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nauphishfan
Sep 12, 2005, 2:07 PM
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Ok, so I want to know how many people actually wear helmets on lead. Any kind of lead; sport, trad what-ever. I personally will wear one if I feel a bit sketched on a sport rout, almost always trad leading.
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dirtbag101
Sep 12, 2005, 2:32 PM
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I don't think a helmet is needed on a sport route unless there is a lot of loose rock, but then the belayer needs it, not the leader. As for trad I usually wear it because there is always potential for gear to pull and the leader to end up upside down, especially on thin 11's and 12's.
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kubi
Sep 12, 2005, 2:35 PM
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I've seen people shoot off laybacks headfirst (luckily they didn't hit anything). I always wear a helmet.
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gat
Sep 12, 2005, 2:39 PM
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Always. If I am on trad lead, then I am at Seneca and that place can seem like a shooting gallery on a crowded weekend. As for sport, it would depend on the environment...single pitch; loose stuff on top with a lot of traffic etc.
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docontherock
Sep 12, 2005, 2:41 PM
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When leading at the top end of my ability (You know, anything above 5.3+.....) or if I'm in an area where there is any chance of rockfall from above.
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retired
Sep 12, 2005, 2:42 PM
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Started out climbing wearing a helmet, became proficient and stopped wearing a helmet for 15 years, cut open my head while following on a sport route and for the last 5 years climb all kinds of rock with a helmet...even on occasion while bouldering. Helmets are so light and comfy now that it makes no sense to not keep it on your head the entire time at the crag...of course I climb on choss.
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mrtristan
Sep 12, 2005, 2:43 PM
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I try to always wear a helmet when tradding. Except if it's a short, easy pitch with no loose rock. Definitely always on multipitch.
-Tristan
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freeclimberchris
Sep 12, 2005, 2:48 PM
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I tend to wear mine on all leads unless I am at a sport area that is fairly empty, I would wear one at a sport crag if the area is crouded simply because of falling gear and rocks.
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gunked
Sep 12, 2005, 2:55 PM
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In the last 5 or 6 years, since the light-weight helmets hit the market, I've been wearing one on almost every lead. I pretty much only climb trad. There's really no sport routes out here.
-Jason :D
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markc
Sep 12, 2005, 2:58 PM
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This comes up fairly frequently. I just typed "helmet" in the forums search and had multiple results in your ballpark.
I wear a helmet on multipitch routes (although I haven't always). I have worn a helmet on sport routes and single-pitch trad routes, but it's most frequently when I'm in an area with a lot of rockfall or when a guidebook strongly recommends it. It might be wise to wear a helmet all the time, but it's not my current practice.
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schnoz
Sep 12, 2005, 2:59 PM
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In reply to: I've seen people shoot off laybacks headfirst (luckily they didn't hit anything). I always wear a helmet.
This is exactly why I always wear a helmet while climbing vertical. While talking with an experienced climber who used to frequent the same gym, he told me of a time when he was glad he was wearing his. He didn't usually but for some reason that day he did. He was laybacking, popped off and fell upside down. His head hit the wall when the rope went taught and bounced him back up head first where he hit again. With his helmet he just shook it off. Without... ouch.
I can also be a klutz around overhangs at times. I've lost track of the number of times I've stood up a bit too far under an overhang, hit my head and said to myself "Damn, that'd really have hurt without a helmet".
I wear a Petzl Elios. I forget I have it on while climbing now. I forget I even have it on most of the time now I'm so used to it.
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ao
Sep 12, 2005, 3:11 PM
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Any time I lead, I wear a helmet, period. No point in risking not wearing one because it doesn't look cool or because you get overconfident in your abilities. You never know how/when/if you fall or how the landing's going to be, not to mention any possible rockfall.
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veganboyjosh
Sep 12, 2005, 3:24 PM
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i see no reason to not wear one while climbing(leading, following, tr'ing, trad, sport) outside, so i always wear it.
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euroford
Sep 12, 2005, 3:24 PM
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I don't usually where my helmet while following trad routes at my local crag, but always while leading, always while multipitching, always while aiding and always while ice climbing.
i also hate those stupid foam bike helmets. i like a helmet that can take a beating. the petzl ecrin roc all the way for me.
i can think of numerous situations where i have been very thankfull for my helmet, and i don't find it cumbersome, awkward or uncomfortable in any fashion.
edit: regarding sport climbing which i failed to mention. on the one sport route i've climbed, i wore my helmet.
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tradmanclimbs
Sep 12, 2005, 4:09 PM
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the ellios is so light that I put it on as soon as i start climbing and forget it is even there. helmets have saved my bacon a bunch of times. the only reason not to wear one sport climbing is if you are worried about not being cool.
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kellyw
Sep 12, 2005, 4:36 PM
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I also have the Elios and wear it on every single lead, sport or trad. Anyone can end up with their foot behind the rope, if only for a second, and it you peeled right then you'd flip and maybe hit your head. And that's just one scenario!
It seems crazy to see anyone on a bike without a helmet these days, and hopefully it will be that way with rock climbing in the next few years.
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veganboyjosh
Sep 12, 2005, 4:42 PM
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In reply to: It seems crazy to see anyone on a bike without a helmet these days, and hopefully it will be that way with rock climbing in the next few years.
come to boulder. it seems very few people wear bike helmets here.
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tradmanclimbs
Sep 12, 2005, 5:29 PM
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Climbing is a free sport so you should be able to freely choose not to wear a helmet. just don't try to justify it with a bunch of lame excuses. be honest and admit that helmets are not cool enough for you and that you are afraid that you will look like a geek if you wear one spurt climbing :D
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blueeyedclimber
Sep 12, 2005, 5:30 PM
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This topic comes up regularly every couple of weeks or so and here is my take on it. I would never try to talk anyone out of wearing a helmet, and I think it is a smart thing to do, but you need to realize that a helmet does not replace common sense. A lot of the so-called "accidents" that people are bringing up are due more to ignorance than anything else (i.e. getting the rope caught behind your leg). It is more important to be able to assess the situation and not put yourself in a position where the helmet is saving you from a head injury or worse.
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nauphishfan
Sep 12, 2005, 5:50 PM
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I agree with tradmanclimbs but have to admit that I have succumbed to the desire to be cool and not worn my brain bucket at sport areas. It seems that most people who replied say they wear their helmets but my experience is that most people don’t wear em.
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gochubug
Sep 12, 2005, 5:54 PM
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Since they have got more comfortable and less klunky-looking, I have seen a large upsurge in the number of climbers wearing them at our area crags.
Personally, I have always worn mine for all rock climbing: trad, sport, leading, following, top-rope, belaying, even while just waiting around. I'm so used to it, I don't even notice it's there, but if I forget to put it on I feel sort of "naked."
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tradmanclimbs
Sep 12, 2005, 6:03 PM
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blue eyed climber. no matter how smart you think you are and how much better (or cooler) you are than all the other ignorant climbers out there, your melon will splat just as easy as a pumpkin tossed out of a fast moveing chevey on halloween :lol: just because you think you are paying attention and keeping your head safe from all those helmet wearing noobs you forgot to do the one thing that acutualy might save your butt in an accident. wear you freaking lid 8^) Admit it , your really just too cool to wear one :lol:
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sonso45
Sep 12, 2005, 6:30 PM
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I used to not wear one, especially on bolted climbs at small crags. I thought the rockfall was all I had to worry bout. Then I fell, caught my ankle between the rock and the quickdraw and started to tumble head first into the wall. Luckily, I put my arm out and did a half cartwheel which stopped my head from smashing into the rock. I wear one nearly always, unless I am feeling lazy/lucky. M
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toejam
Sep 12, 2005, 6:36 PM
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I wear one when climbing trad, because I'm usually camping and my hair is all greasy and mussed up.
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