Can a Skiing Helmet Be Used as a Rock Climbing Helmet?

Head protection can reduce injuries in sports such as skiing and rock climbing. Skiers can suffer severe falls due to high speed or a sudden impact, while rock climbers are at risk of being hit by falling ice or rocks. There are some important differences between rock climbing and skiing helmets. Regulations at your rock-climbing venue will determine what type of helmet you can wear.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check what rules and regulations govern the place you plan to use for climbing. If you are not required to wear a helmet, you are free to wear whatever you want, including a ski helmet. Ski helmets and climbing helmets have a similar design, and a ski helmet offers some amount of protection from falling rocks and other climbing risks.

    • 2

      Ask what, if any, safety certifications are required for a helmet, if a helmet is required at the venue. If there are none, you should be able to use a ski helmet. Chances are, the venue requires UIAA certification, with UIAA standing for Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme, which is French for the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation.

    • 3

      Examine your helmet, looking for the UIAA safety label. It is a mountain peak with the letters “UIAA” in the peak, which is surrounded by a circle.

    • 4

      Go to the "Certified Equipment and Recalls" page on the UIAA website if you cannot find the certification label on your helmet. Look for your helmet in the database to see if it is certified. Your ski helmet likely will not be certified, but it is worth checking.