Feathers That Protect Your Noggin
by KrisBrauer on 04/6/2020Pros
Super Light
Breathable
Cons
Hard to adjust with gloves
Sirocco 2023
Description
Ultra-lightweight climbing and mountaineering helmet with reinforced protection.
The SIROCCO is designed to respond to the needs of climbers and mountaineers for reduced weight and for protection. Its head-covering shape, lower in the rear, offers reinforced protection. Optimized volume on the head, along with excellent ventilation, provide maximum comfort.
Description
- Ultra-light design:
- hybrid construction with a shell in EPP (expanded polypropylene) foam and rigid crown injected with EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam - Head-covering design for optimal protection against lateral and rear impact
- Maximum comfort in action:
- wide holes, for excellent ventilation
- completely adjustable, thanks to the adjustable headband and chinstrap
- magnetic buckle facilitates fastening the chinstrap (Petzl patent)
- compatible with the VIZION eye shield
- two hooks and rear elastic for attaching a headlamp
Specifications
- Material(s): expanded polypropylene (EPP) shell, polycarbonate crown, expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner, polyester webbing
- Product comes with protective storage bag and spare foam
Ultra-lightweight climbing and mountaineering helmet with reinforced protection.
The SIROCCO is designed to respond to the needs of climbers and mountaineers for reduced weight and for protection. Its head-covering shape, lower in the rear, offers reinforced protection. Optimized volume on the head, along with excellent ventilation, provide maximum comfort.
Description
- Ultra-light design:
- hybrid construction with a shell in EPP...
Retail price
US$ 114.95
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Weight (g) | 160 g S/M: 160 g / 5.6 oz |
| Gender |
Unisex |
| Size Range | 19.00 in - 24.02 in S/M: 48-58 cm / 19-23 in |
| Features |
Multiple Sizes Face shield compat. |
| Quick Adjust |
No |
| Vents |
Yes |
| Headlamp Compatable |
Yes |
| Face Shield Compatable |
Yes |
| Certification | CE, EN, UIAA |
Great head protection
by dom_p on 03/29/2020Pros
Light
Cons
Hard to adjust
Familiarity
I’ve used it a ton
Does it get any better?
by anonymous on 12/31/2018Pros
Lightweight
Comfortable
Great Ventilation
Nice harness system
The updated headlamp strap
Lower profile than previous version
New colors
better protection on the back and sides
Cons
The magnetic buckle can occasionally get stuck
Familiarity
I’ve used it a bunch
Disclaimer
I received the helmet for free from Petzl during a promotional event they had in Ouray - but I have not been paid to say this and my opinions of the helmet are not influenced by not paying for it. I would pay full price for it.
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.
When it's all said and done, however, you can find bird feathers heavier than this thing, so if you need a lightweight helmet, the revamped Sirocco is an impressive piece of equipment. I'm honestly not sure where helmet design can go from here, besides some kind of force-field generator that is powered by a chip implant in your neck. But until that dystopian day arrives, the Sirocco is a top offering for a comfortable, lightweight helmet that also (finally!) looks good.
I’m not sure what more I can say here… I love this helmet. Seriously my onlycomplaint is that Petzl decided to keep the same name. The 2013 Sirocco was great. The 2017 Sirocco is even better and pretty drastically different. Constructed of three materials instead of just one, totally different profile/shape, different ventilation scheme… it just seems like this re-design would have been worthy of a new name, or at-least a (Plus or Two) added to the name similar to the GriGri legacy.
The Petzl Sirocco is the lightest and most comfortable climbing helmet you can buy. These reasons alone make it worthy of our Editors' Choice award as the best overall, and it is also our top scorer. If you can afford the slightly elevated price tag, we don't think there is any reason to look further.
The new Sirocco also ups its overall protection rating through the use of two different materials for shock absorption. The outer is the same, soft, expanded polypropylene that seems to bounce back from impacts and has proven extremely durable in the original orange. I’ve crushed mine into packs, have been hit by ice or rock countless times, and though it has the battle scars to prove it, the Sirocco has never let me down (and over the time I’ve had it, I’ve managed to crush a BD Vector and a Singing Rock Penta, while the Sirocco continues on).
You've probably guessed it - I really like everything about the new Sirocco. Petzl have continued to evolve their innovative product range and with this new version I really can't think what I would change to make it any better - I'm afraid my Meteor will be largely resigned to the gear cupboard from now on. In reviewing a product like this I have no way to say how well it would cope in an impact, but it has obviously been tested to meet all relevant standards and I am confident it will perform as well as others tested to the same standards.
The latest SIROCCO is very light, looks good and fits well - a major improvement in appearance compared to the original giant tangerine. And thanks to its hybrid construction there's been a welcome reduction in overall size too. I wouldn't want to stand on it or drop a heavy bag on it, but despite appearances it has proved solid and durable. Whilst using the SIROCCO for trad and sport throughout the UK I've hardly noticed that it's on my head. If you're looking for a helmet that's light, breathable, and stylish then I'd highly recommend it.
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