Lightweight helmet for touring?

[Noodler]

How important is having a lightweight helmet for touring? If it is important, what is considered lightweight?

 

[Slim]

Most standard ski helmets are to warm to skin uphill in, except for the most bitter cold days.
That is a bigger issue than weight, to begin with.

Once it’s in your pack, it is just part of total pack weight, so whether you save 100g off your helmet, your backpack, your Waterbottle or what ever else, is all the same.

Of course, for a truly lightweight set up, you need to optimize every single item you are carrying uphill.

On my head, lighter is certainly nicer, but I find it less of an issue than on the bike, because you’re more upright.

For resort skinning I often wear my bike helmet. Light, and well vented, so it stays on for the up and the down. That saves time on our short laps.

For ski mountaineering, rock and ice fall is a worry, so a climbing certified helmet is Nice.

Among the dual certified helmets, Salomon Mtn Lab is 395g list, Dynafit ST is listed at 350g. Both have covered liners for your ears. Movement 3T is similar.
After that, there are some lighter helmets without that, but you have to include the weight of an extra hat then. Most of the lighter helmets are not ski rated either.

I bought the ST, but didn’t fit, so sold it to a friend.

 

[Rod9301]

Camp is light

 

[AtleB]

Sweet Preotection has a triple certified helmet for touring

Ascender Mips Helmet

The Ascender Mips is a triple certified, low volume and highly ventilated ski touring/mountaineering helmet.

www.sweetprotection.com

I see it weighs a bit more than Salomon and Dynafits offerings coming in at 430g with MIPS and 400g without MIPS.
I have a slightly older version that I use for Touring and it does feel less substancial on the head compared to my regular skiing helmet.

 

[Slim]

I have looked at that Sweet Ascender online (Blister has a review) seems like it is fairly ‘shallow’, meaning, it doesn’t come very far down the sides of your head.

That has some benefits: lighter, less warm and easier to pack in or on back of a backpack.
However, for me, I prefer something with more coverage on the sides and back for skiing, and since it isn’t that light either, it’s not the one for me.
Sweet makes great stuff though, so it might be a great solution for someone else.

@Rod9301 , are any of the camp helmets ski rated these days? Looks of lightweight climbing helmets form Camp, Petzl, Grivel, etc.

Edit, I see the Camp Speed Comp is ski rated(and of course all Camp helmets are climbing rated)

 

[Slim]

My wife has the Dynafit DNA (I have worn it too). No liner, but ski and climbing rated, decent sides and back coverage,
300g.

Dynafit DNA

DNA Ski Helmet - Dynafit

www.telemark-pyrenees.com

 

[dusty]

Great points Slim. Here is a helpful comparison chart: https://skimo.co/compare-helmets.

 

[Mike Rogers]

I use the Salomon MTN Lab. It's my only helmet now, so I use it at a resort as well. On the way up, I'll put it on for boot packs, but I usually wear a ball cap or toque if for skinning. It's pretty comfortable, but warmer and bulkier than a straight climbing helmet. It's warm enough to use without a hat or balaclava, even on cold days....but too warm to hike in all day.

Weight and bulk are important to me, but it' more of a threshold vs gram counting. I don't want to carry a POC racing helmet....

For lighter choices, it's all about fit, look, and price. 50-100g won't ruin my day.

 

[cantunamunch]

what is considered lightweight?

Light as or lighter than a skate helmet. Road bike helmets don't enter into it because they're not designed for backwards fall scenarios.

 

[Noodler]

After looking through the helmets on the skimo site and noting that the heavier helmets were around 350-400g, I decided to weigh some of the helmets in my house. I was surprised to find that my old Giro Fuse came in at 412g. That's not bad. My SP Switcher with in-helmet audio and camera mount is 550g. The Fuse also happens to have a really good ventilation system with really large vents. I'm going to go with it until I decide it's not what I want/need. Thanks for the input.

 

[James]

Couple choices here-
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The Salomom MTN Patrol Helmet is designed specifically for backcountry skiing and passes both the climbing helmet, ski touring helmet and resort skiing helmet safety tests – it’s light at 340g and has two different liners – a winter one with ear flaps incorporated and a summer one without. We’ve used this helmet a lot for skiing and like it, but like all specialist helmets it’s at the upper end of the price scale – you get what you pay for!

Likewise, the Salomon QST Charge Helmet is designed for backcountry skiing, is light at 380g and has adjustable air vents for when it gets warm.

Finally, the new Alpina Snow Tour Helmet at 330g is very light, passes all 3 tests for resort skiing, ski touring and mountaineering and has excellent ventilation. It also comes with a beanie that can be incorporated into the helmet, or worn separately for colder conditions – smart
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Ski Touring Equipment Advice

Ski Touring Equipment Advice from the experts. Advice on choosing ski touring kit for the European Alps from professional mountain guides.

www.alpine-guides.com