What are the best commercial off-the-shelf ballistic helmets out there?

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:21:20 -0400

I'm looking at doing some contractor-type work after I ETS. I'd like to get a ballistic helmet with that in mind, but I realize that some companies won't sell to civilians, so I might need to buy one sooner than later. What are the best helmets out there?
I realize armor is always a balance of ballistics, weight, and cost, but most helmets are Level IIIA, leaving the relevant factors as weight, cost, and quality.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 19 at 2017 2:33 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:33:58 -0400

I don't know about COTS helmets, but depending on what you have in mind to do, one of the companies that we sell equipment for has a line of lightweight polycarbonate helmets.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Aug 19 at 2018 6:04 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 18:04:08 -0400

Many helmets fail to protect the brainstem, the most important area in the head. Keep that in mind when buying a brain bucket.