Black Diamond Half Dome: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Table Of Contents

Black Diamond Half Dome Review: Best Budget Climbing Helmet of 2021

Best Budget Climbing Helmet of 2021

  • Weight 50% 50%
  • Comfort 70% 70%
  • Durability 90% 90%
  • Adjustability 80% 80%

Price: $65

Weight: 11.6oz

Sizes: Men: S/M (53-59cm), M/L (58-63cm); Women: 1 size (50-58cm)

Shell: ABS

Foam: EPS

Colors: 4 for men, 2 for women

Adjustment: 1-handed, dial

What We Like: Great price, Durable

What We Don’t: Weight, Limited venting

The Black Diamond Half Dome helmet brings back memories of my first visits to climbing gyms and climbing at summer camps. These helmets are incredibly durable, fit just about everyone’s head, and just look so darn classic. After graduating from summer camp and progressing to climbing at local crags, the Half Dome was my first climbing helmet and still holds a very special place in my heart. It has seen its fair share of scrapes, bumps, and mini rock falls, all without any complaint or reduction in durability. The only reason I replaced it was because it reached a point where the manufacturing date was almost as old as I have been out of highschool, and that became a worry. With a price of $65 and excellent durability, the Black Diamond Half Dome is our Best Budget Climbing Helmet of 2021.

We participate in affiliate programs to help us fund Gear Hacker. Some of the links in this website are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product using our link, we will earn a small commission. Don’t worry! This comes at no additional cost to you, and we will never base our reviews on whether or not we earn a commission off of a product. With that said, if you find our review helpful and decide to purchase an item we review, we would be very appreciative if you use our links to do so. It will help us bring you more awesome content in the future!

Compare to Similar Products

See Our Best Climbing Helmet Review HERE!

Black Diamond Vision: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Weight 80% 80%
  • Comfort 90% 90%
  • Durability 90% 90%
  • Adjustability 70% 70%

Pros

Great fit

Well designed

Cons

Non-adjustable ear straps

Price: $100

Weight: 7.5oz

Sizes: S/M (53-59cm), M/L (58-63cm)

Shell: ABS

Foam: EPP, EPS

Colors: 6

Adjustment: 2-handed, plastic

Petzl Sirocco: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Weight 100% 100%
  • Comfort 80% 80%
  • Durability 60% 60%
  • Adjustability 80% 80%

Pros

Extremely lightweight

Back bungee straps

Cons

Magnetic buckle

Price: $110

Weight: 5.6oz

Sizes: S/M (48-58cm), M/L (53-61cm)

Shell: Polycarbonate

Foam: EPP, EPS

Colors: 1

Adjustment: 2-handed, straps

Black Diamond Half Dome: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Weight 50% 50%
  • Comfort 70% 70%
  • Durability 90% 90%
  • Adjustability 80% 80%

Pros

Great price

Durable

Cons

Weight

Limited venting

Price: $65

Weight: 11.6oz

Sizes: Men: S/M (53-59cm), M/L (58-63cm); Women: 1 size (50-58cm)

Shell: ABS

Foam: EPS

Colors: 4 for men, 2 for women

Adjustment: 1-handed, dial

Petzl Meteor: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Rei.com

  • Weight 80% 80%
  • Comfort 90% 90%
  • Durability 80% 80%
  • Adjustability 80% 80%

Pros

Well ventilated

Easy rear adjustment

Cons

Magnetic buckle

Price: $90

Weight: 7.9oz

Sizes: S/M (48-58cm), M/L (53-61cm)

Shell: Polycarbonate

Foam: EPS

Colors: 3

Adjustment: 2-handed, plastic

Petzl Boreo: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Weight 60% 60%
  • Comfort 80% 80%
  • Durability 90% 90%
  • Adjustability 60% 60%

Pros

Durable ABS shell

Low price

Cons

Heavy

Lacking some adjustment

Price: $60

Weight: 10.1oz

Sizes: S/M (48-58cm), M/L (53-61cm)

Shell: ABS

Foam: EPP, EPS

Colors: 4

Adjustment: 2-handed, plastic strap

Black Diamond Vector: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Rei.com

  • Weight 70% 70%
  • Comfort 80% 80%
  • Durability 70% 70%
  • Adjustability 70% 70%

Pros

Great weight for price

Cons

Polycarbonate not as durable as ABS

Price: $85

Weight: 8.1oz

Sizes: S/M (53-59cm), M/L (58-63cm)

Shell: Polycarbonate

Foam: EPS

Colors: 3

Adjustment: 2-handed, plastic

Black Diamond Vapor: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Rei.com

  • Weight 90% 90%
  • Comfort 80% 80%
  • Durability 60% 60%
  • Adjustability 70% 70%

Pros

Extremely lightweight

Added Kevlar and carbon

Cons

Fragile polycarbonate shell

Price: $140

Weight: 6.6oz

Sizes: S/M (53-59cm), M/L (58-63cm)

Shell: Polycarbonate

Foam: EPS

Colors: 6

Adjustment: 2-handed, plastic

Mammut Wall Rider: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Weight 80% 80%
  • Comfort 80% 80%
  • Durability 80% 80%
  • Adjustability 70% 70%

Pros

Durable polycarbonate

Lightweight

Cons

Pricey

Price: $120

Weight: 6.9oz

Sizes: S/M (52-57cm), M/L (56-61cm)

Shell: Polycarbonate

Foam: EPP

Colors: 2

Adjustment: 2-handed, straps

Mammut Skywalker 2: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Backcountry.com

  • Weight 40% 40%
  • Comfort 70% 70%
  • Durability 90% 90%
  • Adjustability 70% 70%

Pros

Comfortable

Cons

Heavy

Too much padding

Price: $60

Weight: 13.4oz

Sizes: 1 size (53-61cm)

Shell: ABS

Foam: EPS

Colors: 2

Adjustment: 1-handed, dial

Singing Rock Penta: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Amazon.com

  • Weight 80% 80%
  • Comfort 70% 70%
  • Durability 70% 70%
  • Adjustability 70% 70%

Pros

Affordable price

Cons

Only one size

Price: $70

Weight: 7.2oz

Sizes: 1 size (51-60cm)

Shell: Polycarbonate

Foam: EPS

Colors: 4

Adjustment: 2-handed, straps

Edelrid Madillo: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Amazon.com

  • Weight 50% 50%
  • Comfort 60% 60%
  • Durability 80% 80%
  • Adjustability 60% 60%

Pros

Foldable

Cons

Heavy

Expensive

Price: $120

Weight: 13.8oz

Sizes: 1 size (52-62cm)

Shell: ABS

Foam: EPP, EVA

Colors: 1

Adjustment: No rear adjustment

Grivel Stealth: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Buy Now at Moosejaw.com

  • Weight 90% 90%
  • Comfort 90% 90%
  • Durability 80% 80%
  • Adjustability 70% 70%

Pros

Lightweight

Excellent design

Cons

Pricey

Only one size

Price: $110

Weight: 6.7oz

Sizes: 1 size (53-61cm)

Shell: Polycarbonate

Foam: EPS

Colors: 2

Adjustment: 2-handed, straps

Black Diamond Half Dome: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Construction

The Black Diamond Half Dome of today is slightly different from the Half Dome that now resides in my gear closet, but the principle has remained the same. The Half Dome is a value-forward climbing helmet that will work for lots of new climbers, while more experienced climbers may find it a shade heavy. The helmet is constructed using a thick and durable ABS shell, with EPS impact foam. The EPS foam will shatter if it takes a very large impact to cushion your head, but the ABS shell will deal with all of the little hits without impacting the integrity of the EPS.

Black Diamond Half Dome: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Adjustability

The suspension system has been updated to be more low-profile, but still features the one-handed adjustment dial. The ability to adjust a helmet with a single hand is great, especially if adjustment needs to happen while climbing, though most climbers will adjust their helmet before leaving the ground. The chin strap is a simple buckle style, and there is adjustment around the ear to generate a custom fit for each wearer. The Half Dome is available in a S/M (50-58cm) or M/L (56-63cm), and is available for both men and women. The women’s helmet is only available in one size, 50-58cm.

Black Diamond Half Dome: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

Accessories

The headlamp attachment uses the classic approach: four flexible clips with teeth at the bottom to easily grab and hold onto your headlamp. I have had my Half Dome for more than 8 years, and the clips still work and nothing on the helmet has broken or needed repair from heavy summer use. I’ve even taken a few spills down rocky hills at local climbing areas, and the helmet keeps on trucking.

Black Diamond Half Dome: Best Climbing Helmet Review - Gear Hacker

The Bottom Line

If you are looking for a super budget-friendly helmet to get into climbing and alpine adventures, and you don’t care too much about weight, this is a perfect option. That’s why we named the Black Diamond Half Dome our Best Budget Climbing Helmet of 2021. At $65, with a wide range of fits and minimal features, it is a great choice for anyone looking to save some pocket money for fancy climbing chalk or just getting into outdoor climbing.

Compare Prices From Retailers Below

You help support Gear Hacker by purchasing from our retail partners.

We participate in affiliate programs to help us fund Gear Hacker. Some of the links in this website are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product using our link, we will earn a small commission. Don’t worry! This comes at no additional cost to you, and we will never base our reviews on whether or not we earn a commission off of a product. With that said, if you find our review helpful and decide to purchase an item we review, we would be very appreciative if you use our links to do so. It will help us bring you more awesome content in the future!