Best Climbing Helmet of 2021

A highly versatile and value-forward helmet, Black Diamond’s Vision helmet is a rock star (pun intended) as a rock climbing helmet. Available with MIPS BPS technology in the more expensive version, this helmet is available to every climber and well worth the extra money for the MIPS version in our opinion. While the MIPS version is the safest, the standard version is still incredible, and this helmet was an easy choice as the Best Climbing Helmet of 2021.

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Construction

Adjustability

As for the adjustability of the Black Diamond Vision, there are some flaws. It uses the same back adjustment system as the Black Diamond Vapor and Vector, which are good but not as easy as the wheel system used on the Black Diamond Half Dome helmet. The back adjustment is tightened by squeezing together two ends of the band along the back until you find the right fit. We encountered problems with the adjustment due to the lack of adjustability along the ear straps of the helmet. The chin strap is stitched directly into the ear straps, so it cannot slide or move if it is too close or too far from the neck. After all the work that was put into this helmet, it would have been nice to have that extra adjustability.

Accessories

The accessories on this helmet are great. Again, much like with the Petzl Meteor and Sirocco, the Black Diamond Vision helmet comes with two front headlamp tabs and a rear bungee cord system. This allows for larger eye-protection systems, like ski goggles, to be held onto the helmet more efficiently. They are also more secure and easier to use than the four-tab system. Along the side of the helmet are 13 vents: 6 along each side and a vent at the rear. The vents are quite large and help get a lot of air flowing through the helmet. However, it does lack the front vents that we find make it “feel” like the helmet is cooler.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that this is an incredible helmet. It seems to take the best of every helmet we have on the list and combine it into a singular design. With the availability of the MIPS Brain Protection System as well for an added $60, it is a very impressive protection system that Black Diamond has brought to the market. The helmet has also been made to fit a wide variety of heads, and most climbers should be able to find a good fit in either the S/M or M/L offerings of the Vision. At the end of the day we need helmets to protect our heads, and if they can add some style at the same time, we won’t ever complain. The Black Diamond Vision helmet offers exceptional protection as well as a touch of style, and we are big fans. The value that both the standard and MIPS versions of the helmets provide is also off the charts, making it an easy choice as Best Climbing Helmet of 2021.

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