The Petzl Ecrin Roc is a classic helmet for rock climbing, mountaineering, and caving. Is it the right helmet for you? Read on to find out.
The Helmet
The Ecrin Roc is a suspension style helmet with an extremely durable, injection molded polycarbonate shell. This helmet has four clips for easy headlamp attachment and fourteen holes for ventilation. The chin strap position can be adjusted forward or backward. Two adjustment wheels can used to dial in the fit of the nape strap and the foam headband that runs around the inside of the helmet. The Ecrin Roc comes with two thicknesses of foam bands for further fit customization. This climbing helmet is designed to fit heads with diameters ranging from 53 to 63 centimeters, and it weighs in at 445 grams. The Ecrin Roc retails for $94.95.
My Experience
The Ecrin Roc was the first helmet I bought for rock climbing, back in 2005. Since then I have used it regularly for rock climbing, caving, and ice climbing. I have bumped this helmet on the tops of countless caves, scraped it against roofs while climbing, and showered it with falling ice chunks while ice climbing. While my Ecrin Roc certainly bears a ton of scratches from my adventures, it is still in great shape.
It is also still comfortable. The foam headband keeps the helmet from cutting uncomfortably into the head, even when it is adjusted tightly. The adjustment wheels are easy to use, and when used properly they keep the helmet from budging. This is one helmet that, if worn properly, is not going to pop off your head in the event of an impact.
As far as protecting your brain goes, this is a good helmet. The Petzl Ecrin Roc is a suspension style helmet. This means that the helmet has the hard outer shell, and this is kept suspended above your head by straps. There is no foam for absorption of force like in a bicycle helmet. This means that the Ecrin Roc is very good at protecting someone in the case of falling rock, ice, or other projectiles. It deflects the force away instead of absorbing it by breaking. The space between the climber’s head and the shell of the helmet, combined with the hardness of the shell, does a very good job at preventing penetrative injuries from sharp projectiles. A climbing helmet constructed out of EPS foam, on the other hand, will be lighter and better at dissipating force in the event that you fall and slam your head into something, but it will be less durable and not as effective at protecting the climber from falling debris.
The Ecrin Roc is a great helmet for outdoor activities, but it does have some negatives. It is heavy. At 445 grams, this climbing helmet is almost a full pound, and you definitely notice its weight upon your head. The Ecrin Roc, like other suspension style helmets, tends to ride fairly high, making the wearer’s head in effect much bigger than they realize. When wearing the Ecrin Roc, people tend to bump their heads a lot until they adjust.
Bottom Line
The Ecrin Roc is an excellent and versatile helmet for a variety of outdoor adventure activities. If you want a helmet just for single pitch climbing where rockfall is not a major factor, then I would probably get a lighter, more modern helmet. If you climb in areas that are prone to loose rock and breaking holds, then the Ecrin Roc would be a good choice of helmet. If you want a helmet that will cover you for climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, and caving, and which is so durable that it can seemingly last forever, then the Petzl Ecrin Roc is a great choice.
To read a review of a very different climbing helmet that I do not like nearly as much as the Ecrin Roc, click here. If you are looking for a helmet for rock climbing, then you may also be interested in shoes for rock climbing. If you are new to rock climbing, then you should read this article for advice on finding the right rock shoe and this article reviewing several good climbing shoes for beginners. For reviews of other rock shoes, just click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.. Have fun playing outside!
