Cavechat.org

According to Karst Sports, the beloved-by-cavers Petzl Ecrin Roc helmet has been discontinued.

http://www.karstsports.com/10301.html

"END OF SERIES. The manufacturer has stopped making this item and once inventory is depleted it will no longer be available."

Bummer! This seemed to be by far the most popular caving helmet I've seen, at least out here in California...

We just received word this morning and worked with Petzl to secure the remaining inventory. Based on past experience there is only about 3 months of inventory left in the US.

The Ecrin was scheduled for end of series in 2013 but due to unforeseen circumstances it was discontinued effective immediately.

Was unsure of the validity on this since Karst Sports was the only source for this announcement on the interwebs.
So I contacted Petzl NA and they confirmed it went end of life last night.
Time it stock up.

Thank you for the heads up. I've been needing a new helmet for over a decade and I like the Ecrin design so I ordered one today just as
soon as I read this thread. After 25 years I suppose I could use a new helmet.

End of an era. I foresee things going the way of the thin plastic and polystyrene cyclist helmet. I also foresee a price increase in the used Ecrin Roc market.

I have 4 Ecrins, that's enough!

I have one on the way. Is that like having a bun in the oven?

Ecrin Roc

The only helmet I could bolt/rivet a headlamp to.. Nothing wrong with mine, but what if....?? I KNOW it will break eventually.

time to buy a backup. And I'll make sure it's NOT the "OSHA" approved helmet. Those break away instead of staying on your head. UIAA only. I'll get stuck with red or yellow.

Crap....this sucks.

Once the Ecrins run out, fans might want to consider the Vertex Vent. I have been using them since 2006 and really like them. Ecrin Rocs never seemed to fit me quite right. Anyway, the Vertex is a suspension helmet like the Ecrin, no styrofoam. They have a similar feel and construction. You can definitely drill holes in them and mount things to them. I thought the closable vents would be sort of a gimmick, but they are actually quite useful for regulating temperature. Much more than I would have expected. When I start to get cold, I close the vents and find that it gives me about another hour before having to put on a balaclava.

Not exactly the same thing as an Ecrin Roc, but probably as close as you'll come, and no sign of discontinuation....yet.

http://www.petzl.com/en/node/8609

I ordered me an extra from Karst Sports last night.

I have an Ecrin Roc somewhere, but I find the HB Olympus more comfortable. Unfortunately it was discontinued about 8 years ago, so now I have 3 of them.

Just ordered mine! Didn't know I needed a new helmet until reading this post.

Anonymous_Coward wrote:Once the Ecrins run out, fans might want to consider the Vertex Vent. I have been using them since 2006 and really like them. Ecrin Rocs never seemed to fit me quite right. Anyway, the Vertex is a suspension helmet like the Ecrin, no styrofoam. They have a similar feel and construction. You can definitely drill holes in them and mount things to them. I thought the closable vents would be sort of a gimmick, but they are actually quite useful for regulating temperature. Much more than I would have expected. When I start to get cold, I close the vents and find that it gives me about another hour before having to put on a balaclava.

Not exactly the same thing as an Ecrin Roc, but probably as close as you'll come, and no sign of discontinuation....yet.

http://www.petzl.com/en/node/8609

I have a Vertex Vent too, but find it to be uncomfortable and 50 times harder to adjust.

I guess I will have to place an order myself. After a long period of not caving I have misplaced both of my ecrin rocs.

Anonymous_Coward wrote:Once the Ecrins run out, fans might want to consider the Vertex Vent.]

I second that. I use the Vertex at work and find it to be a pretty solid product. Not to mention the helmet comes with a blade mount molded right into plastic. I prefer it to my Ecrin Roc but obviously that is a personal opinion based on fit etc. The newest class of Petzl helmets, vertex included, also seem to be a bit more expensive than the Ecrin.

Rick Brinkman wrote:And I'll make sure it's NOT the "OSHA" approved helmet. Those break away instead of staying on your head.

What do you mean by break away? I would be interested to hear where you got this info from. While I haven't combed ANSI Z89.1 standards(ANSI is who actually certs helmets, not OSHA) I have never heard of a requirement that the helmet break away on impact. For what it is worth, the Ecrin Roc is ANSI compliant. It just isn't stamped.

And I would comb the ANSI standards, but as far as I know you have to purchase them at a pretty steep price to read them. Don't get me started on that one...