PETZL SIROCCOSIROCCO

In 2013, PETZL surprised the climbing world by producing an ultra-lightweight helmet, the SIROCCO, dedicated to the vertical universe. Manufactured exclusively in expanded polypropylene, well ventilated, it was quickly adopted by the connoisseurs of lightweight gear. With its slightly weird look and orange color, its relative fragility and a slightly rigid fit it put off certain potential clients.

The new 2017 SIROCCO model is attempting to improve these first imperfections. They have added a polycarbonate rigid shell injected with expanded foam on the top part of the helmet. This refines its appearance and lessens its previous ‘dome’ look, whilst also increasing the protective area at the base of the skull and giving it a less fragile top. They have preserved its immense shock absorption capacity, the ventilation has been redesigned (and improved efficiency) and most importantly it has kept its unrivalled feather-light weight.

In use you forget you are wearing it, even if the chinstraps are still very narrow. The chin-fixing buckle isn’t the easiest to handle with gloves on but once adjusted the head hold is very good and doesn’t move.

The two proposed colors, black & orange or white & orange, should appeal to most people, and the white one works well in summer to avoid boiling your brain.

We also appreciated the ease of fixing or removing a headlamp; the elastic fixture at the back is much easier to handle with one hand.

The two sizes available easily cover the range of head sizes. This new form is also more suited to fitting under hoods or a hat whilst remaining firmly in place and protective.

To summarize, yes the PETZL helmet does come with a high price, but it is massively improved from the old model and remains the lightest on the market.

"The PETZL helmet does come with a high price, but it is massively improved from the old model and remains the lightest on the market."

Rating

• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
• COMFORT
  9
• WEIGHT
  9
• ADJUSTMENT
  7
• VALUE FOR MONEY
  8