I knew a guy in the army who literally got shot in the head, and his ACH turned that from a kill shot into a really bad headache/concussion. Helmets are kind of important.
Not just direct hits either. Have you seen how much shit flies around when rounds fragment on hard surfaces? I shoot with thermals and night vision and it's scary how much fragmentation there is. A pistol rated helmet will stop that.
I use a bump helmet for hunting--when you've got a wounded animal whose blood trail you are following and trying to catch up with, the helmet is more than enough to help me move fast through the bush and not worry about bumping my noggin on low hanging brances (and it's a slick)
@@Slasher4446-q3e North Texas in the Piney Woods region, the Banks Lake Region of the Okefenokee Swamps in Georgia, Opelika Alabama, and Northern Virginia outside Marshal. I hunted in the Apache Junction region of Arizona, but no need for a bump helmet there.
A bump helmet should be everyone's "everyday" training, hiking, climbing, hunting, etc. A actual ballistic helmet is only for when you're actually expecting a fight.
As a civilian I cannot overstate how important this practical information is to the common minuteman. These are things we should all be practicing together instead of arguing over 💯
So proud of where this channel has gone. It’s not just some gun meme channel, it’s not a mere gun review channel. This channel is about making Americans as lethal as they can be, which makes America safer and Americans safer. Someone who is lethal is trained and a trained person is safe.
I love all the knowledge that Garand Thumb is sharing with us, after all, knowledge is one of the greatest weapons. Anyways thanks for the vid Dr. Thumb
My unit was one of the units in 2DMARDIV that was lucky enough to be a part of the IHS program in Lejeune. Some professional killers who were the advisors of sorts on how to use the helmets came out, it was between the gentex helmet with peltor gen 6’s, and the opscore helmet with the powered rails and the AMPS. I had the opscore one and boy lemme tell you they’re money. We love the passive hearing amplification, those 4 modes above standard hearing, you can hear pfc’s stumble through the woods from 100M out. Really good shit
I know there so dope to man lol there like legos you can get all this cool stuff to put on them there like an AR15 or An M4 but on your had you can customize the sht out of them and not to mention they just look really cool
Next generation helmets are legitimately amazing but for older guys like me who were in the military in the 2000s and early 2010s, most helmets weren't rated to stop anything beyond a 9mm so there wasn't much to talk about other that fit and comfort. The British Army in Afghanistan famously didn't even wear helmets when entering an urban environment as the Brits assumed that helmets only made their soldiers seem more intimidating, obscured the face and didn't provide protection against an AK bullet anyway.
For those active duty NCO's, I highly advise showing these videos to your juniors. This serves as an amazing introduction. Better than drawn out, boring power point classes.
You are doing the Lord’s work by presenting these survival/gear videos. The information is exceptional and goes a long way toward providing people with the knowledge necessary to be effective when needed. Obviously, training with your gear is where skill development comes into play, but I am sure that there are many who don’t even know WHAT skills they should be training on. So many guys I’ve known have seemed to be of the belief that they bough a rifle, so they should be good to go. They have no training, no knowledge of survival tactics, no armor, no comms, no night vision capability, and no medical gear. Hopefully, a large number of good people will take this information, use it to guide them toward the gear they need, and follow up by training with their gear. The more people we have who are capable and prepared, the better.
After 14 years in combat arms, one thing I cannot express the most is the importance of a helmet and and how little the Army and leadership stresses fit and weight. Hell, we still use the shit from Desert Storm, especially Nat. Guard. Running PVS 13s with no counterweight and just throwing pads in and go.
Currently active duty 13B and I can confirm the fit and weight of our helmets are not spoken of what so ever. You get issued your shitty pads you slap in how ever you find comfortable and you put on your rhino mount/ cat eyes and call it a day. Drivers using the PVS-14s have no counterweight regardless of the time or distance behind the wheel. (We are mechanized so it's pretty much all the time)
@@7.62flavorsoffreedom2 YUUUUUP. NGL, it was a vibe and it was actually really cool as fuck. The NCO who hooked me up with it was by far one of the kindest, most patient and straight forward without being a cunt dudes I’ve ever met. I’d drop anything to help that man.
Bro GT inspired me to commit, it's set off this incredible wave momentum in my life. Hitting training, educating myself, mental and personal development. My life 180'd and I'm forever grateful.
There are a few companies that make nice lids out of the old ACS helmets. Very comfortable and look cool. Good choice if you want ballistic protection and don't have the money for a Wendy or Opscore. Fun fact if you want to save money you can get the Peltors made for industrial work that are the same but not labeled as tactical and the mounts are available from 3M directly at much lower prices too.
I have a pair of the Peltor Sport Tac 500s. I have been extremely impressed with them. They fit snug, but not uncomfortably so. Work well with a hat too. I only got the 500s because I wanted the Bluetooth connection capability for my phone. The 500s are top of that line. You can get a basic set, the 100s. And a mid tier, 300s. Not super expensive and work good. No helmet integration that I know of unfortunately.
You don't need a High-cut to use Comms. ACHs, ECHs and IHPS (all low cut helmets) were specifically designed to wear comms under them. I wore Peltors under my ACH for years. I get that High-Cuts are the cool thing and are lighter, but don't sleep on low-cuts as many are a fraction of the price of the helmets displayed here.
@@bthemedia From the factory, no not attached. NV mounts for them are widely available though. The 3 helmets I named are all US military issue, so they have an NV mounting capability when you install the NV base.
nah highcuts are superior. We finally get them in the MC infantry and im glad bc I didnt wanna use my personal ops core to get ruined by training and deployments
@@bthemedia if your not running NV it doesn't matter, if you are then that might certainly be a consideration to make of course you could always just drill the holes in the helmet for whichever favorite mount you want to use might be. That what I did to mount an arc rail on the side of my pasgt.
Absolutely *perfect* advice, which also applies to pretty much anything: Train like it's the real thing. I remember an interview with Mark Dacascos, where he said that he and his dad, who was his sensei, would spontaneously start sparring in the street, in their regular clothes, as his dad had explained that if he was to get into a fight, it wouldn't be in a dojo, wearing a gi, but in jeans, on the street, where a fall is not going to be onto a mat, but onto concrete, and by training like that, he'd know how to fall, how it would feel, and how to move in street-clothes 👍👍👍👍 And so it is with helmets: If someone trains without their helmet, if the first time they put it on is as they're about to deploy onto a battlefield, they're going to be bogged down by the weight, and distracted by it, so not concentrating on the situation, or, worst of all, like in the intro, they're going to take it off due to a headache or neck-ache, and, that's the moment that they get domed and decorate their buddies with their brains... 🙈🙈🙈🙈 But if they train in it, then putting it on for deployment is nothing new, and completely familiar 🙏🙏🙏🙏 Keep up the good work 👍👍👍👍
Mike is such an inspiration man, despite being a tac ops he still dedicates time to informing us on important topics. Thank you for your effort Mike! Keep it up :)
“Your neck can only take so much” Custom 12lb titanium helmet in my closet: Edit: I should clarify that this was an engineering project. I had planned to make a low-profile neck brace that could effectively bear the weight of the helmet without reducing the neck’s natural range of motion. The issue was that the weight of the helmet could cause neck breakage if it is hit hard enough, which the brace cannot mitigate. Perhaps one day I’ll send the helmet to Garand and have him test it. I have no doubt it’ll stop a .50
Yo this sounds like a cool project, I always thought a helmet that could sit on the shoulders where the head could move freely within the helmet would be a cool concept. You should make a video of this helmet build I’m curious to see what you’ve built 🤙
Your videos are immensely appreciated and help us dad’s on a budget get the best value with our hard earned play money due to your range of experience and the way you go into detail to explain your rationale. I want to thank you for being the hero we need in the gun/operator/doomsday-prep/etc community.
Garand thumb doing the lord's work for this country, and I mean it genuinely. Love these practical series you're putting out, it is so unbelievably important! Thank you!
"Can't stop a 7.62864r IF it's made of depleted uranium etc etc etc" These designations are done for direct impact hits if I'm not mistaken. A LOT of armor that "can't stop round X" *CAN DEFLECT round X* and turn a killshot into a wound or a wound into a cool story!
Honestly, the best example to demonstrate this that can be understood easily is tank gameplay in a game like War Thunder, especially in the Arcade mode where the game actively indicates if your round might penetrate.
Yep. Worst thing we complained about when we transitioned to the original PASGAT back in the 80's was the weight, neck pain, and massive headaches. Multiple excercises, several deployments, and a lot of us have herniated or damaged C6 and C7's , so our necks go CRUNCH when we turn our heads.
I think its important to also note that bump helmets work just like a regular bicycle helmet does. When you're in high stress situations or larping with your buddies, tripping, falling and hitting your head are all things you dont want to do. Protect your noggin no matter what you are doing. I sure as shit wont ride my motorcycle without one. Someone wanna lend me a few grand for an ops core?
There are so many simple things that could make or break you that you’ve addressed in this video - absolutely love your tips! PLEASE please do a video on a COMMS setup next, would be a great segway after this helmet video
on a reverse gear/ safety decision , a guy at a " heavy metal" 2 gun match showed up in full kit with a Team Wendy helmet with all kinds of rails and attachments .. cool. Saw him a week later at the gas station on his motorcycle wearing a 99 dollar GVK open face helmet. I don't think he really understands risk assessment and mitigation.
I ride bikes year round and won’t wear a full face that isn’t ECE/Snell certified. (DOT certification is a joke.) The amount of Harley riders who will open carry while rolling around without a helmet boggles my mind and my soul.
@@PhilosoraptorXJ yup.. not just HD riders .. any cruiser rider can be guilty.. only thing I am guilty of is going over the 5 year reg . My helmets are stored inside my house on a rack not getting banged around and we are out of luck from mid October to April for riding up here . I do have a DOT helmet for my SxS.. because hunting regs require blaze orange helmets to and from hunt locations ..lol but when bombing trails its a full face and goggles.
I think riding in a population dense area in general is unsafe, someone I knew from my high school class got creamed and didn’t survive after a 17yo girl pulled out in front of him without looking, but yeah cars aren’t safe either so best to stay as safe as you can
I ran an Ops-Core helmet and before that, whatever composite helmet the Army was using between 2001 to 2004. I will say though, my plate carrier saved my life, my helmet was mostly a spot to store my night optics and spare battery. Its saved me from a few impact concussions but I never depended on it to stop an AK round. That's what the pink and grey matter within your noggin is for. 🙂
Big truth. By the end of a call out i am thinking that taking a headshot wont be as bad as another minute in the damn helmet. Seriously though, a co-worker took a .44 special to the helmet from close range and walked away. Ops- Core took it like a champ…
Standing desk is great for gear testing before field testing. I'm sure I've looked like an mega larper at times, but remote work means I can toss on gear for hours at a time to do comfort testing and it's invaluable.
I've worn my plate carrier in VR shooters before just because you spend hours shifting into different firing positions and standing in it. It's a great way to fine tune your kit before taking it into the field where you may not have time to adjust things for hours.
Wearing your gear to do chores around the house works too. It’s stupid as all hell and you feel sillier than Bozo, but you get used to wearing and moving in your gear.
These videos are incredible resources for active duty infantry guys on the conventional side of the house. If you have time or interest, it might not hurt to do a fast class on battery types; lithium/ nickel-metal hydride/ alkaline ect. All batteries bleed energy over time and should be briefly considered during PCC/PCI. I’ve found that in the new L3 ENVGs you can use rechargeable batts if you have access to a power outlet with any regularity. It helps with sustainability through supply channels and can cut down on weight over the course of weeks. Conversely, alkaline batts don’t work on some of the newer models of NVGs because of the power output being lower than what is required to run the system. Just food for thought from a guy that wasn’t even aware of some of the issues until I researched it. Great job and great value!
I'd love to see a video where he breaks down different setups. How is your 3 day patrol setup different from your 2 week recon? What do you change up when going into an urban environment? I'd watch a 3 hour long video describing different setups from boots to helmet.
A lot of people who use the super high speed stuff have bare helmets, it’s convenient. I struggle to get my ACH cover on and off every time I switch something on my helmet
I really appreciate you making genuine, and educational videos like this. Zero shilling, no shaming or shitting on brands with hypocrisy for half the video, or trying to push a ton of overpriced products. Yes, these are expensive, but he even mentions there are others and everything is a sacrifice
@@Gnolomweb night vision is not cheap, and not all helmets are that cheap, depending what someone wants(as the video mentions). To some people, that $330 is also not cheap. Everybody lives at different speeds, humble yourself. That's what a lot of my comment was really about, being humble, which you are not.
So I do medieval combat reenactment and one of the biggest things we tell newbies is when you do Pell work, wear your helmet. Our helmets weigh about 7 to 9 lbs so the weight, the sight picture, and movement all needs to get use to. Train as you live, live as you train.
@@wilhelmhetrick8948 It hasn't even shipped yet -- but from the ones I used, it was incredible. The Size 2 (XL) was lighter in weight than the XL Ops-Core MT that I used. The padding system was definitely superior (reminded me of the aftermarket 4D pads you can buy for Ops) and I really like the retention system over the Ops one. The only negative is Opscore rails tend to be the standard, vs TW. But I opted for the newer 3.0 rails. Shouldn't be a huge issue, for my use. I also used a 20% first responder discount but TW always runs an Independence Day sale if you want 20% off an order as a regular joe. I debated back and forth on the two but it was when I actually put them on that the EXFIL SL was the easy winner, for my use. Which is mostly night vision and extra noggin protection when hog hunting with friends.
@@wilhelmhetrick8948 Just got it in! Man, it is absolutely wonderful. Insanely comfortable and light weight. It really blows my old Ops-Core bump out of the water.
@@wilhelmhetrick8948 If possible - wait until Independence Day. They run a 20% off sale and you’ll save quite a bit of money. I only bought mine now because I already get 20% off as a first responder. 👍
Great Video 👍🏻 I want to add 2 things, when it comes to helmets: 1. Add a loop or something to connect your helmet to PC, when not wearing it. 2. And most important is to make your setup ABC-mask ready with an chinstring extension. Spread peace and be deadly my friends ✌🏻
I've used all sorts of helmets and I like the 2002 cut helmet the most. It's still got that ACH feel with a little cut out for running comms but not so much of a cutout that it's an opscore
Useful info. Helmuts are often underrated by civilians. Most people are worried about looking like a dork. Glad to see some appreciation for the gear. Helmuts are a very useful piece of equipment.
I will say, the reason I feel like more people are looking at plates over helmets is because of the price difference. I usually see helmets still at a significantly higher price than most decent plates and carriers. Though, helmets can definitely be important. Even one that isn't rated to stop a bullet could at least help if you fall on your head or get hit by shrapnel or a ricochet.
You earned a thumbs up on this one. I broke my next in two places while on duty. Wearing helmets now is excruciating. I wear a bump, when possible, for NVG's.
I "opted" for the opscore fast sf. Not a lot of ballistic protection, but its light and serves for a mount for nods. I would have loved to score the new rifle rated opscore but it would be 4+ lbs after the AMP was mounted along with nods. So I went the path of mobility over firepower.
Personally I think the MTEK Flux ballistic is a much better helmet for the coverage and lighter (although not by much, like quarter to half a pound). They are about the same price as well.
I understand the absolutely amazing capabilities of these helmets but for someone who doesn’t have the budget for those, they are in a sense out of the picture. Do you think you would consider on doing a video of more affordable helmets?
Right after I got my first plate carrier, I went right into looking at helmets. I still haven’t pulled the trigger on the one I want, but that’s due to funds getting tighter and tighter. Helmets and NODs have always fascinated me, bugs the shit out of the wife! After a new set of duty boots and some medical training, a helmet is next. Great informational video as always sir, can’t wait for the next one!
Get an ACH. it's proven, it stops bullets, it sucks about as much as any other helmet, and you can get them on ebay for under $200 usually. Stop spending your house down payment money on nonsense.
@@HillTrekkerSarge I wear it around my house not only to look cool but also to be 100% ready at all times. I even have sex while wearing it and I also shower with it on. No body’s gona catch me lackin
@@HillTrekkerSarge who knows but if you're dropping 8,000$ on nods and a helmet where it wherever the fuck you want. If I'm dropping that much money on something I'll wear that shit at Wendy's if I want to. Lol
*Congratulations you have join our loyal subscriber’s that have bing picked to join the giveaway,Congratulations once more check up to fine your way to me👆👆*
I’m thinking of getting an airframe ATX. Yes it’s a heavyboi but it’s ballistic, is known to punch above its weight in terms of ballistic protection, and my experience is limited to the outdated LWH. Most any helmet including the ATX is an upgrade in terms of weight. I may as well take advantage of what my baseline for a helmet is.
Just by watching this video brought flashbacks of me wearing my standard issue army mitch and pvs-14 mounted on a rino mount. There were no counter weights. You just had to sinch down the back straps to keep your nods from sagging down past your face which would only last a few minutes until the straps came lose again 😑 always envied the opscore helmets that the rangers used.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I learn something every week. The most important thing though, "If you're not fit your dead". That really hit home. I've always been fit, but have now stepped up my daily routines. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙏🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸
Love it. We actually have a group of us here in Phoenix that hike the valleys trails at night in our gear. Really taught me how much I hate Team Wendys stock pads.
Since the wife knows the combination to my gun safe and I taught her to shoot...I went with a Guard Dog IIIA Helmet, Coms are Razors with Walkie's and Digital Night Vision NV30. I have about $800 in it and it works ...I would love to have the best of everything ...military grade ...Ops Corp, PVS14 and Peltor's...yes...but I can't spend more on a helmet setup than I spend on my truck.
Well when I was in the Marines, Doc (Navy Corpsmen) explained to me the reason why our helmets are not rated to stop anything higher than a pistol cartridge was because anything bigger than a pistol cartridge smacking your head would cause enough trauma to make you bleed internally and you'd die anyways however I have seen the documentary of 2/5 battalion invading into a territory that I cant remember the name of in northern Iraq (when I deployed to Iraq I saw a whole lotta nothing and in training they told us we'd be guaranteed to be shot at but nothing really happened. Just a few small instances occur, anyways unrelated to the story), well the two really close buds were in this push one was in an overwatch position/guardian angel position when his buddy and squad was clearing this specific building when crack! A 7.62x54R stuck his kevlar and followed the curve of the helment until it exited the back side. Knocking him out all his friend heard on the radio that his buddy was shot. (Not like in the movies where they are like *character name* is dead. Nah he heard his buddy's first two initials and the last 5 of his edipi/serial number that you get after bootcamp. He survived because of that but dont go searching on youtube "guy in marines shot in the head in combat" you might see something you're not intending to see. Anyways yeah complex story of hearing about a dude shot in the head while wearing his helmet and lived, so I added a few educational stuff in there so a civilian has more knowledge of how it works a little bit. His buddy was reported through a radio report that we call a 9 line. 1. Grid location 2. Callsign/frequency 3. Patient by precedence (Urgent, priority, or routine 4. Special equipment 5. Patient by type (litter or ambulatory, so can he walk or not) 6. Security of LZ 7. Marking 8. Nationality (so US civ, US mil, US coalition, or enemy Civ, enemy mil, or enemy coalition) 9. Description of terrain or CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiation, or natural threats) Plus a Zmist, Zap number (first initial, last initial, last 5 of edipi, and blood type. All that shit is on your kill card that you'd wear on your flak) Mechanism of injury Injury sustained Symptoms Treatment given So for you civilians that are unaware hope that was enough info to understand a lil bit of how the military works, you can find the order of how you give things online between those two. Its all basic and unclassified shit.
No bullshit, I was in Ramadi in 09 with 2/23 and one of our Marines took a 54r to the back of his kevlar- did the same thing and followed the curve of the shell. Lucky.
@@TheInfantry98 its all over the place, theres literally channels that teach these type of things or will teach you the info in Marine Rifleman 3-11. Not a big deal.
Unpopular opinion.... A helmet is a great platform for for comms/ ear pro, nvg, flashlight, identification strobes and frag protection... but that's jut about all... When under fire if your helmet deflects the bullet it probably wasn't hitting center and might have not hit at all and if it was a good hit its probably going through the helmet unless you were shot from realy far away and in that case being hit is a matter of luck and also in almost all cases of being shot at even if its with pistol rounds there is a high chance of just being hit in the face and you are as good as dead... Not saying you shouldn't wear helmets but until rifle rated helmets actaly become practical they are just not as valuable as body armor .... And for all those people talking about guys who survived shots to the head because of a helmet those are 1/1000 and for every on of those you have 20 who didn't make it and 20 more who just got hit in their faces or the exposed part of the forehead...
I love these videos. 100% true the army does not care about our bodies. Never got this comfortable stuff, wish I did. Maybe my neck would be more functional and wouldn’t need to see a chiropractor ever month or 2
Imagine wasting time and money on bullshit like a chiropractor. Spend that time working out your back and neck. Chiropractor is about as effective as healing crystals. Wonder why you don't get better and have to keep going back?
ill be a contrarian and say that the mich/ach is the best option for everyone who isnt a socom guy doing helo raids, and 99% of people arent running a thousand dollar (on the low end) comm suite, and even if you are the MICH was designed to fit comms. -t. guy who knows a guy that took a round to the ear piece on deployment and it was stopped.
The intro is funny, but It made me realize something. If I were hurt in combat I'd probably panic. but having someone who knows what they're doing treat me with this "woah! you got hit by a ricochet! stay still, let's take a look." would put my mind at ease and bring me back to earth. I don't know anything about any of this, just clicked this video out of curiosity but I wanted to share my thoughts.
Nice! I’ve been researching the crap outta helmets lately and looking over everything as I prepare to buy a ballistic helmet. Finally a video that gives more insight.
@@warrenharrison9490 $350 ACH Full cut with rails, arrange the pads to run $100 peltors under the helmet, plug in your $20 baofeng to the peltors. = $470. Want that "camo"? spray paint you already have.... or $20 off amazon. Tah dah, you're good to go for budget mission. (protip, keep spare baofeng/antena in backpack)
So i have been retired (Army) for nearly 10 years now... We didt have all this newer "Johnny Go Fast" equipment readily available to us back then. Then again, I wasnt in a "High speed" MOS either. But i think its outstanding how much technology has improved in just the last decade... I thought we were pretty advanced with the ACH when it replaced our old Kevlar "K-Pots" lol....love the Chanel Mike...even though im seeing this vid a year after it was published.
The best helmet, without a doubt, is of course the Pickelhaube. It gives you that prussian chadness, you know? But seriously thanks for this guide. I want to get into military stuff, without having to enroll into the Bundeswehr, which has become more of a boy scout troop with guns than an actuall german army, so this helps a lot.
@@GarandThumb Sweet! I’ll let you know how it goes after testing. In all seriousness, thank you for the real world knowledge and info. You are inspiring!
My friend.... the things you can find on Google and Etsy. It exists. Some even have attachments with nods. There's also a whole suit that HK is holding out on us ..
I've been messing with my helmet pads and wearing my helmet around the house to see what hurts after a bit lol I do not want to experience the migraines I had in the regular Army. That Ready or Not comment really hit close to home 😂
Aloha and mahalo from Hawaii for liking my comment, Garand Thumb. Another question-- I found a body pillow dressed in flannel and a chest rig in my wife's closet the other day... should I be concerned about my marriage?
If anyone else needs those cable retention bands for their Peltors and is having trouble finding them it’s the Koffin Wurks Krypt. I know he mentioned the name in the video, I just couldn’t find anything searching Coffin Works lol I just bought some, hate having to do weird things with the cables to get them out of the way
Note: for cooling off your ears with the AMP mount, pull it up and push the top of the earpiece against the helmet rail above the ear, if that makes sense. You should still be able to hear well enough.
I just finished counter insurgency by David Kilcullen and now I'm listening to Out of the Mountains which is about the future of fighting in urban environments. Now he mentioned Richard Norton and the Feral city idea which the whole thing is fascinating I just wondered if you were familiar with this?
So I’m not really interested in a ballistic helmet (anymore), but being disabled, I can’t lean forward and scan through a night vision or thermal scope to predator hunt. Instead I was recently thinking about getting a bump helmet with NVGs, so I can glass with my head up and sitting up straight with my back supported
That's what I have (bump). If I had ballistic I'd want the best (cause I wouldn't be facing pistols or lesser ammo) and I just don't have the money for that. I got the TW Exfil bump and thought it was very reasonable in price and works for me. I'm not sure where I got it though, but I thought the price wasn't bad at all.
That would be an appropriate way to go, there's also plain head mount systems available that don't require a helmt, basically a harness/ webbing with a mount that just fits on your head or over a hat if that's more palatable/ viable for your needs, a little older style of kit but works very well.
@@DJTheMetalheadMercenary Yeah I wouldn't get a skull crusher, unless there's a different device you're referring to. I got one with my pvs-14 and threw that away pretty quickly. I actually wanted to save it in case I met someone with NV but no mount but man they're just such trash I think a bump is just the way to go.
@@clamum9648 Nowadays it's a purpose-driven bit of kit, for Injured Outdoorsman and their needs it would probably work better since it wouldn't be worn for long periods of time to my understanding. Other than that, there's many variables that come into play with helmets and needs alongside and apart from what GT is saying. If you're not rolling with a team and high end comms, high cut helmets aren't necessary per se, and like he said if you're not intending on getting into some hot shit direct action, a bump helmet is definitely a better way to go over a heavier ballistic one in whatever style. I come from more "old school" generational kit, running a PVS7/ PVS14 mount on a PASGT helmet, all I need to go bump in the night (and worked well for me in Iraq with the same type of system but on a MICH/ ACH), but we also had head harness "skullcrusher" kit too. Works when necessary or adaptive in nature.
@@DJTheMetalheadMercenary I just think it's so uncomfortable that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Maybe there's different types, but the ones I've seen are like the one that came with my NV and I just think it's poop. I'd rather rig up a snowboarding helmet and screw a mount into it than wear that again. But you definitely have way more experience than I do with this sorta thing lol. I need to practice with mine more. Along with the 100 other things I want to do. :-/
definitely have to recommend a good counter weight, your neck will thank you and you won't have your nods dragging your helmet down your face which is a less-than ideal experience. We usually use bumps on daytime missions where we are definitely far from CAS and not expecting to shoot much. We almost always use the Ops Cores at night and when clearing rooms or in any urban training. Awesome info Mike, keep it up!
idea: make a podcast series elaborating on some of these topics + interviewing other service members or vets and getting their input. i think it’d be a hit
Beginner setup: bike helmet with duct tape
Sounds more like the Antifa setup 😂
Did you by any chance break into my bedroom and see that helmet next to my refrigerator box gun safe?
Almost beginner setup: just duct tape.
rocks taped to head
Nah, styrofoam, Bondo, and a home Depot bucket
I knew a guy in the army who literally got shot in the head, and his ACH turned that from a kill shot into a really bad headache/concussion. Helmets are kind of important.
Not just direct hits either. Have you seen how much shit flies around when rounds fragment on hard surfaces? I shoot with thermals and night vision and it's scary how much fragmentation there is. A pistol rated helmet will stop that.
What helmet was he using?
@@jasondubois404 reread the comment my guy.
@@jasondubois404 it depends on the generation and type he was issued but look up army ACH (advanced combat helmet)
That's why I'm keeping mine.
I use a bump helmet for hunting--when you've got a wounded animal whose blood trail you are following and trying to catch up with, the helmet is more than enough to help me move fast through the bush and not worry about bumping my noggin on low hanging brances (and it's a slick)
What area of the country do you hunt in?
@@Slasher4446-q3e North Texas in the Piney Woods region, the Banks Lake Region of the Okefenokee Swamps in Georgia, Opelika Alabama, and Northern Virginia outside Marshal. I hunted in the Apache Junction region of Arizona, but no need for a bump helmet there.
A bump helmet should be everyone's "everyday" training, hiking, climbing, hunting, etc. A actual ballistic helmet is only for when you're actually expecting a fight.
@@MikailStoner couldn’t be more false, train as you fight, wear that sob. Get used to it. You are literally the guy he’s talking to in the intro
@Nathan Skupowski the weight difference is substantial and wearing a ballistic helmet all the time is going to kill your neck.
As a civilian I cannot overstate how important this practical information is to the common minuteman. These are things we should all be practicing together instead of arguing over 💯
Completely agree
Amen, brother.
People are so scared of the federal boogeyman that we can't even talk to each other without a person screaming fed.
@@zachariahmorris833 ikr, i can't even find the recipe for comp b on google search. 🤣
@@zachariahmorris833 if we’re doing it right we should outnumber them regardless
I always tell people, adjusting your helmet takes serious time. It's a very intimate process and takes alot of time to get it tuned just right.
Big facts.
are you still in Mosul?
@@jackedwards9362 I am not. I live in a far more dangerous place now. St. Louis
@@mosulmedic7048 lol
@@mosulmedic7048 Scary
So proud of where this channel has gone. It’s not just some gun meme channel, it’s not a mere gun review channel. This channel is about making Americans as lethal as they can be, which makes America safer and Americans safer. Someone who is lethal is trained and a trained person is safe.
Amen
Ever read a guerrilla warfare manual?
Americans shouldn't act like they're at war. It's disgraceful.
@@davidlauderdale7147 shouldnt act but even as a german i agree, u should be able to defend your country if u need to
@@davidlauderdale7147 The kinds of people bothering to research this stuff probably aren't your regular criminal grunt.
I love all the knowledge that Garand Thumb is sharing with us, after all, knowledge is one of the greatest weapons.
Anyways thanks for the vid Dr. Thumb
Thats true, I usually find myself clearing rooms with a full mag of knowledge.
If I spend as much time watching this as making money... I still can't afford the NVS
My unit was one of the units in 2DMARDIV that was lucky enough to be a part of the IHS program in Lejeune. Some professional killers who were the advisors of sorts on how to use the helmets came out, it was between the gentex helmet with peltor gen 6’s, and the opscore helmet with the powered rails and the AMPS. I had the opscore one and boy lemme tell you they’re money. We love the passive hearing amplification, those 4 modes above standard hearing, you can hear pfc’s stumble through the woods from 100M out. Really good shit
Like 2,000 or 25,000 money?
@@dave7314 get call of duty footsteps sounds hahaha
@@dave7314 Opscore amps are only $1000
Gentex = opscore
Oorah, motivator.
Mike I hope you demonstrate the 4tubes next time
Amazing that people don't talk about helmets more. Thanks Garand.
Not a billion out there...
I know there so dope to man lol there like legos you can get all this cool stuff to put on them there like an AR15 or An M4 but on your had you can customize the sht out of them and not to mention they just look really cool
Prob because most dudes dont have a need for comms and don't have night vision 😞 i got a Bump for when I get NV and it's nice to have ear pro on it
...but no under the fullcut helmet mention... =/
Next generation helmets are legitimately amazing but for older guys like me who were in the military in the 2000s and early 2010s, most helmets weren't rated to stop anything beyond a 9mm so there wasn't much to talk about other that fit and comfort. The British Army in Afghanistan famously didn't even wear helmets when entering an urban environment as the Brits assumed that helmets only made their soldiers seem more intimidating, obscured the face and didn't provide protection against an AK bullet anyway.
For those active duty NCO's, I highly advise showing these videos to your juniors. This serves as an amazing introduction. Better than drawn out, boring power point classes.
you will have to figure out how to make it adaptable to standard issue helmets.
I'm already typing up the counseling statement about spending $10,000 on a night vision helmet setup lmao
@@mrsirguypersonman149 Marine grunts are already rocking high cuts, peltors, dual tubes. Active side. Not sure if reserves are equipped.
@@bathanynguyen6705 Along with the 64 count Crayolas? Bought time they caught up to the Army.
@@pavlothekozak827 with built-in sharpener 💯
You are doing the Lord’s work by presenting these survival/gear videos. The information is exceptional and goes a long way toward providing people with the knowledge necessary to be effective when needed.
Obviously, training with your gear is where skill development comes into play, but I am sure that there are many who don’t even know WHAT skills they should be training on. So many guys I’ve known have seemed to be of the belief that they bough a rifle, so they should be good to go. They have no training, no knowledge of survival tactics, no armor, no comms, no night vision capability, and no medical gear.
Hopefully, a large number of good people will take this information, use it to guide them toward the gear they need, and follow up by training with their gear. The more people we have who are capable and prepared, the better.
Where do I get the training?
Prepared for what? This is the safest nation on the planet so to act like you're about to go to war is disgusting.
@@davidlauderdale7147Prepare for the worst, hope for the best my friend
essay lol
@@davidlauderdale7147 some soldiers even in the US buy their own gear because standard issue is sometimes dookie water
After 14 years in combat arms, one thing I cannot express the most is the importance of a helmet and and how little the Army and leadership stresses fit and weight. Hell, we still use the shit from Desert Storm, especially Nat. Guard. Running PVS 13s with no counterweight and just throwing pads in and go.
Currently active duty 13B and I can confirm the fit and weight of our helmets are not spoken of what so ever. You get issued your shitty pads you slap in how ever you find comfortable and you put on your rhino mount/ cat eyes and call it a day. Drivers using the PVS-14s have no counterweight regardless of the time or distance behind the wheel. (We are mechanized so it's pretty much all the time)
When I got to my 2nd NG unit I literally was given a PASGT since I couldn’t get an OCIE appointment. Shit you not.
@@MrVonkliest sounds like the military
@@7.62flavorsoffreedom2 YUUUUUP. NGL, it was a vibe and it was actually really cool as fuck. The NCO who hooked me up with it was by far one of the kindest, most patient and straight forward without being a cunt dudes I’ve ever met. I’d drop anything to help that man.
@@MrVonkliest yeah it's got it's moments. I'm at the 50 cal range rn. Don't think I'll sign again tho
Bro GT inspired me to commit, it's set off this incredible wave momentum in my life. Hitting training, educating myself, mental and personal development. My life 180'd and I'm forever grateful.
Underrated comment
Good shit dude. Keep it up 👌
Or just join the military
@@TheInfantry98 As a Veteran, absolutely not
I highly recommend against enlisting for anyone
@@SlavGod47why?
Got a gym buddy who was shot in the head in Afghanistan. It's on RUclips with like 50M views. Helmet saved him.
Video?
@@Photography-x4y not on video
There are a few companies that make nice lids out of the old ACS helmets. Very comfortable and look cool. Good choice if you want ballistic protection and don't have the money for a Wendy or Opscore. Fun fact if you want to save money you can get the Peltors made for industrial work that are the same but not labeled as tactical and the mounts are available from 3M directly at much lower prices too.
Names of the companies?
@@sabre8862 im wondering too. ive got a bump but a ballistic is on the to buy list. also are those other peltors set up for comms?
Friends don’t let friends cut up MICH/ACH/MCH helmets. It’s like the SKS Bubba meme, but worse.
I have a pair of the Peltor Sport Tac 500s. I have been extremely impressed with them. They fit snug, but not uncomfortably so. Work well with a hat too. I only got the 500s because I wanted the Bluetooth connection capability for my phone. The 500s are top of that line. You can get a basic set, the 100s. And a mid tier, 300s. Not super expensive and work good. No helmet integration that I know of unfortunately.
@@kylesweeney1550 You can rig those up to helmets pretty easily. How well do the Sport Tacs pick up sound directionality?
You don't need a High-cut to use Comms. ACHs, ECHs and IHPS (all low cut helmets) were specifically designed to wear comms under them. I wore Peltors under my ACH for years.
I get that High-Cuts are the cool thing and are lighter, but don't sleep on low-cuts as many are a fraction of the price of the helmets displayed here.
but do they have NV mounts???
@@bthemedia From the factory, no not attached. NV mounts for them are widely available though. The 3 helmets I named are all US military issue, so they have an NV mounting capability when you install the NV base.
Same with the Revision helmet issued to British forces
nah highcuts are superior. We finally get them in the MC infantry and im glad bc I didnt wanna use my personal ops core to get ruined by training and deployments
@@bthemedia if your not running NV it doesn't matter, if you are then that might certainly be a consideration to make of course you could always just drill the holes in the helmet for whichever favorite mount you want to use might be. That what I did to mount an arc rail on the side of my pasgt.
This is helping me consider how to reset up my firefighting helmet. Weight, balance, snag points, fit, it all translates over. Thanks!
Really nice to see you replying to comments, awesome you interacting with the community:)
I try
@@GarandThumb Do or do not. There is no try. -Operator Yoda
Just saw your ig post and then the notification popped up.
Mike i seriously like what you are doing for the community.
My brother in Christ, thank you
@@GarandThumb Awesome reply
Absolutely *perfect* advice, which also applies to pretty much anything: Train like it's the real thing. I remember an interview with Mark Dacascos, where he said that he and his dad, who was his sensei, would spontaneously start sparring in the street, in their regular clothes, as his dad had explained that if he was to get into a fight, it wouldn't be in a dojo, wearing a gi, but in jeans, on the street, where a fall is not going to be onto a mat, but onto concrete, and by training like that, he'd know how to fall, how it would feel, and how to move in street-clothes 👍👍👍👍
And so it is with helmets: If someone trains without their helmet, if the first time they put it on is as they're about to deploy onto a battlefield, they're going to be bogged down by the weight, and distracted by it, so not concentrating on the situation, or, worst of all, like in the intro, they're going to take it off due to a headache or neck-ache, and, that's the moment that they get domed and decorate their buddies with their brains... 🙈🙈🙈🙈
But if they train in it, then putting it on for deployment is nothing new, and completely familiar 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Keep up the good work 👍👍👍👍
Really loving these series, appreciate it!
Thanks!!!
Mike is such an inspiration man, despite being a tac ops he still dedicates time to informing us on important topics. Thank you for your effort Mike! Keep it up :)
“Your neck can only take so much”
Custom 12lb titanium helmet in my closet:
Edit: I should clarify that this was an engineering project. I had planned to make a low-profile neck brace that could effectively bear the weight of the helmet without reducing the neck’s natural range of motion. The issue was that the weight of the helmet could cause neck breakage if it is hit hard enough, which the brace cannot mitigate. Perhaps one day I’ll send the helmet to Garand and have him test it. I have no doubt it’ll stop a .50
Send it
Master chiefs helmet
Bro is building halo spartan armour
Yo this sounds like a cool project, I always thought a helmet that could sit on the shoulders where the head could move freely within the helmet would be a cool concept. You should make a video of this helmet build I’m curious to see what you’ve built 🤙
Your videos are immensely appreciated and help us dad’s on a budget get the best value with our hard earned play money due to your range of experience and the way you go into detail to explain your rationale. I want to thank you for being the hero we need in the gun/operator/doomsday-prep/etc community.
Garand thumb doing the lord's work for this country, and I mean it genuinely. Love these practical series you're putting out, it is so unbelievably important! Thank you!
"Can't stop a 7.62864r IF it's made of depleted uranium etc etc etc"
These designations are done for direct impact hits if I'm not mistaken.
A LOT of armor that "can't stop round X" *CAN DEFLECT round X* and turn a killshot into a wound or a wound into a cool story!
Honestly, the best example to demonstrate this that can be understood easily is tank gameplay in a game like War Thunder, especially in the Arcade mode where the game actively indicates if your round might penetrate.
The *best* example is a phone game? Not the thousands of soldiers saved by helmets deflecting rounds? Lol@sev8304
And here I am used to running with a helmet from the early 90s weighing 1.4kg without any kinds of rails and such.
Technology has gotten wild
@@GarandThumb It was a proper pain in the neck.
don't get yourself a permanent joint pain the neck down the line
@@MaxC_1 no longer serving, so not really an issue any more.
Yep. Worst thing we complained about when we transitioned to the original PASGAT back in the 80's was the weight, neck pain, and massive headaches.
Multiple excercises, several deployments, and a lot of us have herniated or damaged C6 and C7's , so our necks go CRUNCH when we turn our heads.
I think its important to also note that bump helmets work just like a regular bicycle helmet does. When you're in high stress situations or larping with your buddies, tripping, falling and hitting your head are all things you dont want to do. Protect your noggin no matter what you are doing. I sure as shit wont ride my motorcycle without one. Someone wanna lend me a few grand for an ops core?
Lmao true
Fun fact the old school SF Bump helmets were literally just modified bicycle and skate board helmet
@@RebelFNOS remembers in Mogadishu*
Bought a Team Wendy LTP for airsoft. Not to flex, but because I've seen head injuries occur in airsoft and I value my life.
@@NuclearFantasies i was curious about the Team Wendy. How does it hold up?
There are so many simple things that could make or break you that you’ve addressed in this video - absolutely love your tips! PLEASE please do a video on a COMMS setup next, would be a great segway after this helmet video
on a reverse gear/ safety decision , a guy at a " heavy metal" 2 gun match showed up in full kit with a Team Wendy helmet with all kinds of rails and attachments .. cool.
Saw him a week later at the gas station on his motorcycle wearing a 99 dollar GVK open face helmet.
I don't think he really understands risk assessment and mitigation.
I ride bikes year round and won’t wear a full face that isn’t ECE/Snell certified. (DOT certification is a joke.)
The amount of Harley riders who will open carry while rolling around without a helmet boggles my mind and my soul.
@@PhilosoraptorXJ yup.. not just HD riders .. any cruiser rider can be guilty.. only thing I am guilty of is going over the 5 year reg . My helmets are stored inside my house on a rack not getting banged around and we are out of luck from mid October to April for riding up here . I do have a DOT helmet for my SxS.. because hunting regs require blaze orange helmets to and from hunt locations ..lol but when bombing trails its a full face and goggles.
I think riding in a population dense area in general is unsafe, someone I knew from my high school class got creamed and didn’t survive after a 17yo girl pulled out in front of him without looking, but yeah cars aren’t safe either so best to stay as safe as you can
I'm really loving the video formats recently, the funny ass intros and the outdoor videos make it feel more loosey goosey 🤟🏼
I skip to trolling in the comments after the intro shorts.
@@Gnolomweb that's called doing gods work
12:34 the gel ear cups are upside down. The cut outs for eyepros should be at the top 👍🏼
I ran an Ops-Core helmet and before that, whatever composite helmet the Army was using between 2001 to 2004. I will say though, my plate carrier saved my life, my helmet was mostly a spot to store my night optics and spare battery. Its saved me from a few impact concussions but I never depended on it to stop an AK round. That's what the pink and grey matter within your noggin is for. 🙂
That intro felt like a personal attack, those front temple pads always give me the biggest migraine after a few hours of continuous wear
Experiment with the new ops core liner my dude!
Team Wendy liners are a God send.
Big truth. By the end of a call out i am thinking that taking a headshot wont be as bad as another minute in the damn helmet. Seriously though, a co-worker took a .44 special to the helmet from close range and walked away. Ops- Core took it like a champ…
@@julian23561 Team Wendy also is a scumbag organization that supported Hillary. Don’t support them
There's an ach upgrade pad that this light Grey that is super comfy and soft.
Honestly? One of the best intros imo
Standing desk is great for gear testing before field testing. I'm sure I've looked like an mega larper at times, but remote work means I can toss on gear for hours at a time to do comfort testing and it's invaluable.
I've worn my plate carrier in VR shooters before just because you spend hours shifting into different firing positions and standing in it. It's a great way to fine tune your kit before taking it into the field where you may not have time to adjust things for hours.
@@redfoxtactical8425 Now THIS is a great use case for VR! It makes so much sense in retrospect. Going to kit up before playing Pistol Whip next time
Wearing your gear to do chores around the house works too. It’s stupid as all hell and you feel sillier than Bozo, but you get used to wearing and moving in your gear.
Hopefully helmets start to come down in price like carriers have!
These videos are incredible resources for active duty infantry guys on the conventional side of the house.
If you have time or interest, it might not hurt to do a fast class on battery types; lithium/ nickel-metal hydride/ alkaline ect. All batteries bleed energy over time and should be briefly considered during PCC/PCI. I’ve found that in the new L3 ENVGs you can use rechargeable batts if you have access to a power outlet with any regularity. It helps with sustainability through supply channels and can cut down on weight over the course of weeks. Conversely, alkaline batts don’t work on some of the newer models of NVGs because of the power output being lower than what is required to run the system. Just food for thought from a guy that wasn’t even aware of some of the issues until I researched it.
Great job and great value!
These intros only get better and better
I'd love to see a video where he breaks down different setups.
How is your 3 day patrol setup different from your 2 week recon?
What do you change up when going into an urban environment?
I'd watch a 3 hour long video describing different setups from boots to helmet.
He did those awhile ago
theres no snag factor running comm wire over the top on the outside , just run it under ur helmet cover.
A lot of people who use the super high speed stuff have bare helmets, it’s convenient. I struggle to get my ACH cover on and off every time I switch something on my helmet
"TNVC guys run night vision all day" someone should tell them to try it at night sometime, it's way cooler.
I'll see myself out.
😂
I really appreciate you making genuine, and educational videos like this.
Zero shilling, no shaming or shitting on brands with hypocrisy for half the video, or trying to push a ton of overpriced products.
Yes, these are expensive, but he even mentions there are others and everything is a sacrifice
Is you're comment facieous? --cause internet.
ACH $330. Run $100 peltor coms under it.
PVS14s mono for nvs.
@@Gnolomweb night vision is not cheap, and not all helmets are that cheap, depending what someone wants(as the video mentions). To some people, that $330 is also not cheap. Everybody lives at different speeds, humble yourself.
That's what a lot of my comment was really about, being humble, which you are not.
So I do medieval combat reenactment and one of the biggest things we tell newbies is when you do Pell work, wear your helmet. Our helmets weigh about 7 to 9 lbs so the weight, the sight picture, and movement all needs to get use to. Train as you live, live as you train.
Absolutely perfect timing, Mike. I *just* bought my Team Wendy Ballistic EXFIL SL today. Definitely using these tips!
How is it?
@@wilhelmhetrick8948 It hasn't even shipped yet -- but from the ones I used, it was incredible. The Size 2 (XL) was lighter in weight than the XL Ops-Core MT that I used. The padding system was definitely superior (reminded me of the aftermarket 4D pads you can buy for Ops) and I really like the retention system over the Ops one. The only negative is Opscore rails tend to be the standard, vs TW. But I opted for the newer 3.0 rails. Shouldn't be a huge issue, for my use. I also used a 20% first responder discount but TW always runs an Independence Day sale if you want 20% off an order as a regular joe.
I debated back and forth on the two but it was when I actually put them on that the EXFIL SL was the easy winner, for my use. Which is mostly night vision and extra noggin protection when hog hunting with friends.
@@wilhelmhetrick8948 Just got it in! Man, it is absolutely wonderful. Insanely comfortable and light weight. It really blows my old Ops-Core bump out of the water.
@@rpnvg guess I know which one I'm getting now
@@wilhelmhetrick8948 If possible - wait until Independence Day. They run a 20% off sale and you’ll save quite a bit of money. I only bought mine now because I already get 20% off as a first responder. 👍
these openings are fucking hilarious. top tier content as always
We do our best! :)
@@GarandThumb perfectly cut scream in the beginning there
On the topic of „If you are not fit, you are going to die-„
Any video on that? Or is „lift heavy, run fast and train with your kit on“ enough?
Great Video 👍🏻
I want to add 2 things, when it comes to helmets:
1. Add a loop or something to connect your helmet to PC, when not wearing it.
2. And most important is to make your setup ABC-mask ready with an chinstring extension.
Spread peace and be deadly my friends ✌🏻
I've used all sorts of helmets and I like the 2002 cut helmet the most. It's still got that ACH feel with a little cut out for running comms but not so much of a cutout that it's an opscore
Useful info. Helmuts are often underrated by civilians. Most people are worried about looking like a dork. Glad to see some appreciation for the gear. Helmuts are a very useful piece of equipment.
Tim Kennedy watching Mike encourage civilians to get gear and train: 👁👄👁
_But, but, I had to get yelled at for my kit._
people only know who that bro vet is bc of joe rogan
Who?
@@bravo6959 the special forces airborne ranger sniper MMA fighter who thinks he’s better than everyone else
I will say, the reason I feel like more people are looking at plates over helmets is because of the price difference. I usually see helmets still at a significantly higher price than most decent plates and carriers.
Though, helmets can definitely be important. Even one that isn't rated to stop a bullet could at least help if you fall on your head or get hit by shrapnel or a ricochet.
I run my wiring external of the helmet, but I put them under US patches and press them against the helmet.
I used to run a aviation style Oregon aero zeta liner in my maritime and ACH. They are a little hot but they are amazingly comfortable.
I just use the helmet I got from the special bus I used to ride as a kid! Still fits!!
Weeeee!!!
Just now watching this it’s crazy how far you guys have come in 2 years 🎉thank God boys
Gonna be buying a PVS-14 over the summer, so all of this was very helpful! Thanks for the video
Get the white tube!
Jealous!
@@enduser6996 don’t be, it’s requires financial irresponsibility and lots of ramen lol
Well said! Lol I’ll definitely be keeping that in mind! Thanks bro 🇺🇸
@@jiujitsu5000 do you have any image intensifiers for cheap?
If flannel daddy doesn't wear flannels anymore, I'm watching t-rex arms. Ultimate level 100 bargaining right there
You drive a hard bargain. Deal
@@GarandThumb Pleasure doing business, good sir
Absolutely love the series you've been doing lately, starting the the woods series end of last year. Cant wait for the next episode of this one.
You earned a thumbs up on this one. I broke my next in two places while on duty. Wearing helmets now is excruciating. I wear a bump, when possible, for NVG's.
I "opted" for the opscore fast sf. Not a lot of ballistic protection, but its light and serves for a mount for nods. I would have loved to score the new rifle rated opscore but it would be 4+ lbs after the AMP was mounted along with nods. So I went the path of mobility over firepower.
Good choice and even better mindset. Mobility over protection while trying to get the best balance of the two.
Personally I think the MTEK Flux ballistic is a much better helmet for the coverage and lighter (although not by much, like quarter to half a pound). They are about the same price as well.
I understand the absolutely amazing capabilities of these helmets but for someone who doesn’t have the budget for those, they are in a sense out of the picture. Do you think you would consider on doing a video of more affordable helmets?
Thanks to you I’ll be getting training tonight out back with Buster because mom changed the locks on the basement for buying this gear on her cc 💪🏻
Right after I got my first plate carrier, I went right into looking at helmets. I still haven’t pulled the trigger on the one I want, but that’s due to funds getting tighter and tighter. Helmets and NODs have always fascinated me, bugs the shit out of the wife! After a new set of duty boots and some medical training, a helmet is next. Great informational video as always sir, can’t wait for the next one!
Get an ACH. it's proven, it stops bullets, it sucks about as much as any other helmet, and you can get them on ebay for under $200 usually. Stop spending your house down payment money on nonsense.
For what? You wear that crap around the house? why? lol
@@HillTrekkerSarge I wear it around my house not only to look cool but also to be 100% ready at all times. I even have sex while wearing it and I also shower with it on. No body’s gona catch me lackin
@@HillTrekkerSarge who knows but if you're dropping 8,000$ on nods and a helmet where it wherever the fuck you want. If I'm dropping that much money on something I'll wear that shit at Wendy's if I want to. Lol
@M If he does, he is dangerously based.
Many new series showing up from you! Excited as always
*Congratulations you have join our loyal subscriber’s that have bing picked to join the giveaway,Congratulations once more check up to fine your way to me👆👆*
Finally, someone talks real talk on head gear. Brain buckets are important, but man yeah the neck pain is real.
I’m thinking of getting an airframe ATX. Yes it’s a heavyboi but it’s ballistic, is known to punch above its weight in terms of ballistic protection, and my experience is limited to the outdated LWH. Most any helmet including the ATX is an upgrade in terms of weight. I may as well take advantage of what my baseline for a helmet is.
Just by watching this video brought flashbacks of me wearing my standard issue army mitch and pvs-14 mounted on a rino mount. There were no counter weights. You just had to sinch down the back straps to keep your nods from sagging down past your face which would only last a few minutes until the straps came lose again 😑 always envied the opscore helmets that the rangers used.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I learn something every week. The most important thing though, "If you're not fit your dead". That really hit home. I've always been fit, but have now stepped up my daily routines. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙏🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸
That really kicked me into gear too. I’m feeling better than I have in years since I started working out
Love it. We actually have a group of us here in Phoenix that hike the valleys trails at night in our gear. Really taught me how much I hate Team Wendys stock pads.
What is the group called?
@@joshclark5447 We don't have a name. Just a bunch of us that have met shooting 2gun at Cowtown and South Mountain.
What did you replace the stock TW pads with?
@@BraxtonKBowsher Nothing currently. Just dealing with the stock ones. I'm hoping to retro fit some 4d pads in the next couple weeks.
Since the wife knows the combination to my gun safe and I taught her to shoot...I went with a Guard Dog IIIA Helmet, Coms are Razors with Walkie's and Digital Night Vision NV30. I have about $800 in it and it works ...I would love to have the best of everything ...military grade ...Ops Corp, PVS14 and Peltor's...yes...but I can't spend more on a helmet setup than I spend on my truck.
The flawless timing. I JUST started looking into helmets and nvg setups
When are you gonna drop the $12,000 on the PVS15s tho?
Well when I was in the Marines, Doc (Navy Corpsmen) explained to me the reason why our helmets are not rated to stop anything higher than a pistol cartridge was because anything bigger than a pistol cartridge smacking your head would cause enough trauma to make you bleed internally and you'd die anyways however I have seen the documentary of 2/5 battalion invading into a territory that I cant remember the name of in northern Iraq (when I deployed to Iraq I saw a whole lotta nothing and in training they told us we'd be guaranteed to be shot at but nothing really happened. Just a few small instances occur, anyways unrelated to the story), well the two really close buds were in this push one was in an overwatch position/guardian angel position when his buddy and squad was clearing this specific building when crack! A 7.62x54R stuck his kevlar and followed the curve of the helment until it exited the back side. Knocking him out all his friend heard on the radio that his buddy was shot. (Not like in the movies where they are like *character name* is dead. Nah he heard his buddy's first two initials and the last 5 of his edipi/serial number that you get after bootcamp. He survived because of that but dont go searching on youtube "guy in marines shot in the head in combat" you might see something you're not intending to see. Anyways yeah complex story of hearing about a dude shot in the head while wearing his helmet and lived, so I added a few educational stuff in there so a civilian has more knowledge of how it works a little bit. His buddy was reported through a radio report that we call a 9 line.
1. Grid location
2. Callsign/frequency
3. Patient by precedence (Urgent, priority, or routine
4. Special equipment
5. Patient by type (litter or ambulatory, so can he walk or not)
6. Security of LZ
7. Marking
8. Nationality (so US civ, US mil, US coalition, or enemy Civ, enemy mil, or enemy coalition)
9. Description of terrain or CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiation, or natural threats)
Plus a Zmist,
Zap number (first initial, last initial, last 5 of edipi, and blood type. All that shit is on your kill card that you'd wear on your flak)
Mechanism of injury
Injury sustained
Symptoms
Treatment given
So for you civilians that are unaware hope that was enough info to understand a lil bit of how the military works, you can find the order of how you give things online between those two. Its all basic and unclassified shit.
No bullshit, I was in Ramadi in 09 with 2/23 and one of our Marines took a 54r to the back of his kevlar- did the same thing and followed the curve of the shell. Lucky.
Thank you
@@TheDraeg thank you
Why share that info with civilians who play dress up in their basement? If you ask me Civilians should be kept in the dark
@@TheInfantry98 its all over the place, theres literally channels that teach these type of things or will teach you the info in Marine Rifleman 3-11. Not a big deal.
One of the best tactical teaching channels on RUclips. Binge watching your videos at the moment; great content and very informative.
I remember this guy from Blues Clues, now he’s doing tactical videos, I love America
You uploaded this at the perfect time. Thank you. I've got a few in shopping carts and currently looking for a solid one
I do that too. Lol
Unpopular opinion....
A helmet is a great platform for for comms/ ear pro, nvg, flashlight, identification strobes and frag protection... but that's jut about all...
When under fire if your helmet deflects the bullet it probably wasn't hitting center and might have not hit at all and if it was a good hit its probably going through the helmet unless you were shot from realy far away and in that case being hit is a matter of luck and also in almost all cases of being shot at even if its with pistol rounds there is a high chance of just being hit in the face and you are as good as dead...
Not saying you shouldn't wear helmets but until rifle rated helmets actaly become practical they are just not as valuable as body armor ....
And for all those people talking about guys who survived shots to the head because of a helmet those are 1/1000 and for every on of those you have 20 who didn't make it and 20 more who just got hit in their faces or the exposed part of the forehead...
I love these videos. 100% true the army does not care about our bodies. Never got this comfortable stuff, wish I did. Maybe my neck would be more functional and wouldn’t need to see a chiropractor ever month or 2
Imagine wasting time and money on bullshit like a chiropractor. Spend that time working out your back and neck. Chiropractor is about as effective as healing crystals. Wonder why you don't get better and have to keep going back?
ill be a contrarian and say that the mich/ach is the best option for everyone who isnt a socom guy doing helo raids, and 99% of people arent running a thousand dollar (on the low end) comm suite, and even if you are the MICH was designed to fit comms. -t. guy who knows a guy that took a round to the ear piece on deployment and it was stopped.
The intro is funny, but It made me realize something. If I were hurt in combat I'd probably panic. but having someone who knows what they're doing treat me with this "woah! you got hit by a ricochet! stay still, let's take a look." would put my mind at ease and bring me back to earth. I don't know anything about any of this, just clicked this video out of curiosity but I wanted to share my thoughts.
Nice! I’ve been researching the crap outta helmets lately and looking over everything as I prepare to buy a ballistic helmet. Finally a video that gives more insight.
One thing I realized really quick, my budget definitely won't cover anything shown today...😐
@@warrenharrison9490 your what?
@@warrenharrison9490 $350 ACH Full cut with rails, arrange the pads to run $100 peltors under the helmet, plug in your $20 baofeng to the peltors. = $470.
Want that "camo"? spray paint you already have.... or $20 off amazon.
Tah dah, you're good to go for budget mission. (protip, keep spare baofeng/antena in backpack)
@@warrenharrison9490 after finishing the video, I realized I’m going to have to sell an organ to get what I want.
@@warrenharrison9490 my CCM hockey helmet will do the job, wtf will pay 2000 $ for an helmet ?
Finally, my first poop of the week. That was a close one
So i have been retired (Army) for nearly 10 years now... We didt have all this newer "Johnny Go Fast" equipment readily available to us back then. Then again, I wasnt in a "High speed" MOS either. But i think its outstanding how much technology has improved in just the last decade... I thought we were pretty advanced with the ACH when it replaced our old Kevlar "K-Pots" lol....love the Chanel Mike...even though im seeing this vid a year after it was published.
The best helmet, without a doubt, is of course the Pickelhaube. It gives you that prussian chadness, you know? But seriously thanks for this guide. I want to get into military stuff, without having to enroll into the Bundeswehr, which has become more of a boy scout troop with guns than an actuall german army, so this helps a lot.
Is a 3D printed Mandalorian helmet with nods okay? It’s basically just as good…
Yes
@@GarandThumb Sweet! I’ll let you know how it goes after testing.
In all seriousness, thank you for the real world knowledge and info. You are inspiring!
My friend.... the things you can find on Google and Etsy. It exists. Some even have attachments with nods. There's also a whole suit that HK is holding out on us ..
I've been messing with my helmet pads and wearing my helmet around the house to see what hurts after a bit lol I do not want to experience the migraines I had in the regular Army.
That Ready or Not comment really hit close to home 😂
Mr.Garand Thumb, everything I begin to do deep searches into gear it's seen you read my my mind. Your awsome thank for the videos.
Yeah, $17,000-$55,000 later you'll have the setup mentioned here!
So that AliExpress Level 3A helmet is a no-go? But it comes with a GoPro mount and ready for my BaoFeng comms...
Aloha and mahalo from Hawaii for liking my comment, Garand Thumb. Another question-- I found a body pillow dressed in flannel and a chest rig in my wife's closet the other day... should I be concerned about my marriage?
The intros you do are SO GOOD you didnt train with the helmet and you got a headache and took it off? WHAT
If anyone else needs those cable retention bands for their Peltors and is having trouble finding them it’s the Koffin Wurks Krypt. I know he mentioned the name in the video, I just couldn’t find anything searching Coffin Works lol
I just bought some, hate having to do weird things with the cables to get them out of the way
Nice!
Thanks! just spent 20 minutes trying to find them. 🤣🤣🤣
Note: for cooling off your ears with the AMP mount, pull it up and push the top of the earpiece against the helmet rail above the ear, if that makes sense. You should still be able to hear well enough.
I just finished counter insurgency by David Kilcullen and now I'm listening to Out of the Mountains which is about the future of fighting in urban environments. Now he mentioned Richard Norton and the Feral city idea which the whole thing is fascinating I just wondered if you were familiar with this?
So I’m not really interested in a ballistic helmet (anymore), but being disabled, I can’t lean forward and scan through a night vision or thermal scope to predator hunt.
Instead I was recently thinking about getting a bump helmet with NVGs, so I can glass with my head up and sitting up straight with my back supported
That's what I have (bump). If I had ballistic I'd want the best (cause I wouldn't be facing pistols or lesser ammo) and I just don't have the money for that.
I got the TW Exfil bump and thought it was very reasonable in price and works for me. I'm not sure where I got it though, but I thought the price wasn't bad at all.
That would be an appropriate way to go, there's also plain head mount systems available that don't require a helmt, basically a harness/ webbing with a mount that just fits on your head or over a hat if that's more palatable/ viable for your needs, a little older style of kit but works very well.
@@DJTheMetalheadMercenary Yeah I wouldn't get a skull crusher, unless there's a different device you're referring to. I got one with my pvs-14 and threw that away pretty quickly. I actually wanted to save it in case I met someone with NV but no mount but man they're just such trash I think a bump is just the way to go.
@@clamum9648 Nowadays it's a purpose-driven bit of kit, for Injured Outdoorsman and their needs it would probably work better since it wouldn't be worn for long periods of time to my understanding.
Other than that, there's many variables that come into play with helmets and needs alongside and apart from what GT is saying.
If you're not rolling with a team and high end comms, high cut helmets aren't necessary per se, and like he said if you're not intending on getting into some hot shit direct action, a bump helmet is definitely a better way to go over a heavier ballistic one in whatever style.
I come from more "old school" generational kit, running a PVS7/ PVS14 mount on a PASGT helmet, all I need to go bump in the night (and worked well for me in Iraq with the same type of system but on a MICH/ ACH), but we also had head harness "skullcrusher" kit too. Works when necessary or adaptive in nature.
@@DJTheMetalheadMercenary I just think it's so uncomfortable that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Maybe there's different types, but the ones I've seen are like the one that came with my NV and I just think it's poop. I'd rather rig up a snowboarding helmet and screw a mount into it than wear that again.
But you definitely have way more experience than I do with this sorta thing lol. I need to practice with mine more. Along with the 100 other things I want to do. :-/
definitely have to recommend a good counter weight, your neck will thank you and you won't have your nods dragging your helmet down your face which is a less-than ideal experience.
We usually use bumps on daytime missions where we are definitely far from CAS and not expecting to shoot much. We almost always use the Ops Cores at night and when clearing rooms or in any urban training. Awesome info Mike, keep it up!
idea: make a podcast series elaborating on some of these topics + interviewing other service members or vets and getting their input. i think it’d be a hit
Great video brother. You should do one on drones. The different types of compact drones we could use for an eye in the sky.
Yes, this.
I love how the quality information hides/disguises the flex of garand thumbs very very expensive and quality gear.
Someone must have wanted that new rifle rated helmet so Ops Core put him to work 😆
Nice infomercial. 👍
The controversial crye airframe, the Revision (galvion) caiman and viper helmets also are good choices.