Climbing helmets: Glisshop’s selection

Mixed climbing, mountaineering or ski touring — a helmet keeps you protected in the mountains

A helmet is an essential piece of gear to protect against potential impacts and falling rocks. Whether on a rock face or in the mountains, it plays a crucial role in your overall safety, just like the rest of your equipment. Not long ago, few adventurers wore helmets, but over the decades — and unfortunately with numerous accidents — this has changed. Whether you're climbing, mountaineering or ski touring, a helmet is now considered almost essential.

The best brands in our online shop

Here’s a selection of comfortable helmets that meet the EN 12492 standard or multi-standard certified helmets. In terms of fit, we offer helmets with adjustable chin straps. All are lightweight so you can almost forget you're wearing them. For safety, you’ll find hard shell helmets with internal strap systems that provide good shock absorption. Others, even lighter, have a rigid foam shell that deforms on impact to absorb shocks effectively. Lastly, there are hybrid models with a hard outer shell and internal foam lining.

Petzl helmets

Petzl helmets are the result of 30 years of innovation. The brand, based in Grenoble, France, designs helmets that are comfortable, lightweight and easy to adjust. They offer full protection for all your vertical activities.

Discover Boreo

The Discover Boreo range is the most affordable, allowing beginners to get started safely with robust and comfortable helmets.

Meteor

Weighing just 225 g, the Meteor helmet is suitable for climbing, mountaineering and ski touring. Its In-Mold construction with EPS foam and a polycarbonate shell offers excellent protection, along with ventilation, comfort, and compatibility with ski goggles and headlamps.

Performance Sirocco

The Performance Sirocco range is designed for intensive ski touring, climbing and mountaineering. These are among the lightest helmets on the market.

C.A.M.P. helmets

C.A.M.P. climbing helmets offer reliability and comfort for climbers of all levels.

Rockstar

The Rockstar models are robust and versatile, offering excellent value for money.

Armour

Armour helmets perform well in all situations and come in unique graphic designs.

Storm

The Storm helmets are top-of-the-range, lightweight and very comfortable — designed for the most experienced climbers.

Black Diamond helmets

Black Diamond offers a range of climbing helmets combining durability, innovation and comfort to meet the needs of committed climbers.

Capitan Mips

The Capitan Mips features MIPS technology for enhanced protection against rotational impacts. Its ABS shell and EPP/EPS foam provide comfort, shock absorption, and optimal ventilation.

Vapor Helmet

The Vapor Helmet is ultra-light, weighing between 186 and 199 grams depending on the size. Its polycarbonate shell and precise adjustment system deliver lightweight performance and ventilation for multi-pitch climbs and alpine routes.

Vision

The Vision combines an ABS shell with EPP/EPS foam for excellent impact absorption. Lightweight and equipped with headlamp clips, it adjusts easily with a quick-fit system.

Mammut helmets

Swiss brand Mammut offers reliable and comfortable helmets for all mountain sports.

Skywalker 3.0

The Skywalker 3.0 combines a hybrid shell made of ABS, EPP and EPS for excellent protection and comfort — and it even includes recycled foam.

Crag Sender Helmet

If you’re looking for an ultra-light and highly ventilated helmet, the Crag Sender Helmet is ideal thanks to its In-Mold construction reinforced with Kevlar.

And what about the others?

Other renowned brands are also available in our online shop. Discover them now and gear up for your next adventure with the best climbing equipment on the market.

When should you replace your climbing helmet?

It’s essential to know when to replace your equipment. After a shock or significant impact, the structure of a helmet can be compromised and may no longer offer proper protection. To ensure your safety, it’s best to replace it without delay. In the mountains — whether climbing, mountaineering or ski touring — danger is always present, and safety is priceless!

Materials can deteriorate over time and with use, especially intensive use. Fortunately, helmets typically last several years. We recommend checking your helmet regularly for cracks or signs of wear and following the manufacturer's guidelines. Most advise replacing your helmet after 5 to 10 years if it hasn’t sustained any damage. This lifespan takes into account material ageing and how often it’s used.

Which climbing helmet should you choose for maximum safety?

Choosing the right helmet is crucial for your safety. In sport climbing, multi-pitch or mountaineering, wearing a helmet is now quite common — though less so in bouldering.

If you’re doing multi-pitch climbing, choose a lightweight, ventilated helmet with good coverage that you can wear all day. Multi-pitch helmets prioritise comfort without sacrificing protection.

In bouldering, helmets are less common, as climbers generally rely on crash pads. These pads usually cover the ground and cushion low falls, also protecting against surrounding rocks. Even so, wearing a helmet while bouldering can be a good idea to protect against nearby rocks that crash pads can’t always cover.

In all cases, remember that for maximum safety, you need a helmet suited to your activity — and that means following some key criteria.

Key criteria to consider

Intended use

Choose a helmet suited to your main activity. For example, a mountaineering helmet provides more coverage to also protect against cold and falling ice, while a crag climbing helmet focuses on being lightweight and well-ventilated. If you are into several disciplines (climbing, mountaineering, ski touring, via ferrata...), a multi-purpose and multi-certified helmet can be an excellent versatile option.

Weight

A lightweight helmet is more comfortable and quickly forgotten, encouraging you to keep it on at all times. It reduces neck fatigue during long multi-pitch climbs. However, be careful not to sacrifice durability: ultra-light foam models offer excellent protection but may be less durable over time than slightly heavier hard-shell helmets.

Ventilation

For climbing in warm conditions or during intense sessions, ventilation is essential. Generous openings help evacuate heat and sweat, preventing overheating. Conversely, in mountaineering, vents may let in cold air — a thin beanie worn underneath can mitigate this.

Standards and certifications

Ensure your helmet complies with the relevant safety standards. The EN 12492 European standard certifies that a helmet is suitable for climbing/mountaineering (impact resistance, penetration protection, secure chinstrap, etc.). Some helmets are also certified for skiing (EN 1077 for alpine skiing or specific standards for ski touring). These dual-certified helmets offer versatile protection for those who ski or ice climb, ensuring maximum safety across a range of activities. Choosing a helmet that meets the appropriate standards gives you confidence in your gear.

Contact us to help you choose the right climbing helmet

Our climbing and mountaineering specialists are experienced and passionate. They’ll use their knowledge to guide you towards the helmet best suited to your needs.

You can also check out our expert guide to this year’s best climbing helmets, as well as our top picks for multi-pitch helmets!