Without accessories, it weighs in at 1.6 pounds and features an array of ventilation slots to maximize airflow around the head. The Exfil LTP, which stands for Lightweight Tactical Polymer, is a good representation of the bump helmet category. The following isn’t all-encompassing and in no particular order - Galvion (formerly Revision Military), Ops-Core, Team Wendy, Crye Precision, and MTEK are a few examples of companies you can trust.
Suffice to say, if you’re going to invest in a ballistic helmet, ensure that it’s tested to the threat rating you want, and that the company itself is reputable. I can’t name them all, and this article isn’t meant to be a dedicated helmet buyer’s guide. Much like armor plates and plate carriers, there are a lot of manufacturers out there for ballistic helmets. The author’s current setup – Galvion Caiman Ballistic, Revision Military comms, SureFire X300V umbrella…
If you’re expecting to get shot at, a full ballistic night vision helmet setup is the answer. Galvion also makes a Hybrid helmet that’s a bump helmet with armor appliques, but this is a trade-off with gaps in its protection. This means the plethora of NVG-supporting equipment for ballistic helmets will interface with bump helmets. The current crop of quality bump helmets look very similar to ballistic helmets - many of them even have built-in shrouds to accept NVG mounts. These helmets are substantially lighter, and they’re also ventilated to allow better airflow, keeping you cooler and your lenses fog-free. Just like the name implies, it won’t stop small arms threats or fragmentation, but it will stop you from getting a Flintstones-type lump on your head. If the objective is just hog hunting or target shooting with night vision, then you can save a ton of money by procuring a non-ballistic or “bump” helmet. Your first decision is ballistic or non-ballistic.
This image was taken through the AGM… Ballistic vs. NVGs have a definite learning curve, but a good helmet setup can make it easier.