Providing ultralight, low-profile protection, unparalleled ventilation and a secure and super-comfortable fit, the Black Diamond Vapor helmet is a go-anywhere cragging lid that proves helmets aren't just for multi-pitch trad climbs and big alpine faces. We engineered a sheet of Kevlar and a series of carbon rods in between co-molded EPS foam and a polycarbonate shell to keep the weight at a minimum while keeping you protected. The Vapor's ratcheting suspension tucks into the helmet for compact storage in your pack or haul bag, and removable headlamp clips secure your light on pre-dawn starts or when rapping after dark.
Co-molded EPS foam with polycarbonate shell is lower profile than the Vector
Geometric, open-air design provides unparalleled airflow
Ratchet adjuster with molded push buttons
Headlamp clips are removable for reduced snagging on slings and clothing
Providing ultralight, low-profile protection, unparalleled ventilation and a secure and super-comfortable fit, the Black Diamond Vapor helmet is a go-anywhere cragging lid that proves helmets aren't just for multi-pitch trad climbs and big alpine faces. We engineered a sheet of Kevlar and a series of carbon rods in between co-molded EPS foam and a polycarbonate shell to keep the weight at a minimum while keeping you protected. The Vapor's ratcheting suspension tucks into the helmet for...
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Weight (g) | 186 g S/M: 186 g / 6.6 oz |
| Gender |
Unisex |
| Size Range | 21.00 in - 25.00 in S/M: 53-59 cm / 21-23 in |
| Features |
Multiple Sizes |
| Quick Adjust |
No |
| Vents |
Yes |
| Headlamp Compatable |
Yes |
| Face Shield Compatable |
No |
| Certification | CE |
The Most Wanted helmets tend to be lighter, like the Sirocco and Vapor and/or are some of the better looking helmets. The Most Owned helmets tend to be those that are readily available at all the climbing shops, like the Black Diamond collection which dominates this list.
The Black Diamond Vapor is a lightweight molded foam helmet featuring great ventilation and a comfortable fit. The Vapor is a popular option for rock climbers seeking out a super light helmet that can be worn all day and not weigh down their packs on long approaches while mountaineers will appreciate the great ventilation.
The Black Diamond Vapor Helmet is at home climbing sport or trad, picking away at ice, climbing remote peaks, and even ski mountaineering. It’s comfortable, breathable, and ultra-lightweight. I think it’s one of the best helmets currently on the market, even though it is expensive.
The Vapor is a very well ventilated helmet that sacrifices durability and adjustability for weight savings. It is expensive and offers almost no advantage over other slightly less expensive helmets.
The construction of the helmet is fairly unique as well. The outer layer is composed of two sheets of Kevlar -- the same stuff that bulletproof vests are made with. Below the Kevlar layers you have a polycarbonate shell that holds the Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam. The foam itself contains a matrix of carbon rods for stability and strength. Given all the technology jammed in this headgear it's pretty remarkable that it only weighs 6.6 ounces. When you're wearing the helmet it feels thin, not bulky or dense -- and it certainly doesn't feel like there's a four-ingredient sandwich of protective tech on your head. An interesting note is that the Black Diamond Vapor passed the CE safety rating tests but did not pass the UIAA tests. I am not sure this is practically important, but I am curious why BD didn't spring for the extra material/R&D to make it pass. However, they have correctly assumed that I just don't really care that much.
The clever construction of the Vapor Helmet allows the lightness to be achieved. A combination of Kevlar, carbon rods and EPS foam all covered in a polycarbonate shell, means that the helmet is strong but actually fairly robust for a helmet of this type. I’ve actually cracked other similar lightweight EPS/polycarbonate designs dropping my pack on the ground (careless I know)! The only downside of this clever construction is that it hikes up the RRP and at £120, the Vapor Helmet is not cheap. But what price would you put on your own head?
The Vapor features an EPS foam liner molded into a polycarbonate shell. You'd expect a featherweight helmet like this to sacrifice something, but we're still searching. The fit is perfect, low-profile and over the ears. A ratcheting crown band has these very cool pinch-grips that allow you to tighten or loosen with no screwing around - seriously, you have to try it. Once on the Vapor has the best feel of any climbing helmet we've ever worn, more like a very expensive biking helmet.
In use, what can you say? Most of the time you don’t know it’s there; it's incredibly comfortable due to its light weight and the ventilation works well; certainly much better than the first generation lightweight helmets like the original Petzl Meteor. In fact, a friend recently suggested you could quite happily wear it on the walk-in using it as an alternative to having to take a sun hat, it's that unobtrusive.
I’ve been using it all year, and can say it’s by far the most comfortable and well ventilated helmet I’ve ever worn. A couple things to note, this is not a good choice for alpine climbing, as it’s not designed to take a repeated, large impacts. For sport and trad cragging however, it’s hard to beat. Also, it’s a bit pricier than other models, at $140, so you’ll have to decide if the added cost is worth giving yourself one less reason to not wear a helmet. Retail is $139.95,
My concern is durability. At nearly $140, the Vapor is the most expensive helmet made, and the one most likely to get dinged up. Already, mine has a nice dent from when I tossed a pair of crampons on top of it. If you are rough on gear this probably isn’t the helmet for you. Lack of a UIAA certification is also something to think about. While the Vapor passes the CE tests, the UIAA requires that the maximum force transmitted to your head be 2 kN less. In the real world I don’t know if this would make a difference, simply because there’s no body of data about helmet use, accidents and injuries.
Black Diamond says that they made the Vapor light and low-riding because they wanted a helmet that climbers would wear all the time. To that end they have succeeded. Until now I’ve never worn a helmet for rock climbing. The Vapor has changed my ways.
All around view of Vapor helmet, this video highlights the key features of Vapor helmet.
How to use Vapor, inspection, warnings, care and maintenence with instructional pictures.
