hard hats

[superjunior]

I have used a Petzl Vertex Vent for years, and a Petzl Ecrin Roc before that. The Vertex Vent is kind of clunky, moves around on my head even when tightened down, and the sweatband sucks (non-absorbant and literally channels the sweat into your eyes). The newer ones may be better. I recently got a Kask which, although not perfect, is better. It's lighter, more comfortable (feels more like a good bike helmet, not like a hardhat) and has a real sweatband (yeah, it gets manky but at least it does its job). The robocop faceshield is ridiculous, however, and the earmuff attachment clips are a joke. Petzl's built in slots are way simpler and way more secure. Despite its flaws, I'd still take the Kask over the Petzl. I think they are going the right direction making their helmets more fitted like bike helmets while Petzl seems stuck on the same high-riding hard hat suspension design that has been around forever and that no one has ever liked. I haven't seen the newest generation of any of these helmets in person so I may be a bit off in my comments, but I would at least check out Kask before buying a Petzl.

appreciate the input, haven't even looked at kask

 

[rymancm]

Couldn't resist throwing in a photo of my ground crew, with helmets!

 

[beastmaster]

I use to ware a pacific kelvar helmet. Even with the chin strap it would move all over my head, and never fitted right. When the headliner broke(35.00) I went and bought a Rockman. I love that helmet. It fits my little bullet head perfect, the chin strap is one of the best designs around IMHO. I prefer to have a brim on my climbing helmet in the belief it may protect my face in case of a kick back from a chainsaw. I ware my helmet from the time I step out of the truck tell the end of the day when I get back in. Use it for a pillow at lunch. My Pacific helmet cost around a 100.00 I think, the rock man 35.00. I feel like I should be riding the little bus with those petzl climbing helmets. I dropped my Pacific helmet from a tree and it cracked as it was designed to, but I still wore it cuz it cost a hundered dollars to replace.I
I did my research and went with the rockman, check them out. Not just the best for the money but one of the best at any price.

 

[tree md]

I use to ware a pacific kelvar helmet. Even with the chin strap it would move all over my head, and never fitted right. When the headliner broke(35.00) I went and bought a Rockman. I love that helmet. It fits my little bullet head perfect, the chin strap is one of the best designs around IMHO. I prefer to have a brim on my climbing helmet in the belief it may protect my face in case of a kick back from a chainsaw. I ware my helmet from the time I step out of the truck tell the end of the day when I get back in. Use it for a pillow at lunch. My Pacific helmet cost around a 100.00 I think, the rock man 35.00. I feel like I should be riding the little bus with those petzl climbing helmets. I dropped my Pacific helmet from a tree and it cracked as it was designed to, but I still wore it cuz it cost a hundered dollars to replace.I
I did my research and went with the rockman, check them out. Not just the best for the money but one of the best at any price.

Not a bad looking helmet. Looks like it's vented in the crown as well. The price is definitely right. Baileys has just the helmet alone for $29.99. Looks like they go for $49.99 with muffs and face shield. I may pick a couple of them up for the groundys and if I like it I may keep one for myself.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

Having guys complain about the "look" of there helmet makes me laugh.

I love the petzl vertex vents, all my crew wear em, comfortable and tough. Just awesome. I have been wearing petzl lids for over a decade, I rate them highly.

 

[imagineero]

its hard to go wrong with anything petzl.

Lots of vents are good, light is good. You need a helmet that will work with whatever earmuffs you like, and a screen/visor if you want that. Closable vents are a bit of a gimmick. Chin straps are pretty annoying and as already mentioned they make most earmuffs useless.

I've owned the pacific kevlar, and I really liked it a lot for ground use. It had just about the best headgear I've ever had on a helmet but it is much heavier than all the other helmets. You dont notice it so much on the ground but when climbing you end up with a sore neck. The weight is up high so as soon as you tilt your head it's all off centre. Muffs fit them easily and you can also fit a mesh visor which I like for stump grinding.

I've had a Kask for about 6 months now and I'm liking it. It's light, and sits low on your head which is great. Plenty of vents, but I had to screw an earmuff mount to the side of it. It has a ratcheting strap at the back and feels secure, it's never fallen of even when I've fallen out of the tree. The white one looks the least ridiculous. They have a flip up space trooper style visor which I havent tried, I figure it would be all scratched to hell in a days work.

Shaun

 

[sgreanbeans]

Just a reminder for those who don't know. If you go to a rock climbing store, you will often find petzl and black diamond gear for about half price of what the arb sites charge. That petzl vertex vent, its about 65 as compared to 115. Biners and slings are about half price as well.
I use the vertex, love it, guys have plain jane hi-vis orange ones. Need to get them chin straps, for the same reason as you guys.

 

[NCTREE]

I wore the petzel vertex for years and had no problems, its a very good helmet. Last spring a purchased a kask helmet and so far been loving it, its even more comfy than the vertex.

 

[deevo]

I have been wearing the Petzl Vertex Best for the last few years and love that helmet. Before I got this helmet, I had the same problems you described when I wore my Husqvarna "arborist helmet" with the shortened brim. I have not had a single problem at all with the Petzl.

Same here, been wearing the Vertex for about 6 years, like it. I have 2 of them, one with the head lamp for night time emergencies only. So it doesn't get banged up like the regular daily melon saver. I think its made pretty good, and have no issues with it.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

I dont think hard hats are ever comfortable. You just get to the point were you tolerate them. I had this guy working for me, that would not wear his safety glasses. Finally I told him if i see him again without them on, he's fired no if and or buts. He got the point real quick. Its not only his eyes but my butt when the insurance company asks what happen.

 

[TreeAce]

I have a kask and I like it alot. I havent tried any others except the the regular old bollard. I did try on a pacific at sherrill once and I didnt like the fit. Seemed like it was riding super high on my head. Maybe I didnt adjust it properly. I have peltor muffs and a clear visor and have no problems at all. The visor isnt suppossed to eliminate the need for glasses. It does help ALOT when chips are blowing into your face though. I also love the quick adjust dial on the back. My only complaint is how nasty the liner gets in the summer. It is held in with velcro so it comes out without to much trouble for washing. It needed washed about once a week in the warm months. I wonder if the liner thing is a trade off for it not sliding around on my head. And FWIW...which aint much....I have gotten several comments on what a sweet helmet I have. But those comments came from guys who appreciate good PPE, a firefighter and a iron hanger was amongst em.

 

[mikegar]

Couldn't resist throwing in a photo of my ground crew, with helmets!

Did your other groundman forget his hard hat? Is that why he is standing way far back?

 

[Grouchy old man]

Looks like a gawker or HO taking pictures, not part of his crew.

 

[Ollie B]

Personally I can't stand the way they look on anybody. What is it about Euro gear styling and making men look like space rangers?

What's wrong with looking like a space ranger?

But seriously folks, I usually just wear my full-brim wildland fire helmet. It does have a chinstrap if I really want it, but I find that the ratchet is AWESOME even without. That sonofagun stays where I put it up on my head, even with dreadlocks.

 

[oscar4883]

I wear the Vertex vent and it is a nice unit. For regular hard hats I found Fibre Metal to be the best by far. Worn by welders, iron workers, and miners all over the world. Type I - Fibre-Metal

 

[Grouchy old man]

What's wrong with looking like a space ranger?

But seriously folks, I usually just wear my full-brim wildland fire helmet. It does have a chinstrap if I really want it, but I find that the ratchet is AWESOME even without. That sonofagun stays where I put it up on my head, even with dreadlocks.

I agree. What really makes a climbing helmet anyway? All it's supposed to have is a chinstrap to keep you from losing it. I don't know about a full brim for climbing because it could get snagged or in the way but that E2 style that everybody also makes is fine. That ugly Euro stuff costs 10 times more and I don't even think it meets US ANSI standards for protection. That's probably why they sit lower on your head.

Somebody mentioned bicycle helmets. They are the same companies that make the climbing helmets.

 

[Toddppm]

I wear the Vertex vent and it is a nice unit. For regular hard hats I found Fibre Metal to be the best by far. Worn by welders, iron workers, and miners all over the world. Type I - Fibre-Metal

What the heck is this? Is this for the guys that absolutely refuse to confrom and must wear their hardhat backwards? They should just include a baseball cap underneath too, that seems to be standard.
View attachment 212225

 

[Blakesmaster]

What the heck is this? Is this for the guys that absolutely refuse to confrom and must wear their hardhat backwards? They should just include a baseball cap underneath too, that seems to be standard.
View attachment 212225

Lol. Ya gotsta look cool when you're workin'.

I've been with the vertex vent and peltor muffs for a few years now. It does feel a little top heavy and wobble around at times but I've gotten used to it. My muffs are all torn up so I ordered the better quality ones from sherrill just now as well as one of those rockman helmets md was talking about to check out. I'll let you guys know how it works.

 

[Kottonwood]

Bailey's - Replacement Hearing Protectors for Husqvarna Forestry Helmet System


For anyone that uses the petzl helmets these earmuffs are the bomb-diggity. I have noticed that many of the attached ear muffs have just metal wire to hold it to your head, I find they don't hold tight enough and therefore don't provide proper ear protection. These ones hold nice and tight. Also, because of how tight they hold, they actually give support for helmet and there seems to be less moving around.

 

[Grouchy old man]

Wow, they do look good and should work with any hardhat that has the standard earmuff slots.