Ok so I have been HOUNDING the people at Ops Core ever since the shot show where they unveiled the new Ops Core Base Jump Helmet.
I love the Ops Core Helmets BUT the price of them is just astronomical. Granted the FAST Ballistic Helmet is one of the lightest, most comfortable Ballistic Helmets out there. If I were going into harms way, it would be my first choice, NO QUESTION about it.
The Bump Helmet which is their carbon fiber shelled non Ballistic version of the FAST helmet is a great helmet but at almost $600 it is out of the comfortable reach of most.
Now that being said, these things are GREAT for mounting NODs on, they are better than anything else, even my custom Skate Board creations.
The Base Jump is a polycarbonate shell that is still highly protective but also in the price range of many more people. They will come in a Military version retailing for around $240.00 and a Sport version that will not have the shock cord, 1913 rails, also it won’t have the split chin cup either. The Sport I, believe will run around $190.00. Anyway the LONG wait is over and they have been released and the very first production models have just started shipping. I think these will be a HUGE help to comfortably wearing a Night Vision Device for long periods of time at night.
PICS
Shown here with the Wilcox G-24 mount and a set of Night Vision Depot BNVD-Gs.
From the back showing my Ballast bag made from a Grenade pouch Held on by velcro.
This Shows the molded in NVG mounting shroud
The suspension system with Ops Core’s OCC dial.
In conclusion, The base jump is the best thing since sliced bread for mounting up NVDs. It really is a turn key solution. Miles better than anything else out there. A bit expensive but much less than the Bump helmet. All of Ops Core’s products are high quality and well made but I think OPS CORE hit one out of the park here.
No these aren’t DOT or SNELL approved that I am aware of. I Don’t believe the Bump is rated for DOT or Snell either. With the Base Jump, think Rock Climbing Helmet or Skate Board Helmet. As a Mater of fact the Base Jump feels more substantial than my old Petzel Ecrin Roc helmet from back in the day.
The helmet liner is the key to Snell or DOT ratings. It has to be crushable (usually styrofoam) to absorb impact energy and keep it from being transferred to the brain. This Ops Core helmet appears to only have some foam rubber. It’s apparently designed to be comfortable, cool, and keep things from penetrating into the brain. It wouldn’t be suitable as a motor vehicle helmet at all.
the ops-core pads are made up of two materials - the outer firm EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) for impact absorption (similar to crushable polystyrene, but actually springs back when crushed) and soft LDV (Low Density Vinyl) for comfort.
they’re not snell or DOT rated because it’s not intended as a motorcycle helmet. combat helmets are not snell nor DOT rated.
The Bump Helmet provides impact protection certified to CE EN 1385 (international standard for headgear for white water sports) and ASTM F1492 (skateboard helmet standards for multiple impacts) and the U.S. Army ACH specification for chin strap retention and non-ballistic impact protection.
Yeah actually it is. Believe it or not you can pour an astounding amount of money into a skate helmet trying to get near the features of the Base Jump and still come up short.
Ohhh it would seem that way in the never ending quest to comfortably hang NODs off my head for hours on end.
Yep stay tuned folks, Night Vision Equipment is piling up on manufacturers shelves with the slow down in the economy. As such prices are going to start coming down to move product. The price of Firearms has fallen, it is just taking Night Vision Equipment a little longer to do the same but it IS coming.
They are not on the OPS CORE website yet. Just give them a call. They have a bunch of new products coming out like a redesigned ARC rail for the MICH helmet, Side armor for the FAST helmets. A FAST Helmet with Ear coverage. Lots of other stuff so they need to update thier website.
