I have some helmets I bought with my PVS-14 systems and after an hour or so my head starts to hurt- is there any new input into the market for a good helmet with good neck support and such?
Best helmet now (in 2016) for mounting PVS-14?
- Thread starter KillinSwede
- Start date
I've been enjoying my Team Wendy LTP, but I can't say I have much experience with anything other than the Crye nightcap.
Homebrewer
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Gotta agree with Oso.. I have the Team Wendy helmet from Aaron at Night Combat Solutions.
Comfortable for me, but this was my only helmet buy - so nothing to compare it to.
Comfortable for me, but this was my only helmet buy - so nothing to compare it to.
I just saw the Team Wendy helmets and that is why I was/am asking. I have a FAST helmet that the fellows that sold the PVS-14 recommended. Without anything on it (a PVS-14 for example) it is pretty comfortable. Once you put the PVS on the front you can feel your head and neck trying to compensate for it and it gets painful. I might check putting a counter-balance weight on it to see if that helps. If you all are using the Wendys and not having problems I will give one of them a test drive.
You'll need some kind of counter weight anytime you've got a PVS or similar mounted. Keep in mind, you want the weight that the helmet is holding up to balance as close to the center of the top of your head as possible. If it's not you'll feel that pull to the front or the back. It may be that your FAST helmet is fine for you once you get the balance set up better.
I just googled the EOG counterweights. thanks! I buy one of those to see how that system works.
theblakester
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My helmet isn't that comfortable either. But separate from being comfortable, the neck strain/stiffness/soreness sucked real bad the next day. I got a Velcro mag pouch and stuck it to the back of the helmet with a 20 round magazine.
Counterbalancing the weight completely helped the neck strain/stiffness/soreness afterwards, but it's still not the most comfortable set up... Still a lot more comfortable than the skull crusher head mount.
Counterbalancing the weight completely helped the neck strain/stiffness/soreness afterwards, but it's still not the most comfortable set up... Still a lot more comfortable than the skull crusher head mount.
fanninland
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Team Wendy from NCS is on my short list.
Anyone else that shoots lefty with chinstrap on have the buckle interfere with cheek weld or is it just me. I'm using a helmet (Emerson airsoft type maybe) I got from Ident when I got the nvd and doesn't look like the chinstrap reverses. Reckon this is an issue with the Team Wendy?
Oh yeah - the EOG counterweight is great!
Anyone else that shoots lefty with chinstrap on have the buckle interfere with cheek weld or is it just me. I'm using a helmet (Emerson airsoft type maybe) I got from Ident when I got the nvd and doesn't look like the chinstrap reverses. Reckon this is an issue with the Team Wendy?
Oh yeah - the EOG counterweight is great!
When I have hunted with Tactical Hog Control I have noticed that their helmets aren't any nicer than what I have but that my neck isn't killing me. they have battery packs hanging on the back of the helmet so the need for the chinstrap isn't present. I will wait on those EOG counterweights and report back to the group. Great information in this thread- thanks.
wigwamitus
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I have two helmets and two "skull crushers" for head mounting options for NODs. The skull crushers I have are basic standard 10-15 year olde style units, so I'll leave them out of the rest of the discussion, though as backups, they are still viable but note they can (edit) NOT (end edit) run duals or carry counter-weights or other accessories.
The two helmets are one OpsCore ballistic M/L size and one Team Wendy Bump S/M size.
I use the OpsCore as my primary in the colder half of the year as I can fit the balakalava under it.
I use the TW as my primary in the warmer half of the year as it has holes in the top and head can breathe.
I have one TATM/Mod Armory combo dual mount setup and one USGI/j-arm setup. I move them back and forth between the two helmets.
I have two groups of counterweights - one setup is for a single 14, the other is for duals. I can move them back and forth as well. I want to increase the counter-weight weights and make them easier to move around. My counterweight groups consist of batteries in pouches, loaded 45acp mags and some lead masses in pouches.
I think the best helmet(s) now (2016) for mounting PVS-14s (or similar) is(are):
01 - The helmet(s) which have solid, but easily moveable counter-weight mass which most closely matches the weight of the mounts and devices which will be on the front of the helmet.
02 - The helmet(s) which have an ir-illuminator on the rails on one side, which can reach out to at least 150yds and can be adjusted for beam width as well as beam intensity.
03 - The helmet(s) which have a RWGB 3 lumen visible light on the other side rail, which can be used as an admin light or as a visible nav light if needed.
04 - The helmet(s) which have the ability to also mount other accessories on top such as: Spare batteries, Strobe, Extended Battery Pack.
05 - The helmet(s) which can work with COMTAC XXX headsets.
06 - The helmet(s) which fit your head in the cooler months, with head cover on underneath.
07 - The helmet(s) which fit your head in the warmer months. tightly enough that they do not wobble.
08 - The helmet(s) which have tethers setup for your NODs or other valueable gear that rides on the helmets.
(edit) 09 - The helmet(s) which can accept alternate tensioning systems, such as the TW tensioning system with the knob which does the "snap release" function - that is certainly convenient! (end edit)
Other than that any helmet will do!!!
And when I've got one of my helmets setup correctly and am out at night, I am not aware of the helmet. They are the place my head mounted NODs ride, but I am not aware of the helmets, just the fact that the NODs are were they are supposed to be and that they are working.
The two helmets are one OpsCore ballistic M/L size and one Team Wendy Bump S/M size.
I use the OpsCore as my primary in the colder half of the year as I can fit the balakalava under it.
I use the TW as my primary in the warmer half of the year as it has holes in the top and head can breathe.
I have one TATM/Mod Armory combo dual mount setup and one USGI/j-arm setup. I move them back and forth between the two helmets.
I have two groups of counterweights - one setup is for a single 14, the other is for duals. I can move them back and forth as well. I want to increase the counter-weight weights and make them easier to move around. My counterweight groups consist of batteries in pouches, loaded 45acp mags and some lead masses in pouches.
I think the best helmet(s) now (2016) for mounting PVS-14s (or similar) is(are):
01 - The helmet(s) which have solid, but easily moveable counter-weight mass which most closely matches the weight of the mounts and devices which will be on the front of the helmet.
02 - The helmet(s) which have an ir-illuminator on the rails on one side, which can reach out to at least 150yds and can be adjusted for beam width as well as beam intensity.
03 - The helmet(s) which have a RWGB 3 lumen visible light on the other side rail, which can be used as an admin light or as a visible nav light if needed.
04 - The helmet(s) which have the ability to also mount other accessories on top such as: Spare batteries, Strobe, Extended Battery Pack.
05 - The helmet(s) which can work with COMTAC XXX headsets.
06 - The helmet(s) which fit your head in the cooler months, with head cover on underneath.
07 - The helmet(s) which fit your head in the warmer months. tightly enough that they do not wobble.
08 - The helmet(s) which have tethers setup for your NODs or other valueable gear that rides on the helmets.
(edit) 09 - The helmet(s) which can accept alternate tensioning systems, such as the TW tensioning system with the knob which does the "snap release" function - that is certainly convenient! (end edit)
Other than that any helmet will do!!!
And when I've got one of my helmets setup correctly and am out at night, I am not aware of the helmet. They are the place my head mounted NODs ride, but I am not aware of the helmets, just the fact that the NODs are were they are supposed to be and that they are working.
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I got two EOG counter weight packets in today. They were 1# each. Having only one pound on the back of my FAST helmet was nice but TWO pounds is borderline wonderful. I need to buy 3-4# of lead shot so I can boost each EOG counter weight up to capacity. I have two helmets and two PVS-14's because I have a son that hunts with me. Where can I find 3-4# of lead shot? I don't need a 25# bag. When balanced, the FAST helmet is much much more comfortable on head/neck. thanks for great advice in this thread.
