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Protect your melon on your next climbing trip with the comfortable, adjustable, low-profile Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet. Whether you just shaved your head before a trip to the desert or you're wearing the thickest stocking hat you own, this helmet perfectly fits your head thanks to a one-hand adjustment knob. A simple twist makes the Half Dome Helmet's circumference bigger or smaller to match your headwear or hair style. Its low-profile design keeps the dork factor down when you're at the crags, and may save you from getting your head stuck in an offwidth one day.
Bottom Line: Save your dome with the Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet.
This this is one of the more comfortable newer style helmets that i have climbed with. However, I find that it even when full adjusted it tends to fall back on your head a bit. It is slightly more comfortable then the more traditional suspension helmets, although i would still look at getting one of those before i bought something which can crack so easily, and feels thin
I'm on SAR (Search and Rescue) would this work as a good all-around helmet for mountain and river rescues, so basically could it get along in a river and drain ok?
I hate helmets. I only wear them in the gym, and only then because my gym requires it. That being said, this helmet is something I would actually wear in the field. It weighs next to nothing. It doesn't feel like Royce Gracie has you in a headlock. It doesn't get in the way. Perfect.
I've used this helmet for a number of years to protect myself on the rock and on the ice. As many reviews have stated, the Half Dome fits well over a thick hat or just by itself. Headstrap adjustability is ridiculously quick for those times when friends forget their lid. I've had a couple chunks of ice fall on it from +25 feet and it did its job. My only complaint is that the chin strap is slightly difficult to adjust. I recommend this helmet to anyone getting into the vertical world.
I've had two of these helmets now (lost one). It's an affordable no frills helmet that you can depend on. The chin strap can be awkward to adjust as another reviewer stated, but I find that to be of minimal hassle.
Most of us recognize that helmets are necessary but don't particularly enjoy wearing them -- enter the Half Dome. This helmet is surprisingly comfortable and highly adjustable -- it fits well in summer on its own or in colder conditions with a hat underneath. I have a small head and many helmets don't seem to fit well, but the Half Dome fits great -- I tend to forget I'm wearing it...
There are no markings or indication that these are ANSI approved. They are certified as follows:"CE": indicates fulfillment of the requirements of Article 10 of the Personal Protective Equipment Directive (89/686/EEC)."EN 12492": indicates that this helmet conforms to EN 12492, the European Standard for “Mountaineering equipment – Helmets for mountaineers – Safety requirements and test methods.” "UIAA": indicates that the helmet has been tested according to UIAA 106 and awarded the UIAA Safety Label.
A lightweight and very comfortable helmet, you almost forget it's on. Luckily I didn't have to test the durability and how well it holds up during an unforseen impact/incident, but it was definitely a great helmet on both rock and ice.
Okay the pro: It feels light, seems like it would protect (haven't tested this yet, thank God)The adjustment device in back works perfect and snugs up nicely.The con:The chin straps suck, like really really makes me want to return it....almost. One side lines up with your ears, the other is off. I have to have it loose all the way just to fit. That means I have this chunk of plastic and nylon on my right side chin (the buckle and the sewed end of the adjustment strap). I don't have a big head either.Notice:I may just have to keep playing with it for a lot longer. I have tried to adjust it for the better part of an hour but still couldn't get it to fit perfectly.
Oh and the white isn't white, its cream don't be fooled.
This was my first climbing helmet and its great. Lightweight, comfortable, and compact. Perfect for scrambling too. I was looking for a helmet for my 8-year older and realized that my helmet adjusted down and even fit her so I bought a second one. That way, I can take my daugher or a new climbing buddy without buying 2 extra helmets. I will note that I had rented the old style half-dome with the velcro adjust instead of the new "dial" adjust and the new "dial" adjust is much easier and actually adjusts much bigger (I have a big head).
The helmet is quality. I like the fit, there is never an obstruction of view, like some other bulkier lids. Just be carefull when choosing the color white...it is more of a cream color.
This is a great helmet, it has everything I need. It is cheap, light, comfortable, breathes well, no obstructed view, and easy to adjust once on the head. The only exception is that the adjustment straps for under the chin are a pain in the butt to get 'em where you want 'em. A minor annoyance considering that once they are in place, you're pretty much good to go.
A lot of people underestimate the importance of a comfortable helmet. These helmets are very comfortable and my scout troop has 4 pairs of these and a couple of old ones. you would be surprised how quickly these get snatched up by the older scouts
This was the helmet I used when learning to climb. When I had to get my own I tried a bunch of the more pricy ones but always came back to this. My head was always right on the edge of being too big for small helmets but too small for a large size helmet, or maybe I just didn't want to admit my head is a size large. This one size fits all was really comfortable. I find myself trying to scratch my head then realizing I have a helmet on, I forget about it that much. I got white to avoid the oh so common blue. Backcountry was the only place I could find it in white. The only issue I have is that my brother says it makes my head look even bigger, like giant bald skull, but he didn't see me in those other ones. So far it's protected me from lots of falling ropes and bashing my own head into overhangs as I go up.
This is a plastic helmet with foam inside. The problem is that the top of the head touches the foam. There are straps which should keep some distance between head and foam but it doesn't work like that. So if impact goes shock goes straight to your head and no force is absorbed by the straps. For my head the helmet slides a bit too easily.
Out of the box my girlfriends Petzl Elios was more comfortable, especially on the top of the head. But as I wear it more, it seems to be breaking in or conforming to my head and becoming quite comfortable. The Half Dome has a closer to the head feel vs the Elios which has somewhat of a bike helmet feel. I would choose the half dome again.
I forgot that I was even wearing a helmet it's so light and breathable. The helmet is very adjustable and fits nicely on my head and does not slide around at all. Great value for a great helmet.
I've had this helmet for a couple of years and it has never had any hits, but I cracked the shell in the back when it lightly hit something while hiking out from canyoneering. It was just clipped onto my pack and swung out and hit a tree branch or something. I would expect it to be a little more durable.
I just got nailed in the head yesterday with this helmet on with a rock and I'm still good to go.
Light, comfortable, adjustable, and most important it keeps your dome piece safe. I watched a climber get hit in the head with a rock about 5" around from about 20 or 30 feet up and he was fine. Good enough for me...
I wore this helmet while butt-sliding down some mountains in Seward, Alaska. I kinda biffed it and ended up rolling down the mountain, hitting lots of scrub brush and hard-pack. If not for this helmet, I'm convinced I'd be in a lot worse shape as my ice axes where banging the helmet the whole way down. Don't butt slide down mountains!
This this has saved my mellon on several occasions. I have been working this route with a 7 foot roof, I have smacks my head many times trying to pull over the lip. and falling and bashing the side of my head of the lip when I peel. This helmet is cheap and works just fine. my head is still intact because if it. After several good solid impacts it has only a few scracthes. I recomed this helmet
Perfect all purpose climbing/mountaineering helmet. Fit is very adjustable and comfortable. Really lightweight. I have used it several times for mountaineering, but have never been cracked in the melon, so i cant review on the protection of this helmet.. but it is certified. Has a nice low profile fit which isnt annoying or geeky looking. For the price i recommend for an all purpose helmet. The chinstrap adjustment is a little difficult, but once you work with it for a bit, its not bad.
I have been using my Half Dome for about two years now and love this helmet. Strengths: Looks great, the headlamp tabs are easy to use and hold the lamp on very well. Good suspention and easy to adjust. weakness: The thing holds in the heat on warm days, but that is not all bad on cool days and nights. overall: A great climbing helmet. I would surely buy another.
These helmets are perfect for what we need them for, our portable climbing wall which is used for all ages and sizes! I really love the flexibility, that they offer with the adjustable backside!
I bought my first half dome a couple of years ago to replace another more expensive and much less comfortable helmet. I absolutely love this one. Its light, and the adjustability is awesome. The crank adjustment allows me to use a wool hat underneath in the winter, or I can crank it down for summer climbs. I think this helmet is probably the best bang for the buck!
This thing feels so nice. I have used for ice, rock, glacier, and caving. The clips are totally easy to use for a head lamp and the straps to fit are easy and snug around your chin. Don't worry about bonking your head in this sweet helmet.
I bought this helmet because of the price but ended up sending it back for the Petzl Helios. The ventalation on this helmet is poor and it's on the heavy side of things. Other than that, it's a fine helmet for the week I used it.
Great helmet. I was used to using an older model. This one is easy to adjust and fits great on my 7 year old and me (My dome is a 7 1/2). I highly recommend it.
Comfortable - doesn't hurt my head and seems to fit well for protection. I haven't taken a tumble in it yet. Hopefully it will protect as well as it fits and looks. Add stickers and scratch it up to customize your lid.
I wear a helmet skiing, so why not climbing, right?
The half-dome feels good when it's on, because you don't notice it when it's on. It doesn't feel hot at all, because it's suspended off your head kind of like a hardhat.
The size adjuster thing works really well. However, I'm deducting a point because the chin strap is a little finicky, and it also loses its adjustment if you strap the helmet to your pack for the approach.
This helmet is super comfy. Adjustable sizing works really well (especially as I'm normally between a small and medium). Light weight, cool and comfortable. I'm not fond of helmets - still don't ski with one. That being said, I was apprehensive, but found this one to work well. Forget I had it one. And a rock about a half dollar size in diameter bounced right off it the week I bought the helmet. Safety never takes a holiday. Recommend this helmet.
My climbing partner has this helmet and I'm always trying to steal it becuase it fits so nicely and comfortably. It doens't shift around which I really like.
I got the half dome in the beginning of 06, and love it! It looks great, fits great, and its light weight. You can't go wrong with the black diamond name!
I'm not really wild about this one. It didn't seem to give too many options as far as sizing. I had a lot of trouble trying to adjust the chin strap. If I was wearing a winter hat underneath and then wanted to take it off, it took forever to adjust it.
At first I was scared to buy an adult size helmet because I have a tiny head. I usually have to go with a kids size. After reading great reviews about this helmet, I wanted to give it a try. I was so happy that it fit. I will never have to buy another kid's helmet again!
I bought this helmet and it was the biggest waste of money I ever did on any climbing-related gear. The straps that go below your neck simply don't fit, and it's not because the helmet is too small: I have to wear a bandana over my head. When the strap is at its longest, it is still not below my ear so in order to have the helmet straight on my head, the strap has to be covering a part of my ear which is really annoying. I have another friend with the same helmet, and same problem.
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