Cavechat.org

Chads93GT wrote:

BrianFrank wrote:Just received my new Roc and tricked it out last night. Only thing missing is a Scurrion or Rude Nora....too much money
.

Are those the only three lights you carry?

I carry the LazerBrite clipped to my backpack! which I just received in the mail. A great versatile light! https://www.lazerbrite.com/pages/Caving.html

paul wrote:I wonder if the withdrawl of Petzl Ecrin helmets only affects the US market. One of the well-known caving shop owners here in the UK who owns www.caveclimb.com says he has heard of this story via a US caver and when he checked with Lyon Equipment who are the Petzl distributors here in the UK, they said they have not heard anything about it from Petzl...

Apparently Lyon Equipment have confirmed that Petzl are stopping manufacturing the Ecrin helmet after all. The reason given was that the material it is made from had made it too expensive to continue manufacturing.

paul wrote:

paul wrote:I wonder if the withdrawl of Petzl Ecrin helmets only affects the US market. One of the well-known caving shop owners here in the UK who owns www.caveclimb.com says he has heard of this story via a US caver and when he checked with Lyon Equipment who are the Petzl distributors here in the UK, they said they have not heard anything about it from Petzl...

Apparently Lyon Equipment have confirmed that Petzl are stopping manufacturing the Ecrin helmet after all. The reason given was that the material it is made from had made it too expensive to continue manufacturing.

If a profit can't be made at $100 a pop then they need to get out of the helmet business. Do you think maybe GREED might be a factor?

tncaver wrote:

paul wrote:

paul wrote:I wonder if the withdrawl of Petzl Ecrin helmets only affects the US market. One of the well-known caving shop owners here in the UK who owns www.caveclimb.com says he has heard of this story via a US caver and when he checked with Lyon Equipment who are the Petzl distributors here in the UK, they said they have not heard anything about it from Petzl...

Apparently Lyon Equipment have confirmed that Petzl are stopping manufacturing the Ecrin helmet after all. The reason given was that the material it is made from had made it too expensive to continue manufacturing.

If a profit can't be made at $100 a pop then they need to get out of the helmet business. Do you think maybe GREED might be a factor?

Sorry, I don't know the answer to that. But I know a local caving business who used to buy Edelrid climbing helmets and replace the harness with their own design and this helmet was VERY popular in the UK.

They had to stop doing it because they had to comply with regulations ("CE" mark, etc) and expensive test procedures, so making and selling helmets may not be as profitable as you imagine.

Also, according to http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com/subscriber/newscat2.html?cat=14&channel=400&id=1039, "European buyers faced higher standard thermoplastic prices in January for the first time since last autumn."

Thanks for the input Paul. I remember those same helmets costing much less just a few years ago, however, I bought one of those
$100 helmets anyway. BTW, I do believe the price was recently dropped by about $10. So, for those who want one of those Ecrin's,
now is a better time to buy one. And regardless of the price I do like mine. I used it this weekend. It fits a little different from
my old helmet but I really like being able to adjust the size with it on my head by twisting the adjusters on the sides.

paul wrote:Apparently Lyon Equipment have confirmed that Petzl are stopping manufacturing the Ecrin helmet after all. The reason given was that the material it is made from had made it too expensive to continue manufacturing.

tncaver wrote:If a profit can't be made at $100 a pop then they need to get out of the helmet business. Do you think maybe GREED might be a factor?

paul wrote:"Sorry, I don't know the answer to that. But I know a local caving business who used to buy Edelrid climbing helmets and replace the harness with their own design and this helmet was VERY popular in the UK.

They had to stop doing it because they had to comply with regulations ("CE" mark, etc) and expensive test procedures, so making and selling helmets may not be as profitable as you imagine.

Also, according to http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com/subscriber/newscat2.html?cat=14&channel=400&id=1039, "European buyers faced higher standard thermoplastic prices in January for the first time since last autumn."

tncaver wrote:Thanks for the input Paul. I remember those same helmets costing much less just a few years ago, however, I bought one of those
$100 helmets anyway. BTW, I do believe the price was recently dropped by about $10. So, for those who want one of those Ecrin's,
now is a better time to buy one.

Yes, the price can vary a bit as Petzl are French and their stuff is priced in Euros and the UD Dollar/Euro as well as the Pound Sterling/Euro exchange rates change. I paid 72 Pounds Sterling for one today here in the UK and at current exchange rates that's $114.

tncaver wrote:And regardless of the price I do like mine. I used it this weekend. It fits a little different from
my old helmet but I really like being able to adjust the size with it on my head by twisting the adjusters on the sides.

Same here. I'm not sure how the other Petzl helmets will last underground compared to the Roc. They will probably last a reasonable time when used for climbing/mountaineering, but using helmets underground tends to give them a harder life and the Roc seems a lot more sturdy than the alternative Petzl helmets.

Buy an American made helmet.

SMGCaver wrote:Buy an American made helmet.

There are American made climbing helmets?

Well I didn't win the Karstsports contest so now I guess I either have to find my helmets or buy a new one.

Did you get the E-mail about the 20% discount on your next purchase for participating in the sweepstakes?

No I didn't get that message but that would be nice. That would make an ecrin roc the price it was a few years ago.

I just need new headband padding for my roc. Wonder if I can find that stuff.

Chads93GT wrote:I just need new headband padding for my roc. Wonder if I can find that stuff.

Why not give Karst Sports a call. Maybe they can get those parts for you.
Karst Sports - Call Toll Free 1.800.734.2851

Yahtaa wrote:Karst Sports just started a sweepstakes to win a yellow Ecrin Roc:

We are giving away a yellow Petzl Ecrin Roc helmet at the end of February to one lucky winner. To enter just click on the sweepstakes entry form on the left side of our fanpage. If we hit 7500 fans by 2/20 we will give away 2 Ecrin Roc helmets so make sure to tell all your friends to become a fan of our page which in effect doubles your chances of winning. You must be a fan of our page and a residence of the United States to be eligible to win.

Just visit their facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/karstsports

w00t w00t!

AMAZINGLY, I won a helmet!

I hardly ever win anything. THANKS, Karst Sports!

Squirrel Girl wrote:AMAZINGLY, I won a helmet!

I hardly ever win anything. THANKS, Karst Sports!

I'm visualizing this....