With competitive offerings from many of the big climbing brands, such as Black Diamond and Petzl, it’s nice to see other companies like Salewa improving on designs and further pushing the capabilities of multi-sport helmets.
Such is the case with the new Piuma 3.0 helmet, one helmet to cover all of your bases! This winter, I extensively tested the Piuma 3.0 while climbing and skiing. To say I was impressed would be an understatement.
In short: I will be retiring all my other helmets. The Salewa Piuma 3.0 is exceptionally light, comfortable, and durable. It’s my go-to helmet for both summer and winter mountain sports.
- Weight: 175 g
- Certifications: CE EN 12492, UIAA106
- Sizes: 53-58 cm, 57-62 cm
- Colors: Green or grey
Pros
- Extremely light
- Resistant to incidental damage
- Good price for an ultralight, multi-sport helmet
Cons
- Abundant ventilation lets spindrift enter in winter conditions
- Slightly tall profile
- Rear retention system difficult to use with gloves
Salewa Piuma 3.0 Review
Salewa Pimua 3.0 Features
The Salewa Piuma 3.0, first and foremost, is an incredibly lightweight helmet weighing in at a slim 175 grams. For reference, this is lighter than the Black Diamond Vapor helmet and on par with the Petzl Sirocco. It has standard headlamp clips in the front and an oversized bungee system in the back, suitable for both headlamps and ski goggles.
Salewa uses a simple, no-frills buckle closure system under the chin with a soft-closure system at the back of the head. The hard plastic top of the helmet provides extra durability to the highest-wear area while the exposed foam shaves weight on the rest of the helmet. Ample ventilation throughout the helmet is meant to keep the head cool while working hard, and the padding inside is removable and washable.
Impressively, the Piuma 3.0 comes with both CE EN 12492 and UIAA106 ratings making it suitable for both rock climbing and ski touring. Similar to most other climbing helmets on the market, it comes in two sizes to ensure a snug fit for all users.
Editor’s note: The rating is only for Ski Touring, not Alpine Skiing.
Rock Climbing
I used the Salewa Piuma 3.0 on a 3-week sport climbing trip to Spain, where I got the chance to take big whips while projecting, climb multipitch sport climbs and shove it in and out of carry-on bags over the course of 40 hours of travel. As climbers have trended towards using helmets more often, it’s important that they are both forgettably light and incredibly comfortable. There is no use in having a helmet if you aren’t going to wear it.
Luckily, my first impression of the Piuma was just how comfortable it was. The soft closure system was pleasant on the back of the head, easily adjustable, and didn’t loosen over time. I often forgot I was wearing the helmet because of how light it was.
The profile of the helmet is slightly taller than the Black Diamond Vapor helmet but was not noticeable enough in practice to feel any different. I would say the Piuma has an average profile, leaning towards the slimmer side.
Not only did I find the helmet more comfortable than any previous climbing helmet I’ve owned, but I was particularly impressed with the added side and back coverage. This made the helmet feel more secure and protective than typical climbing helmets. In theory, this added coverage should better protect the user in cases of upside climbing falls that could result in hitting your head. In practice, the extra coverage is noticeable and much appreciated.
Winter Climbing and Skiing
In addition to rock, the Piuma 3.0 excelled when climbing ice and mixed routes. The helmet paired well with wrap-around-style sunglasses for winter climbing thanks to the soft closure system. This avoided any pressure points on the side of the head.
For skiing, the Piuma provided enough room to layer a light beanie or hat when touring. The soft closure system was slightly difficult to handle with gloves on, but once secured, it did not loosen over time. On a few outings that were windy enough to justify goggles on the descent, the bungee system worked flawlessly to hold the goggles onto the helmet.
The profile of the front of the helmet matched well with goggles to avoid the dreaded “gaper gap.” Of course, because the helmet is so well-ventilated, it doesn’t keep the wind-drifted snow out, so using the hood of my shell was necessary on windy outings.
Salewa Piuma 3.0 Durability
Aside from the comfort, the Piuma held up exceptionally well through airplane travel and on the outside of climbing packs. I didn’t notice any wear or cracks associated with travel which was a huge plus.
With other helmets I’ve owned, I had to be extra careful with packing to avoid damaging the helmet. With the Piuma 3.0, I didn’t feel like I had to “baby” the helmet. It certainly feels like the most durable of the “ultralight” climbing helmets I have used.
Value and Final Thoughts
As noted, 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 forget about the rest.
Personally, I will be phasing out my old helmets in favor of the Piuma. It’s nice to have a helmet that has all the features you would want for both winter and summer outings while still being one of the lightest and most durable feeling helmets on the market.
At $119.95, the Piuma 3.0 is less expensive than many ultralight helmets. Considering you get a fully-featured four-season multisport helmet, I think the price is well justified for such a useful, durable and lightweight piece of kit!
