Petzl Vertex Vent - How to stop the headband popping out?

[Monotone Sandwich]

Hi all,

Does anyone have experience with the Petzl Vertex Vent helmet, specifically the front headband. I've been using mine for a few months now and when it works it's delightfully comfortable, although big, but I've consistently had an issue where the front headband will pop itself out of the attachment point and go for a walk; Making it significantly less comfortable. It did this in one of the Swildon's sumps yesterday, and today, before a Wookey trip, entirely vanished, having fallen out somewhere random, and needing a replacement headband to be ordered.

Does anyone have any tips to keeping the headband affixed? I tried glueing it to the little socket, but it simply broke the glue, and couldn't get a very good hold anyways, and I don't want to have to buy another one.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Dunno, have had same problem myself although mine mostly stays in. I think it must be an Achilles Heel

Edit, hopefully you can fix in some way, but it's not really a great caving helmet, it's to big/high top heavy. Probably very good if someone drops a half brick on you head from scaffolding a level or two above and you can mount ear defenders, chainsaw visors and all that on it which may be great for diggers cutting/grinding scaffolding but not really a benefit for sporting trips IMHO

 

[MarkJ]

Dunno, have had same problem myself although mine mostly stays in. I think it must be an Achilles Heel

Edit, hopefully you can fix in some way, but it's not really a great caving helmet, it's to big/high top heavy. Probably very good if someone drops a half brick on you head from scaffolding a level or two above and you can mount ear defenders, chainsaw visors and all that on it which may be great for diggers cutting/grinding scaffolding but not really a benefit for sporting trips IMHO

I agree with this. It seemed comfortable enough in the shop, but I don't know whether it was the weight or something else about it but when crawling it would get uncomfortable and sag over my eyes and reduce forward vision. I have a very large head so it is definitely not that the helmet is too big for me.

I wore it on two trips then swapped back to an older helmet. As an aside, if anyone has any tips for improving the fit do let me know. I played around with it quite a bit but gave up in the end

 

[Cantclimbtom]

... ... if anyone has any tips for improving the fit... ...

2 mini soreen malt loaves and a Capri sun.
Only half joking at most because this is an actual advantage of the Vertex that you can store food in it

 

[andrewmcleod]

2 mini soreen malt loaves and a Capri sun.
Only half joking at most because this is an actual advantage of the Vertex that you can store food in it

But shouldn't, because this will reduce its effectiveness

 

[Occasional Borderer]

2 mini soreen malt loaves and a Capri sun.
Only half joking at most because this is an actual advantage of the Vertex that you can store food in it

Genuinely need to know what the trick is for that, tape never seemed to keep stuff from rattling around and eventually falling out

 

[wormster]

Snoopy loops around the cradle

 

[Cantclimbtom]

For good or for bad, I'm not scared to drill a few 3.5 mm holes and use 3mm bungy/shock cord to keep things in place. Could cause an issue if you wanted the same helmet for work

 

[Monotone Sandwich]

For good or for bad, I'm not scared to drill a few 3.5 mm holes and use 3mm bungy/shock cord to keep things in place. Could cause an issue if you wanted the same helmet for work

I think this is probably what I'll do, I was planning on drilling some 4mm holes for two bolts at the front anyways, so I could probably just anchor the headband from there too. Thanks for the idea!

 

[wormster]

I think this is probably what I'll do, I was planning on drilling some 4mm holes for two bolts at the front anyways, so I could probably just anchor the headband from there too. Thanks for the idea!

Use a soldering iron, less stress on the plastic IMO!