Mammut Wall Rider MIPS Helmet Review 2023

A lightweight, best-in-class, climbing helmet with the latest MIPS technology to keep your head cool and safe.

PROS

• Lightweight
• Sleek and compact style
• MIPS technology

CONS

• Expensive

MIPS helmets have been around in cycling for a while now so it was only a matter of time before they made an appearance in climbing helmets. Firstly let’s explain what MIPS is: it can be easily recognised by a yellow cradle on the inside of the helmet and a yellow MIPS dot on the helmet itself (there is also a holographic sticker on the inside with a batch number – there are fake MIPS helmets out there folks!). It stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection. Designed in Sweden the system is a low friction layer that sits between the foam inner and the head (as there is no liner on climbing and cycling helmets). They are particularly useful in deflecting linear, straight-on impacts – which can be described perfectly in rockfall events. These can sometimes lead to rotational impacts that can develop as concussions or traumatic brain injuries.

It works by using the inbuilt moving layer which dampens the rotational impact and allows the helmet to move and mimic your head’s protective structure. Simplistically, it is a more modern, technical version of the old-school webbing cradle you used to find in the Joe Brown glass fibre helmet.

The Mammut Wall Rider MIPS is £50 more than the standard Wall Rider helmet – so that that extra expense worth it? Remember the collective intake of breath with the cost of the Petzl Sirocco? Now you see them everywhere. So I expect MIPS will become standard in no time as the additional safety element works well in climbing situations. 

Firstly, the MIPS technology adds very little weight, an extra 30g so much negligible. I wear a helmet precisely because of the rockfall risk, OK there can be some risk from a side impact, such as slamming into the rock face when falling but the main reason for wearing is to mitigate the rockfall risk. Modern, lightweight helmets also mean that they have become more mainstream and the norm and more and more people use them for all their climbing activities.

At the end of the day, it is up to you as to whether you want to spend an extra £50 on a MIPS helmet. But to be honest, that’s way cheaper than what I’ve paid for my MIPS cycling helmet and I didn’t hesitate in that purchase so a MIPS climbing helmet makes sense (for me anyway).

Light enough to wear for sport climbing. The Mammut Wall Rider helmet is very unobtrusive.

So down to the review, the Mammut Wall Rider MIPS helmet is a great helmet that will be useful for all your climbing and mountaineering activities. The extra weight is negligible and the MIPS layer feels no different to wearing any other climbing helmet. The MIPS layer is also cut to not interfere with the well-apportioned ventilation slots. The fit is excellent with a fully adjustable webbing harness which is adjusted with two sliding buckles at the rear (so no dial here) and a standard click buckle under the chin. This keeps things light and simple, the rear sliders work well even with gloves on.

The main protection comes from the EPP – expanded polypropylene – which feels flexible and robust enough to take a few knocks and scraps. The top is finished with a partial hard shell which is fixed into position and finishes the helmet off nicely with a matt finish and an embossed, gloss Mammut logo. The whole helmet looks and feels compact and very unobtrusive, especially at the back which minimises issues when looking up and wearing a pack. There are more than enough ventilation slots to ensure that your head stays cool and finishing touches include head torch strap clips and an elasticated rear that will capture a battery pack and keep it stable.

Perfect for trad and all alpine climbing, the compact design means it takes up little pack space.

So, the Mammut Wall Rider MIPS helmet is a worthwhile investment, it has all the features you will need for climbing and mountaineering. It comes in a lightweight and compact package and the latest MIPS technology means that you will be as safe as you can be. If you are going to wear a climbing helmet you have decided that the risk of head injury is worth the money. You may as well have the best technology that is currently offered and that is currently MIPS. Be very careful as there are fakes and cheap helmets available that do not conform to MIPS standards so check carefully and only buy a helmet from a reputable manufacturer.

The Mammut Wall Rider MIPS comes in two sizes: 52-57 cm and 56-61cms.

The SRP is £140 and it can be bought directly from mammut.com/uk

Disclaimer – CGR reviewers and writers are never paid to provide a review and the website does not take advertising or link to affiliate sales. We are a bunch of keen climbers and travellers that accept sample products and offer an honest and independent review of the item. The reviewer will often keep the sample after reviewing it for both hygiene and safety reasons and more often it’s in no fit state to return!