I am pulling the trigger on NV this year and I'm looking hard at the TNV/RVM-14 SG SUPERGAIN. I am not in life threatening situations and have read that that added weight of a ballistic helmet + NV really strains your neck over time. I was looking at an Ops-Core FAST Bump or a Protection Group Denmark Level IIIA Hi-Cut ARCH. Usage would be night hog hunting and some NV shooting classes. Can anyone give me a recommendation based on real world experience?

Thanks in advance!

I have found weight to be less of an issue than proper suspension. My FAST SF with OEM pads was already more comfortable than my TW Exfil LTP, and both were more comfortable than my TW SAR Tactical; once the 4D pads were added to the FAST SF, it was no contest, particularly with NODs on (I have RNVGs). That being said, I also am used to wearing helmets, and have never found the helmet to be too heavy except in specific scenarios where I was spending long periods of time looking up or down rather than forward.

Of course, given that the FAST SF Bump will have the same suspension as the FAST SF, I suspect it would work better than whatever the DPG has, given that you're running a mono and the heavier weight of the helmet doesn't really help to give better balance (something I believe Augee has mentioned as a surprise advantage for ballistics lids using duals or quads, as the ballistic helmet redistributes the weight overall more evenly).

Make sure you get a counterweight and balance it.

Ops-Core FAST SF Carbon bump is super comfortable. I also have the SF ballistic for work which is great as a ballistic option, but I like the vent holes on the Carbon for things like hog hunting.

Personally, I like the Lux Liner that comes on the newer Ops-Cores and don't feel the need to replace them with aftermarket pads like I did in the older helmets with the EPP pads.

If you don't plan on getting shot at, then you don't need ballistic

You're not expecting frag or shrapnel, so bump helmet is good enough.

My $0.2 - *if* you have the money now, and you have an eye toward "preparedness" with possible upcoming election fallout, etc... - I'd get the Ballistic. As far as weight goes, my Bumps need so much more counterweight to balance, vs the Ballistic - that it's close to being a wash. If money is tight, than obviously it'll have to be a Bump first.

This. I have 4D pads in my TW, but opted not to change the OPS VLL, because it's better than the 4D, IMO. It doesn't always need adjusting as it warms up and deforms more and more.

If you're on a tight budget, worried about Armageddon buy a used/surplus ACH @ 50-100. Sure they're not sexy and you won't get any Instagram Creds but it'll protect your melon from frag and most pistola rounds. Take what you have left over and buy either a bump or 60.00 Cry Nite Cap, 20.00 battery/counter weight pouch, 35.00 Norotos universal shroud and a NOS Ops Core H nape from ebay for 25.00. This setup is very stable platform and can easily fold up into your back/cargo pocket. A decent bump option is either the PTS Flux 120.00 or Hard Headed Veterans bump 230.00. Also waiting for 4th of July sales could save you some money on kit.

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses. I spoke with Will and TNVC and it looks like I will likely go with dual tubes vs the monocular that I was thinking about so the comments on the weight of the ballistic helmet reducing counterweight is great advice. I decided to go to the TNVC try before you buy since this is a big purchase and I have zero experience with NV.

IMHO it's better to go with a lighter bump/counter weight vs a heavy ballistic helmet/counter weight combo. While a ballistic will add weight in the rear for counter weight, you also have to account for weight on the front/top/sides as well.

Yeah, Roger that. It's been a loooooong time since I've looked at helmet deals, but a while back, the Galvion A5 Viper was a really good deal - especially if you (or a friend) could send them a DD-214.

This is a very split polling topic. Lots of btdt guys are split on it. Gonna be a "make up your own mind" type thing between bump vs ballistic, imo

The guys I have been privileged to know, who do this stuff for a living are very pragmatic about this kind of thing.  If you don't need ballistic pro for what you're doing, then don't wear it.  Back about '07 I got an invite to an all-active duty class for guys getting spun up before deployment.  I showed up in battle belt, chest rig, assault pack, etc.  These guys all showed up with a simple battle belt, with a rifle reload.  I sheepishly shit-can all that stuff and got with the program.  When I was thinking about helmets, right where you are now, I asked my SF buddy for advice.  He said the majority of training they do is in a bump helmet, so that's what he would get.  And yeah I gotta admit, he had a real good point.  

As far as specific choices, I don't think you can beat either an OC polymer or carbon bump.  Especially now that they both come with a metal shroud, and a lux liner.  This has simply been the most comfortable system I have ever used.  

Once that is done, it is not about the weight, per se, as it is about the balance.  Get a good counter-weight pouch on back.  I would say a good strobe as well, although some will cast aspersions at that.  

Then there's a couple more things.  A good helmet-mounted admin light is very handy.  And with the (super) high cut helmet, if you run your comms with AMP arms, it creates a (super) stable system that can't be beat, IMHO.  I barely have to cinch the chin strap.  And speaking of chin strap, that soft sock they make to go over the chin cup makes it very comfortable to wear beneath the chin.

Oh and have fun.

Don't mean to hijack the thread but what are the thoughts on the Team Wendy Epic Specialist helmet?  Looks like a great an option and less than an Ops-Core.

The TW Epic is a really good helmet for the price. Reminds me of the older Ops Core FAST LE but a bit lighter with better pads.

It's a wonderful step up from Team Wendy's other helmets.  I never could get my TW bump or ballistic to fit me well.  I'm not entirely sure why.

The specialist helmet uses the same suspension as their other helmets but there's something about the shape that works with my peanut head better.

The price is fantastic. Quality of construction is fantastic and the weight is nice as well.  I like that they went away from their proprietary rails and are offering an ops core style rail.  I would say buy one without hesitation if you want a ballistic helmet.

If you are lucky enough to have a deformed, baby sized face OR don't mind doing some modifications the Crye Nightcap can be nice. Even bump helmets are hot and heavy compared to a soft mesh helmet.

Thank you everyone for the input. I think that I am leaning towards the Ops-Core FAST SF bump right now but after I take the TNVC class in November and get some hands on experience, I will know for sure.

Used market is a goldmine right now. Quality dual units can be had under $6k. Considering you were looking at an insanely priced $5k+ mono I think you will find budget to go for a TW bump (nicer than the cheap opscore bump), or just spring for a FAST SF ballistic. Personally I am a fan of a skull crusher unit like the Tracer Tactical if you are using a mono, or a dual if only for some short hours.


Personally if I am wearing a helmet with NV I won’t use anything beside ballistic. If I do not need ballistic let’s go lightweight strap mount with a mono and enjoy less crap keeping heat on my head.


If you are absolutely new to it all just go $2500 ish for a unit from a place with stuff in stock that won’t take months to fill an order. There’s nighthawk industries and they have some cheap autogated and manual gain pvs14 elbit units.

Curious how often you've been shot at or had explosives or shrapnel hit you?

Do you wear a seatbelt all the time? How many near-lethal car accidents have you had? Do you carry a gun? How many people have you had to shoot?

Performative nonsense.

If I want ballistic protection on my head I want ballistic protection on my head. There's no trophy in life for avoiding armor or other PPE. I don't care if you don't wear armor. How many thousands of threads have been had on this forum where people discuss this very topic and for whatever reason a personal preference becomes a fragile identity to base snide remarks upon.

Ehhhhh…both answers are correct, but in my experience, the bump is more appropriate for 80% of contexts in which the modern irregular might find himself/herself.

You’re not making a bad decision either way, but my prepped and loaded gear has the bump in the pack, not my ballistic (which is an Ops Core, so it’s not like it’s that heavy to begin with).

Just ran a NVG class...and the head instructor wore a pc and a ballistic.  I asked why.  

He said, something like..."personal preference...for my protection against the larpers showing up in my classes that I know nothing about."

I ran slick -- left my belt, PC and ballistic in the truck and ran a wendy bump.  Why?  Because I wanted to focus solely on rifle shooting.  I found my wendy bump very comfortable BTW,.

I can't blame someone for wanting to wear full protection, all the time.

I never swung my leg over my sport bikes without full leathers/gear -- no matter how hot or what kind of ride we were going on.  

For my next upcoming night class, I'll likely get my rounds/hours in with full gear this time.

I want to thank everyone for their input. I guess my question at this point as far as the ballistic helmet goes is that every video that I have seen shows rifle rounds zipping through them (IIIA) so unless you are only worried about potentially being shot with a handgun, you might as well just get a bump (unless you are LEO/MIL)? Though, I'm going to assume the ballistic will protect you from splatter/spalling where the bump will not. Or am I totally off on this?

There’s a video of a Marine in Fallujah getting shot in the helmet (MCH) by a sniper and surviving thanks to the helmet. It won’t stop a 90 degree impact at close range, but as distance and angle increase, it may stop some rifle rounds. The other big thing that a ballistic helmet stops is fragmentation. Whether or not that’s important is up to you.

OP, I just got a Fast Bump from TNVC.  Very light and comfy.  While ballistic would be nice, just because, I wanted the ventilation the Bump provided.

That said, the Fast ballistic is only 1/2 pound (or so) heavier that the Bump, so if weight is the only concern, then it is just about money 🤪