Can anyone recommend either a
particular type of hard hat or some
features to look for?

Consider
1)comfort in hot and cold weather
2)weight
3)profile: too large?
4)easy attachment of lights
5)price
6)OSHA, not required but is a plus

Hike4Fun

What's it's intended purpose will affect helmut choice

What is the intended purpose of the hard hat/helmet? There are various hard hats/helmets for different applications. In some cases the differences are significant as to whether the helmet will provide the proper protection.

Pete

I'm real interested in this too, I wear a seizure-crash helmet when trapsing through rougher terrain (having epilepsy). This custom fitted helmet (I've mentioned before) is based on a hockey helmet design and has too large of a profile and gets too hot in the summer. I want one that is lighter and has the features/requirements you are looking for. This helmet of mine cost my health insurance around $400 (the company tried to bill them over $700), but I don't want to spend that much for sure.

Like the other's have asked, what is your goal with this helmet. There are many out there, but you sepcific requirements will help us direct you to the best helmet for your needs.

Good question, I'm also interested in it. What should we look for? Should it be CSA and ANSI approved, and what features to look for etc. for dealing with general disaster situations...

I'm also looking for some helmets, there's a pretty wide selection to choose from. I don't know exactly what type you have in mind, but if you want to attach lights to them, some of the helmets don't hold a headlamp very well. Maybe to look into a caving type helmet.

http://karstsports.com/helmets.html

If price is a main concern, you can find some really cheap skateboarding helmets for less than $20. They're a little heavy and hot, but they're better than nothing.

+1 on Karst. Here's the helmet I got
http://store.karstsports.com/10301.html
Best price anywhere, and my pelican headlamp fits perfect on it.

Can we get away with a $10 high density polyethylene hard hat for general home preparedness? A Petzl polycarbonate helmet means another 100 bucks investement for me although it would probably fit nicely with the Tactikka plus headlamp I'm considering.

Frankie

Since several of you have asked for helmet advice in general here are two recommendations. For a good general overall helmet (disaster/rescue/climbing/caving) one cannot go wrong with either Petzel Petzel Helmet Petzel Helmet Petzel Helmet or Pacific Helmets NZ Pacific Helmets NZ (available in the US without problems). There are many companies that sell either or both brands, check around on the Internet to find the best price. As to models, again, there is some personal choice, but both of these brands offer application specific or good general helmets.

Pete

Petzl is good. I use an Ecrin Roc. First choice of most Mountain Rescue Teams in the U.K. Cheap is bad. Any high end climbing helmet should serve you very well. Pick the one that is the most comforable. Don't use an industrial hard hat. A chap in the U.K. did. Fell off the cliff whilst climbing. First impact seperated him from his helmet. Second impact killed him. He had a chin strap on the helmet. Problem is that the chin strap on an industrial helmet is designed to seperate if the helmet is struck from certain directions. This is designed to prevent strangulation or a broken neck. Worked exactly as advertised. With fatal results.

A reasonable question: what purpose?
General purpose, mostly outdoor recreation.
I do not want to buy a HardHat for each
purpose.
Specific activities: hiking on steep rocky slopes,
recreational logging, mtn biking, long distance
car driving, working on my house,
general hiking = trolling for cougars.
Winter and summer use.

Do not need ANSI, OSHA or other certification;
these are a plus. I really do not know where ( if)
these rules are enforced.

Thanks. I'm also considering a bug out (and recreational) mountain bike so I'll have to get a good helmet anyway.

Frankie

Hike4Fun,
For your purposes a Petzl Ecrin or similar helmet would be a cood choice. Pro-Tec makes some decent helmets that may suit your purposes better. They are less expensive but can be warmer then the Ecrin.

Pro-tec also makes some helmets that are suitable for cycling but can be sucsessfully used for other purposes as well.

There really isn't a single helmet that does all. The Petzl Ecrin fills many hiking, prepardness and rescue needs, but not all.

Just came across this while doing some shopping, sounds like it fits the needs, except on price. It's certified for multi-sports use, whatever that means.

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductD...gory_rn=4500752

My next helmet is definitly going to have the clips for attaching a headlamp, I just can't figure out how to keep it in place without modifying the helmet in some way.

The best helmet is the one you will wear. It needs to be light and comfortable. Most people don't like to wear a helmet, me included but when you spend enough time outdoors & in the woods you start seeing weird things, like falling branches ... I work construction so I like a standard hard hat for most outdoors applications. The ones with a brim offer additional protection from rain & sun, I pin a bandana in the back to protect my neck from the sun, it really makes a difference ...



A visor can be attached for serious brush busting or when using a chain saw, axe etc ...


and for cold weather you can attach a liner :



You can get more ideas here: CFE These types of helmets are inexpensive so you can keep one at home, in the garage, in the car etc ... They are used by SAR, lumberjacks, construction etc... And they come in a bunch of cool colors !!! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />