For clever minds: Black Diamond Vapor in the test

What can the Black Diamond Vapor do? Andrea knows. He tested it for the Italian sports magazine Mountainreview.it. Now ISPO.com readers can also benefit from this, because we are publishing the Mountainreview tests, which were previously only available in Italian, in German, English, French, and Spanish.

Mountainreview.it - these are real practical tests by ambitious (hobby) athletes who spend every free minute in the mountains. The tests are hands-on and relentlessly honest, by mountain lovers for mountain lovers. The "Consumer Experts" run, hike, ski or climb and test current equipment for its suitability for the outdoor lifestyle.

All tests are completely independent and reflect the personal opinion of the testers. We take tests of products that have performed well or very well and are also of particular interest to our readers from the point of view of the ISPO.com editorial team.

1. Overall rating
2. Technical characteristics
3. Weight
4. Shell
5. Adjustment system
6. Test mode
7. Practical test
8. Ice and high mountains
9. Multi-pitch routes
10. Via ferrata and trad

The Black Diamond Vapor 2023 is the further development of the predecessor of the same name. The helmet promises to be lighter, more breathable and more comfortable than the previous model. This is the ambitious goal that Black Diamond has set for itself.

Compared to the previous version, the weight in size S/M drops from 200 g to 170 g. A decent improvement, even though Black Diamond states 155 g on their website.

The construction of the new Vapor resembles the construction of other helmets available on the market. The polycarbonate side cover has been removed, leaving the sides of the XPS bare. This decision slightly reduces the abrasion resistance of the side part of the helmet, but this is done in favor of weight.

In Europe, the EN 12492 standard applies, which states the following in terms of helmet safety:

• Flat impacts in all directions must not exceed an impact force of 10 kN transmitted to the head.
• The top center must not be penetrated by a 3 kg conical firing pin dropped from a height of 1 meter.

Once these aspects are understood, it seems clear that the removal of the side cover does not formally cause any safety-related issues. What is critical is to prevent penetration into the center.

Black Diamond reinforced the polycarbonate film with a thin sheet of Aluula, replacing the previous carbon and Kevlar reinforcement. Aluula is a composite material based on a network of UHMPE threads (Dynema type) welded together and molded between two plastic films that protect them from delamination and UV rays. In this way, a central film is obtained with the mechanical strength of steel and the lightness of fabric.

Compared to the previous version, the helmet's adjustment system no longer has the two plastic side tension straps. Instead, it uses a soft, more comfortable webbing that is tightened with a buckle.

The closure is similar to that of backpacks or climbing harnesses, making it a familiar gesture for those who need to adjust their helmet on their head.

A little curiosity: in the three different editions of the Black Diamond Vapor, the logo has been reduced in size. The look is a bit more elegant now, in my opinion.

I tested the Black Diamond Vapor helmet while ice climbing, as well as on rock routes and in climbing gardens.

If, like me, you replace your old Black Diamond Vapor with the new one, you won't get any surprises: as soon as you put it on, you feel right at home. The rear adjustment system with the pull strap is very comfortable and stable.

As for ventilation, the new Vapor has 18 air intakes, compared to 21 before. However, the individual louvers have become larger for this purpose.

On ice, I have to say that this helmet is so well ventilated that it's almost a bit cold, so much so that covering it with a hood almost becomes mandatory. The good thing is that it fits well under any hood thanks to its compact shape.

On multi-pitch routes, I really appreciated the lightness and ventilation: you forget you have it on your head: It's never hot or uncomfortable. For the same reason, I would recommend it for via ferrata.

The strap closure does not create any annoying edges. You forget that you have it on after climbing, when you walk back home.

When climbing, however, the Black Diamond Vapor really surprised me: it didn't feel like it was on my head, and it never interfered with my vision.

Hard to measure, but I had the impression that Black Diamond engineers managed to reduce the volume of the helmet even more. This not only improves the look, but also the performance: when climbing on the slab, you have to lean heavily on the wall. In tricky balance passages, it is crucial that the helmet does not interfere at head level. The same applies when climbing in off-width cracks or chimneys.