I am looking to get me a new helmet.
I know all the "get the one that fits stuff" (and i also plan on doing so), but what i am most concerned about functionally is the protection the helmet will offer when i smash my head ON stuff (nasty fall, grounder ...) and not just against stuff from above.
For long and or alpine stuff i will keep my edelrid ultralight, thats rated for multiple UIAA impacts, but i guess for sport/ short stuff this is not that much of a concern, but i would rahter like to have protection in case of a groundfall. Especially in an uncontroled fall you tend to hit the sides of your head, and thats where a classic bucket helmet doesnt seem to offer much protection.
Foam helmets on the other hand seem to be as padded on the sides as they are at the top.
So i guess about any foam helmet would work. But many of them are not very solid, and for a gear abuser like me that might not be an optimal choice. replacing 60€ helmet after it safed my head - no problem. replacing a 60€ helmet after it roled down a slope because i didnt pay attention when unpacking my pack - no thanks.
so what about foam - hardshell combinations?
It seems like some of them only have foam at the top part and not the sides.
There seem to be a few new helmets that specifically are made for added sideways protection.
The Edelrid Madillo and Targa and the Wildcountry Alpine Shield and 360, so i am specifically interested in them (tests, links?).
I would guess i cant do to much wrong with a petzl meteor, but i would like to hear about some other options first, especially on harder shells.

qwert

thats what he said before his brain started to leak out

Didn't that guy survive? Also, didn't at least one person credit the helmet with probably saving his life? I'm just sayin'...

yes he did,so helmet does help but not all helmets are the same.

So not only did his brain not leak out, but the helmet seems to have performed as advertised. What was your point again?

Quick note on the salamander-

I've been looking for a salamander for a while now and it turns out I couldn't find any grivel helmets for sale in the states. Add in the fact that transatlantic shipping is expensive (and expensive to return if you don't like the fit) and I was forced to pursue another brand.

Does anyone know if grivels are sold in the US somewhere?

my point is that model helmet is a piece of shit and the subject did fuc* up his head with stuff coming out of his brain but he survived.

[image]http://www.advexp.com/custom/photos/Petzl_Erin_RocHelment.jpg[/image]

The ultimate in helmets! And my baby! Saved me from concussions a-plenty and probably my life. I am a huge fan.

I whipped 30 feet to a ledge and landed on my head ...

As you look carefully at the helmet, it protects all of the important bits. Back of your head. The top. And the side. It's a fantastic helmet for all!

That is unfortunate, but I understand a whole lot more about you now ...

I've bopped the side of my head against rock and been perfectly fine. It most certainly protects you in the places that count.

The helmet is very durable, does its job as far as protection goes, and has great ventilation. If in the winter, just toss on a beanie and you're nice and warm.

Actually, I always cary a nit-cap and neck gator even when climbing in the middle of the summer because you never know if its going to start raining or get dark or you're going to get stuck somewhere for a time.

Sure it will protect you from light knocks to the side of the head but it will do little for preventing concussions especially due to blows to the back of the head. The suspension system really only works for blows to the top.

To protect the back of the head which is especially sensitive to concussive hits you need something that will crush or dampen. Ever wonder why motorcycle and bicycle helmets have that big bulge at the back?

That is what the OP is asking about. He already has an equivalent to the one you posted.

One of the biggest concerns for a climber is falling back while leading.

If someone were to get killed from such an impact, wouldn't you think that petzle would be facing a big law suit?

qwert, I think of helmets like ropes: they wear out with normal use. To me, "normal use" can mean never having the lid take an impact. I've seen Petzl Elios and Ecrin crack along the lip without ever taking a hit.

I had your go-to Edelrid helmet years ago. The metal rivets corroded from sweat and failed. The alarming thing is the corrosion was not wholly evident from looking at the helmet. Later I had A Petzl Elios; completely plastic except for the rivets, which also failed rather quickly. Petzl finally fixed the initially-disastrous Meteor, and now I have a metal-free lid I like. I am sorta skirting your question, though...

I really don't know the protection intricacies of the current offerings. I will say helmets have gotten much better in the last 15 years, and I agree with you about foam hemets' impact absorption advantages. The Meteor 3 is my weapon of choice. As cheap and light as helmets are these days, I don't mind regular replacement to protect my and my wife's brain. That said, my Meteor has held up well so far, and that style of helmet seems minimally prone to the cracking failures I had with the Elios and Ecrin.

Cheers.

so what about foam - hardshell combinations?

There seem to be a few new helmets that specifically are made for added sideways protection.
The Edelrid Madillo and Targa and the Wildcountry Alpine Shield and 360, so i am specifically interested in them (tests, links?).

I would guess i cant do to much wrong with a petzl meteor, but i would like to hear about some other options first, especially on harder shells.

what a bunch of whinny, thread jacking, ego driven elves! not to mention the miserable lack of moderation.

the poster asked (what i read to be) a very clear question ...


supported with concise context ...


further clarified interest in options OTHER than the meteor ...


SO, now that that's cleared up ...

does anyone have anything to offer with regard to any of the mentioned helmets?

in addition to these helmets, i'm also be interested in hearing about the cassin astral along the same lines.

thanks for keeping things on topic!

Nothing yet.
I have tried the salamander, but it did not fit me.
Simond Bumper was also interesting, but its quite heavy and somehow did not feel right for me.
Same for one of the new mammut helmets.

I try to get the WC alpine shield, but so far i havent seen it in the shops. Kinda broke at the moment, so i guess i stick with my edelrid for a while.

qwert