Why would you ever need a ballistic helmet as a civilian? 

"I'm not a fan of people." I'm with Mike on this one.

I've always heard that a ballistic helmet is more important than body armor because your head is the one thing that needs to be protected even if if you're behind cover. At some point you'll have to stick your head up in order to shoot back and it won't be behind cover anymore.

I live in Alaska and a lot of Bush pilots are adapting helmets with Bose headsets to increase survival. Seems like bump helmets have other applications such as packrafting or ATV’ing. Anything where you can protect your dome.

Great content. I’m a vet who wasn’t in combat but retained the discipline and attention to detail to pick out what would work for me.

Marines need to wear helmets all the time even after we are out

As a NVG Instructor pilot circa 1983, we had to counterbalance our AN/PVS-4s (Note: not dash 15s) with neartly 2 pounds of lead weights. I found out later in the Aviation Safety Officer's course that nearly every aviation crash for twenty years (i.e., UH-1 aircraft) resulted in critical neck injury because every aviation headgear until the dash five helmet exceeded the two pounds, some odd ounces that was the limit of excess weight that the neck could safely decelerate during a crash sequence and here we were ADDING two plus pounds to the already maximum weight limit. Go figure.

Amen brother, right on point! can't be around people either

You were always my favorite channel, and the more content is badass

got a MTEK ballistic and still in the military. very happy with my purchase for my helmet and feel 100% safer when shooting

For years, I've had the old PASGT helmets for my wife and I. I upgraded them by getting rid of the headbands and replacing them with trauma pads. I was also able to install four-point chinstraps, without having to drill holes into the helmets. And of course we have the old ratcheting system of night vision mounts for each helmet. When I need hearing protection, I can wear my Peltor headphones underneath the helmet. I prefer the old PASGT helmet for civilian preparedness, because they simply cover more of your head (the stuff shown above, whether it's Kevlar or not, doesn't really protect anything in my opinion. And without the best trauma care in the World, i.e. the military, we can't afford to get hit, period.). Maybe I'm old school, but all this newer, issued minimalist crap, whether it's helmets or rifles (M4's) is a con; a defense contractor's wet dream (less material, more profit for the manufacturer). I do have airsoft replica-type ABS bump hats (non Kevlar) for the wife and I, simply because they mount night vision on your head better than the old "skull-crusher" PVS-7/14 head mounts, which look like a gay old dental retainer. I also have Princeton green LED lighting attached to the side of each one (the poor man's night vision).

Would love to be taught more about small arms handling and battlefield maneuvering.

This was *almost* the first of your videos I took issue with, until you clarified that budget was a valid reason "why not?". Love your work, thank you for the knowledge shared!

Fascinating history on the current evolution of his helmet. I just haTed my helmet OR STEEL POT in Vietnam and Federal Republic of GermNY

Thanks Mike. Touching on budget is very important. I managed to upgrade my K-Pot to make it suitable.

"Why not" is one of the greatest answers I've ever heard of.

Awesome information Mike, especially for us Retired Coastie's love this and thank you for your service.

Great pointers and content, especially now that things here in this country are getting weird. Please keep them coming and thank you very much.

My night vision is Capone. He is a 90 pound tri color bully. He stays on the ground level of the house at night. Oh I also have day/night scope and a thermal scope. Night stand gun is 10 inch 300 blackout with an AAC SDN can.

I served in the Marines from 1981-1985, and I remember being loaded down with so much gear that my feet would sink two inches into the ground with every step. It was insane. If that was required of me, today, I would be dead.

Great video Mike. We'd love to work with you when we finalize the ATE_Lite we'll be making down here in Texas. Your input would be incredibly valuable for our next iteration in combat helmets.

Them: "Hey war fighter, SHOW ME YOUR WAR FACE!!!" Mike @9:39:

Great video. You mentioned jumping in this. I would love to see a longer format video on jumps and what time takes to gain the qualifications

I am loving this new gear content so much. Keep it coming mike

Mike - Floored me bringing up Tactical Tailor : Your Ft. Lewis is showing

Over the past two years living where I do out in the country surrounded by bush… This makes me want nightvision more and more

Hay Mike Glover!! The Nods, Have Advanced. Since my first experience with them! On my 18th Birthday, Where I spent the First 3-4 Hrs! From 12am that Morning Smashing little Orange & Yellow Golfball's! All over the Golf Course, under the Moonlight. Awesome! Times they were. Awesome Times!

absolutely love this stuff!!! Thanks so much man! Can’t wait to learn about chest rigs!!

The helmet on the movie heart break Ridge was the best

$13k night vision. Holy moly! the light switch is right there

I'm really enjoying this series Mike!

Excellent, brief & informative information. It was be great to see more vids like this!

Footwear gets my vote for the next iteration of this series.

Awesome job Mike!

Been doing a lot of research on how much I should be 'gearing up'. And what I found out was quite surprising. There is a guy who studies EDC civilian shootouts, and he found out that, for example, almost none of those events happened in a low light environments. I can confidently carry my EDC without a light - whew. Most gunfights for civilians EDC are at 7-10 ft, rendering a red dot unnecessary. In fact, I'm shooting before I even have the pistol at eyeline. And I do headshots at 40 ft without a red dot, so why do I need to clutter up my pistol in that way? I've shot red dot, it's sweet in some real ways. But in terms of getting my first shots off quickly, it's actually an impediment for me. I found I could acquire the iron sites faster as the gun came up online with my eyes vs. the red dot. It was almost imperceptible but I noticed it. Sure, the follow on shots are easier to make. I'm a bit more accurate with a red dot. But I've trained enough to put 'combat effective' rounds on a target every time with my EDC and no red dot. The tradeoff in comfort carrying and simplicity is well worth it for me. I do have a light on my Glock 19 for home defense, that's the 'nightstand' gun for me. Def want light at night. I remember when I bought my light and did some drilling in my yard at night. I laughed at how stupid it was to have glow in the dark sites without being able to clearly see a target. The thing I think I could use is a simple night scope, monocular, that I could use to surreptitiously scout my property to detect an intruder/threat. But not a helmet. While I get the earpro, I simply do not think it's an issue in almost all personal defense scenarios. I do think it's good for a 'zombie apocalypse' - and I do see more and more zombies around me every day. So for that eventuality, this is a 'must have'. One of things that scares me is if we do have to fight the zombies is that they will be using 21st century tactics like infrared and night vision and other way of detecting my 'signals'. I think I'll be much more vulnerable than I'd like to think. A helmet would probably be a big help but only a start.

Mike, great video. Thank You for taking the time. Peace

imagine breaking into some dudes home to steal a TV and you see this guy peak around a corner from a shadow in full tactical gear and night vision. Dude would have a bad night.

Excellent. Thank you Brother. Look forward to more information

Mike, great content. Looking forward to seeing what your company is all about.

Subscribed, retired now. Could you adopt a manequin to dress up with all the stuff you review?? Might be a great prop as you build the Optimized Civ Warfighter standing right beside you. As new products and techs emerge, you could replace bits of kit, and keep a list of current (state of the art) AND older (usable bits) and obsolete bits ( get you killed too!) Several manequins ... one Mil (High Speed), and Civ (Low Drag) each could help us all keep perspective!! And you could use them in lecture/teaching. Example... just reviewing Plate Carriers... I'm Civ now... I need comfort grey PC under clothes... 99% of RU-vid PC reviews will make me a bullet 🧲 magnet!!! Thanks Mike!!

You had me at "Yes"

fantastic video, exactly what I needed to know. Both helmet and battle belt.

Thank you, Sir! Shared.

Thank you for your service. Your content is great!!!!!

After seeing that vid from Afgan, yeah best have it on.

Great wealth of knowledge! Thank you Mike!!!

Really good insight about the amplified hearing pro. I have some directional walkers, going to make them a part of my home defense gear.

What do you want to see next? Yes! I like it all Mike, you are a great story teller teacher/trainer and I value what you have to say. Especially in these uncertain times.

Awesome info!!!

Thank you !

thanks for sharing the content

Mike I was an Air Cav Recon Scout and a Police Officer for over 2 decades in both careers...you make too much sense, but the sheep just cannot see it...until they are exposed to the wolves. I agree whole heartedly with your comments but of course cost restraints. I have a Mich if needed but when things go bump in the night here for me it is a ...team Wendy 'bump' helmet with attached L3 gen 3 white osphor PVS 14 and IR laser illuminator attached to you know what...helmet used to avoid getting knocked out if hit in the head during any engagement...wish I could afford PVS 31 binos but then again it is still effective...just saying

Mike - you bring up budget being a concern. Could you prioritize your kit for budget purposes? I.E helmet or battle belt for "first purchase" great content!

Thank you. Im going to show this to this lady

Civilian, non combat individual, no experience on communication, do have helmet do have NV, two hand held and google. Bodie armor soft civil police vest, and 4 level heavy from start of the war. And looking more light 4 level $ only thing I don’t have. USP 45 and ar 15. Groupies of 6. Best video or videos for non experienced hang arounds. Focus and technical trainer?

I am not a fan of people too, being out of the military I have gear for the nostalgia but I never use it. I have a head strap for my night vision, I have a cell phone and not having a ham radio license I don't need comm.

I'm with Mike on pretty much everything these days.

Thanks

cool, thanks

I'll forward this to my wife for budget release-of-funds approval. Hah hah hah.

Definitely pricey !!!!! Great videos CSM

Gear rundown please because we are always at war

I gotta save for night vision. Everything seems in the multiple thousand dollar range. Not sure what would be the most optimal for worst case scenario I have to throw on a CM-7M gas mask. Sounds like a total mess and hope I would never ever have to resort to using both.

Wish we had this tech in Vietnam. Oorah, 3/4 Marines.

Mike thank you for your service and sharing it with us can you do a video on budget like what is the most important from the cheapest budget all the way up to money isn't a problem where would you start gear collecting with the budget in mind thanks 👍

Great advice!

My thoughts tend to say both yes you need the protection and no you would not need the equipment on a daily basis ...simply said if you are in a region where the protection is necessary good deal get the best you can if you are at Walmart it may be needed but not to the extent of general combat.

The problem with the NODS and IR gear is that this tech no longer owns the night as there's creative ways to detect its signature. Also our armed forces are facing folks that now have similar capabilities. Near peer type of situations. I've seen that there may be some newer NV type tools that use an pulse type frequency and different thermal type gear that has advanced. Much of this I don't understand but the gist of it is that what is current and expensive today is pretty obsolete. I've wanted to have a good ballistic helmet and be NV capable but I'm scared that investment might not be best place to spend the limited funds I have. Perhaps that is just uncertainty on my part, very well could be, but at what point does the escalation in gear peak or level off?

Cool stuff.

Thanks for the insight! What ear pro are you running?

Taking a round in the dome's always been a solid motivator personally...😉 but if you've never used nvg's...its like discovering a new dimension, that many dont have the ability to access. I can count on a hand how many ops we did daytime in the Marines. And we weren't some crazy high speed units. When anyone from the us mil says we own the night, it's a massive understatement. And ill tell you how big it still is. All the Footage out of Ukraine right now. How much, if any have you seen at night? But we geared up a ton of these cats, and some russians have similar kit. How many have you seen with rhino mounts...dead serious i dont think ive seen a mounted pair on any side yet. Not in any manner. Our guys straight out of bootcamp have trainng and access, and this applies to civilians with the same, its a straight game changer. You may have top notch rifle and pistol skills, ruck sack marathons each weekend, and beatdown chuck norris after each of those runs. It doesnt matter. your in the middle of a parking lot mid day in the summer through my view, but all you can see is black in every direction. Theres ways to plan and train to avoid that situation. But once your in it, its bad times. Now with no experience and going out getting an ar, peq ir laser, ballistic ops core, nvgs, and the time and training to go use this and safely...your into the cost of a car. And if you live in north America, even mexico unless you work for guys that have gold plated weapons, its a cost and time benefit analysis thats unjustified. But if youbcan toss a grand into a pair of old pvs-7s, it may be something theres not a lot of practical use for. But seriously one of the most incredible experiences there are. Put them on someone when you have people over and have them walk through a dark garage or backyard thats got unlit. Them just circling their head looking around seeing that the first times just fun to watch.

On night vision: All true but too expensive for the ordinary citizen.

Damnit I knew he’d talk me into it

“War on terror” my ass

Hi Very professional and educated clip as expected. May I ask please which label is the helmet from ? As well for the nice cover and other accessories on it ? I’m interested in building a helmet. Sincerely, Eran

With Russia(Putin) at our doorstep in Europe, these types of vids have become so important, at least to me, that i am considering buying armor and a good helmet. Thank you Mike for sharing. It might one day safe my life. The people ridiculing me for the past 7 years are now comming to me for information. I always politly handing them sites/channels like Mike Glover Actual, the Sean Ryan show, Tactical Rifleman and many more.... They are not laughing anymore....

"Why would you ever need a ballistic helmet as a civilian?" Cause 'Merica, that's why.

How about we talk chest rigs? Looking into them for the mountains of central Washington

This is awesome content.

I don’t disagree but money is key for people I think.

Because why not?

Do you recommend just dropping the big bucks for quality gear? Or do y’all go for affordable brands that are still good and don’t mind that?

Damit Mike! Now you tell me.. I spent way too much on plates and carrier just to hear that a helmet and belt is all I needed 😡 I'm just gonna attach chin strap on my mommas skillet and call it a day.. 🤣😂 Aye f**k all yall.. Don't judge me.. I'm broke now..

I was one hell of a commercial

You know, the funny thing is...I am from Europe, I am not a soldier or fighter in any way, seeing this protective gear and stuff and would love to have a set up for my family just in case. But our government is not allowing to get equipment to protect my family and me. So I guess they don't really care about our lives.

I was just wondering how much does it cost to be trained by him

Thanks great video, what helmet is good as far as brands, what nij rating is common?

what helmet is this specifically?

I keep a stash of Gas masks and Chem Suits, because I live near Tons of chemical plants, and rail-road tankers going by.......and they DO crash....and plants HAVE burned to the ground many times since I've been here!

I think more of us will have ample context as we move forward. Just not many of us have the disposable income. Should I buy something like this instead of groceries? Maybe, but when I'm hungry... you do the math.

If you served in an Army Infantry platoon you will know the PT belt and eye pro is the best line of defense.

I cut my noggin on my chicken coop about 20 minutes ago. If I’d been wearing a helmet I wouldn’t be commenting now.

If you have the money, then it’s an automatic Yes.

For those wondering Ops Core Helmet - $2K+ PVS 31 Nods - $11-13K Plates & Vest - $2-3k (varies on what you’re looking for could be more could be less) Battle Belt - $500-$1K (varies on what you attach and quality you’re looking for) All worth the buy if you have the money to afford. It’s not about if it’s all about when you’ll need it you’ll have it and have the advantage over the average person. As day to day people we often buy material things all the time that usually do nothing to enhance our security or protect our lives or the lives of people we love. Best to be prepared and not have to use any of these things than to be in need of these things and have none of them at all. Godspeed to all my 2A free range Americans.

Should have called this video the history of the tactical helmet…from a guy who lived through the evolution. I am a huge fan. Great stuff and am really enjoying the series.

Solid, practical advice with a clear purpose. Stepping up the game. This series is great, thanks for putting content out there that doesn’t make the lay-person feel like a dummy for not knowing all the facts already. Keep it up

Mike, truly so grateful you make these videos with an all encompassing perspective. You have a proper understanding of the history and meaning of the 2A and ability to defend yourself. This fear is not just for that Marine grunt or SF guy. It’s for the “civilian” as well.

Give it a few months of power grid down you will run low on batteries causing a $30,000 night vision to be inoperable learn how to own the night not depending on night vision

It’s weird your not a fan of people but you impact, influence, and train a lot of people.

Hey Mike... thank you for this... great info! I was hoping you were going to do a ballistic helmet vid!! What I think what would be great for future videos... would be like a "Good / Better / Best" type. Quality and what type/brand/model type etc.. is probably (in my opinion) one of the toughest things to research when I'm investing in the various pieces of kit for myself/family. Would be great to get your feedback on what kind/brand to buy based on your experience. So many people out there do gear reviews and they're great... but I'd think most people enjoy your content because its no BS ... and we don't have to worry about you schlepping for some company to earn a couple bucks. You're going to give us honest to goodness feed back and its so needed in this space. A ballistic helmet is def on my kit list to purchase, but I just cant seem to find enough reviews on enough models/manufacturers to feel comfortable dropping $500 for something good.. or $1500 for something great and is it worth spending that extra money etc.. Loved the Sig video for example... good breakdown on it for someone like myself to justify spending an extra 1k for the comp. Thanks again for all youre doing for everyone... your content is great.

Keep up the awesome work, you're helping this community so much