Best Hard Hats (2021 Review)

You might have heard news several times about severe head injury accidents to workers. So, if you don’t want to hurt your head, protect it by wearing a hard hat. This goes out to all the workers and engineers at worksites where there is a risk of being hit by an object falling or danger of electrical shock. No worries if you knock your head against any object, the hard hat will keep you safe. A hard hat is imperative industrial safety gear!

We will help you learn all about the best hard hats you can buy, what they are and how do these hats provide safety. You will discover how hard hats can benefit you.

Hard Hat – Buying Guide & FAQ

Finding the best safety hard hat is not an easy task especially if you have no idea about hard hats. The hard hats also are known as safety helmets are worn by labor workers and engineers mostly at construction, mining and drilling worksites. These protect workers from hurting their heads. If you want a hard hat for yourself, follow the reviews below. However, first, you must know what they are.

What are hard hats?

As the name suggests, a hard-hat is a helmet made of a rigid and solid shell like metal, hard plastic or fiberglass to protect the worker’s head. Hard hat has two basic parts; one is the shell while other is headgear. Suspension channels in the hat act as an absorber of shocks. There is a difference of 1-1.4 inches between the hat’s shell and suspension which protect the head when something strikes it. Also, the headgear offers adjustability and comfort. They resist the object penetration directly into the head and allow air ventilation for long hours wearing. Most of the hard hats are water and burn/heat resistant.

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Where to wear?

A hard hat should be worn when there is even the slightest risk of head injury by any falling object or an area where you and your head are exposed to electrical flow systems to prevent electric shocks. Workplaces that require these hard hats include:
[mks_icon icon=”fa-chevron-right” color=”#129e31″ ENGINE=”fa”] Construction;

[mks_icon icon=”fa-chevron-right” color=”#129e31″ type=”fa”] Drilling;

[mks_icon icon=”fa-chevron-right” color=”#129e31″ type=”fa”] Mining;

[mks_icon icon=”fa-chevron-right” color=”#129e31″ type=”fa”] Electric wiring and power systems;

[mks_icon icon=”fa-chevron-right” color=”#129e31″ type=”fa”] Forestry.

What are different types and classes?

There are two hard hats: type I and II. Type I hard hats reduce the force of falling objects like a hammer on the head’s top. Type II protects side and top of the head when something falls.

Hard hats have three industrial classes based on OSHA: Class C, E, and G. Class C are known as the conductive hats designed for lightweight protection from a blow. They are more comfortable to wear because of ventilation and made from aluminum mostly. These vented hard hats do not protect against electrical shocks. Class E: electrical hard hats offering workers against electric voltages up to 2,200 volts. They also protect users from falling or flying objects. Class G is the general class of hard hats. They reduce low-voltage conductor exposure and resists penetration. Class G hats are used mostly by workers in steel and iron miles.

Why do hard hats come in many colors?

Hard hats come in many colors like yellow, green, red, etc. because these colors can mean different roles of workers on sites. Several basic rules can help to identify workers from their hat colors. These colored hard hat systems vary between countries and organizations. The certain standard colors used for hard hats are:

• White is for supervisors, managers, and engineers
• Brown is for welders and workers that deal with high heat functions
• Green is for safety inspector or fresh workers
• Blue is for carpenters and electricians mainly
• Yellow is for all-purpose laborers
• Orange is for road team screw

The Best Hard Hat

With hard hats, you will find a variety in the market. However, if you’re looking for only the best, this is the right place for you!

You will find detailed reviews of the best hard hats. See our product table below for the hard hats we liked most and a comparison with a summary if you are running short on time.

Hard Hats for Work

Hard hats are irreplaceable for heavy-duty construction sites. They add the most important layer of protection to the body. As you may know, hard hats are made of different materials and different hard hats have different strengths and weaknesses.

So you have to check and double-check some preliminary measurements for making the best out of your purchase. Here, we are mostly going to consider the main types and constructing materials. Check out here to learn about the OSHA guidelines. We’re also going to learn about how to properly care for and maintain a hard hat.

Types of Hard Hats

Two major types of hard hats are pre-dominant based on impact-resistant properties. Type I and type II.

Type I

This type of hard hat is good for resisting only vertical impacts and penetrations. They have a good suspension system. Absorbs load from a falling hammer or other construction equipment. The best hard hats for this type are the MSA V Gard series.

Type II

This type of hard hat, however, can resist both vertical and horizontal impacts. Protects you from impending lateral loadings like a bump, collision with an edge, etc. These hats are internally padded with synthetic leather or EVA foam.

Also, OSHA approved hard hats for electrical resistance are categorized into 3 types.

Class E (Electrical)

These hard hats reduce exposure to high-voltage conductors. They offer dielectric protection from up to 20,000 volts. But it’s applicable for the covered area on the head only. The MSA Topgard construction hard hat is one of those Cass E hard hats. Used by electrical workers and mechanics mostly.

Class G (General)

These hard hats are more commonly used & they offer dielectric protection from up to 2,200 volts. Similar to the prior, the rating is applicable for the head only, not the whole body. The MSA Skullgard Hard Hats are examples of the Class G category. Mostly used by construction & other general workers.

Class C (Conductive)

These hard hats CAN NOT BE USED for electrical protection. They are made of conductive materials that are better suited to withstand shocks and impacts. Can be used for general purposes that do not run the risk of electrical conductance.

Types of Hard Hat Materials

Based on the intended use and the producer, modern hard hat shells are made of a variety of materials. Thermoplastics such as polyethylene, polycarbonate, resin, fiberglass, fiber-metal, aluminum, etc are commonly used in different industries.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is found in most construction hard hats nowadays. It’s a strong & lightweight material that’s easy to mold and doesn’t conduct electricity.

Some of the women’s hard hats are made of lighter Hard-plastic or carbon fiber materials. They are easier to equip and lighter than regular ones.

The industrial safety hard hat suspension system is made of strips of synthetic leather or woven nylon webbing. Sometimes they also contain molded HDPE, EVA foam, nylon, or vinyl.

Most type II hard hats use a foam padding made of polystyrene (EPS). Different materials like foam-backed vinyl, cotton terry cloth, specialty fibers, etc are used for brow pads. Higher sweat absorbance and breathability make them perfect hard hats for hot weather.

Care & Maintenance

The best way you can take care of your hard hats is by following the manufacturer’s instructions properly. Different hard hats are made of different materials. They are also of different types and electrical conductances.

First of all, take good care of the shell. That’s the most important part of a hard hat. Wipe it off with dry clothes regularly. You can use soaked clothes or recommended solvents if any stain or paint spills on it. Try to maintain the Hi-vis property of hard hats for continuous protection.

The suspension system is sensitive. Over time, it may accumulate dirt or molds. Clean it carefully and make sure you don’t damage the overall suspension system. Some hard hats come with internal paddings. Clean them according to user instructions.

But remember, nothing lasts forever. So learn when to replace your favorite hard hat with a better one. If cracks develop on the hard shell, it becomes weak. It may develop sharp edges that can injure you. Also, protection drops significantly.

Moreover, the suspension system may be damaged after using it for a long time. You can usually install a new one if the shell is intact. But if the shell is also damaged, it’s better to replace the entire unit.

Conclusion

All of our best hard hats will serve you well. They can protect you from any head injuries. You can now work with ease with the help of these quality hard hats. Wear your hard hat and stay safe!