head, but imo why not just spend the £50 and get a proper one.

In reply to mountain monster: A skiing helmet will be a lot warmer, when combined with goggles a, neckfleece or a thin balaclava as well, if required.

In reply to mountain monster: CAMP make a helmet called the Pulse, which meets the European spec for both climbing and skiing. "Direct ventilation keeps the climber cool on warm days and a winter kit with ear protectors and ventilation plugs quickly converts the Prime to a comfortable and warm ski and ice-ready helmet which conforms to the EN 1077 standard for downhill skiing with the winter kit".

It can be seen on both the CAMP and Allcord web sites and we believe it to be the only helmet on the market that is cross-certified for both activities.

Ian
Allcord

In reply to mountain monster:
There's a thread here that's a little bit relevant, kinda:
http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=346041

Climbing helmets aren't tested for side (rear, frontal) impact in any very meaningful way. Mostly they're designed to protect the top of your head from falling stones/ice etc. The traditional hard shell/cradle type (eg: Ecrin Roc) are particularly bad at this, the soft shell/thick foam type (eg: Petzl Meteor) do it better.

My worthless opinion: I'd say no; if you're like me you're probably better off with a wooly hat than wearing a climbing helmet and thinking your head is protected. If you don't have a ski helmet: a skate helmet, cycle helmet or even a kayaking helmet would probably be better than a climbing helmet.

hth

In reply to mountain monster:
A climbing helmet like the ecrin will provide almost no useful protection while skiing, most skiing head injuries i've seen were to the back of the head or to the front/side (just above the eye).
I'm going boarding next week and after reading the news about natasha richardson i'm considering possibly getting a helmet.

In reply to gethin_allen:

Its probably a good idea.

Although hers was a bit of a freak case, albeit a tragic one. If that alone is reason enough to get a helmet you should probably also wear one to open cupboard doors in the kitchen!

In reply to gethin_allen:

I boarded for the first couple of years without wearing a lid. Did all sorts of daft stuff with no problem. Crusing downa piste one day caught and edge and battered my head on the solid piste and had wobbly vision for a day. That was the last time I boarded without a lid. Makes sense really.

In reply to mountain monster:
i've been boarding for 13 years without a helmet and skiing for a few years before that. I'm starting to collect helmets, wondering if i should just take my full face DH bike helmet, it would provide more than adequate protection but would i look like a total utter idiot.

In reply to gethin_allen:

How well do you board? If I saw someone on the slopes with a full face DH helmet who looked together I'd be thinking "Wow! What have they just done?" or "Wow! What are they off to do?"

So if your 13yrs has paid off I'd assume you to be hardcore rather than an idiot. If you are doing repeated blues I might scoff somewhat at a full face, but not at a normal helmet. But you'd know you were just saving pennies so what would my opinion matter anyway?