Ballistic helmets are an essential part of personal protection for anyone in a combat environment, including the military, law enforcement, security personnel, and more. Probably too often, the choice depends on the equipment used by this or that Special Force respectively (tactical implications!).

Today I will discuss the relevant parameters that you should consider when choosing a ballistic helmet that suits your needs.

Task Introduction

You should define the main task role of the helmet. Examples include combat weapons (e.g. infantry, rangers, etc.), general purpose, police patrol vehicles, hostage rescue, special forces patrols, etc. Does your mission profile include standing, running, climbing, swimming, skydiving, working in the Arctic, jungle, etc.? It looks easier than it is, but it leads to many induced consequences below.

Degree of Protection

You have to specify possible threats, which is one of the most challenging tasks. As we have seen over the past hundred years, the types of military conflicts have changed, and so have the major threats. During World War II, the main threat was shrapnel. In Afghanistan, IEDs, and today in Ukraine, shrapnel. Suppose you are an army or police special forces unit performing a hostage rescue operation. In this case, your threat might be bullets, but probably primarily military rifles in combat operations and police pistols in domestic law enforcement. Of course, you want to choose the best available protection level, but this conflicts with other requirements that I will now describe.

Cover Area

Of course, you want the highest possible coverage. So why choose a high-top helmet? The main reason is tactical headsets, although you can use them under full-cut helmets. Another factor could be your technique and procedure (e.g. would a wider helmet negatively affect your technique and procedure!?). The difference in coverage and weight between a full helmet and a high helmet is about 7-8%, which is about 100cm2 or 100g. This may not seem like much…but it can relate to a complete helmet system.

Weight

Older helmets (PAGST, ACH, M92, etc.) weigh an average of 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs). This weight is suitable for combat operations, choosing the correct weight will depend on your mission profile! Do you need to free fall and penetrate 5 kilometers or approach a building 100 meters away from a vehicle? The weight depends on the accessories fixed on the helmet (night vision equipment, battery pack, beacons, cameras, bulletproof visor, etc.). In this case, you must evaluate the weight of the entire helmet system based on your task profile. You can’t run around with a helmet that weighs more than 3kg, which might be enough for short police duty.

Lining and Harness

Pads and harnesses have come a long way since the days of the PAGST helmet! Today’s products offer better protection (blunt impact, rear deformation, etc.), better stability, and adjustment friendliness. For example, if you use your helmet for general protection without any aids on it, you may not need to adjust your padding and harness as often. If you use a monocular or light binocular night vision device (<450g), your harness needs excellent vertical stability (and adjustment). On the other hand, if you use heavy night vision equipment such as GPNVG or ENVG-B, your harness needs excellent vertical and lateral stability.

Other aspects to consider include comfort, logistics, and hygiene. How long should the helmet be worn? In what climate? Are helmets a personal issue? Do you need to replace your pads and seat belts regularly? Do you need or want to wash your liners and straps? How long do you want to use the helmet (durability of the components)?

Auxiliary Equipment

You have to define separately which auxiliary devices you want to connect/use with the helmet. Some examples are gas masks, night vision devices, lights, beacons, goggles, etc. Ancillary equipment will have a significant impact on the interfaces required, the weight of the overall helmet system, and ultimately the configuration of ancillary equipment (e.g., tactical gear) Headphones are worn under the helmet or attached to external rails, visors are worn on the helmet or attached to on external rails, etc.)

Budget

Today, you can buy an ACH helmet for well under $500, and Nookverve helmets are an affordable brand for most customers. This is where well-thought-out and prioritized needs are crucial.

In conclusion, choosing your future helmet adequately requires a good understanding of your mission requirements and a well-thought prioritization of your needs.