This is another great safety helmet that comes equipped with a steel mesh face mask. A friend of mine actually uses this particular helmet at work and he’s convinced that the steel mesh face guard on this safety hat saved his eyes when a piece of flying debris from some wood he was cutting impacted the mask with considerable force. You may not run into this type of issue often, but it only takes one time to cause serious injury; that’s why it’s important to have this type of protection all the time. Extra Safety with Anti-Fog Glasses However, what differentiates these helmets is the face shield and ear protection. The STIHL ADVANCE VENT helmet has a metal mesh visor which offers 65 – 70% light penetration and ear defenders with an SNR of 27. The ADVANCE X-VENT helmet has a spring steel mesh visor which offers 75-80% light penetration and an SNR of 29. And the ADVANCE X-VENT BT helmet has the same spring steel mesh visor as the ADVANCE X-VENT but it’s also fitted with Bluetooth ear protectors which have an SNR of 27, and can be connected to your phone so you can either listen to music or communicate with the rest of your team during work. All are well-suited to work in the forest. Having the right head protection is essential when using machinery like chainsaws, pole pruners and hedge trimmers. If a branch falls on your head whilst you are working, the right head protection can make a real difference! All STIHL helmets are made from a robust material which provides optimum protection and are designed to protect your head, face and ears (meaning all STIHL helmets comply with EN numbers 352, 397 and 1731). A chainsaw is a heavy piece of equipment; while that may be unavoidable, it doesn’t mean the rest of your equipment needs to follow suit. Another great feature of this Stihl helmet is that it’s lightweight. It still provides you with solid protection from flying debris and falling branches, but it does that without unnecessarily weighing you down. Ventilation Built-In

But not all noise is the same. In addition to the strength of the sound, the distance from the source of the noise is also important. For example, the question of whether an engine is directly next to the ear while working – as with hedge trimmers – or whether it is more than one metre away, as with lawn mowers, makes a difference. So it is important to know how much noise the ear is directly exposed to when choosing the right hearing protection. You have two different choices of visors with this helmet – a mesh one and a plastic one. It’s up to you which one you prefer to use, but both have their obvious advantages. The mesh one won’t fog up on cold rainy days, but it does leave the small possibility of a splinter finding its way through the protection. The plastic visor ensures full face protection, but you do have to put up with the potential for fogging up from time to time. Adjustable and Removable Earmuffs The Chainsaw Protective Safety Helmet by Stens is one of the more affordable options when it comes to head protection for working with a chainsaw. That doesn’t mean it won’t provide you with the type of protection you need. It meets and exceeds government safety standards and it’s equipped with all of the common safety features you’ll find on more expensive helmets. ANSI-Compliant Earmuffs Ear defenders are suitable for all types of work, both indoors and outdoors. They can also be used in all types of weather. In cold temperatures, this form of hearing protection also offers the advantage of keeping the ears warm as you work. For arborists working in the trees however, look no further than the STIHL ADVANCE X-CLIMB helmet set. This helmet has been designed specifically for tree surgeons and conforms to both EN number 397 (industrial safety helmets) and EN number 12492 (helmets for climbing and mountaineering) so this is a great choice if you want a helmet you can wear in the tree and on the ground. What’s more, this helmet has large slits along the side and rear for optimum ventilation. The ADVANCE X-CLIMB has a tough nylon mesh visor with 55% light penetration and an SNR of 28. The helmet is also made from ABS polymer and has a synthetic leather inner headband, meaning it provides the highest level of comfort of all STIHL helmets. And it’s highly visible too with a number of reflective strips along the helmet.The best type of ear protection – ear plugs or ear defenders – is entirely up to you. In general, you should choose the type of hearing protection you feel most comfortable with. Ear plugs There are two differences between these helmets though. The STIHL DYNAMIC ERGO helmet has a nylon mesh visor which offers 41% light penetration and ear defenders with an SNR of 28, whereas the STIHL DYNAMIC X-ERGO helmet has a metal mesh visor which offers 60% light penetration and ear defenders with an SNR of 30. So if you need greater light penetration – particularly if you are working in the depths of the forest – the X-ERGO would be the better choice.

You can find our extensive personal protective equipment guide on the different types of PPE you need for different jobs here, but how do you know which STIHL helmet is best suited for your type of work? Here at STIHL, we have a range of helmet sets and head protection to suit different jobs. Find out which one you need below. STIHL FUNCTION BASIC HelmetThe FUNCTION BASIC helmet is made from HDPE, which is a high density polymer, meaning it’s extremely lightweight and comfortable to wear. It’s also fitted with a nylon mesh visor to protect the face and comfortable, low profile ear protectors with an SNR (single number rating) of 24 for sound protection. Slit vents on the helmet provide ventilation during use as well, which makes the FUNCTION Basic an ideal helmet for jobs in the garden. STIHL DYNAMIC Series Special designs include ear plugs with connecting straps or bands, or earmoulds which are individually adapted to the wearer’s ear canal. Ear defenders There are two basic forms: Ear plugs and ear defenders. Both types offer identical protection – there are no fundamental differences in noise protection, and they are both available in various designs for different purposes. They can also be combined with other personal protective equipment (PPE) components such as helmets or visors. The ADVANCE Series is STIHL’s premium helmet series and consists of the STIHL ADVANCE VENT, ADVANCE X-VENT, ADVANCE X-VENT BT and ADVANCE X-CLIMB. This series provides the optimum choice for professional landscapers, forestry workers, arborists and construction workers that require full head protection.