Forestry helmet vs arborist helmet

[PoginyHill]

I have always worn a Husqvarna or Stihl type helmet with screen face shield and ear muffs using a chainsaw. But they've always had one quirk or another - visor doesn't stay down well, head adjustment etc... and generally not very comfortable. I've noticed arborist helmets that seem (maybe because of necessity) to be more comfortable, although a chin strap could be annoying. They are pricey, but I'm willing to part with a few dollars in exchange for more comfort. I'm not aware of any safety tradeoffs going to an arborist helmet. But I do understand that a "ground" helmet system is not suitable for a climbing arborist. I do not climb trees, so all my chainsaw work is on the ground. Any opinions of one type versus another?

[dgdrls]

I have a Petzl with the snap-on ear protection.  The suspension system is very adjustable
making a comfortable fit easier.  The face shield is available too.

Bottom line if its not comfortable you're less likely to wear it.

Shop the systems a bit.

D

[mike_belben]

i have a petzl vertex vent climbers helmet with the 3m eye and ear system.. it all just snaps in.  i put a new face screen on it a few months ago.  came from baileys. comfy, good suspension, chinstrap doesnt bother me unless i have a big beard getting pinched now and then. everything snaps in and out, parts are available and the vents open and close. 

only one i ever had so i cant compare it to any others. 

[teakwood]

Pfanner Protos Helmet | TreeStuff

best helmet ever, no need for the chin straps, you remove them

[Tin Horse]

I'll second the Phanner. Fully adjustable and all components replaceable. Got mine with clear and tinted glasses. Earmuffs retractable. Vented for hot weather. Breaks down easily for cleaning. For me it is the most comfortable I've ever worn. Pay once.

[Old Greenhorn]

A fella I Know has the Protos and I had a look at it. Really nice hat, a little funky looking, but who cares? I really like the stow away ears, very nice not catching on things and the fit and finish are quite nice. I didn't know you could get clear shields, that's nice too.
 I am not a pro and don't really need something that high end. I switch between muff and ear plugs depending on weather and mood or workload. I can't stand flip ups because they catch everything. I have enough trouble with the face shield. I use a full brim with an add on shield and separate back of the neck ear muffs or plugs.
 That Protos is a nice helmet and the chip strap is usually just used by climbers because dropping a helmet can put a real hurtin' on the ground guy.  Not needed for ground work. I put a strap on my hat for just some odd occasions, but rarely use it. Should have had it on when I widow maker caught me in the forehead and knocked the hat 20 feet away.

[Old saw fixer]

    +1 for the Pfanner Protos.  I think the only difference between the forestry and arborist models is the chinstrap.  Mine is orange and yellow so I will be easy to find!

[Andries]

+2 for the Pfanner.
Adjustable, light and comfortable. 
The visor tips up close to the top of the helmet, so it's not banging the roof of the loader. Vents open and close for winter/summer use. Worth the $$.
.
But the biggest game changer is a communication option. A forester out felling may be working a buddy system, with a buddy doing his work a few hundred meters away. Comms might not be needed. However, an arborist usually works with a crew, the ground crew in the climbers danger/drop zone. A good communication system has the entire 3 or 5 man crew talking to each other as the job progresses. Microphone noise cancelling technology has made big advances: I can be bucking the trunk of a huge elm with the ms660 running full throttle and ask the new guy to start up the chipper and brink fuel and oil for the saw when he returns. No yelling or baseball hand signals, just voice and a bit of machine noise in the background. A techie miracle!
The savings in sweat, effort and time is huge - I'll bet they pay for themselves in a year or two.

[PoginyHill]

Great info. Thanks everyone. Think I'll pull the trigger on the Pfanner. (I ordered some Pfanner chainsaw pants months ago from TreeStuff. Still on backorder). Clear shield is interesting, but didn't see it anywhere as an option or accessory.

[Old saw fixer]

     Try looking for Pfanner in clothing and safety.  The clear visor is there .

[Walnut Beast]

Great info. Thanks everyone. Think I'll pull the trigger on the Pfanner. (I ordered some Pfanner chainsaw pants months ago from TreeStuff. Still on backorder). Clear shield is interesting, but didn't see it anywhere as an option or accessory.

Did you get the helmet? And pants ? Do you like them?

[Walnut Beast]

+2 for the Pfanner.
Adjustable, light and comfortable.
The visor tips up close to the top of the helmet, so it's not banging the roof of the loader. Vents open and close for winter/summer use. Worth the $$.
.
But the biggest game changer is a communication option. A forester out felling may be working a buddy system, with a buddy doing his work a few hundred meters away. Comms might not be needed. However, an arborist usually works with a crew, the ground crew in the climbers danger/drop zone. A good communication system has the entire 3 or 5 man crew talking to each other as the job progresses. Microphone noise cancelling technology has made big advances: I can be bucking the trunk of a huge elm with the ms660 running full throttle and ask the new guy to start up the chipper and brink fuel and oil for the saw when he returns. No yelling or baseball hand signals, just voice and a bit of machine noise in the background. A techie miracle!
The savings in sweat, effort and time is huge - I'll bet they pay for themselves in a year or two.

Great info. Do you have the safety glass/sunglass insert ?. On the communication system does it only work with another helmet system?

[OddInTheForrest]

+3 for the helmet. Its awesome. Ive had mine for a year, just love it. Had to get a different insert for it, to fit my head, apart from that, its really nice. As far as communication goes, I got a motorbike intercom, Sena SMH10. Fits really easily, connects to my phone, and has intercom and noisedampening features. And came in at 90USD, a cheap price for here in norway.

[PoginyHill]

Sorry, @Walnut Beast , I guess I missed your Jan 1 post.
YES - I've been using my Pfanner helmet since summer and love it. Very comfortable, easily adjustable (wearing a welding hat or balaclava vs nothing), and ear muffs work well. (I see my wife's lips move, but can't make out what she's yelling  ). I ditched the helmet straps as I rarely find myself upside-down. But I think it would still be on my head.

Pant's finally arrived (maybe September). I found them a little warm in the fall, so I didn't use them much. But I never tried the zippered vents on the back of the legs - that might make a difference. Been using them in colder weather. So much better than chaps - less bulky. Can easily move around the woods and snow without getting chaps hooked on every branch I walk by or over. In the most recent cold weather (single digits (F), I like to avoid chainsaw work in sub-zero temps - thankfully my livelihood doesn't depend on that!), I put insulated coveralls over the pants and still very easy to get around.

In milder weather I use lightweight coveralls (avoids me needing heavy jackets and keeps pitch and dirt at bay.) Love my collection of coveralls.

I was wearing the Pfanners around the house this past weekend and wife says, "are those your chainsaw pants? Are they THAT comfortable?" Yes, they are.

[lshobie]

I have the Protos and it is ok, the sweatband is vinyl so in the summer it just drips drips into your face, I use mine a lot and ive notices that the mounts for the earmuffs are getting sloppy.

That being said I bought the Stihl Bluetooth helmet and it is complete garbage for the price - broke already - the earmuff mounts are cheap plastic.

[Andries]

@Walnut Beast I missed your question too, apologies.
“ Great info. Do you have the safety glass/sunglass insert ?. On the communication system does it only work with another helmet system?” 
I’ve stayed with the screen mesh visor cause it won’t fog up the way a plastic lens visor would. On a cold day, my breath will freeze on the mesh a bit, but that’ll happen down low on the mesh, where it doesn’t matter much.
We got the Sena comms system and it works out really well. When we’re doing tree work, five guys can be making game calls to keep things coordinated. On one tree job, a home owner was watching us take out five dead oaks on his property and didn’t realize we had the microphones under the visor mesh. He was amazed at how well we worked together as a team and wondered if we figured out how to mind-read each other.  🤫 
My son has rigged up the same comms system for Peltor ear muffs (no helmet) for when we’re both on loaders. We built a property wide berm at his place and the comms system saves so much hand signals and yelling and mis-communicado.
Snow removal (him on the Trackless blower, me on the loader w bucket) goes much better too.
Picking a comms system is a bit like picking a cordless tool brand. We like the Senna after doing a bunch of reviews and sniffing them over. . . and I don’t think the different brands talk to each other. That may have changed recently, idk?

[Walnut Beast]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Andries on the flashlight do you like it or would you get it again ? As the mount has to be installed by them I was told. Thanks 

[Andries]

I only have the comms attach point at the back of my helmet.
No light attachments over here.
Maybe someone else posted that?

[PoginyHill]

Protos helmet and Pfanner chainsaw pants under the coveralls.  A year ago you would have seen chaps over the coveralls. This is much more comfortable.



 

[Andries]

That is a great idea, going to give that a try soon.
I’ve got the ‘Ventilator’ version of the Gladiator pants, and man, they’re cheek chillers when it’s cold out!

[John Mc]

Those of you who have used the Pfanner pants (especially the Pfanner Ventilation Pants), have you found the waist sizes run true to size? From their size chart, the mediums should fit me perfectly, but some reviews have said they fit snug, and to go up a waist size. Going from a 36 up to a 38.5" waist just seems as though it would be far to baggy to me. What has been your experience?

[PoginyHill]

I normally wear 30 or 32" waist pants (Dickies, Levi's, Carhartt). The small Pfanner ventilation pants fit well. If anything, maybe a bit big. If I didn't wear a belt, they would probably slip down my hip more than I would like. But I think Xsmall would be too tight for me.

[Andries]

I normally wear 36 and the Pfanners fit well.
The suspenders they make to go with the pants are well worth adding to your order as well. 

[John Mc]

I normally wear 36 and the Pfanners fit well.
The suspenders they make to go with the pants are well worth adding to your order as well.

Was that the medium size Pfanners or the large?

[Andries]

XL

[Walnut Beast]

Revisiting this thread and about ready to pull the trigger on a 
Pfanner
Protos forestry helmet. Are you guys that have them still pretty happy and are they pretty comfortable. I have a husqvarna one from years ago and i know it would be wise to wear it but I end up wearing radio ear protection instead. No head protection! Having a good  helmet like these would make me wear it and it seems if you get the clear lens that you could change it out and it would work fantastic for metal fabrication also.

[PoginyHill]

Wore them both yesterday (helmet and Pfanner pants). Still very happy with them.

[Tin Horse]

I've had the helmet for about 5 years now. Love it. Would never go back to anything else. 

[Andries]

X2, what Tin Horse said.
The Senna communication earmuffs are worth it too. 

[Old saw fixer]

I'm still happy with my Protos helmet!  I'd like to try the chainsaw pants one day.

[teakwood]

The chainsaw pants i use since about 10 years, i'm on my second pair. would never go back to anything else

[Skeans1]

How many years are these plastic hat good for?

[Walnut Beast]

The company says five but I bet everyone isn’t switching them out unless it’s a company 

[Skeans1]

@Walnut Beast 
For what they cost they should last longer then 5 years, here’s a good question why don’t more use aluminum hard hats?

[Walnut Beast]

It’s on the way . The lens system is really slick they have. So I added a smoke lens

[Walnut Beast]

You guys that have these I can see why you are very happy! I’m very impressed with it. Thanks for all the feedback from you guys that have them! The sunglasses are amazing how they work and rotate up in there.  

 

 

 

    

[Old saw fixer]

@Walnut Beast
For what they cost they should last longer then 5 years, here’s a good question why don’t more use aluminum hard hats?

Are there aluminum hard hats that are still made in the USA?

[Old Greenhorn]

Yep, Skull Bucket. I like mine a lot and no expiration.

[Walnut Beast]

@Walnut Beast
For what they cost they should last longer then 5 years, here’s a good question why don’t more use aluminum hard hats?

Are there aluminum hard hats that are still made in the USA?

Baileys has two styles full brim and hard hat. But no thanks! Without integrated ear protection, face shield or different shades that flip up out of the way that’s all in one package it’s pretty tuff to beat that fits and is extremely comfortable that you want to wear!

Expiration or no expiration having head gear on your head is what counts. I bet if there were independent tests on the helmets after five years they would be just fine. I doubt many people are throwing their head gear out after the expiration. A good company insurance policy and old inventory roll over at companies that use them

[Ianab]

Plastics mostly deteriorate with UV light. I'm sure a plastic helmet would last longer than 5 years with "normal" use. But they rate it at that in case some one is using it in the desert 6 days a week. The plastic will be getting a bit brittle by then. 

For a business, replacing safety gear after 5 years isn't unusual.  It's the same with kids car seats. They have a "use by date" because the plastic tends to deteriorate from being left in a hot car, and no one knows for how long. They guarantee they will last ~7 years, after that?

[Skeans1]

@Walnut Beast
For what they cost they should last longer then 5 years, here’s a good question why don’t more use aluminum hard hats?

Are there aluminum hard hats that are still made in the USA?

Baileys has two styles full brim and hard hat. But no thanks! Without integrated ear protection, face shield or different shades that flip up out of the way that’s all in one package it’s pretty tuff to beat that fits and is extremely comfortable that you want to wear!

Expiration or no expiration having head gear on your head is what counts. I bet if there were independent tests on the helmets after five years they would be just fine. I doubt many people are throwing their head gear out after the expiration. A good company insurance policy and old inventory roll over at companies that use them

They do make face shields for we have one they come in both a clear shield or mesh screen. As far as hearing protection goes ear plugs are the standard but I do seem to remember seeing an add on deal with muffs. 

[Hogdaddy]

How heavy is the Protos helmet?

[PoginyHill]

I would say about the same or maybe lighter than a typical plastic hardhat with add-on face shield and earmuffs. But the comfort makes them seem lighter whether it actually is or not. I don't have experience with aluminum hardhats.

[Tin Horse]

How heavy is the Protos helmet?

Just checked mine. 1lb. 14 oz. Muffs/ shield/ and sunglasses.