helments

G

g40

I was looking for a good climbing helment.i have a big head ,normal hard hats are hard to have on all daylong.Im new to forum,ilike it alot.thanks
 
I have a large head (Size 7 3/8), I use a Erin Roc helment. It fits me fine, and has room to spare. It is comfotable enough to wear all day. It is fully adjustable, and it adjust for the circumferance of your head, as well as the nape (back of head goin to neck)

Carl
 
There are lots of good helments out there, but the Roc is a darn good option. I'd guess almost half the helmets I've seen in use have been the Roc, with all the other brands making up the other half. Click on either Sherrill or Fresco links at the top of the page and look it up.
 
I too have thought about getting the Ecrin Roc, but have wondered what climbers do for earmuff/protection. Are there special connection muffs available for this model? Or are climbers forced to use foam plugs?

Please let me know what people are doing and/or using!
 
I have been using the Caboflex hearing protectors for 7 years now. Look them up on the Sherrill site, item #15709. Foam plugs are gross and disgusting, I won't use them.
 
I've heard a couple of my friends say that ear plugs are nasty. I don't get it. They're light, have a better noise reduction and you only wear them for 1 day. Ear muffs are on everyday and the sweat just bulids up on those boys. I guess it's just one of those things where one likes this, the other likes that?
 
Hi tshanefreeman,
There are after market attachments which can be fitted to the Ecrin Roc to accommodate ear defenders.I have been researching this Rock climbing helmet,use in Arb for a while now.It seems that when you fit Ear defenders to The Petzl Ecrin Roc the ear defenders no longer fit close enough to the ear and there by allow noise levels to exceed the levels set for ear protection under EN 352.Some ear defenders are better than others due to the stronger springs pushing the cup closer to your ear,but these springs soon wear.The big problem is that firstly the Ecrin roc was not designed to have ear defenders on it and secondly the ear defenders were designed for forestry helmets.There is one other interesting thing which some of you may or may not have realized but under Health and safety regs the Ecrin roc only conforms to EN 12492( which covers the chinstrap)It does not conform to EN 397 Which all ARB helmets must under Health and safety.The only Petzl Helmet that does is the Best Which conforms En 12492 and EN 397.So all you climbers out there wearing the Roc.You are breaking the regs with out knowing it.The thing is I don't think The red tape man does either.In this day and age with Insurance companys trying to find anyway to get out of paying claims.You don't want your insurance voided because the impact to your head was not protected by the right helmet..

Didj
 
Re: helments- hearing protectors

I have been using the QB3 headset type hearing protectors for some time now.
They are 'caps' that fit onto the outside of the ear canal not into the canal itself. They are sorta like walkman type headsets.
The only drawback is when you bang the plastic part that goes from ear to ear it is like a doctors stethoscope- it transfers the noise right into your head.
but with practice you avoid that.
What is nice about this type of hearing protector is you can wear them all day and not get sweaty, you can lift off one side for talking, they park on your neck, are out of the way. They have a high NRR (noise reduction rating) as well.
Hearing protectors are essential.
Think of the amount of time a average tree worker is exposed to damaging amounts of noise. The more consistant you are in protecting your hearing the better off you are in the long run. It is a bad joke when folks say "whaaat?"
Frans
Ear muffs are to bulky to wear all the time
 
Re: helmets- hearing protectors

A while ago I read an article in a woodworking magazine about hearing protection. A safety lab tested over the ear hearing protection. They found that when wearing glasses, the muffs attenuation, efficiency, was reduces by up to 10%. The bow of the glasses makes a big leaky hole for sound to come in.

In the article they had several alternate hearing protection devices. I found the Tiger Tails at a local safety supply house and have been using them ever since.

http://www.safety.com.sg/hlaccessories.htm#210hlusf-tt

They have a plastic sleeve that slips onto the bows of your glasses. The coil is attached to the plug with a slip fit. I've snagged the coil on brush and they pull apart instead of snapping back into my face. The Tiger Tails are always at hand. It keeps the weight of muffs off of my helmet.

Unless the helmet has an accommodation in the side of the muff you will either not get a good fit or the helmet will be pushed up above the muff.

I like the Pacific Helmet. My preference is for the brim one: http://www.frescoarborist.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi?view&WC1026768454-41814&WSC1026931237-86168&1031185424-83148

Fresco has one that doesn't have a brim:
http://www.frescoarborist.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi?view&WC1026768454-41814&WSC1026931237-86168&1068491843-91766

When I had muffs on my PH I used the Peltors that are black with a red band in them. They have a higher attenuation than the orange cupped version. I still had to move the PH up just a little to get the muff to seat against my head.
 
I switched to the Pacific a couple of years ago. It makes the plastic helmuts seem like junk. The hearing protection works good as well- I actually usually double up with foam under neath the muffs. After years and years of exposure I have become hyper sensitive to the noise of chainsaws and chippers. One danger with muffs I discovered was spiders. I got bit by a brown recluse that was hiding in muffs and tried to eat his way out around my ear!( Check those tele boots Mr. Dunlap!) Nasty.
The kevlar with chin strap provides superior protection.
The only other comment about the pacific is that it doesn't adjust quite small enough for my 7 5/8 size noggin.
 
Thanks for the imformation ,checked the roc ,maybe best fit .i like the muffand face guard attachment.you never can trust chipper.thanks again.
 
Re: helmets

I used the Roc for a long time and like it, but just found a BD helmet on clearance from REI. I feel safe enough with it, but I don't know if it will pass gear check at the contest or not. Looks more like a bike helmet, with styrofoam inside a vented plastic shell.

As for plugging ears, even when I wore a construction HH with good muffs, I didn't like it because it was so hot in the summer and heavy year-round. Don't like foam because by the time they go in and out of my ears a few times they look pretty grungy. I've been using rubber (plastic?) plugs on a string around my neck for years. I just ordered some new plugs that claim to be the world's best. http://www.earplugsonline.com/index.html
They have the highest NRR I've seen (34 dB) and seem like they will be comfortable, but I am a bit concerned that they will be hard to keep clean. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

K
 
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