It's time to replace my hardhat. I'm looking for one with ear muffs and full face screen. Any models you guys recommend or to stay away from. Also would like to be under $130 USA.
I recently purchased my first one. Its just a Forester brand. It feels and works fine. I would prefer if the muffs flipped out away from your ears vs lift and rotate. Thats my only complaint and my only experience with any Sawyer type helmet. They are pretty low priced. I think a nice set of chainsaw pants is where I'm going to spend some money as I hate the chaps and it causes me to not wear them much.
I have the cheaper Husky hat. It's not bad. Gets the job done for low dollars. I added a terry cloth sweatband wrap which made a world of difference. A friend some time back had a Rockman brand hat that was very nice. Was before all the newer fancy hats came around. The thing that intrigued me was that it came with a Swede leather headband wrap. It was actual leather. It was Stihl branded but made by Rockman.
Buy once, cry once. I didn’t think I could justify a $300 helmet. but it’s worth every penny. nothing exposed to snag on a tree branch etc to torque your head.
I bit the bullet on one of these as well after a guy who has a tree service praised the comfort of them. It is the 4th helmet I have owned in my life & by far the best fitting & most comfortable! It is a lot of money but I’d rather cut my budget elsewhere & have something that offers this level of comfort.
Not proud to admit it, but I dropped a small 4'' tree that had been hung up in the canopy on my melon last year. I was wearing the Stihl branded helmut which is similar to the Husky one mentioned above. It definitely saved me from any kind of real injury. But that little sucker was heavier than I would have guessed. Knocked me to my knee. Woowee, I don't recommend anyone do that. The thing is, I was so sure how it was going to fall, and it didn't. Super quick, too. No time to react at all. A good lesson on safety. A good helmet is a good investment.
I hadn't thought about a twisted broken neck from a tree.... Other benefit is you look like a super hero with it. Id get a cape.
Been using a skull bucket for the past few years as I prefer earplugs and safety glasses over ear muffs and face shields. Products | Skull Bucket - The Authentic Aluminum Hard Hat
I prefer earplugs and safety glasses over ear muffs and face shields. View attachment 397424 [/QUOTE] I wear ear plus and safety glasses under the ear muffs and face screen. The directions do say to use safety glasses under the face screen.
I got the protos as much for the suspension as anything. The smooth lines on the outside, had there been an external mounted ear muff, not sure how it would have mashed your head around.
We got protos at work and they are very comfortable, and adjustable to fit well. Hardto justify cost, but they are amazing and I appreciate it. We also had tasco woodsman which worked pretty well too, comparing a Camry to a Lexus I suppose. I use a hart hat, ear plugs and glasses when cutting firewood on my own time. I wear glasses with all the hard hats. Are the protos worth it? If I was doing it 40-50 hours a week, hell yes.
Glasses under a screen seems redundant to me. I almost always have on a pair of specs. My eyes are pretty light sensitive so sunglasses are a must in summer. Winter time I switch over to the amber lens glasses for the grey and gloomy weather. Very seldom if ever will I make any cuts without some sort of glasses on. Several of the fallers I watch on the tube just use a hat and some wear plugs. Some wear chaps and some don't. They are not amatuers either. The tree service guys seem to be in much more PPE than many loggers I've watched. Probably varies by region as well. The Euros are always geared up it seems.
This model should cover all your requirements except the Made in the USA. Its made on Mars but hey at least its not made in china…