I am setting up an ACH helmet for work (Rural Law Enforcement). This helmet will be mainly utilized at night.
Right now I have a standard issue Norotos NVG mounting bracket and Rhino mount for our issued NVGs, and I want to add a helmet light for navigation and utility purposes.
I’m looking at the Surefire, Energizer, and Princeton lights. My helmet does not have ARC rails and other than mounting a light, I’m not sure I have a need for them.
What lights would you recommend? Would the addition of ARC rails be a benefit to my setup or should I just stick with a direct-to-helmet mount?
What is the light for? Just to help read stuff in the dark or something more? I’m a big SureFire fanboy and I know they have the direct mount light the we use in the Army, though I believe its designed for admin tasks so its not very bright. Princeton Tec has also been great for me. You can actually get their Remix Pro in a kit that has an adaptor to put it on MOLLE or the NODs mounting bracket if you don’t expect to use the light at the same time your NODs are mounted. Their red-lens version is super bright for what it is. But if you want a high-output light, I’d mount the rails and put an Inforce WML on there. The profile is great for being on a helmet, and you can get the white/IR version as well.
The light would mainly be for navigation when going lights out isn’t necessary. Our AOR has some fairly rough/steep terrain and at times it is nice to have both hands available when coming down off a mountain. A high output light would mainly be for searching or threat ID and for that I have my hand-held light or WML.
If the IR light is useful for navigation, the light could be used with NODs for dark (no moon) nights. I would also rather the light be readily available without having to completely remove the NOD from the helmet.
I like the Princeton MPLS, although the gooseneck design concerns me in regards to long term durability or getting bumped/snagged by overhead brush. I like the Surefire design and features, but I have read mixed reviews regarding durability of the mounting bracket and accidental activation of the light.
If you can find one of the previous generation surefire helmet mounts, it will fit more flush to the helmet and therefore won’t get smacked in to things as much.
this is the older style mount:
as opposed to this newer one. It articulates more, but it sticks out significantly further
As to accidental activation, I have never had an issue with it in deployment or training environments. The switches are pretty well protected, and if you get in the habit of turning the battery lock-out feature when it’s not in use, you will probably not have issues. The very first generation of these lights had a wonky battery cap safety… any recent production one is much better.
Additionally, the red light set to medium power was sufficient to navigate over rocks, hills, etc. in Fort Irwin levels of darkness. (That’s darker than regular darkness)
I have not used any of the other lights mentioned here, so I can’t speak to their features or quality.
the MPLS switch is going to be the lowest profile, smaller than the Charge. I wouldn’t worry about the gooseneck snagging - it’s flexible and if the light snags, it’ll just bend. i like the MPLS better than the surefire helmet light as it’s smaller and easier to point where you need it.
I use the Surefire helmet lights . Started with an issued red light but switched to blue since I’m a Medic.
I would echo that the newer mounts suck. I had one unscrew and grenade itself in the field and another get crushed in the door of an uparmored HMMWV. Found an old style on EBay for cheap and no issues. I don’t miss the articulation and enjoy not hanging it up on everything in sight
Don’t buy one retail for $150… They’re available on EBay for around $50 New as a result of them not being hand reciepted.
This. Also the Surefire is easy to take off when you know you’re not going to need it, and easy to throw on when you do. I keep mine detached from my ACH in an admin pouch, just grab it when I’m prepping my NODs.
I do the same exact thing. Keeps it from getting as banged up and also lessens the chance of someone “tactically acquiring” it.
One other thing about the Surefire is that they make a MOLLE adapter as well which allows you into mount it on your vest… I’ve seen quite a few guys running that setup too
The Princeton tec light seems to be well liked. My experience with the surefire was that it eats batteries, especially during the winter months. If I don’t completely remove the battery after use, its dead within a couple days (battery cap turned); not something you would expect from something that uses LEDs. Mine is the newer style with the swivel mount; green/IR.
Have a Surefire helmet light. Not a big fan except for the IR function as may be needed. Regular flashlight or weapon mounted allows for positive control of weapon. Not much light from them except, as has been mentioned, admin duties.
Plus, the mount to the helmet sucks. I can’t believe they couldn’t come up with something better…
