Hi Guys,

I`m looking for your opinion, which one is the best combat helmet according to your observations or experience. I liked the Advanced Combat Helmet of Gentex - http://www.gentexcorp.com/default.aspx?pageid=2692.

I've been out of the game to long to know, but I used the PASGT (and Korean war era steel pot), the older heavier version of this, and even that was darn good IMO. So I figure you can't go wrong with the one you linked to.

Keep in mind that high speed entry teams have other requirements, and sometimes don't have ballistic coverage over the ears so they can wear a full audio headset. But 99.95% of people needing a helmet, the one you linked is a better choice, more protection and you arent trying to call in a Dustoff mission in a hurry! Nor will you be doing BreachBangClear all morning long! Well, maybe in your mind, but not using a case of flashbang distraction devices.

That said, I've been out too long to know of other current alternatives.

I 'heard' that the German helmets during WWII were about the best ones issued.
They covered the back of the neck and ears a little better.
But, what would you want...better coverage, or better awareness?
I guess it's a give and take.
No helmet is going to stop a direct round, not many were bullet proof during WWII.

I'm a WWII fan, so that's the extent of my input.
Don't know about these new ones, maybe they're "Kevlar", that would certainly help!

And that link you have...that's 'some helmet'!
I imagine that would have saved thousands of lives during WWII.
I see they've not been idle all this time.
Seems they've covered all the weak points, low on the sides, and even the back of the head and 'neck'!

Sure have come a long way

Having used both an ACH and a MICH/FAST, I'd go with the MICH/FAST.

http://www.ops-core.com/FAST_Ballistic_High_Cut_XP_H_P100C6.cfm

Use this chin strap:

http://www.ops-core.com/ACH_Head-Loc_8482_Retention__P1C5.cfm

It fits both helmets.

Bah, helmets. I think modern militaries should all go back to the stylish shakos.

My Beret was better than any helmet

Modern hairspray on a big head of hair will stop a .50 at 10ft.



The Jedi Master

I like this one:



Granted, I have no combat experience so don't take my advice at all, but studies I've read have indicated that a face mask can make a massive difference when it comes to deflecting a shockwave, whereas traditional open-face helmets just let it reverberate around. That combined with the incredible medivac facilities available are theorized to be why traumatic brain injuries are the most noteworthy wounds of recent war. I suppose it depends on what you're doing.

Anyways, I think it looks pretty cool.

http://www.mtekweaponsystems.com/supply/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=40

Seems cool until you have to wear it for any amount of time. Neck killer. Heat trap. Voice barrier. Quick drink stopper.

But like Rick50cal, I'm an old dinosaur and my experiences may no longer fit.

OG is right. Having to do PT in a gas mask will break men, that mask isn't as bad, but it is a bit of a pain.

The face mask is best for a turret gunner. If the vehicle crashes it protects the face, and they are most likely to get hit by an IED so it does help with concussions. Carrying a rifle, it really starts to suck.

I must admit, it doesn't look very comfortable. Also, the study I was reading (can't remember where, a few years ago in medical journal, weren't using anything like that as their alternative. It was more like a lexan (or whatever) shield stopping just above the mouth, and it didn't need to cover the entire face. It wasn't asked to withstand a shockwave, just divert it by giving it a path of least resistance that wouldn't result in in reverberating about in a helmet.

I often wonder what body armor and personal protective equipment will look like in the decades to come. The 'futurists' don't seem to give a damn about maneuverability, heat dissipation, situational awareness and the ability to communicate--it's always some variant on Master Chief from Halo. It seems like reasonably priced, reliable graphene isn't too far away, and that could be a real boon to our men and women in harms way. Since it's effectively impenetrable, all you have to worry about is dissipating the kinetic energy.

The Vodka propelled peoples have a whole bunch of combat helmets for their military and police special units, many with optional ballistic face shields like the K6 series or the newer LSHZ-2DT.

The helmets themselves are proof against commonly encountered pistol caliber bullets while the face shields are good for frag and lower powered pistol bullets. These are heavy enough however that they're not meant to be worn for long periods of time, at least not without removing the face shields.

They also have some extremely heavy helmets that will take assault rifle rounds right to the visor, these of course are part of a specialized ballistic suite meant to protect an entry man in a CQB situation where he's basically guaranteed to get hit apon entry.

The best is the pickelhaube - nothing says "I'm horny for so many things" like a picklehaube.

Awesome mustache not included.

Unless one wants a helmet that stops fragmentation, bullets, shock waves - in short, anything but a hot babe in her tracks. Then I'd go with Kevlar.

But for the latter, yeah, pickelhaube.

Damn, Dart beat me to it:

http://www.kaisersbunker.com/feldgrau/helmets/fgh05.jpg

Just remember: don't sit on it!

Some of them kinky Germans would disagree with you.

If you flip it over, though, it makes a handy one-legged stool.



The Jedi Master

The Canadian govenrment is developing a new helmet for the CDN army. You should save your money and buy one of these when they come out!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e47_1400912940

Better start exercising those neck muscles now!

I've just been issued an ACH and it feels better on my head than any combat helmet I've ever worn. I turned in my last generation helmet that still had leather head straps...what a freaking pain to wear for more than an hour or two! While in Iraq I was issued the last gen helmet, but with the nice padding that was fairly comfortable...however, the ACH still blows it away!

I started out with the Vietnam era "steel pot" over plastic insert...the absolute worst in comfort.

But there's nothing more comfortable than plastic!



The Jedi Master