Climbing Waffle: Should We All Be Wearing Helmets

[@haasebert]

I’d say always wear one, and not just to set an example. I fell on a traverse on toprope and managed to get flipped upside down. Toprope! A scraped elbow beats a TBI any day. You never know what can happen on the crag. For me, it’s an easy choice - a little discomfort on a hot day is worth it. Keep up the great work, Jez!

[@gonzoliam1720]

I believe helmet use is driven by fashion as well as simply safety. If Adam Ondra started wearing a helmet for all sport climbing I strongly believe many people would follow his example.

[@AntonioCoachUK]

A budget helmet saves my life just after 3 months of climbing, now after 3 years of climbing I have a light fresh helmet that I wear in all the conditions, trad or sport. I got used to climbing with it and I feel comfortable. It's like a seat belt while you drive.

[@zu_1455]

I’ve always said (imitating an English accent) “I wear this for me mum” when strapping on a helmet. I don’t care if I die but I know she’s always worried about me when I’m out there.

[@imissclimbing6170]

No brainer - always outdoors, everyone I climb with does as well. Both climbing and belaying. Fall, inversion, rock, dropped gear, kids throwing debri off top, it can all happen so easily. Also quite tall so saves scrapes on low roofs/awkward moves in chimneys! Simple safety helps confidence and focus with both beginners and more experienced climbers pushing their grade alike - many a time I've seen people glad they had one one, unfortunately I've also seen a few regret they didn't. Worth considering not just yourself, but the safety of your team who may be relying on you, the emergency services who are already stretched at the best of times and your freinds/family who like having you around and want you home in one piece. My vote is for anyone in a position of influence to lead by example, especially on social media which has huge reach. Thanks for encouraging healthy discussion around the topic, much love & as always, great channel!

[@luketacy8297]

I always wear a helmet. Even in the gym. one of my buddies hit his head real hard gym climbing and that's when I realized the potential for head injury is always there no matter the conditions. So I started wearing one all the time and now I've gotten so used to it I don't think twice about snapping it on when I tie in. Also gives me a confidence boost too. I feel like I'm more willing to try hard moves when I have my extra armor on lol.

[@tgoldsmith]

Agree with the sentiment that in certain situations, one can satisfy ones self that it’s not entirely necessary, but the trouble I see is with then selecting which situations justify a helmet, and which don’t. It’s another decision to make when you’re already making plenty of other choices (what gear to take, where to place it, where route goes, rope configuration, how you plan to make an anchor at the top, and all the ritual of racking up etc). Free your cognitive capacity up for other things by just wearing one every time, and save yourself the chance of making a wrong choice. Don’t see any drawbacks to wearing one personally.

[@troygregory286]

First reason: I primarily make money with my brain, so I think of wearing a helmet as “protecting my money-maker.” Second reason: I don’t want to be that guy in the headlines that reads, “Climber seriously injured (or died) and his helmet was 12 feet away from the start of his climb.”

[@robertmclaren233]

Our local crags are almost all sea cliffs with high rockfall hazard - my helmet is the first thing i put on. Plus just gives more protection in event you are flipped upside down (which could happen in trad or sport) or hit the deck. Modern helmets are so light and comfortable - I often forget I'm wearing one and have been known to still have it on when i get back to the car after a days cragging!

[@tomtom4405]

My first helmet "lid" was fibreglass and huge and heavy! (30 years ago this August) I understand why people wouldn't wear that half the time, but now I'm climbing with a petzl Sirocco and I can't see why anyone wouldn't as they're so light

[@marinakyriacou6525]

I always wear a helmet but too often I've forgotten it in my locker at work and gone to the crag without. Recently I bought myself a lightweight helemt and it has been a game changer and now I no longer forget it.

[@JBMountainSkills]

Nice one! Light is right!

[@gravyblue]

Always if you're leading outside. I'm happy not wearing one at the toprope venues (southern sandstone).

[@thecornishmaker5285]

Literally watching this in A&E after my mate took a nasty fall and smacked his head. Looking like just a concussion but could have been a lot worse if he wasn't wearing a helmet...

[@JBMountainSkills]

Oof, hope they aren't too bad and recover well 💪

[@morgan7a]

Similar to me, had a fall sport climbing last year that inverted me. I don't think my leg caught the rope but somehow i flipped and only grazed a wrist. Got a new Petzl Bora which as you say is mega comfy. I have decided it's easier to wear it (nearly) all the time to take the decision making out of it. They are not the easiest things to stuff in your pack tho :)

[@MountainHermits]

This is an identical to the debate the road cycling community were having 2 decades ago. Sooner or later people accepted the risk was not worth the very, very marginal reward. Especially with modern helmet tech. The difference between climbing and cycling though is that professionals are not mandated to wear them so examples aren't set. I'm all for freedom of choice but it's always a shame to hear about preventable head injuries in this sport

[@gravyblue]

I'd argue that it's nothing like cycling. Trad leading is very different in exposure to risk than gym toproping for example. If you're that risk averse, perhaps you should wear a helmet all the time, incase you fall over or an anvil falls out of an aeroplane .

[@derekatwood6236]

I wear the petzl sirocco over a hat, its so light i forget its even there immediately.

[@jeremyballard7461]

It’s back to “It depends”! So much depends on the crag/situation. Helmets are so light and comfortable. I sometimes forget that I have it on and try and get in the car with it on! The consequences of NOT wearing it…. Do they outweigh wearing one? It’s your choice, but have you made a conscientious decision? Nice one Jez 👍👍

[@iain_nakada]

Good video! I take pretty much the same approach as you it sounds like, almost always wear a helmet for trad, rarely for sport without a specific reason. Friable crag I'll go for one while belaying, and at times I'll wear one if I'm climbing with a new climber to set a good example. But most sport outings without. Hard to say why but yeah it does feel a bit nicer and 'freer' without I suppose. Would never want to discourage anyone from wearing one though, the upsides definitely outweigh the downsides if you think about it.

[@kevedwards]

I predominantly sport climb and have never owned a helmet but will be picking one up. Ive always thought it’s more likely to get hit by a rock falling from the crag when you’re eating ya sarnies then when actually climbing, I’ll probably wear it more for belaying and routes with a higher risk factor rather then every sport route I climb.

[@kevedwards]

Actually just went bought a helmet 🤣

[@JBMountainSkills]

Nice one!

[@leegosling]

Never had a problem with my old Ecrin Roc… nor my fibreglass Joe Brown helmet…Though at the time the Ecrin was LUXURY! Lol… I always drew a line at those cardboard caving helmets though… does anyone else remember those?😢

[@andrewdickins2]

I just default to always wearing a helmet for both sport and trad because like you said, why not? I've got a black diamond half dome, so it's nothing fancy or super light weighted but it's never been a problem for me. I've got so used to wearing it now that the few times I've not put it on I've felt really weird and uncomfortable, kind of like driving without a seatbelt, just doesn't feel right

[@GBScouts]

I'm surprised your helmet didn't have a bigger dent in it after your block drop test. I always wear a helmet, I bought a BD vector because they're so light. Got hit with a chunk of ice in the alps a few years back and it's put the fear into me.

[@OutsideHathersage]

Always worth wearing helmet!! Seems like little excuse not too now so light

[@jamestown12345]

Hard shells are better for belayers at the bottom, foam for lead climber. Hard shells are better for rockfall, soft helmets for falls from height.

[@mattbaker1683]

I have seen a friend of mine, (and possibly a friend of yours too) on a sport route leading for the first time with the rope behind the leg... No helmet means it's not going to end well in a fall. As it was a social media picture there's no immediate urgency to get the person to stop, but it does tell a story of the potential impact of wearing one vs not. Our friend is good, and continues to climb (probably much better than me due to climbing frequently) so I feel like I'm teaching granny to suck eggs by saying wear a helmet, maybe I should be more firm in telling people. I don't think anyone ever can say they regret wearing a helmet but maybe there's a fair few who wished they had... I have mates who want to get out but refuse to wear a helmet!? So I just don't take them out. A hazard to them is a hazard to me so it's my decision as the leader/belayer. It's not an absolute for me, but anyone who absolutely refuses to wear a helmet is potentially going to cause me unnecessary stress so I avoid them. If you're comfortable at the grade and familiar with falling then you know if you've got it wrong and can take appropriate action.

[@philliptingle8381]

I get the impression it's a new school vs old school thing to wear a helmet vs not. When trying to convince people they should wear one I show them a video of someone I know inverting on a fall and smashing hard into the rock. They walked away with just bruises because they had a helmet but would have been serious without it. I think people overlook the potential for inversion as a reason to wear helmets. If i'm climbing in a horizontal cave maybe there isn't much risk but anything vertical or slabby it can definitely happen.

[@rellify3]

Always worn for me, gives me more confidence on lead

[@johngilbert974]

I think the question is “why wouldn’t you wear a helmet?” I feel freer climbing is an interesting answer. But you’d feel even freer without rope drag. So why do you want bolts or pro every 10 feet ? IMO - The answer is the same for the helmet.

[@motatapu1]

I really can't think of any good reason not to wear a helmet, and can think of heaps of good reasons to definitely wear one - for the safety of both climber and belayer. Brain injuries are horrible and tragic and often preventable. Over the last 12 months or so your videos have convinced me to change my belay device from ATC to gigajul and then to Grigri on the basis of safety gains. So in that case you (and everyone else) should always be wearing a helmet in my view!

[@kytarx]

Sometimes I wish my belayer would wear a helmet & use a grigri. What if I pull off a flake and it hits them? Definitely gonna be a ground fall.

[@ytBC0]

The excuse of saying helmets are uncomfortable, is usually from a person that doesn't know how to wear it properly!

[@rasenmaher9629]

They are very warm, which is uncomfortable.

[@derekatwood6236]

Or someone (like me) who just needed yo buy a better helmet. They're worth what you pay for em.

[@musicianpete]

Think there's a good case for "get a good helmet, that fits". Loads of parallels with cycling, MTB, and motorcycle communities here. There are different head shapes, etc. People prefer different brands for fit and features. Ultimately there's enough variety out there that you can find one you like. My bicycle helmet saved my neck (literally) on its second outing. The BD helmet in the vid weighs as much as some headphones - why leave it to a judgement call? Get ahead - get a hat

[@mountaineer5596]

Great videos, great info. You provide a valuable service to climbers. You’re presentation is very appealing. Thanks.

[@dark-o]

Same with car seat belt. Some people just don't get it.

[@dougthebuilder1]

Doesn't make sense not to, these days the helmets are awesome, my blackdiamond vector is so light I often forget I've got it on, and in matte black looks cool too. Petzl helmets however....

[@kainapple1478]

I always wear a helmet, but I think if you're choosing to wear a helmet based on judgement of different situations, then you're likely a safer climber than the people who blindly always wear one. For your videos in general, I think it'd be good to wear one for the same reason as when you're working, but that's just my opinion.

[@charlesguiness]

Always wear one at the drag, incl. my friends. For us - no discussion. Had an accident once and without helmet ... that would have been ugly.

[@PhweeRage]

I assume you definitely always wear one when driving then? As a firefighter I can assure you that an untold amount of people would not die every single day on our roads if they had been wearing a helmet in their car. Significantly more could be saved DAILY in the UK by driving with a helmet by a staggering margin, than those that could have been saved YEARLY in this country climbing with one. But I guess it's not 'convenient' hey? We all take risks for pleasure, fun, adrenaline etc. Staying at home would have been much safer but no, you chose to take the risk that benefits no one but you, of climbing, then you have the audacity to judge those who do the exact same thing as you, but without a pot on their head. Get off your average-height horse.

[@chrismills1209]

Being new ex forces and new to climbing it really surprises me seeing people not wearing helmets.

[@geoffreycomins4045]

I wish that climbing gyms would enforce the wearing of helmuts so that it just becomes one of those things that you do when climbing.

[@gazn8208]

Personally always wear a helmet when sport/tradding. I'm clumsy enough to crack my head on plastic holds inside, rock is a lot harder!

[@TheBonehead420]

If I’m climbing or belaying it doesn’t matter where or when I’m always wearing my helmet. Better safe than sorry.

[@poolplayerbrian]

I forget I'm wearing it after a couple minutes. I also don't wan't to spend the rest of my life living in regret cause I was too lazy to put it one on and now have permanent damage from a mishap. I also have kids to raise and need to set the example

[@joannaknowles8789]

I always wear a helmet, just because you may think its safe enough not to ,one day you could be wrong and you never know when that time will come, and if it does and your not proteched that could be your last...Ouch!!!. so better being safe than sorry.

[@JohanMood]

There's no reason to not wear a helmet really, especially if you already have one. We are falling against rock repeatedly, don't look like an idiot waiting for a accident, just wear a helmet

[@simonfreeman4373]

I do tend to think when seeking people not wearing a helmet that God forbid if things did go wrong if the crag was closed for an investigation it has an effect on everyone so if you're outdoors wear a lid as you point out it's not an inconvenience it could save your life or at least reduce your injury your climbing partner and climbers around you don't need to deal with your injuries so it's as much thinking of others as well as yourself sorry for my rant.

[@mikeclusker9313]

Wear a helmet!, im 51 I wouldn't be if I didnt wear a helmet I have 3 retired helmets all with dents in them that would have caused serious injury without.

[@jabriffa]

Always wear one, why not? Get to the crag, put on the harness, put on the helmet, leave both on until you're packing. Easy. Frankly at this point I'd feel exposed without it, much like driving without a seatbelt. One excuse I often see here (Malta) is that it's too hot (which it often is). But then a good modern helmet is fairly airy, and worth getting used to.

[@PhweeRage]

Think how many lives and serious brain injuries could be saved every day in the UK by simply wearing a helmet whilst driving. Yet every single one of us chooses not to... Yet we 'drive' to the crag, knowing that driving kills daily, we take the additional risk on purpose that 99% of the rest of the UK doesn't take of rock climbing, then have the nerve to judge others who don't wear a helmet when climbing. "Yea but wearing a helmet is safer." Yes, but you know whats safer than trad climbing? Top roping. You know whats safer than top roping? Not climbing at all. We all choose to take risks based on exhilaration vs perceived threat. you get people on the crag shaming people without helmets, who then watch videos of people free soloing and call them legends...

[@jamiemcbarron]

Trad climbing I always wear my helmet 🪖.. sport climbing it depends on the place if I've been there before and the grade I'm climbing