The Best Caving Helmets: Our Complete Review with Ratings

The Petzl Vertex Vent Helmet is the third of its generation, and this one came with some slight improvements. Cavers prefer this helmet because of its durability and versatile ventilation.

The shell is ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), which is typical for these kinds of protective helmets. It's available in one size, but there are two sets of foam headband liners, to help it fit better on smaller heads. The helmet weighs about 16 ounces, and comes in 9 colors.

The Petzl Vertex Vent is unique in that it offers a "center-fit system". This suspension adjusts both the front and rear simultaneously, keeping it centered on your head at all times.

Another unique benefit with is that it comes with adjustable ventilation holes. These vents can be opened for better airflow when you are caving in a hot or humid environment, but come in handy in cold environments too. Some caves are quite cold, and have running or falling water that can be more problematic if these vents are left open.

If you need to equip other accessories to your helmet, you're in luck. The Petzl Vertex Vent comes with molded slots, that can allow you to attach things like a face shield, hearing protection, nametag, and more.

However, you will likely not need these when caving with a familiar group, and will mostly want to consider mounting a headlamp.

What stands out about the Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet is the thickness. When you have this helmet on, the top of your head feels invincible. We don't recommend testing it out by jumping into a low ceiling or anything like that, but it's good to know you will be safe with one of these on your head.

The suspension features a one-handed dial, allowing you to manage adequately during those times when you may be holding on to a rope or other object. Adjustment around the ear adds extra comfort, though the chin strap is a simple buckle and may be a bit too basic.

Are you a fan of accessories? The headlamp attachment on the Half Dome offers some flexible clips with teeth at the bottom. They are quite durable too, which is comforting when the cost of caving equipment can add up quickly.

There are only four colors available on Amazon currently, and while black always looks good, I'd go with orange if you want the safest choice. The bright orange (or red) on a caving helmet tends to come in handy when it's about staying in sight of your group.

Regardless of whether you are into climbing or caving, or both, this is another quality helmet that will sufficiently protect you from any sort of unexpected head trauma.

The side protection, on the other hand, is present but minimal. I assume they kept it light on the sides on purpose to keep some airflow. As we all know, caves are often quite humid even if they are colder, and the vents on the side here help with that.

Black Diamond caving helmets are well constructed and well designed. But if you are expecting tight corridors and want to play it extra safe, consider something with enough protection on the sides as well. This is the only real drawback. However, in more open passageways and wider rooms, you can't find much better than this.

The Petzl Sirocco Ultra-Lightweight Helmet really takes lightweight to another level, weighing in at only 170 grams (5.3 oz). To put that in perspective, this helmet is less than half the weight of several of the other leading Petzl caving helmets, as well as most of the other top brands.

The shape here is more close to the shape of your head, which allows for a more snug fit compared to other styles. The EPS plate on the top (visible in the image) adds another level of impact resistance.

The inside contains foam pads with a soft felt, and additional foam pads come with the order. If you need to replace the original set, this is not difficult to do. Considering the more humid environments, the accumulation of sweat may want you to do just that.

When it comes to comfort, the Petzl Sirocco Ultra-Lightweight Helmet might be the best on the list. Cavers often don’t even realize they have it on, due to how well it fits.

Though it’s significantly lighter, there is always a trade off with helmets and density. It’s slightly less durable, and thus is more applicable for climbers who will not risk bumping their head on any ceilings. For caving, it does work just as well, but if you are planning on crawling and ducking under low hanging cave formations often, perhaps this is not the best choice for you.

This Tontron Climbing and Caving Helmet is one of the lighter models, and perhaps most suited for kids.

It’s on the cheaper end, so you can consider this helmet if you’re not planning to go very often, and are on a tighter budget. You always want sufficient head protection when you go, but if you plan to go actively, especially to some more difficult locations, this helmet may be lacking in a few regards.

While meeting the climbing helmet certification (EN12492), they include a high-density inner EPS liner for added protection. There are vents for more comfort, but they are not adjustable.

In addition, it’s available in multiple sizes, depending on the supplier. Comparing it to some other helmets like the Petzl Vertex Vent, you can see that the Tontron helmet is an affordable choice for younger cavers.

However, there are some minor issues that are worth considering. This helmet sits a bit high on the head. In addition, if you don’t have it affixed well, you may experience some mild wobbling when you make frequent movements. This may simply come down to measuring size correctly, so double check and try it on correctly before you take it on any extended trips.