The Best Climbing Helmets of 2025

Whether you’re a climber who always wears a helmet or a climber who eschews one, there’s no debate that helmets are the best defense against rock fall and other unexpected hazards you encounter while climbing outside. While helmets seem like a pretty straightforward purchase, it’s worth researching to find one that is comfortable, light, breathable, and fits well, because actually liking your helmet will encourage you to regularly wear it. Our robust team of testers did the work for you, taking 12 helmets to crags across the country to find the best on the market. Here are our six favorite climbing helmets of 2025.

Updated May 2025: We added two new helmets to this list, including our new “Best All-Around” pick, the Black Diamond Vision. We also updated pricing and info on other helmets that we previously tested and still highly recommend. 

At a Glance

• Best All-Around: Black Diamond Vision ($100)
• Best Value: Petzl Boreo/Borea ($70)
• Most Durable: Wild Country Syncro ($100)
• Best Ultralight: Black Diamond Vapor ($170)
• Most Sustainable: Edelrid Zodiac 3R ($70)
• Best for Small Heads: Trango Halo ($100)
• Other Climbing Helmets We Tested
• Helmets to Avoid
• How to Choose a Climbing Helmet
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Testers

Don’t miss: The Best Climbing Shoes of 2025 

Best All-Around

Black Diamond Vision

$100 at REI $100 at Backcountry

Weight: 7.6 oz (S/M)
Size: S/M, M/L (unisex)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Breathable
⊕ Good value
⊗ Hardshell portion scratches easily

The Black Diamond Vision offers the best of both worlds when it comes to comfort and weight. Made from mostly foam, with a plastic, ABS hardshell covering a portion of the top of the helmet, the Vision is impressively light at 215 grams. We tested lighter helmets, including the Edelrid Salathe Lite and the Black Diamond Vapor, but these cost $40 to $60 more than the Vision, and that extra money only shaved off a few ounces.

Testers commented on the easy adjustability of this helmet. It has a ribbed, horizontal plastic piece that rests on the base of the skull; you adjust it by notching a piece of plastic on both sides onto the ribs. The ribs are so close together that the fit is highly customizable, so you can get the helmet just where you want it.

The Vision also impressed us with its breathability thanks to the large, oblong vents that cover most of the sides of the helmet. We wore the Vision in 90-degree-plus temperatures in Jackson Falls, Illinois, and noticed minimal excess sweating. While we brought four helmets to test on that climbing trip, we reached for the Vision on a send burn because it was the lightest and most comfortable of the helmets in our quiver.

Tester Claudia Sczpeaniak found the Vision so light and airy that she forgot she was wearing it, even during 10-hour climbing days in Rifle, Colorado. “I could wear it all day and didn’t notice it on my head at all,” she says. While light, the Vision doesn’t skimp on comfort: The soft, removable mesh padding on the forehead and crown of the helmet adds cushion.

One con: The hardshell top got scuffed up easily, as one tester found while tossing her helmet off after a particularly sweaty burn. These are only cosmetic damages, but they do make the helmet look older than it is.

Best Value

Petzl Borea/Boreo

$70 at REI $70 at Backcountry

Weight: 10.8 oz (W’s S/M); 330 g (M’s M/L)
Size: women’s S/M; men’s S/M and M/L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Comfortable
⊕ Affordable
⊗ Women’s version only comes in one size

The transition from climbing in the gym to climbing outside comes with an avalanche of costs, but your helmet doesn’t need to be one of them. Petzl’s Borea (women’s)/Boreo (men’s) was our favorite offering under $70, a category that mostly consists of hardshell helmets weighing more than 8 ounces.

Considering its affordable price, the helmet proves surprisingly comfortable and breathable. Strategically placed padding on the forehead and in the crown not only offered plenty of cushion, but also made it so the foam of the helmet didn’t touch the skin. As someone with sensitive skin, it’s a pet peeve when a helmet’s rough, scratchy foam rubs against my forehead, ears, or neck all day. The Borea/Boreo also has 14 vertical slash openings in the rear and on the sides, which allow for ample airflow.

Depending on your head size, the gendering of the helmets might not be an accurate indicator of which one to purchase. The women’s helmet, which only comes in one size, fits heads with a circumference of 20.5 to 22.8 inches, while the men’s S/M fits 18.9 to 22.8 inches and the M/L fits 20.9 to 24. The adjustment mechanism in the back of the helmet involves latches on both sides that you press to slide back and forth across a horizontal piece of plastic. This design wasn’t very sensitive; the latch is slow to click into place, so users can only make large adjustments to the sizing. It was hard to adjust the helmet into just the fit we wanted.

Another plus: Compared to ultralight helmets, the Boreo/Borea extends slightly lower in the back and on the sides to offer greater protection. And after several outdoor sessions, we only noticed a few light cosmetic scratches on the hardshell, but no other wear and tear. If you’re a new trad or sport climber looking for a basic helmet that ticks all the boxes, the Boreo/Borea is a great choice.

Most Durable

Wild Country Syncro

$100 at Backcountry $100 at Amazon

Weight: 9.2 oz
Size: One size (56-61 cm)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Good coverage
⊕ Durable
⊗ Single size offering
⊗ Difficult to adjust while wearing

Despite its lightweight design, testers found Wild Country’s Syncro helmet to be the most durable of the bunch. Climbing guide and big-waller Matthew Pinheiro wore it for over 100 pitches during a 24-hour climbing marathon and reported it survived the adventure unscathed even after a few bumps on overhanging rock. The polycarbonate hard shell is reinforced with a top plate for extra durability. Pinheiro also appreciated that the helmet’s foam is surrounded by a smooth plastic, giving it a finished look for a softshell. Sarah Reynolds, a trad and sport climber from Salt Lake City, liked that the ample ventilation—10 cutouts surrounding the helmet—kept her head cool under Utah’s summer sun.

While the Syncro features a thicker construction, it didn’t weigh testers down. One negative: This helmet only comes in one size, and a few of our testers who usually wear a small found they couldn’t cinch the Syncro tight enough.

Best Ultralight

Black Diamond Vapor

$170 at REI $170 at Backcountry

Weight: 5.5 oz (S/M)
Size: S/M, M/L

Pros and Cons
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Breathable
⊗ Expensive
⊗ May not be suitable for those with smaller heads

Black Diamond’s Vapor is one of the lightest helmets on the market, which takes away the biggest excuse climbers have to not protect their noggins. The 18 triangular cutouts provide superior breathability, with one tester, Anthony Walsh, senior editor of Climbing, finding it comfortable enough to wear on 12-mile glacial approaches in British Columbia. Most helmets have a piece of adjustable plastic that sits on the base of the skull; the Vapor has straps and thin cords instead. This design means you can get a snug, tight fit without plastic pressing into the back of your head.

Tester Claudia Szczepaniak, however, noted that she constantly felt the straps behind her ears and experienced some chafing. “This could be due to having a smaller head and those straps sitting down lower,” she says. If you have a smaller head, it might be worth trying out the helmet in store before purchasing. And of course, the lightweight nature of the Vapor comes at a high cost; at $170, it was one of the most expensive models we tested.

Best Sustainable

Edelrid Zodiac 3R

$70 at REI $70 at Backcountry

Weight: 12.8 oz
Size: One size (55-61 cm)

Pros and Cons
⊕ Sustainably made
⊕ Comfortable
⊕ Easy to adjust
⊗ Only comes in one size and one color

Each year Edelrid releases a revised Zodiac 3R, it’s always a few grams lighter than the prior model. But what’s unique about the 3R is that it’s made entirely of recycled materials—the outer polyamide shell is sourced from rope production leftovers, and the inner shell is also made from recycled material. Testers noted that the buckle was easy to manipulate, even with gloves on. We also liked the Wing Fit system, a dial on the back of the helmet that made it easy to adjust the helmet to exactly the size we wanted. That said, the one size might not fit everyone, especially those with smaller heads.

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Best for Smaller Heads

Trango Halo

$100 at Backcountry $95 at Amazon

Weight: 7.8 oz (S/M), 225 g (L/XL)
Size: S/M, L/XL

Pros and Cons
⊕ Comfortable
⊕ Good ventilation
⊗ Magnetic buckle can be fussy

Tester Natalie Bladis thought the S/M size of the Halo was the best fit she’s ever found for her small, 54-centimeter head. With 20 vents, it’s also the most ventilated helmet we tested, and the 10 mm nylon suspension gives it a barely-there feel on the head. Tester Claudia Szczepaniak appreciated that the adjustments she made to the helmet’s sizing and straps stayed put, even after hours on the wall. “It didn’t loosen over long periods of time on the wall, like some helmets do,” she said. There was debate among testers about the magnetic chin clasp: Bladis and Szczepaniak found it frustrating to use, while Benjamin Rathbun thought it was easy to use with gloves.

The hardshell helmet performed well on the wall, providing Bladis peace of mind on a traverse pitch directly below a roof on the Jelly Roll Arch at Donner Summit. “I was super grateful to have a well-fitting, lower-profile helmet as I crouched below the roof traversing,” she said.

Other Climbing Helmets We Tested

• Mammut Haute Route ($140): This versatile helmet is certified for climbing, biking, and winter sports, making it a good buy if you’re the athlete who does it all and wants to save space in your gear closet. But with a weight of 12.4 ounces, we found ourselves reaching for lighter helmets on long projecting days.
• Singing Rock Hex ($80): This simple hardshell is an adequate basic helmet, but for the same price, we preferred the padding and ventilation of the Petzl Boreo/Borea.
• Petzl Sirocco ($135): This comfortable ultralight helmet (6 oz) will no doubt appeal to climbers who count each and every gram. However it’s 2024 redesign made it less comfortable for those with large heads.
• Black Diamond Half Dome ($60): While this hardshell helmet is one of the cheapest on the market, testers reported fit issues and complained about the lack of padding.

How to Choose the Right Climbing Helmet

Hardshell vs. Softshell

The main two categories of climbing helmets are hardshells, with a foam core that’s fully wrapped in a layer of hard plastic, and softshells, which are mostly foam to shed ounces. While they can weigh about half that of hardshells, softshells tend to be more sensitive to abuse. Meanwhile, a hardshell is tougher and generally lasts longer, but can feel heavier and may get sweaty on hot days if the venting system isn’t well designed.

Budget and Weight

The main buying considerations are your budget and how you intend to use the helmet. Hardshells start around $60 and can be thrown around the crag, while softshells are generally more expensive and require some extra care. While you can use either type for your preferred style of climbing, softshells really shine where weight matters—long alpine days or projecting sport routes at your limit.

Feature Set and Fit

Other aspects to keep in mind: headlamp clips for climbers that start early or stay out late; how the helmet fits over a beanie for climbing in cold temps; and, of course, whether it’s the right shape and size for your head.

How Long Does a Climbing Helmet Last?

All climbing helmets will come with a sticker inside that states the manufacturing month and year. Helmets generally last 10 years, but the sun’s UV rays degrade the materials in a helmet, so if you climb outdoors frequently, it likely won’t last that long. Any helmet that has been involved in an accident or suffered damage should be retired and replaced immediately.

Can You Use a Climbing Helmet for Biking or Other Sports?

Generally speaking, climbing helmets should not be used for biking (and vice versa). They are constructed to do different things: A climbing helmet protects you from objects falling from above, while a biking helmet protects you from impact to hard, planar surfaces. A biking helmet requires much more rear and front protection than climbing helmets provide. Additionally, most biking helmets will have far superior ventilation than those made for climbing. If you’re looking for a multi-sport helmet, find one that’s tested and certified for those activities. Options include the Mammut Haute Route (certified for climbing, biking, and skiing) and the Petzl Meteor (certified for climbing and ski touring).

How We Test

• Number of testers: 14
• Number of helmets tested: 14
• Number of vertical feet climbed: 20,250
• Number of pitches climbed: 650

Our testers come from a variety of climbing backgrounds, from trad to sport to big wall climbing. Together, we put these helmets through their paces on walls in Canada, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, and California. We asked testers to evaluate how each performed in terms of durability, comfort, breathability, adjustability, as well as taking price into account. At least two testers tried each and every helmet.

Meet Our Lead Testers

We assembled a multi-faceted team of testers to put these harnesses through their paces. Lead tester Mary Andino is a PhD, editor, and writer whose residence in Iowa dictates that she regularly travels across the Midwest to climb. Primarily a sport climber who loves technical sequences on vert, her favorite crag is Jackson Falls in southern Illinois.

Our weekend warriors included Matthew Pinheiro, a big wall veteran, and Claudia Szczepaniak, a try-hard sport climber located in Rifle, Colorado.

Experts included Anthony Walsh, senior editor at Climbing; Logan Dirksen, comp climber and director of marketing at Climb Iowa in Des Moines; and Jude Coleman, a self-proclaimed retired dirtbag and frequent Climbing contributor.

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