If you’re just trying to take up airsoft or you have a few games under your belt you might be wondering if you should wear a helmet. Players have different opinions on the usefulness of a helmet as some think it’s a must have, while others would never consider wearing one. The thing is, as with most things airsoft, helmets are a matter of preference and style. With that out of the way let’s dive into the matter.
Why Wear an Airsoft Helmet?
The main benefit of wearing an airsoft helmet is excellent protection against BBs. Your head will also be protected against bumps and scrapes which are common injuries on the airsoft field. Lastly, most airsoft helmets have multiple attachment points where you can add gear and gadgets.
Obviously, the number one reason for wearing a helmet is to avoid getting hurt, be it from BBs or from different obstacles which you might encounter while you are playing. However, most people will overlook this for the so-called “cool factor” as it can make your airsoft gear look more realistic. There are lots of players who focus on achieving the coveted “operator” look of modern military forces, while others want to complete an “impression”, which is a look that replicates the costumes worn by militaries from around the world and in different time periods – World War 2 costumes are quite popular.
Now that you have a basic understanding of what an airsoft helmet can do for you, it’s time to take a more indepth look at the advantages and the disadvantages of incorporating a helmet into your gear. I will also cover how to choose the right helmet, how much it costs, what kind of gear you can attach and how much you can expect to spend. Let’s get started.
By the way, if you are considering wearing a motorcycle helmet at an airsoft game, here is why you shouldn’t do it.
Do You Need a Helmet For Airsoft?
A helmet is not considered to be a mandatory piece of protective equipment. You shouldn’t need one to play at most airsoft venues, but it’s wise to check beforehand if you’re planning to explore a new field or arena. From my experience, I’ve only attended one event where a helmet was mandatory – a milsim (military simulation) event, where one of the factions was supposed to depict a NATO force and uniform requirements were quite strict. That being said, you can wear what you want and what makes you feel more comfortable as long as it’s not considered dangerous.
If you’re not ready to invest in your airsoft gear, you can certainly substitute a helmet with a baseball cap or a boonie hat. They don’t offer the same level of protection, but they can mitigate some of the pain caused by getting shot. Some people like to use a shemagh or a scarf wrapped around their head, while others even use a turban or a balaclava. Each one can have it’s own advantages and disadvantages depending on the weather, the camo pattern or the impression the player is trying to go for.
| Reasons to wear an airsoft helmet | Reasons NOT to wear an airsoft helmet |
|---|---|
| 1. Not getting hurt by BBs; | 1. Helmets are heavy and can cause neck pain; |
| 2. Protecting your head from bumps; and scrapes | 2. Helmets will get hot and humid; |
| 3. More room to add tactical accesories; | 3. Helmets make you a bigger target. |
| 4. Adding an action camera to record gameplay; | 4. You might not notice that you got hit because you can’t feel the impact. |
| 5. Looking cool and perfecting impressions. |
5 Reasons to Wear an Airsoft Helmet
1. Not Getting Hurt by BBs
The most obvious reason is protection against getting shot in the head with BBs. The helmet is great at protecting your forehead from incoming fire, which will probably save you some welts at the end of the game. Since in airsoft you rely a lot on your vision, you will find yourself often peeking from cover with just your head. Most players are aware of this, especially if you peek often and they will try to land a headshot.
Another thing you need to realize is that the helmet will not only protect you from enemy fire, but also from friendly fire. Trust me, getting shot in the back of the head by a teammate sucks, no matter how close he is. How does this happen, you may ask. Well, in the heat of action you might not be completely aware of the position of your team and what they are engaging. As you try to advance or fall back, you might just wonder in the firing line of a teammate as he is going full auto while suppressing an enemy. If you find yourself in such a situation, you’ll be glad you’re wearing a helmet. Trust me, it happens!
2. Protecting Your Head From Bumps And Scrapes
Depending on the field or arena, you will have to navigate some natural or man made obstacles. Having to do this quickly as you are running and fighting will make you bang your head on stuff. Climbing through windows, tunnels, holes in walls can injure your head if you are not careful. If you’re trying to do this in a hurry when dodging enemy fire is a recipe for disaster. This is when a helmet really comes in handy.
If you play mainly outdoors, you may think that there are less things to bump your head on. However, wooded areas also pose some dangers. Low hanging branches can give you a good whack if you don’t get low enough. Crawling through bushes to get in better positions or to set up an ambush will get your head all scratched up. Speaking from experience, stay away from thorny bushes!
3. More Room to Add Tactical Accessories
This point goes more toward the cool factor. There are tons of accessories you can mount on your helmet, some useful, some just for aesthetics. Either way, a good airsoft helmet setup should include at least a few basic attachments.
The most important thing you can and should attach to your helmet is face protection – a mesh mask (affiliate link). Some of these come with clips that fit in most helmet rails, making them easy to put on and take off. If you play with goggles, these can also be mounted on the helmet for quick access and a comfortable fit.
Another important piece of equipment you can attach to your airsoft helmet is comms – communication equipment (affiliate link) like a headset. If you play at large events and with lots of people, you will need to get a radio. To make it easier to operate quietly, you will want to use hearing aids. These will allow you to hear radio chatter from your team and also serve as ear protection. If you do play without a radio, you can just attach some mesh ear protectors to the side of your helmet for added comfort.
Also falling in the tactical accessories category are NVGs – Night Vision Goggles. If you plan on taking part in milsim games that last throughout the night, NVGs are probably a good idea. Having these will give you and your teammates a significant advantage during night time operations. Most helmets have a dedicated mounting slot (affiliate link) on the front that accommodates night vision tech. This will allow you to lower your NWGs when needed and also keep them out of your line of sight during the day.
Other tactical accessories that you might consider are flashlights and night lights. Running a flashlight on your helmet (affiliate link) is an obvious advantage when playing or just setting up in low light conditions. Night lights are usually placed on the back of your helmet and they are very dim. Their purpose is to signal your position to your teammates.
4. Adding an Action Camera to Record Gameplay
If you’re considering a career as an airsoft youtuber, mounting a GoPro on your helmet (affiliate link) is a no brainer. The camera will be able to record the action from your point of view, making for some cool action shots. High kill games or impressive marksmanship will give you bragging rights in the airsoft community. An added benefit of recording your games is that you can watch back the footage and see how you are moving on the field. This will allow you to spot certain repetitive mistakes that you might not be aware of so you can gradually improve your skills.
5. Looking Cool and Perfecting Impressions
Let’s get one thing clear here, wearing a helmet makes every airsoft player look 10% cooler. Depending on the rest of your gear, a helmet can really complete your look and make you look like a real soldier, a SWAT operative or whatever military unit you want to mimic. Some players are very passionate about this and go to great lengths to match their clothes, weapons and gear. This is generally referred to as an impression. Girls and guys want to look like their heroes from movies and video games so a helmet might be required to depict an accurate representation of a costume or uniform. This can also be the case in milsim games, where depending on the side you are playing, you might be required to use, for example, a helmet worn by Russian or NATO forces. This helps to differentiate teams and prevent friendly fire.
Impressions are what motivate people to wear different types of helmets. Let’s say someone wants to recreate a uniform worn by a WW2 soldier. Not only will he/she need to find an appropriate uniform and weapon, but an accurate period helmet will be required to complete the costume. Some units in the Russian Special Forces use a helmet with a visor (affiliate link) so if your goal is to look like a Russian Operator, you need to buy a similar airsoft helmet. If you’re a fan of the popular Escape From Tarkov video game, you can even order the Killa Helmet (affiliate link) if you plan to make a EFT impression.
Custom airsoft helmets are also a thing. They can be made to look like those worn by your favorite video game or movie character. You might have heard about that popular TV series – The Mandalorian – well, you can find a full face airsoft helmet that replicates the look of the helmet worn by the protagonist. Like games like HALO or Doom, you can either buy or build a helmet like that worn by Doom Marine or Master Chief.
If you want your airsoft helmet to look cooler, you can add patches, stickers or helmet covers. These can have both a functional purpose and an aesthetic one. Helmet covers are probably the easiest way of changing the look of your unit. Why is this useful? Because you can get covers with different camouflage patterns. Instead of changing your helmet because it is the wrong color for the field or the season, you simply slap on a cover that will give you the best camo for the environment. If you’re playing in the winter and your area gets lots of snow, you might consider getting a white cover, if you’re playing in the woods or the desert, you can get an appropriate cover.
Helmet covers can also save you some money. If you’re dead set on using a helmet and you want to have the right one for every field, it’s much cheaper to get a set of covers than getting more helmets. Money saving tip right here, for free.
Patches and stickers (affiliate link) are just for fun. If you want to start or join an airsoft team, you might want to get matching patches or stickers with the rest of your teammates. In addition, some of these simple addons can be simply hilarious and make for a good laugh even when you got your ass kicked during the match.
3 Reasons Not to Wear an Airsoft Helmet
1. Airsoft Helmets Can Cause Neck Fatigue
Depending on the helmet model you choose or your helmet setup (aka how many accessories you attach), wearing it for a longer period of time will cause neck fatigue. While you won’t notice this in the first few hours, after a while, you may start to experience cramps in your neck muscles. These cramps can go from minor inconveniences to actual health problems if your posture isn’t perfect.
Airsoft helmet weight varies a lot depending on the model, basic ones being 500 to 600 grams or just over a pound. If you decide to wear a ballistic helmet (one that soldiers use and that can protect against real bullets) you will need to carry a lot more weight – depending on size these can weigh anything from 3.1 pounds or 1,410 grams to 4.2 pounds to 1,910 grams. Obviously, you don’t need that kind of protection for playing airsoft, as BBs have considerably less force, so cheap airsoft helmets will do the job just as well.
If you decide to put together an impression kit, you should probably stay away from steel helmets. Two of the most iconic helmet models worn by American GIs and German soldiers in World War 2 are very popular in the airsoft community, however they are quite heavy:
M1 helmet (affiliate link) – worn by the US military forces in WW2 – 2.85 pounds or 1.29 kg.
Stahlhelm (affiliate link) – worn by German military forces in WW2 – 2.65 pounds or 1.2 kg.
It’s not uncommon to see people wearing WW2 uniforms with replicas of M1 Garands, Thompson submachine guns, Kar 98 rifles or MP 40s.
The weight of the helmet accessories is also something to keep in mind. Adding too much stuff to your helmet will make you very uncomfortable. Here is the weight of some common helmet attachments:
- Night vision goggles: depending on the model you can have anything from 300 to 900 grams.
- NVG counterweight (affiliate link): this is a bag that attaches to the back of your helmet to provide balance – also 300 to 900 grams.
- Action camera: GoPro cameras (affiliate link) can weigh 87 to 118 grams, but you will need to also add the weight of the mount that attaches to your helmet.
Because people these days spend a lot of time staring at computer screens and smartphones, many have developed specific neck issues like “text neck”. These can lead to shoulder pain, eye pain and headaches. If this is something you experience often, then perhaps you should avoid wearing an airsoft helmet and, instead, get an alternative piece of protective gear. If you do want to have a helmet, try to get the lightest model available.
If you’ve had a neck injury from playing sports (basketball in my case) or from a car accident, you can try to wear the helmet for short time periods. I sometimes play a game with a helmet and then next game I switch to a baseball cap or wear nothing at all, just to give my neck time to decompress.
2. Airsoft Helmets Can Get Hot and Humid
Having an active playstyle can get you to overheat, especially during the warmer months. I like to run a lot because it offers opportunities to flank and surprise enemies, so my body temperature is always a tad high. Wearing a helmet will trap the heat that your body is trying to eliminate through the top of your head, so you will probably overheat. Some people can actually get heat stroke from this in the summer. If you don’t handle heat very well, try to find a helmet that offers plenty of ventilation to mitigate some of the impact of excessive overheating.
Another thing I find when wearing a helmet is that my goggles or protective glasses tend to fog up more because of the trapped heat. You can use fog-proof goggles or apply anti-fog substances to your lenses to prevent this, but even then it might happen. The best solution is to just remove your helmet when you’re not actually playing, in between games and in the staging area.
Getting hot also brings humidity. I do sweat a lot and it’s common for the lining of my helmet to be completely soaked after a day of airsofting. That is why it’s always a good idea to remove your helmet lining (if possible) and allow it to dry, or you could simply wash it if the materials can handle it. Trust me, the smell of stale sweat in your helmet is nasty and tough to get rid of. My tip would be to buy an airsoft helmet that has a removable interior lining or one with velcro foam pads which you can clean.
Wearing an airsoft helmet with face protection (affiliate link), like the models that cover your head fully, will be noticeably hotter and more humid. These do have vents most of the time, but they can get steamy and would probably work better in colder climates.
3. Airsoft Helmets Make You a Bigger Target
One of the best ways to avoid getting hit is to present a target as small as possible for the enemy to shoot. If you’re like me and wear an airsoft helmet for a big head, chances are you might have a harder time getting into cover behind small obstacles. A hit to your helmet is still a hit and you will have to acknowledge it and leave the game. Having a large head will mean buying a larger helmet, which might stick out even when you think you are completely hidden.
Your brain will have a hard time approximating the real position of your head because of the size of the helmet. This can lead to situations where you can’t see the enemy because he isn’t in your line of sight (the level of your eyes is behind cover), but he might be able to see the top of your head. As you can imagine, you will get shot or, at least, your hiding spot will be revealed.
Choosing the Right Airsoft Helmet
If you’ve decided to buy an airsoft helmet, here’s what you should consider. First of all you need to choose a model that you like or one that fits with the rest of your equipment. Next, you need to get the sizing right as a tight fit won’t be comfortable and a loose fit will have your helmet sliding on your head. Finally, you will need to think about accessories.
How Much Do Airsoft Helmets Cost?
You can get awesome helmets quite cheaply, starting from around $20, but you can also spend upwards of $200 for more exotic models. Another option would be to buy a cheap helmet and then send it to a shop that offers customization or, if you are crafty, you could do the work yourself.
Types of Airsoft Helmets
Helmets come in all shapes and sizes, but there are some models which are more popular and commonly seen on airsoft fields.
FAST/High Cut/Maritime Cut/ATE – FAST stands for Future Assault Shell Technology – these helmets were designed for maritime special operations and feature a minimalist design. They are probably the best choice for airsoft as they offer adequate protection while still being sufficiently light and well ventilated. Most FAST helmets (affiliate link) have ample options for attaching accessories like face masks, ear protection, lights and cameras.
MICH or ACH helmets – Modular Integrated Communications Helmet – a bulkier design that incorporates ear protection. These helmets are still used by military and law enforcement operators around the world. MICH helmets (affiliate link) are generally heavier than FAST helmets and, because they cover more of your head, they tend to heat up more.
I would also include all types of military inspired helmets in this category, as armed forces from around the world have different models of helmets. For example, some very sought after models include Russian helmets with visors (affiliate link). These were intended to protect the face of the user fully, but they do limit your field of view significantly.
Custom airsoft helmets – these were designed specifically for airsoft and have a multitude of shapes and styles. You can get them with or without full face protection and they can even be made to look like sci-fi inspired creations. Not much to say here really, as it all comes down to your taste.
Full face masks like the Dye I5 (affiliate link) are not my favorite as I’ve found them uncomfortable when shouldering a rifle. I use the iron sights on most of my AEGs and when I need to aim carefully, I like to rest my cheek on the stock of the rifle. If you’re wearing a full face helmet, you can’t really do this and then it’s difficult to align your eyes with the sights. One way to get around this would be to fit an optic like a red dot or a holographic sight on your rifle using a riser mount. This will make your optic sit a lot higher on your rifle, allowing you to get a better sight picture. However, I still don’t much like this option as it doesn’t work that well with some helmet designs.
Finding the Right Size
If you’re buying from a shop, it’s easy, just try on some different sizes and models and see which is more comfortable. Buying online is a bit more complicated, but nothing to stress about. More reputable airsoft sites offer sizing charts for all their products so you’ll just need to follow their instructions when measuring your head. For this you will definitely need a tape measure so you can wrap it around your head. Once that is out of the way, look for the corresponding size.
You should also see whether you can find the size of the interior liner or if you can order extra padding modules for the helmet. With most models, you will be given a few foam or sponge pads that are attached with velcro. You can add or remove these to make the fit more comfortable. You can also move these around if the shape of your head doesn’t exactly match their placement.
Helmet Accessories
Even if you haven’t decided on what accessories you want to add to your helmet, it would be wise to get a helmet that has as many attachments points as possible. This will future proof your helmet, as you never know what you might want to do later on in your airsoft journey.
My recommendations are mounting points for your face mask and goggles and side rails for adding hearing aids or ear protectors. Most tactical helmets also feature a mounting point on the forehead for cameras or night vision. If patches and covers are your thing, you should look for helmets with lots of velcro pads as these are very useful.
If this guide wasn’t comprehensive enough, check out this video from the guys at Airsoft GI. They’ll show you 3 helmet setups that you can replicate.