Keeping your head is top priority, so we ‘ll help take out the guess-work. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the different types of ballistic helmets, their pros and cons, and our top picks.
Read on for everything you ‘ll always need to know about unassailable helmets !
What is a bulletproof helmet?
A bulletproof helmet, or more accurately ‘ballistic helmet ‘, is a tactical helmet designed to protect the wearer ‘s head from threats such as ballistic impact ( bullets ), blunt impact, and blast debris. It is typically worn in junction with ballistic-resistant body armor to provide full coverage and protection.
traditionally, members of the military tire the ballistic helmet for battle, and it is besides a common piece of gearing for law enforcement in tactical situations, but even civilians barely looking for extra ballistic protection when working with firearms can make good use of them .
It has to be mentioned that no protective fabric presently on the market can technically be guaranteed “ bulletproof. ” readily available tactical equipment might be certified fastball immune against a certain range of weapons, but that ‘s more than adequate for most function cases .
Bear this in mind before you move on to purchase a newfangled ballistic helmet. They wo n’t stop every bullet coming at you, but that does n’t mean they wo n’t still save your life .
Let ‘s look at how unassailable helmets have evolved over the years .
A (brief) history of the modern bulletproof helmet
In the early days of war, soldiers protected their heads with cloth or leather to protect themselves. For most of the twentieth century, fight helmets were basically bowl-shaped steel shells that fit into a hard-hat type liner .
The bulletproof helmet as we know it today first saw far-flung borrowing with World War I. Known as the M1917 helmet, the U.S. variation on the british Brodie helmet, did little more than keep soldiers ‘ heads safe from explosion-propelled rocks in the trenches .
The U.S. politics first base utilize Kevlar in the manufacture process for the M1 helmet lining making it one of the first Kevlar helmets. Used by the U.S. military from World War II to 1985, the M1 offered a moderate addition in protection from flying pieces of steel shrapnel, but it hush was n’t bulletproof. They ‘ve come a long way since then .
From steel bowls to sleek headgear resistant to modern weapons of war
In 1960, a new material called Aramid was developed courtesy of DuPont. Aramid is a durable roughage repellent to heat. This novel material was marketed as “ Kevlar, ” and -being a humongous five times stronger than steel – it revolutionized the design and product of ballistic body armor .
In the 1970s, there came along another firm man-made roughage of the Aramid family – Twaron .
The fact is that both Kevlar and Twaron are five times stronger than steel and even compromising, able to be incorporated into a variety of products that need forte and extreme point lastingness, such as ballistic protective gear .
The chief dispute between the two materials lies in their manufacturers and their timeline of custom : Dupont gave us Kevlar, which came into commercial use in the 70s. Teijin gave us Twaron, which was first used commercially in 1986 .
These materials changed the game .
intelligibly, ballistic helmets have been evolving to meet the needs of today ‘s military and law enforcement officers. They ‘ve undergo major developments in terms of human body, weight, and materials, becoming stronger, lighter, and sleek in cut to provide thoroughly visibility without sacrificing performance .
The M1 helmet was finally replaced by the Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops ( PASGT ). The PASGT was in become replaced by the Modular Integrated Communications Helmet ( MICH ) designed and developed by the US Special Operations Command. In 2002, the U.S. Army adopted MICH and renamed it to Advanced Combat Helmet ( ACH ) .
Compare all this to the future of military headgear, the Enhanced Combat Helmet, which can protect from up to NIJ level IV. You ‘ll often see these acronyms used when referring to different kinds of helmets and how they ‘re used .
today ‘s ballistic helmets serve a dual purpose, not alone protecting the head area from bullets, blunt impacts, and debris fragments, but besides acting as mounts for supernumerary gear. With advancements in combat engineering, many modern helmets, specially those used by the military, must be able to support communications equipment and respective gear and accessories such as an NVG shroud ( night vision goggles ) .
TYPES OF BULLETPROOF HELMETS AND THEIR USAGE
here ’ s a immediate table with the types of bulletproof helmets and their usage .
You can learn more about why there are so many different kinds of Bulletproof Helmets in our article on the topic. Below we ‘ll explain each type of helmet .
Tactical helmet types
today, there are three independent types of helmets on the market : the Future Assault Shell Technology helmet ( known as the FAST helmet ), the Modular Integrated Communications ( MICH ) helmet, and the Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops ( PASGT ) helmet .
Each helmet has a different history, purpose, and purpose .
PASGT (“K-pot,” “Kevlar Helmet”)
The oldest and possibly most influential plan of the three ballistic helmets available for general purchase today, the PASGT ( pronounce PAZ-get ) was used by the U.S. military from 1983 to the mid 2000s as one component of a protective gear set that besides included a ballistic vest .
This ballistic helmet is a try and dependable model and is inactive in use nowadays by the U.S. Army Reserve and the U.S. Navy for sailors on warships. It ‘s the original gold criterion when it comes to ballistic protection .
Key features of this helmet include an outer shell normally of multi-layer Kevlar, a low switch off over the ears, and a lip over the brow. It is available in a roll of colors and patterns for use in unlike branches of the armed forces and weighs 3.1 pound. to 4.2 pound. ( 1420 g. to 1910 g. ) .
With accurate drill into the Kevlar, the helmet can be outfitted with accessory accessories such as a ride assembly for night sight goggles and a carouse manipulate bill .
MICH (“ACH”)
The MICH is the adjacent generation of the PASGT. It was released in early 2001, after experiments aiming to design a ballistic helmet which was lighter and more comfortable so far hush ampere protective as its predecessor .
When the U.S. Army adopted the MICH in 2002, the helmet was renamed the Advanced Combat Helmet ( ACH ) .
The helmet weighs 3.0 pound. to 3.6 pound. ( 1360 g. to 1630 g. ) and is made of an progress Kevlar material. It comes in a range of camouflage patterns or solid black for use by SWAT teams .
Two other main goals in the MICH ‘s creation was that the helmet could well be mounted with accessories and would n’t shift forward over the eyes in certain positions when pushed by the high collar of the Interceptor ( the vest component of the military body armor arrangement ) .
To accomplish these aims, the hilltop was eliminated and the sides were raised, resulting in 8 % less coverage but better visibility, comfort, and situational awareness – a worthwhile tradeoff .
Rails were besides added along the sides for mounting accessories without the need to drill into the Kevlar .
The MICH is presently one of the helmets used by a count of armed forces, including the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command and the U.S. Air Force Security forces .
FAST (“High Cut/” “Above the ear/” “ATE”/ “Maritime Cut”/”Combat Helmet”)
The manufacture company Ops-Core unveiled the FAST ballistic helmet at the 2009 SHOT Show, and it was soon issued to U.S. particular operations forces in Afghanistan. today, a number of particular ops forces use different variants of the FAST .
One immediately obtrusive trait of the FAST setting it apart from any other ballistic helmet is that it features high cut sides, leaving the ears exposed. The helmet then curves bet on down to protect the occipital bone at the rear of the head .
The original purpose of this high snub ear design was for manipulation in nautical special operations. More traditional helmet models proved hazardous to wear at ocean when travelling at high speeds because water could catch in the ear cups .
The helmet ‘s high cut and the english rail system allow for the mount of extra fight accessories including earphones, electronic ear muffs, and a night vision goggle shroud.
obviously, a MICH helmet supports these accessories, excessively, but another distinguish have of the FAST is its weight. It is importantly lighter than the MICH at only 2.2 lbs. to 3.0 pound. ( 1143 g. to 1354 g. ) as it ‘s made of a composite of Carbon, Uni-directional Polyethylene, and Woven Aramid .
Non-ballistic helmets
What is a bump helmet?
Some tactical helmets are ballistic tolerant while others are not .
Bump helmets, as non-ballistic helmets are called, are not rated for gunfire of any kind, but they are designed to protect against other impacts one might encounter in a battle situation, like shrapnel or falling debris .
A blow helmet can besides be a good while of protective gear during natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes .
They are significantly lower in price than ballistic helmets and identical lightweight, making them commodity for tactical train scenarios deoxyadenosine monophosphate well .
Is a bump helmet worth it?
decidedly, ampere long as there is n’t a threat of bullets during your tactical exploit. ( differently, you ‘d need a ballistic helmet. )
In fact, a number of special Operations Forces make use of dislodge helmets for mounting equipment such as night sight goggles .
What is a bump helmet made of?
A demote helmet is normally constructed out of polymer plastic or carbon fiber. This makes the helmet very lightweight, at approximately 1.4 pound. ( 635 gram. )
What’s in a ballistic helmet?
Most of the companies today are incorporating their patent pad and suspension systems to come up with the best ballistic helmets .
nowadays ‘s ballistic helmets are composed of an out shell of bullet-resistant substantial such as Kevlar, a retentiveness organization including a kuki strap, and a pause system consisting of shock-absorbing pads .
Some of the latest features that can be found in bulletproof helmets include :
- Velcro attachments for the modularity of end users.
- Proper padding to perfectly fit the human head.
- Moisture-absorbing material to reduce bacterial growth.
- Enhanced comfort and safety.
- Retention system – 4-point-chin strap and dial adjustment at the back of the helmet.
Are ballistic helmets worth it?
The research on ballistic protection speaks for itself : For those confront military fight, casualties from ballistic impact can be decreased 19 % with helmet use and snub in half by wearing body armor with a helmet .
research from the National Library of Medicine shows that “ although the head involves only 9 % of the body sphere exposed during battle but silent receives over 20 % of all the ‘hits ‘. ”
So the answer is an absolute yes !
Bulletproof helmets are meant to protect the wearer against different combat-based threats such as fragments, gunshots, shrapnel, explosions, etc. however, a gunfire is not always from convention range during battle. For example, a ballistic helmet is improbable to protect you from a sniper blastoff .
however, in the case of short-distance bombard explosions, a unassailable helmet saves the sidereal day by protecting your skull from getting crushed into pieces and your genius from getting damaged .
furthermore, if you ’ re in a vehicle that comes face to face with an IED, the ballistic helmet keeps your question in place while it gets banged against the fomite during a collision or accident. presently, the ACH is the most effective against atomization and minor arms ardor .
Is a ballistic helmet worth it if you’re not military?
It depends on the situation. Law enforcement, security system guards, correctional officers and people in refer like professions are more likely to be threatened with shock weapons and hurl projectiles than bullets .
Is a ballistic helmet useful to person facing blunt impact threats ?
YES, thanks to the blunt shock security that these helmets besides provide .
A chair hitting the head in just the faulty spot can be just ampere deadly as a bullet, and the numb affect performance of a ballistic helmet can be a literal lifeguard in these cases .
Are ballistic helmets legal?
Body armor is broadly legal on the Federal level in the United States, but there are state-by-state restrictions and some restrictions largely true across the board .
In most states it is illegal to wear body armor if you have been convicted of a felony. It is besides generally a crime to use body armor during the commission of a felony and can bring the consort excess penalties .
It ‘s crucial to always know your rights, then check out our comprehensive explanation of body armor legality on a department of state footing .
Are there bulletproof motorcycle helmets?
At this clock time, no .
While one would think that a your unassailable helmet could double as a motorbike helmet, this is not the font .
A motorcycle helmet is designed to crumple in orderliness to absorb the impact of a crash or collision. On the other hand, a ballistic helmet is designed to stop a bullet or projectile from penetrating into your skull .
Do not use your ballistic helmet as a motorbike helmet. It wo n’t provide adequate protection in a collision .
And it bears mentioning that motorcycle helmets are not designed to stop bullets. Do n’t rely on one in a firefight .
What are the best bulletproof helmets?
If you ’ rhenium looking for the best bulletproof helmets on the market, you can check out our choice for some of the most compel ballistic helmets. The best helmet for you depends on your needs, quilt, and budget. besides make certain to get the right size for you for optimum quilt and protection .
Based on extensive market research and reviews from satisfied customers, hera are two of the best-rated bullet proof helmets for you :
noteworthy features :
- Level IIIA Protection NIJ 0101.06
- Front Wilcox NVG mounting shroud
- Standard MICH/ACH Pads and Suspension Fixed side rails for mounting accessories
- Ergonomic and stable platform
Check out the Legacy MICH level IIIA Ballistic Helmet
luminary features :
- Top tier ballistic helmet
- NIJ Level IIIA Protection – V50 ballistic test
- Accessories can be attached to the rail system
- EN397 certified, which gives an excellent shock absorption against bullet impact in head and neck
Check out the Protection Group Denmark ARCH Level IIIA Bulletproof Helmet
When choosing the right helmet, be indisputable you know how to find the right size .
When do I need a bulletproof helmet?
People looking to add tactical headgear to their loadout should consider the situations they expect to be in. If you expect to be in a battle position then a ballistic helmet is a no brainer. But if you lone expect to be in a dangerous environment without enemy combatants, then a bump helmet may suffice .
Remember, there ’ s a certain degree to which each type of helmet can protect the wearer against shrapnel, bombard explosions, AK47 gunshots, and more. much of that depends on its auspices degree, thus cause sure you choose the best horizontal surface for your situation.
Read more: How Maritime Law Works
peak manufacturers are constantly improving ballistic technology. If you ‘re looking to pick up a bulletproof invest, here are some considerations for you .
Check back here for new updates and developments for ballistic helmets .
Have any questions or points that you would like to add ? Let us know in the comments section below .