The search for a comfy helmet.

Therrin

Hello all,

Wanted to ask who out there has a comfy helmet that doesn't get caught on stuff on a regular basis.

Is there one which has integrated safety features but is relatively unbulky or doesn't get caught and pulled off much?



A shooting friend has hearing protection which mutes loud noises and amplifies voice and such electrically. Has anyone integrated these to arb helmets / hearing protection yet?

newguy18

i'm looking at buying a skull bucket.It doesn't have the screen or built in hearing protectin which would get hung up on most of my work so those can be seperate pieces.

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Eric Frei

The most popular (and expensive) are these ones.

Pacific Helmets - Helmet Makers - Fire Helmets, ATV Helmets, Forestry Helmet and more

I think I need one of these aluminized ones to prevent those penetrable BS sound waves.

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Jeff Darby

Hi Therrin,
I have used a few over the years, Genuine stihl,aftermarket, They done the job. I now use Pacific kevlar Helmet, This helmet is very well made and very strong and comfortable one small draw back is getting used to the extra weight on your head. When it becomes time to replace this helmet I will be going with Pacific again.
I hope this helps you make up your mind when buying your helmet.
JayD

ps, Optional extra is foil you just got to keep them aliens out of your head!..LOL.

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treekiwi

Hey guys,
I have a Petzl vertex vent helmet. It is very comfy, very light and has a good adjustment system. Relatively cheap aswel and only cost me about 130 nz for the helmet and about 40nz for muffs, wear glasses so visor not included but are avaliable and it costs about 200nz for the setup. Good choice and heaps of colour choices from fluro orange to black or red.

Jeff Darby

Hi Therrin,
I could not post any pictures earlier,Sorry,But I can know.

This is my helmet I use day to day.Hope this helps make your mind up.

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playfordtree

Good choice of helmet Jay.
I had one just like it when i worked for my first tree co.
The only difference was mine had the air vents in the top, which made it more bearable during summer.
They are pricey though.$$

Now i pay for them myself, i just use one of the cheap plastic ones with clip on muffs.
It doesn't feel as well balanced as the kevlar type you use.
(maybe it's the chin strap on the kevlar ones that makes them sit better????)

How do you find the mesh gaurd? Only ever used one once.
I didn't like it, as it felt like i was looking out a flyscreen window.
I just prefer safety glasses.

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Jeff Darby

You get used to mesh,I cant wear safety glasses as I wear specs, So the mesh visor brings me inline with the safety standards. If I could I would wear safety glasses and the visor. The only drama with the mesh is you get a bit of glare when facing the sun.

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Therrin

Hey guys,

Thanks everyone for the usefull responses.
Jay, that setup actually really does look alot more streamlined than my Stihl one. My earpieces use two wires each for adjustment, and branches catch at them like crazy!

Kiwi, I used my petzl ecrin roc while starting out, and they're VERY comfy, but mostly the groundies use it now. I suppose I'll have to look, but I wasn't sure if Petzl made one with integral ear protection.


As far as mesh, I actually prefer using it over safety glasses; which are a bit of a pain fitting over my everyday seeing glasses. But safety glasses also fog up and get oil and stuff smeared on em. That stuff just sheds right off the mesh and it's no problem.

The Stihl head rig I use, the mesh attatchment thing broke after the first week or two and it's ziptied into place on the bracket, It's also really big and bulky. Not bad for pines, but the elms are hell.

I'll check over some of the ones you guys mentioned and see what I think.

crucificio

I got that same helmet and also a husky same style, the mesh sometimes gets bit dented but apart from that it ok. mine seems comfy enough, just get very warm in it after a good few hours work

jim1nz

Vertex Vent. Very light.

I have a custom one on the way, a mate organized for me when i get down to Texas for the climbing comp down there.

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Bermy

Vertex Vent...with Stihl muffs and visor, used for two years.
Also Ecrin Roc, there is an adaptor that fits through one of the vent holes, Stihl muffs and visor clip onto that...using this setup now, I like the balance of the Ecrin better than the Vertex.

Both are light and great ventilation for the hot heads!
(both Petzl)

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jim1nz

Check this out, my mate Abram from Texas got this painted for me by a friend who is selling custom painted helmets.

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newguy18

i figured it would have a picture of a lamb on it.

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treekiwi

Dont knock it to you try it don't no what ur missing!!! lambs are better than bears lol

newguy18

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jim1nz

Funny...

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newguy18

In all seriousness,nice helmet.

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Therrin

There's a guy around here who does custom airbrushed graphics for helmets too. He really does some wicked work.

I'm leaning towards the Vertex vent at the moment. Didn't realize you could attatch muffs to them.

treekiwi

Hey Therrin,
yea the vertex vent is really good, here a are a few pics of my one, has grade 4 peltor muffs that are very streamlined, sits close to your head....

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Therrin

Treekiwi,

It's got a different suspension system than my Ecrin Roc, but it looks uber comfy. And like you said, those muffs are pretty streamlined. I like it!!

Where'd you get the muffs from?

treekiwi

Hi Therrin,
yea suspension settup is different, i have a erin roc aswell, the vent just have an adjuster on the back instead of on both sides, muffs were from the local petzl dealer, will dig out the box and get the number for you as you need the specific muffs to fit the helmet

TrevMcRev

I use the vertex vent with peltor earmuffs fitted.
Its nice, light, comfy, streamlined and has good adjustment.

The only let down is that the chinstrap goes into a "V" in front and behind the ear. I find i dont get a good seal from the muffs as a result.

squad143

I have the vertex vent in safety orange with the earmuff and visor kit (available from Bailey's online). Great set up. Light and comfy. I like the screen for several reasons. Will not fog up, get scratched or smeared and also protects your face from whipping branches or the occasional chunk of wood that gets tossed at ya from the chipper when the feed wheel is up high.

JohN Dee

That is true there Squad, but they bother have there pros and cons which is why I like to use a combo (more times then not) off the both safety specs and mesh.

Safety Glasses
Pros:

• Will stop hard flying objects from pentrating your eyeball (If they're made to the standard)
• Stops most small pieces from hitting your eyes
• Some, like my Stihl Safety glasses are tinted so the sun glare is lessened

Cons:

• Fog up
• Scratches/smears up
• Doesn't let the ear muffs seal properly (if worn properly)
• Digs into the back of your head over a period of time

Mesh
Pros:

• Stops branches from dragging across your face
• Stops sawdust/chips from spitting in your face
• Doesn't disrupt your ear muff seal or dig into the back of your head

Cons:

• If you look into the (or near it) sun with it down, all you see is glare - no visibility
• If a piece of chip came flying at you fast enough it could easily penetrate it and take out an eyeball
• Can get caught in scrub when ascending the trees (bloody blackbutts)
• Wears alot faster then quality safety specs

Still wearing my same old Stihl helmet.. :P Bout to retire it as it comes with age. Might grab one of them kevlar ones that my dad is always wanting me to get.

Jeez it was funny when my dads helmet was brand new and it got its first major scratch... Nice biggen' along the ridge the look on my dads face was hilarious.

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newguy18

I'm still considering one of them aluminum skull buckets.A few reasons,
1. I don't like ear muffs,plugs will do
2.I perfer saftey glasses over mesh.
3.Cheaper than most helmets i've seen here.

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Therrin

I love the mesh...

If I wear safety glasses they have to be the big bulky ones that fit over my normal glasses... and those are a real pain.

You're damn right about the glare with the mesh though. It'd be nice to find a way around that problem.

I'll be getting my new helmet soon, looks like it'll either be a Vertex vent with muffs and mesh, or I'll find muffs and mesh to adapt to my Ecrin Roc. I'm definitely going for smaller/streamlined.
My Stihl head rig will be demoted to groundy use after that.

jim1nz

Ooo the new vertex vent helmets are even better than before! Pretty much the same but the internal harness is different. Especially good if you have dreads or a big head ha.

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Eric Frei

Bloody hippies!

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newguy18

Do you reckon they fly to the tops of trees too?

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