
Safety comes first, especially when one is working with something as powerful and brutal as a chainsaw. Although there is a lot of constructive work going around with it. But a weak moment of mishandling can cause heavy casualties. Talking of safety, the safety helmet aces the list for obvious reasons. But it can be a drag to choose a suitable helmet suiting one’s needs. What makes this more challenging is the many features they have to offer, like the headphones and face shields etc that add to the complexity. Plus the notion of “heavy-duty” is not the same for all brands which may reflect in the build quality and material used in the manufacturing of the product.
In order to help someone in need of nothing but the Best Chainsaw Helmet, here are some pointers like durability issues, clear and metal mesh face shields, noise-reducing earmuffs and ease of assembly and comfort to navigate through the sea of helmets.
Starting strong with one of the best Chainsaw Helmets from Husqvarna, the ProForest Chain Saw Helmet System. This can be ideally described as “one-size-fits-most” with durability and comfort. It features a six-point suspension system that is the secret behind its stability and comfort on the head for hours. And Providing additional protection from any damage that might occur from impact. Its shell is durable owing to the material used, which is UV protected and averts any hardening and cracking in the sunlight.
The very next important feature is the 24 dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) inbuilt ear covers, which safeguard the user’s ears from the high volume of the chainsaw as well as the dangers of flying wood chips. It’s American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z89.1-2003 Class G-E-C compliant. That comes in Hi-Vis Orange that enhances the visibility on the job, even in low light conditions. After all these upsides of these helmets, there’s only one downside, which is not the visor. Which is a bit tricky to attach to the helmet at the start.
The most value for money helmet is, TR Industrial Forestry Safety Helmet and Hearing Protection System and the reason is being a five-in-one helmet, where the value speaks for itself. The helmet is versatile and can be put to use with or without the adjustable 30 dB Signal-to-Noise (SNR) earmuffs, plastic visor, and metal mesh visor. The visors do a decent job protecting the face but the plastic one allows debris to collect behind which can cause a nuisance. On the other hand, the metal mesh visor in account for not having any gaps or holes does not let the debris pass and get caught in it. It’s ANSI and Certification Europe (CE) approved and comes with dial knob adjustment that ensures a perfect fit. Lastly, it also has helmet ventilation for the top of the head which allows the top head ample aeration.
But the only downside one can experience while using TR Forestry Chainsaw Helmet is the durability of its earmuffs. As it is seen that only after some uses one of its sides may get broken
The Oregon 563474 Chainsaw Safety Protective Helmet Combo Set is known for its catchy yellow color which is visible from a good distance. It comes with a detachable sun peak and six ventilation holes that ensure good airflow inside and regulate the temperature, keeping the user cool and comfortable.
The Oregon Chain Saw Helmet features cap-mounted earmuffs clipped onto the sides. Which makes it more or less inconvenient to raise and lower them. The visor comes in stainless steel and saves the eyes and face of the user from falling branches as well as other flying debris. It makes up an excellent choice for homeowners, but it isn’t heavy-duty enough to be used professionally.
It has an adjustable six-point suspension harness which again is good for stability and a good fit for the head. But the clips that hold the harness together may get easily broken as they are smaller than standard clips. And also if someone wants to switch them out with a harness from any other helmet, it is also not feasible due to the size of the clips.
Lastly, the real problem is assembling and installing it inside the helmet. Especially when the instructions are vague and poorly written. Here a YouTube video may prove to be more helpful.
The NoCry 6-in-1 Industrial Forestry Safety Helmet features a polycarbonate face shield and a metal mesh visor. This can both be set at both different angles and depth positions depending upon the visors’ problem. In addition to this, it also has adjustable 25.9 dB SNR earmuffs that can be twisted around and secured at the back of the helmet if one does not want to use them. Use of additional earplugs underneath it is suggested as earmuffs don’t offer much sound protection.
The NoCry 6-in-1 Forestry Chainsaw Safety Helmet comes with a fully adjustable suspension headband system that can be adjusted simply by twisting a knob. Which makes it very convenient to adjust, but it can be really difficult to assemble it. Again the instructions here are not easy to follow and to make things worse, even the attachment clips are sewn backwards. Despite that, The NoCry 6-in1 is ANSI and CE approved for use in a commercial environment.
The Felled Forestry Safety Helmet is a four-in-one helmet that comes with six air vents and provides good airflow to the head. It also has a six-point adjustable suspension to provide a proper fit. Although it features 30 dB noise reduction earmuffs it practically does not offer much protection and also its loose-fitting on the head is responsible.
If one is looking for protection at light-duty work this makes up an ideal choice as the helmet, earmuffs, and facemask all are not made up of very heavy duty and high-grade material.
Conclusion
Following chainsaw helmets have been lined up taking in care the diverse nature of needs and budgetary requirements of various users. There is something for everyone who has their assorted list of their needs. Hopefully the above list will serve as a compass to select the best chainsaw helmet aligning with the needs of the users.