Hard Head Veterans Blog
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Hard Head Veterans news and reviews have information articles and customer stories about helmets and protective gear. We manufacture ballistic helmets and other protective headgear. Our company was founded on the experience that all too often the gear needed is not what is supplied.
Hard Head Veterans Blog
1w ago
Whether you’re kitting up a helmet for the first time and need a solid pair of helmet-compatible hearing protection, or you just want some of the best over-the-ear hearing protection in the shooting business, both the Peltor Comtacs (specifically the Comtac IIIs) and the Otto Noizebarrier sets are worthy of your consideration. The Peltor Comtacs and Otto Noizebarrier TACs are among the top choices for their advanced features and reliability in providing hearing safety, improved situational awareness, and all-day shooting comfort. Today we’ll dissect their specifications, features, pros, and co ..read more
Hard Head Veterans Blog
4M ago
Reviewing the protection levels and preferences to help choose headgear
Motorcycle helmets save lives and reduce severe injuries, which is why 47 US states have universal or partial laws requiring DOT-approved helmets. Once those minimum protection standards are met, riders can choose between motorcycle half helmets, three-quarter models, and full-face motorcycle helmets.
Which one is the safest? And, more subjectively, which type is the “best?”
Let's compare the stats, options, benefits, and drawbacks.
The basic helmet types
Riders have three main alternatives when it comes to protective head ..read more
Hard Head Veterans Blog
5M ago
Explaining the key tests and certifications designed to protect riders
All quality protective headgear is tested and classified for its specific purpose. And given the risks of riding and possible head injuries, motorcycle helmet safety ratings and tests are crucial.
Here’s a look at the leading standards and which marks of approval matter most, including an in-depth review of DOT-approved motorcycle helmets and Snell motorcycle helmets.
Motorcycle helmet safety ratings and the law
Most people are aware of motorcycle helmet laws in various US states, which can be:
Universal: all motorcycle ri ..read more
Hard Head Veterans Blog
5M ago
The New ASTM Ballistic Helmet Test Protocol and the Evolving Landscape of Helmet Testing Standards
ASTM E3368/E3368M-23
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has long been at the forefront of body armor testing. Its standards for protective gear, such as the body armor standard 0101.06, have become the global default. Foreign militaries, when buying protective gear, will frequently specify that it needs to meet a certain performance level detailed in an NIJ specification. This is true more often than not.
There is, however, a puzzling gap: The NIJ ..read more
Hard Head Veterans Blog
6M ago
Riding the open road comes with risks. How do motorcycle helmets reduce them, and by how much?
There’s nothing like riding a motorcycle; senses alight as the wind whips your body, and reflexes become one with the machine. But every rider knows that the pleasures, including head-snapping acceleration on-demand, come with more risk than driving a larger vehicle. Motorcycle injuries, especially head injuries, must be considered and prevented to the extent possible.
Here’s a look at the real risks of motorcycle accidents, with a focus on head trauma and the protective impact of helmets.
A review o ..read more
Hard Head Veterans Blog
7M ago
Safety helmets are gaining in popularity and reputation — but some reviews and research question the benefits
The idea that safety helmets are superior to traditional hard hats is getting traction in the trades. Proponents say they are safer, and hard hats are somewhat outdated. But what’s the real deal on safety helmets vs hard hats? Is one truly a winner?
The two types of PPE are comparable in significant ways if they meet minimum ANSI head protection standards. However, some reviewers complain about safety helmets’ weight and heat during long days on the job site. And research published in ..read more
Hard Head Veterans Blog
9M ago
UHMWPE makes modern military helmets and other tactical gear lighter with enhanced performance
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, or UHMWPE, has revolutionized ballistic protection.
Discovered by accident in a lab in 1963, it took 30 years before this hydrocarbon polymer first made its way into a working, military-issued French helmet, followed by broad acceptance as a ballistic material of choice. Today, UHMWPE composites are widely used in modern military helmets, various other tactical helmets, and armor plates.
By providing “higher ballistic protection at a reduced weight,” UHMWPE c ..read more
Hard Head Veterans Blog
9M ago
UHMWPE fibers have come a long way from humble beginnings. Twenty years ago, it was far from clear they'd enjoy the dominance that they have now come to hold. Back then, the military still utilized Kevlar® in almost all of its body armor systems; Zylon fiber was heralded as the “fiber of the future,” and up-and-comers like M5 fiber armor were capturing imaginations.
Today, given improvements in UHMWPE fiber processing, it’s stronger than Zylon ever was. It’s also very difficult to see how it can be surpassed by M5 fiber—for although M5 is stronger, it’s also much denser, and its performa ..read more
Hard Head Veterans Blog
1y ago
Clearing up confusion about how to fit headgear properly
Whether you feel too sweaty, cold, or simply uncomfortable, putting an extra garment between your hard hat and your head seems like an easy fix. But do regulations guiding how to wear a hard hat allow this practice?
And most importantly, is it safe?
While these and other questions seem simple, confusion often swirls around whether certain methods of wearing hard hats are safe and acceptable. In this blog, we clarify:
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) rules
Best practice ..read more
Hard Head Veterans Blog
1y ago
How a hard hat color code can improve site efficiency and safety
Hard hat colors span the rainbow, with many job sites assigning different hues to different types of workers and visitors. And while no official regulations set a hard hat color code that organizations must follow — other than rules governing what qualifies as “high visibility” — some best practices have become common across industries.
In this blog, we explore:
The overall rules for hard hats
The reasons to consider implementing a hard hat color code at your worksite.
Standard hard hat color meanings
When high-visibility headge ..read more