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Petzl Elios |
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So you've started climbing, your tendons are toughening up nicely and now you want some kit. Jon Kirk, climber, news hound and former Chalk magazine editor, picks the best of the essential equipment you'll need Click to view Top 5 Climbing Gear.
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Best Helmet (Petzl Elios) |
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 Popular from the outset, this simple classic has stood the test of time. Wrongly thought of as an entry-level helmet, the Elios comes equipped with an array of impressive features that gives it a performance pedigree. Its sub-£40 price tag makes it the helmet of choice for beginners and seasoned climbers alike. |
Technical Specifications |
 The Elios is approved by the UIAA - the international mountain climbing organisation - and boasts a high-density molded polypropylene foam headpiece with a thermoformed outer shell, giving it both strength and durability.
Its ergonomic shape also provides maximum protection from knocks and falling rocks, while ensuring a clear field of vision.
Weighing-in at just 350g and with ten ventilation holes, it also feels as light as it is comfortable.
A single adjustment wheel at the back, and an adjustable chinstrap allow for straightforward and efficient changes to its size. There are also four exterior hooks and a groove in the outer shell designed to attach a headlamp – essential for winter walking or mountaineering.
It is available in three colours: white, orange and blue. |
Helmets: Making the Right Choice |
 Despite the obvious safety benefits that helmets such as the Elios provide, only a small proportion of those climbing indoors wear them routinely.
For more seasoned climbers, the advantages of wearing one indoors are slim, given the absence of loose rock or the possibility of a long, uncontrolled fall.
They will have weighed-up the risks beforehand and made a calculated judgment to opt out on that basis.
But for those lacking the benefit of experience, the best advice is to consider wearing one at the outset to minimise the chances of injury from inadvertent knocks and scrapes. And ALL climbers should wear a helmet when climbing outdoors.
Remember that wearing a helmet is not a reflection on your bravery – it’s simply a question of safety.
There are hundreds of climbers who have had to learn the importance of wearing a helmet the hardway - and others for whom that lesson came too hard and too late. |
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Why to buy - Light, strong, comfortable and affordable
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| TYPICAL PRICE - £37.00/$60.00 |
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