Bern Macon Hard Hat 2015

This helmet, or more accurately, hard hat, is exactly what I was looking for: something light weight, comfortable, low profile, and matte black. Chances are you'll be pulling the earflaps off and Bern makes it incredibly easy to do so (and to put them back on again should you choose). It's way more comfortable on top of goggles than my last helmet and I also found that the vents do a better job keeping me cool while hiking rails.

As far as style and comfort goes, it can't be beat.

Now let's address the elephant in the room: "But it's only a hard hat!" This is true, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. True, ASTM certified helmets are preferable for major impacts, but they are also designed to crack as they absorb impacts and should be replaced afterwards. By all means, if your throwing dubs off of 60 footers or going mach 10 through trees then get yourself something ASTM certified. Bern also makes the Macon EPS and a whole line of ASTM certified helmets.

On the other hand, while Hard Hats fall slightly short of the ASTM requirements, they are more resilient and can handle multiple lower impacts over time. If your a skier like myself who hits rails and throws the occasional 9, a Hard Hat will probably do you just fine and will last longer.

Obviously, it's up to you to educate yourself on the pros and cons of each and make that call on your own. Regardless, this is my favourite helmet I've owned thus far, considering they make it in both ASTM certified and hard hat form, all you need to do is choose which model is best for you!

• Design
  Clean
  Busy
• Weight
  Light
  Heavy
• Durability
  Fragile
  Durable
• Style
  Uncool
  Cool
• Size
  Small
  Big
• Padding
  Thin
  Thick
• Audio / Cell features
  None
  Command center
• Ventilation
  None
  Tons