Black Diamond Half Dome

Review by Matt Heason

Monday 18th May 2009

The Black Diamond Half Dome

Black Diamond claim their most popular helmet is a "go-anywhere climbing helmet... designed with maximum coverage and minimal weight. It features a quick-adjust suspension system and recessed headlamp clips. For durable head cover it combines a rigid shell, EPS liner and fully adjustable suspension with a padded brow strap."

Despite its impressively low weight (only 320 grams) this is a fully CE certified helmet giving ample protection in the event of a fall or a knock on the head. I foolishly managed to go for a few years without a helmet – or rather I had one, but it was so old, battered, and ugly that I didn’t wear it much, if at all. It’s a surprising relief to have one that I am happy and keen to wear again. The Half Dome fits my head perfectly and is very quickly adjustable with the dial at the rear.

The underside of the Half Dome showing the adjustable dial (top)

That said, it took me a few minutes to figure out why it was so uncomfortable when first out of the box as one of the two Velcro backed foam pads which come packaged separately had gone astray. Once I realized what they were for and orientated them correctly (matched up the Velcro on the pads and in the helmet) all was good. It's important to remember this when fitting the helmet from new.

The venting ducts are well placed on the side of the helmet.

Some people have said that they find the chin strap a little fiddly and I have to agree, but then few if any helmets have a chin strap that isn’t. I certainly wouldn’t want to be making adjustments in cold weather with gloves on.

The Half Dome comes with head torch attachments, which is vital for big-walling or alpine climbing, and is breathable. All in all, the Half Dome is a great all-round helmet that you will barely notice when you're wearing it. It is safe, light and comfortable, which is about all a climbing helmet needs to be.