Salewa Piuma 3.0 Overview: The Mountain Journey Helmet You Need

With aggressive choices from most of the huge climbing manufacturers, akin to Black Diamond and Petzl, it’s good to see different firms like Salewa bettering on designs and additional pushing the capabilities of multi-sport helmets.

Such is the case with the brand new Piuma 3.0 helmet, one helmet to cowl all your bases! This winter, I extensively examined the Piuma 3.0 whereas climbing and snowboarding. To say I used to be impressed could be an understatement.

In brief: I will probably be retiring all my different helmets. The Salewa Piuma 3.0 is exceptionally mild, comfy, and sturdy. It’s my go-to helmet for each summer season and winter mountain sports activities.

Salewa Piuma 3.0 Overview

Salewa Pimua 3.0 Options

The Salewa Piuma 3.0, in the beginning, is an extremely light-weight helmet weighing in at a slim 175 grams. For reference, that is lighter than the Black Diamond Vapor helmet and on par with the Petzl Sirocco. It has commonplace headlamp clips within the entrance and an outsized bungee system within the again, appropriate for each headlamps and ski goggles.

Salewa makes use of a easy, no-frills buckle closure system below the chin with a soft-closure system behind the top. The exhausting plastic high of the helmet offers additional sturdiness to the highest-wear space whereas the uncovered foam shaves weight on the remainder of the helmet. Ample air flow all through the helmet is supposed to maintain the top cool whereas working exhausting, and the padding inside is detachable and washable.

Impressively, the Piuma 3.0 comes with each CE EN 12492 and UIAA106 rankings making it appropriate for each mountaineering and ski touring. Much like most different climbing helmets in the marketplace, it is available in two sizes to make sure a cosy match for all customers.

Editor’s be aware: The ranking is just for Ski Touring, not Alpine Snowboarding.

Rock Climbing

I used the Salewa Piuma 3.0 on a 3-week sport climbing journey to Spain, the place I bought the possibility to take huge whips whereas projecting, climb multipitch sport climbs and shove it out and in of carry-on luggage over the course of 40 hours of journey. As climbers have trended in direction of utilizing helmets extra typically, it’s necessary that they’re each forgettably mild and extremely comfy. There isn’t any use in having a helmet in case you aren’t going to put on it.

Fortunately, my first impression of the Piuma was simply how comfy it was. The tender closure system was nice on the again of the top, simply adjustable, and didn’t loosen over time. I typically forgot I used to be sporting the helmet due to how mild it was.

The profile of the helmet is barely taller than the Black Diamond Vapor helmet however was not noticeable sufficient in apply to really feel any totally different. I’d say the Piuma has a mean profile, leaning in direction of the slimmer aspect.

Not solely did I discover the helmet extra comfy than any earlier climbing helmet I’ve owned, however I used to be notably impressed with the added aspect and again protection. This made the helmet really feel safer and protecting than typical climbing helmets. In principle, this added protection ought to higher defend the consumer in instances of upside climbing falls that would end in hitting your head. In apply, the additional protection is noticeable and far appreciated.

Winter Climbing and Snowboarding

Along with rock, the Piuma 3.0 excelled when climbing ice and combined routes. The helmet paired properly with wrap-around-style sun shades for winter climbing because of the tender closure system. This prevented any stress factors on the aspect of the top.

For snowboarding, the Piuma offered sufficient room to layer a light-weight beanie or hat when touring. The tender closure system was barely tough to deal with with gloves on, however as soon as secured, it didn’t loosen over time. On a couple of outings that have been windy sufficient to justify goggles on the descent, the bungee system labored flawlessly to carry the goggles onto the helmet.

The profile of the entrance of the helmet matched properly with goggles to keep away from the dreaded “gaper hole.” In fact, as a result of the helmet is so well-ventilated, it doesn’t maintain the wind-drifted snow out, so utilizing the hood of my shell was vital on windy outings.

Salewa Piuma 3.0 Sturdiness

Other than the consolation, the Piuma held up exceptionally properly by airplane journey and on the skin of climbing packs. I didn’t discover any put on or cracks related to journey which was an enormous plus.

With different helmets I’ve owned, I needed to be additional cautious with packing to keep away from damaging the helmet. With the Piuma 3.0, I didn’t really feel like I needed to “child” the helmet. It actually seems like probably the most sturdy of the “ultralight” climbing helmets I’ve used.

Worth and Last Ideas

As famous, the Piuma 3.0 is a quiver-killer of a helmet. Throw it in your pack for sport climbing, trad climbing, or ski touring and neglect about the remaining.

Personally, I will probably be phasing out my previous helmets in favor of the Piuma. It’s good to have a helmet that has all of the options you’ll need for each winter and summer season outings whereas nonetheless being one of many lightest and most sturdy feeling helmets in the marketplace.

At $119.95, the Piuma 3.0 is inexpensive than many ultralight helmets. Contemplating you get a fully-featured four-season multisport helmet, I believe the worth is properly justified for such a helpful, sturdy and light-weight piece of equipment!