Review: Black Diamond Spot Headlamp

Review: Black Diamond Spot Headlamp

Black Diamond Spot Headlamp

A headlamp is an absolute necessity in a climber's kit. It's one of those gadgets that you don't need at all... until you do. And when you do it's usually a sketchball situation where you're glad you have the headlamp. Our team had just such an experience lately and were fortunate enough to have a Black Diamond Spot Headlamp ($29.95 on Amazon) for the job.

Team RI was doing a leisurely 7 pitch trad route at First Creek Slabs with a team of four just outside of Red Rocks Canyon in Las Vegas -- It was supposed to be a quick day trip. A three hour touuur.... Lady Luck (5.7) is a great moderate slab haul with a huge variety of climbing: big hollow huecos, forgiving slab with balancey moves, some exposed arete areas, a couple of juicy fist crack sections, and basically everything you'd want out of an afternoon of moderate multipitch climbing. The descent, on the other hand, was a total bear. We ended up getting lost and rapping in the dark. You probably saw that coming.

Enter the hero of our story, Black Diamond's Spot Headlamp. Two of us on the team had this headlamp and the other two of us had some generic crappy ones from Wal-Mart. We going to credit the Black Diamond Spot Headlamp with keeping us from ending up as hamburger meat at the bottom of a sparsely-traveled sandstone cliff. We'd like to thank all the appropriate deities and BD for keeping us safe for the umpteenth time.

Black Diamond Spot Headlamp in action.

The lamp itself is BD's entry level device and the cheapest one they make. The 2013 model is for sale at $29.97, and it's one of the best value headlamps you'll find. Even though it's Black Diamond's lowest model, the headlamp performs better than either of the department store headlamps our team had. It's bright. We used it on our abseil fiasco and it allowed us to spot features and anchors in the pitch black of Nevada night from around 50 feet.

Since it's the entry level model, it doesn't have much in the way of features, but we're okay with that. At the end of the day, your headlamp has one job and must do it well. The Black Diamond Spot cranks out 90 lumens, which isn't as much as more expensive models, but it was plenty for pitch black rapping misadventures. Maybe if you're a kayaker or mountain biker, you might want a brighter lamp. For a climber, BD's 90 lumen light is plenty. The headlamp has several different LEDs on it, including a red one that is designed to preserve your night vision. The main light set has a fader which allows you to turn down the brightness. We could see that being useful in dusky situations or when you're trying to infiltrate an enemy compound or something. 

We totally didn't die. Thanks BD!

The hot

The BD Spot Headlamp is an affordable multi-lumen fiend from one of the most trusted names in alpine sports. It's $29 bucks. That's cheaper than a sandwich and a beer at a ski lodge. It's an incredibly high-value head lamp with great performance and a long battery life. 

The not

It's hard to find any gripes about it. It's a stripped down lamp without many features. It doesn't have rechargeable batteries, it doesn't have an over-the-head strap, and it won't call you back after a first date. It's 90 lumens. If you can find a better lamp for the price, let us know! 

The bottom line

The Black Diamond Spot Headlamp ($29.97 on Amazon) is a little powerhouse of a lamp at a great price point. We credit it on saving our hides on multiple occasions. If you want a durable, powerful lamp for a low price, look no further. The Black Diamond Spot Headlamp is a great value and doesn't skimp on performance.

Be safe, 

Ariel Castro

Rugged Innovations

Review: Belay Shades Belaying Glasses

Review: Belay Shades Belaying Glasses

Today we set our steely, Eastwood-esque gazes on a really interesting product that I don't think many people have been exposed to: belay glasses. Belay glasses are pretty ingenious. They are regular glasses with the lenses replaced with upward-pointing prisms. The prisms bounce light from above you into your eyes. Your optic nerves sends the light into your brain, which interprets the light into an image of your sweaty climbing partner spending 45 minutes projecting the crux moves of a "totally sandbagged" 5.11a. C'mon dude, the sun is setting. Belay Shades are designed to protect the belayer's neck by preventing them from having to keep their head pointed up while they watch their climbing partner. It's a low-tech gadget with big benefits.

Belay Shades getting their moment in the sun. Owens River Gorge, CA.

We've been wanting to try these for the longest time and finally got our chance. Belay glasses have been around for a while in various forms. We've heard of old school climbers making homebrew pairs out of busted sunglasses and mirrors from their girlfriends' makeup kits. Belay Shades are a streamlined, evolved version of this. It's a high quality product and despite the fancy optics, pretty rugged! As you all know, we here at Rugged Innovations are decidedly unkind to gear. Why? Because we take big falls all the time, and expect our gear to be able to keep up with us. It's a reasonable expectation for high-performance gear and we push it to the limit.

Belay Shades are tough little suckers. We wore them off and on for about 5 hours in Owens River Gorge while belaying some friends. We also dropped them several times and were generally pretty irreverent with them -- it's not our job to babysit gear. They didn't scratch, scuff, bend, or break. We all gave them a whirl and loved the ability to keep our necks attached to our body during a long belay session. These guys save your neck, I'm telling you. Anyone who's belayed for an hour or more at a stretch can tell you it's brutal; by the end of it you are moving your head into all kinds of weird positions to try to use different muscles. Belay Shades 100% alleviate this issue for sport cragging. 

Objects in Belay Shades are stronger than they appear.

Belay Shades are unique for a couple of reasons. One thing we like about them is that they use prisms and not mirrors. The prisms can't bend, move, or get out of alignment with respect to your object of focus. The optics have no moving or folding parts to calibrate. Another thing we liked about Belay Shades is that they are built out of real glasses. If you look at the belay glasses made by other companies, they are constructed out of cut aluminum pieces and end up looking like Robocop's snorkeling equipment. Belay Shades are made out of glasses -- actual human glasses. Belay Shades are, in my opinion, the least dorky belay glasses on the market. No one is going to win fashion awards when they're wearing any belay glasses, but Belay Shades are the least obtrusive.

These Belay Shades are incredible for sport projecting. They completely eliminate the sore neck issue because you don't have to look up at all. You can have a clear view of your climbing partner the whole time while having a clear view of your immediate surroundings.

Having said that, there are a few considerations when wearing Belay Shades. The most obvious is that when you are wearing them, you can't see what is directly in front of you without moving your head around a bit. This makes them not necessarily appropriate for multipitch climbing where you have to keep an eye on your anchor and make small adjustments often. They also are not great to wear for really long periods of time. I got a bit dizzy after wearing them for about an hour straight on a really, really long pitch we were working. Then again, if your climbing partner is spending 60 minutes on the wall, you should probably consider getting them a sponsorship or introduce them to endurance sports.

We have to say, we love the Belay Shades ($44.98 at their site). They are exactly what you want from a pair of belay glasses and then some. They come with a cloth carrying bag, a beefy padded hard shell protective case, a cord to hang them around your neck when you're not using them, and a little microfiber cloth to wipe them down when you inevitably kick some dust up onto them. It's quite a package, but the product itself is what sells it for me. They protect your neck during long belay sessions and are, in my opinion, the best option on the market. We dropped them a few times on rock surfaces from about waist height and the lenses had nary a scuff. Verdict: rugged as heck. For serious sport climbers and single-pitch tradders, these are pretty game-changing. Once you try them, you will not want to go sport climbing without Belay Shades!

Have fun!

Ariel
Rugged Innovations

Review: Osprey Manta 20 Hydration Pack

Review: Osprey Manta 20 Hydration Pack

Whether you live and breathe all-day multipitch trad epics or prefer to spend those hot, sunny afternoons projecting huge boulders, one thing is clear: you better bring some water. Hydration is critical to your performance as an athlete. 

We picked up the Osprey Manta 20 Hydration Pack recently and have taken it on three big trips so far -- a multipitch adventure in Red Rock Canyon, a sport climbing day in Owens River Gorge, and an afternoon of bouldering in the Buttermilks. We put some serious miles on this backpack, both vertical and horizontal. Here's what we found.

Osprey Manta 20 Hydration Pack camping in Owens River Gorge

One of the first things you notice about the bag is the quality of workmanship. From the seams on the zippers to the rough ripstop material; Osprey has put a lot of thought into making this backpack. It feels like you could drop it off a cliff and it would be waiting for you at the bottom without a scratch. It's just solid. 

Dog for scale.

The bag is covered in features. The front of the bag has loop zippers instead of pull tabs, which make opening easier. The zippers have exterior plastic seams, which protect them from warping and increase water resistance. The top front has small loop for mounting your helmet, a mesh pocket with snap closure for quick access goods, and a cinch for holding ski poles if that's your thing (I use it to strap down a light sweater for when the winds pick up). The hip belt has pockets on either side for snacks, cell phones, etc. The very front pocket has a key clip and separate mesh compartments for small goodies. The chest strap has a magnetic clasp for attaching to the hydration hose that is great for keeping the hose free of your hands but accessible when you need it. The only problem with the magnet here is that when you put the backpack on the ground, it picks up small iron and metal flakes from the dirt. After a day of bopping around in the desert your magnet is covered in metal flakes. 

Osprey Hydraulics reservoir

The 3-liter "Hydraulics" water reservoir is unique and of much higher quality than any Camelbak or other brand I've ever seen. The back-facing side has a stiff internal frame that matches the inside of the backpack like a puzzle piece. The internal frame of the water reservoir keeps it snug and distributes the weight more evenly along your back than a Camelbak hydration sleeve, which just reverts to a long cylinder and slides around inside your backpack. My one complaint about the water reservoir is that it can be a MONSTER to get open. Maybe some sand got into the thread of the cap of it? It's hard to open, even for a climber... and hand strength is kind of our thing. It will test your pinch strength, that's for sure. Another small nitpick is that if you forget to move the mouthpiece into the "locked" position, it can drip a little. Just don't forget.

One Manta 20 please, on the rocks

The back panel is brilliantly designed. There's a curved internal frame with ridges that allow airflow and then an inch-deep space followed by a tight mesh that touches your back. The result is a small meshed window between your back and the bag that allows air to flow freely and keep your back cool. Bicyclists take note!

There are several straps that are used to cinch the bag down closer to your body. This is designed to lower the surface area of the bag to reduce wind resistance and to keep the weight of the bag closer to your center of mass which increases your stability. I've noticed that you can also use the straps to clip other items to your bag. I like to cinch my helmet down close to the bag so it doesn't bounce around. 

There is a rain cover hidden in a secret compartment in the bottom. It takes about ten seconds to deploy and has the added advantage of being bright red -- great for visibility on the cloudy, dark days when you'd be most likely to need a rain cover. It's removable, which is great because we live in Nevada where yearly rainfall is usually around ten inches and the days when it does rain are usually just a light sprinkling. Nevadans just don't really need rain covers. Still, the rain cover is a nice detail and I can see it being quite handy in weathery areas. 

Deploying the rain cover on the Osprey Manta 20 Hydration Pack

Bottom line: 

The Osprey Men's Manta 20 Hydration Pack ($139 on Amazon) is about as advanced a backpack as I have ever seen. It packs so many useful features into 1220 cubic inches that it will take you a few days just to figure out how to use it to its potential. As a climber, the pack's main pocket is just big enough to hold a pair of climbing shoes, a harness, and chalk. If you're planning on using it for more than a basic climbing day, you may want to upgrade to the Osprey Men's Manta 28 Hydration Pack ($149 on Amazon) or the Osprey Men's Manta 36 Hydration Pack ($159 on Amazon), which are only slightly more expensive but hold much more. The pack's water reservoir holds three liters, which is enough to keep one person hydrated for a full day of hard athletic activity. I highly recommend this bag for trad climbers that need a lightweight day bag, boulderers who are looking for a all-in-one session pack, and bicyclists who want a low profile hydration bag for long rides.

Gifts and Stocking Stuffers Ideas for Rock Climbers ($5 to $20)

The holidays are right around the corner and that means it's time to get presents for the mountain men and women in your life. This can be challenging because we have so many gadgets and doodads. All these little aluminum trinkets, and you have no idea what any of them do. What do they really want?

As certified mountain people and gear nerds, we're going to give you some gift ideas for the rock climber in your life. We'll start with the cheaper gifts between $5 and $20 and work our way up to the bigger ticket items.

Gifts / stocking stuffers for climbers (from $5 to $20)

Metolius Super Chalk Ecoball ($5.95 on Amazon)

I've been using these for a while. I prefer the Metolius Ecoball to loose chalk for a few reasons. First of all, this is non-marking chalk substitute. Normal chalk is a mixture of the white chalk powder and a drying agent. This product is simply the drying agent so it doesn't leave a mark. This is good for climbing in protected places or for hiding your first ascent project from poachers. Also, chalk balls are required in certain gyms. I find them less messy because I always tip over my chalk bag (or end up upside down somehow), dumping 20 ounces of white powder on my belayer and causing an anthrax scare. Chalk balls are great for the clumsy among us.

Black Diamond Neutrino Carabiner ($7.95 on Amazon)

A climber can never have too many of these. They're strong, versatile, cheap, and they last forever. These little guys come in a variety of colors which is extra handy for trad climbers. This is because the companies that make our cams, nuts, hexes, and other protection color their gear. Having a colored carabiner allows you to match it to the appropriately-colored piece of protection and be able to grab the right piece off your gear loops the first try. It's a small perk, but it shaves off a few seconds. You know how there's dog years? There is also an alternative time scale for trad leading. The three seconds a climber spends fumbling for the right piece of pro on trad lead feels like eternity plus twelve. Just trust me. Anyway, these little 'biners are perfect. Having a few extra carabiners on a climb can allow you to make an impromptu belay device and prevent you from dying. Dying: not cool. Carabiners: cool.

Black Diamond Nylon Runner (Starting at $5.95 on Amazon)

Runners made of webbing are also super handy. This is another gadget that you can never have too many of. Use them for extending gear, building anchors, or making a really floppy hula hoop. You really don't want to run out of these when you're trying to build an anchor. We've all had to MacGyver anchors out of suboptimal materials, and it's a horrifying experience. An extra 2-3 of these on my harness makes me feel safe.

Sterling Chain Reactor Anchor Chain ($20.71 on Amazon)

Anchor building is still one of the most polarizing topics in serious free climbing. A climber can tell you all about the differences between anchor chains, daisy chains, and other assorted anchor building/rappelling systems. I can say that anchor chains are great for a bunch of reasons and anyone who gets one will be happy they did, even if they don't use it all the time. I am partial to nylon as opposed to dyneema for these systems. This Sterling kit is very high quality and one of the cheapest I could find.

Petzl Maillon Rapide Screw Link ($5.95 on Amazon)

Petzl is a French company that names all of their products in fruity français. Allow me to translate into Freedom Speak: these little 2-inch loops of metal save my hide all the time. They're disposable get-out-of-jail-free cards. You want extras. A lot. The world of bail 'biners is an egalitarsomeone's gotta have them.
ian "take a penny, leave a penny"-style karmic loop. I'm going to be honest, I've never bought any of these, I just find ones that other people leave behind. Still,

That's all for now, guys! I hope that's enough info for santa's elves to bring the rock climber in your life some small gifts and stocking stuffers. In our next installment, we'll talk about gifts from $20 to $100.

Happy Holidays!

Ariel Castro
Rugged Innovations

Review: Black Diamond Vapor Helmet

Review: Black Diamond Vapor Helmet

Podcast review of Black Diamond's Vapor Helmet with our partners Chalk Talk, The Climbing Industry Podcast:

We set out to review the Black Diamond Vapor helmet. In June of 2012, Black Diamond Equipment bought out the Swedish helmet and safety equipment manufacturer POC. POC is a high-tech innovator in the field, and Black Diamond's new Vapor helmet is clearly a result of the acquisition.

The Black Diamond Vapor Helmet appears to be visually inspired by bicycle helmets. It has 20 vents on the sides and back, making the Vapor one of the most breathable helmets on the market. It is also lightweight and low-profile. At 6.6 ounces it is the second lightest climbing helmet (the lightest being the extremely stupid-looking Petzl Sirocco Ultralight Climbing Helmet ($110.00 on Amazon)); most other helmets weigh almost twice as much as the Vapor. The Vapor's pricetag is unique, too. At $139.95 it costs more than twice as much as some of its competition.

The Vapor has an extremely low profile compared to other helmets I've worn. This is great for a few reasons. By staying low and close to your head the helmet doesn't get in your way when you're trying to maneuver your way through a tight roof section of a route. Nothing's worse than being focused and scared and trying to figure out how to climb past an overhanging part of a climb and then jarringly bonking your dumb helmet on the rock. ::bonk:: ... TAKE! The Vapor's low profile limits head bonking.

I have a few notes about the Vapor's fit. The Vapor is relatively easy to adjust with the adjusters on the back of the webbing. It fits snugly and does not move front to back. This is important because if the helmet were to slide backward on your head during a fall you could smash your forehead. You should always make sure your helmets don't slide this way. The Vapor helmet does have a bit of side-to-side give, but I don't think it's enough to compromise safety.

One thing I don't like about the Vapor is that the the back of the helmet does not really cover the base of my skull adequately.  Maybe I just have a funny shaped head -- I dunno. I prefer the fuller back-of-head coverage offered by helmets like the Mammut El Cap Helmet ($55.96 on Amazon). Look at the picture on the right in the triptych below: brain stem = unprotected! Dislike.

Front, Side and Rear Views of the Black Diamond Vapor Helmet

The construction of the helmet is fairly unique as well. The outer layer is composed of two sheets of Kevlar -- the same stuff that bulletproof vests are made with. Below the Kevlar layers you have a polycarbonate shell that holds the Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam. The foam itself contains a matrix of carbon rods for stability and strength. Given all the technology jammed in this headgear it's pretty remarkable that it only weighs 6.6 ounces. When you're wearing the helmet it feels thin, not bulky or dense -- and it certainly doesn't feel like there's a four-ingredient sandwich of protective tech on your head. An interesting note is that the Black Diamond Vapor passed the CE safety rating tests but did not pass the UIAA tests. I am not sure this is practically important, but I am curious why BD didn't spring for the extra material/R&D to make it pass. However, they have correctly assumed that I just don't really care that much.

The Black Diamond Vapor Helmet At a Glance:

The Hot:

• At 6.6 ounces it's the lightest on the market.
• Low profile, high strength construction.
• Highly vented for excellent breathability; sunny-weather climbers rejoice.
• Innovative construction makes it the only helmet of its kind (Kevlar?!)

The Not:

• $139.95 price tag makes it more than twice the price of some similar helmets. Yeesh.
• Poor base-of-skull coverage.
• Did not pass UIAA safety tests (it did pass CE tests, though, which I think is plenty).
• A small amount of lateral movement even when snugly adjusted.

Bottom line:

The Black Diamond Vapor Helmet ($139.95 on Amazon) is a great helmet for hot-weather sport and trad climbing. It's one of the lightest and lowest-profile helmet on the market. If you're an aggressive sport climber who never wears a helmet, the lightweight, breathable, comfortable, low-profile Vapor might change your mind. At $139.95, you better mean business; some comparable helmets from other companies cost half as much. If you're looking for a cheaper option, I recommend the Mammut El Cap ($55.96 on Amazon). If you want a lightweight helmet and don't care about looks, the Petzl Sirocco ($110.00 on Amazon) is the lightest on the market... It does look really stupid, though. The Black Diamond Vapor is a great high performance, high temperature sport and trad helmet.

Father's Day Outdoors Gift Ideas!

Is your Dad an outdoor kinda guy? Does he liking camping, hiking, climbing, biking, fishing, hunting, exploring, or other active pursuits in mother nature? Please don't get him a pair of socks, a sweater, or a boring tie again. We scoured Amazon for some great gift ideas that are all on sale! You can get Dad a really rugged, awesome present and still save a few bucks. Everyone wins!

Today we're going to talk about some great Father's Day gifts for the Dad who likes to spend time outdoors. For you forgetful types, Father's Day is Sunday, June 16th, 2013. That's this Sunday! Get moving. Lucky for you, Amazon has a bunch of Prime-eligible gifts that will ship before then.

Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus Pocket Knife

First up we have the Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus Pocket Knife ($44.95 on Amazon). This knife is an upgrade from the classic Victorinox Swiss Army knife. If you take care of these tools and protect them from rust, these things last forever. I got a Victorinox Swiss Army knife as a present when I was growing up and have had it for nearly 20 years -- it's still sharp. This particular model has 30 different tools on it. If your dad is anything like mine, the most-used tool will be the wine corkscrew... Oh well. The Victorinox Swiss Army Champion Plus is a timeless classic and it's 55% off right now!  It has the classic cross logo emblazoned on the side as a mark of quality. This product comes with a lifetime warranty against defective parts.  It has 535 reviews on Amazon and has earned itself 4.5 out of 5 stars at the time of writing. This multitool is sure to make Dad happy for a long time. If you want to upgrade the gift a bit, you could throw in a Victorinox Cordura Belt Pouch to carry the knife in. The belt pouch is only $7.95 on Amazon and shows you put some thought into the gift.

Coast LED Lenser HP8407 Flashlight

Next on the bill we have the inimitable LED Lenser HP8407 Focusing LED Flashlight P7. I got a Coast LED Lenser flashlight for Christmas last year from my girlfriend's parents and it is ridiculously bright. LED flashlights are so much brighter than regular flashlights that it's not even a real competition. If you flash your eyes with one of these for even an instant you will be blinded for 10 seconds. I really can't put into words how bright and strong the light from these flashlights are. I am going to say something that might be controversial right now: forget those MagLites that you see cops carrying around. I am never using a standard MagLite again. LED flashlights are brighter, stronger, last longer (because LEDs have much longer lives than standard bulbs) and use less energy. The LED Lenser HP8407 Focusing LED Flashlight P7 is usually $120.00, but it's on sale for $27.26 on Amazon. That is an unbelievable 77% discount. This guy already comes with a sheath and belt holster.

Hammock Bliss Ultralight Hammock

One of my favorite Father's Day gift ideas is the hammock! The Hammock Bliss Ultralight Portable Hammock is on sale for $34.95 on Amazon and is a perfect gift for a dad that wants to relax after setting up the campsite. This hammock comes with rope included to hang it up from trees. It weighs 13 ounces and can be packed up into a pouch the size of a football. It has nearly 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. At $34.95, the Hammock Bliss Ultralight is the best value hammock I could find - a combination of the best price with the highest reviews.


Hopefully this gave you some ideas for gifts for Dad. Let us know if you have any suggestions or comments!

Be safe.

Ariel Castro
Rugged Innovations

Kids Climbing Gear: Choosing the Right Helmet

Choosing the Right Climbing Helmet for Your Kid

Helmets are one of the most important pieces of safety gear you can have. Your child's entire future, their hopes and dreams, their yet-unwritten Ph.D. dissertation; all are contained in those ~1250 cubic centimeters of grey matter (thanks Google). Protect them!

Camp Armour Junior Climbing Helmet

Some people have asked me if they can use a bicycle helmet for rock climbing. The answer is no. While wearing a bicycle helmet is better than wearing no helmet, bicycle helmets are made for very different types of impacts. Climbing helmets are designed to withstand multiple impacts. This is because in very bad situations, a climber may be exposed to the impact from a fall and a subsequent impact from falling rock or debris. Bicycle helmets are designed to simply crumple after one high-force impact. If your child (or you) are wearing a bicycle helmet while climbing you only have one solid impact. Bicycle helmets also have large vent holes in them that could easily let falling rocks through if they were used for climbing. A climbing helmet always has a closed top and is designed to protect you from several impacts. This could save your life!

There are a handful of good products on the market. Let's talk about the options. An interesting thing to note is that all three of the kids climbing helmets that I am reviewing are essentially the same price. They all cost approximately $59.90. This is liberating because it allows you to make a decision based on your needs rather than price.

Our first product is the Camp Armour Junior Climbing Helmet ($59.95 on Amazon). Unfortunately I don't have a lot great things to say about this helmet. Reading reviews of it online it's clear that people find it very comfortable. The praise stops there. Several people have said that the helmet tends to slide off the top of your head during use. This is unacceptable - the helmet needs to stay absolutely still on your head. If the helmet tends to slide back it can move during a fall and expose your kid's forehead to an impact. Why wear a helmet at all if it doesn't fully protect your head? The helmet does not have great ventilation vents. It sits high on the head which is obnoxious when you're climbing. I can't count how many times I've scraped the top of big helmets on an overhanging roof and nearly fallen. The straps are the least adjustable of the three helmets. I can't recommend the Camp Armour helmet in good faith. Fortunately, there are a couple of other good choices.

Petzl Picchu Kids Helmet

The Petzl Picchu Helmet ($59.95 on Amazon) is a really interesting product. It is designed to meet both climbing and cycling safety standards. In my experience, this is a very rare feature. If your kid is a climber and a cyclist this is the clear winner of the group. It has less coverage than the Mammut El Cap and has a higher profile, so it's not perfect for climbing.  It does not have large ventilation holes like bike-specific helmets, so it's not really ideal for that either. I like to think of this helmet as a multitool; it performs several duties well, but not as well as a sport-specific helmet. With how frequently kids change sports, this may be a great purchase for your family!  One feature of this helmet that I absolutely love is the included LED safety light on the back. What an awesome idea! This is great for peace of mind during low-light climbing and biking. It's like a lighthouse beacon for your child. The Petzl Picchu Helmet also comes with a little pack of stickers that your kid can slap all over it.  They love that stuff. Heck, even as an adult I like to slap stickers all over my water bottles, notebooks, snowboards; whatever. Customization is fun :)

Mammut El Cap Kids Helmet

The Mammut - El Cap Kids Helmet ($59.95 on Amazon) is my favorite of the group of helmets for climbing. It's the only helmet with a brim, which is an excellent feature on sunny days. It has the most ventilation holes (12!) that allow junior's noggin to breath when it gets hot. One element of helmets that does get fairly annoying is that they tend to get in the way when climbing overhanging routes. You're climbing a roof section or crammed into a weird corner and the top of your helmet bumps the roof, jarring you and breaking your focus. It's not a huge problem but it can get annoying. The Mammut - El Cap Kids Helmet is low-profile and sits low on your head, limiting the obtrusiveness of the helmet. Additionally, the El Cap is the coolest-looking helmet of the group. It matters! Finally, the El Cap has the most coverage on the back of the head. There's no evidence that this will protect your kid's head any more than the standard helmet design but it makes me feel safer... It's the helmet placebo effect.

To sum it all up, don't bother with the Camp Armour Helmet. If you're looking for a very flexible helmet that your kid can use for both climbing and biking, the Petzl Picchu is a great choice. If your kid is only going to be climbing, get him/her the Mammut El Cap Kids Helmet!

Most Flexible Multisport (Climbing and Biking) Helmet:

Petzl Picchu Climbing/Biking Helmet ($59.95 on Amazon)

Best Climbing-specific Performance Kids Helmet:

Mammut - El Cap Kids Climbing Helmet ($59.95 on Amazon)

Questions? Comments? Holler at us.

Be safe.

Ariel Castro
Rugged Innovations

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