Msg ID:
2821640 |
MSA Gallet or Alpha Eagle? +3/-1
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Author:between the 2
6/9/2024 10:31:00 AM
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I know there's been handfuls of discussions on here comparing helmets, but I'm only interested in the Gallet or Alpha Eagle and will be using it also at night with NVGs. Please for those of you only who have used them both and can compare the 2 to each other, which would you prefer and why? Either route I'm planning on upgrading the liners, getting ANR, and maybe another upgrade or 2 here or there. |
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Msg ID:
2821645 |
MSA Gallet or Alpha Eagle? +5/-0
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Author:Farmer
6/9/2024 12:59:15 PM
Reply to: 2821640
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I wore the Alpha for several years, at first without NVGs, and wasn't bothered by anything other than what I considered to be cheap design. I hated the little ear cup straps you pull on to don the helmet. The whole thing just seemed fragile compared to the SPH-5 I had owned and was was used to. When I started wearing NVGs, I found it to be horrible. I had to use so much counter weight to make it wearable that the lightweight design/selling point of helmet was negated. The company then switched to a Paraclete and I found it to be an improvement but still needed enough counter weight that my old man neck was really starting to protest.
I recently purchased a Gallet from Merit, and so far it is my favorite helmet of the 4. Merit was great at tweaking the fit for my huge head. A new nape pad eliminated the dreaded "hot spot" I was getting.
My preference from favorite on down:
1) Gallet (only complaint is that the inner shield hits my eyeglasses)
2) SPH-5 (I liked the ear cups set in the fabric, comfortable despite being the heaviest)
3) Paraclete (very close to second, good retention system, poor wiring on volume knob and CEP connections)
4) Alpha Eagle (huge profile, flimsy, not NVG friendly) |
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Msg ID:
2821780 |
MSA Gallet or Alpha Eagle? +2/-0
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Author:Try them on first
6/10/2024 6:35:33 AM
Reply to: 2821645
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I disagree with Farmer. I find the Alpha Eagle (latest edition) to be the best helmet out there. Once you sync down the ear cups it is far quieter than any helmet I have ever owned.
The Gallet is good, lightweight but for me not being able to use the inner visor with my eyeglasses was a no-go.
I started with an SPH4 and have tried all versions of the SPH since and they don't work for me.
Get a skull cap and least try your friends on before you purchase, a lot depends on your head size/shape too |
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Msg ID:
2821646 |
MSA Gallet or Alpha Eagle? +3/-0
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Author:OCONUS IP
6/9/2024 1:07:53 PM
Reply to: 2821640
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Gotta agree with Farmer! I've used them all, plus the SPH-4 (yeah, I'm that old) and the HGU-56. The Gallet is my favorite by far, and the one I use today. Thwe glasses issue is real, but managable. |
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Msg ID:
2821782 |
MSA Gallet or Alpha Eagle? +2/-0
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Author:Gallet would be my pick
6/10/2024 10:41:15 AM
Reply to: 2821640
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The gallet gets my vote and I've had 3 brands in my career. The fit and weight of the Gallet is superior and so is the build quality. My last employer bought the Alpha Eagle because it was the cheapest and you could tell why. The parts felt like super cheap plastic and some of the metal even started to have corrosion on it from the humidity of Louisiana.
I'm in a Gentex (employer bought) now and contemplating buying the Gallet because it's that much better.
Hope this helps, cheers... |
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Msg ID:
2821815 |
MSA Gallet or Alpha Eagle? +2/-0
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Author:Try...
6/10/2024 5:09:46 PM
Reply to: 2821782
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An HGU-84...
Bought one 14 years ago and will never go with anything else. Fits perfectly, cut for wide ambient vision, lightweight, comfortable with NVGs, and relatively custom fit to your head...
I tried the Alpha Eagle and Gallet, but for me, not an option. The SPH-5 is like wearing a bowling ball on your head. However, it is a robust helmet.
At my age though, my head is most likely hard enough I no longer need a helmet...![Cool Cool](s/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-cool.gif)
v/r
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Msg ID:
2821783 |
MSA Gallet or Alpha Eagle? +4/-0
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Author:Alpha Gallet
6/10/2024 10:55:02 AM
Reply to: 2821640
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My two cents...
Both are nice, I find the Alpha the easiest to get comfortable consistantly. The ability to make adjustments quickly and easily every time you put it on is nice. Using it with NVG's I didn't necessarily like. I found it to hold the NVG's away from my face further than I would have liked, and it's a bit flemsy. The mounting system is a little funky and by all things HOLY do not manipulate the visors when you have the NVG mount installed if you have gentex pins on it. Say bye bye to your outer lens if you do. I also found the Alpha to be quite bulky and I found myself always hitting my head on things, especially back when I was slinging. Always moving your head inand out of the door I always had to kink my head in a weird way to get it to fit, which is why I bought the Gallet.
The Gallet I find to be significantly more comfortable..... WHEN it is adjusted right. However, getting the adjustment right is a pain in the @ $$. Everything can only be adjusted by velcro which leads to a lot of putting it on, taking it off, adjusting, putting it on, taking it off, adjusting. Etc... The noise reduction seems to be better in the Gallet also which makes sense given the design. It is also quite a bit less bulky. With the NVG's I find it to be quite a bit more solid and you don't have to worry about scrating the ever living *bleep* out of your visors. Another one of our pilots just got a Gallet with the Boise, with leather cups installed and MAN THAT THING IS NICE! feels like a cloud is hugging your head. I think if I purchase another helmet I'll probably go for that option.
The SPH-5 I used to have, honestly was probably the best compromise between fit and function. However the weight was pretty unbareable at times.
I would say if you have the ability to borrow some peoples, try out a couple different ones and see what works best for you. Just putting them on isn't really enough though, you need to really wear it for a couple hours with the NVG's on to really get a feel for them and then you can decide. |
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Msg ID:
2821786 |
MSA Gallet or Alpha Eagle? +4/-1
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Author:Ems
6/10/2024 12:08:26 PM
Reply to: 2821783
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Pilots wear their helmet for a max of like 5 hours a week......
ask a utility guy what helmets the best as they beat theirs up and actually put them thru the gauntlet.... |
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Msg ID:
2821885 |
MSA Gallet or Alpha Eagle? +3/-0
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Author:just me
6/11/2024 10:18:31 AM
Reply to: 2821640
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I think both helmets are not bad.... the shape of your head will determine which one is best for you. I love the Gallet but it dosnt fit my head very well... The Alpha fits me better. |
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Msg ID:
2822404 |
My favorite helmet post on this site +0/-0
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Author:rsak
6/15/2024 11:49:39 AM
Reply to: 2821885
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Whenever I see helmet posts here, I can't help but think of this classic. I'm not sure when the original was posted, but I saved it in 2012. Good for a laugh for sure.
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Where can I read Clanks stories?
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pan style="font-size: xx-small;">Author: Here's another Date: 1/23/2012 5:17:10 PM +5/-0 Show Orig. Msg (this window) Or In New Window |
Helmets
There is a lot of talk about helmets on the forum, let me tell you about my little dilemma a few years back. My trusty old SPH-4 finally died and was laid to rest after a tragic garage backing incident. Looking for a replacement turned out to be quite an eye opener, I can’t believe how much these darn things cost, why the amount of beer that could be purchased for the cost of one helmet is staggering and quite frankly more than I can bare.
Having resided myself to just using the company provided headset I still feel somewhat uneasy about not having a helmet on the old noodle. (Not that there’s that much to protect) Going out to the beer fridge in the garage I gander at the broken body of my old friend when I have a revelation. (Yes you could actually see the light bulb above my head)
Digging through some of the old boxes in the garage, you know the ones that you move from place to place but never unpack because there’s nothing in them you need, I find my treasure. I pull out my high school football helmet and place it on the bench next to my broken comrade. Before I continue I must explain that, yes I did play high school, of course I played high school football, all real pilots played high school football. Now back to the resurrection.
With a fresh beer in one hand a screwdriver in the other I remember that vodka and beer gives me the runs so I set down my drinks and pick up my tools. This is going to work, the ear cups fit and the mike boom attached to the facemask with duct tape. The visor, what to do about the visor I ponder as I get another beer from the fridge, the beer fridge, my beer fridge that my wife will put leftovers in from time to time, man that makes me mad but what do we have here, colored plastic wrap? Wow when did they start doing that? I go to the pantry and I’ll be dipped in pickle juice, colored plastic wrap, I pull off a sheet and place it over the facemask, it sticks, cool. Now for the price of a roll of plastic wrap, some duct tape and a few bundle ties I have a new aviator helmet. Sometimes I wonder just how I got so smart, it really looks good and the more I drank the better it looked, I cant wait to get back on shift and try it out.
With my new prize in my helmet bag I go to work with a skip in my step just like a kid with a new toy. During my preflight I plug it in and talk to myself over the intercom, works great, and hang it on the hook, I’m ready for action.
It didn’t take long and the tone blasted, launch. With the helicopter started I look up at the medic and motion to pull the plug from the APU, she stands there with the deer in the headlights look, I motion again as she wakes up and pulls the plug, secures the door, and gets in. Nothing is said as we get to the pad and the crew gets out to go package. Sure is a nice day as I sit on the step on the side of the helicopter waiting for the crew. A short time later we are loaded and back in the air, and on our way. Landing at the big city hospital we are greeted by a security guard and two other hospital people waiting at the edge of the pad for the blades to stop. Doing the two-minute cool down thing I notice the people pointing, talking and pointing some more, I worry that there is something wrong with the helicopter but they all have smiles on their faces. I’ll do a good walk around when I get out and we get the patient going.
Ship looks great as the crew comes back out on the pad, the nurse walks straight to the nose and points to my helmet hanging on the hook. “What the heck is that”, just like my mother did when she found my stash when I was nine. “That’s my new helmet”, I said quite proudly as I was waiting for them to notice so I could show them what a pure genius can do. “You’re not wearing that thing”, she states quite boldly as I am now puzzled at her reaction. “And why not” I say in a confronting manner. “Its stupid and people are laughing at us she bellows”, “Stupid, I’ll tell you what stupid is, stupid is you walking around the hospital with your helmets on twenty minutes after we land”, (me laughing), “you should hear what the staff says about you, now lets go”, I climb in and grab my helmet, CLEAR and off we go.
Not one word is said on the way back, we land and out they go to the quarters, that’s right, go sit on your eggs and light up those phone lines I think as now I have a full case of the ass. I need to cool down before I go in so I take advantage of a beautiful day and wash the helicopter. After about 45 minutes I go inside, both doors closed for their rooms and two phone lines lit, cluck, cluck, cluck, I smirk as I sit in the command central recliner and fire up the Mexican channel.
I must have dosed off as the phone ringing startled me, Klank, “line two” is bellowed down the hall a moment later, I bet this is going to be good. I just love talking to the area manager about self-induced medical crew crap. We dance back and forth for some time as the word Professional is bantered back and forth and I throw the when the company provides helmets I will be happy to wear it and the like, this continues for some time.
I stood my ground and actually wore him down; finally he says loudly, "Wear your darn helmet but, the shoulder pads have to go!"
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Msg ID:
2822443 |
My favorite helmet post on this site +0/-0
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Author:why did I bother reading that
6/16/2024 4:44:28 AM
Reply to: 2822404
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I don't understand why he was wearing shoulder pads |
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Msg ID:
2822569 |
NONE of the Above +0/-0
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Author:Gentex you sir
6/18/2024 9:03:39 PM
Reply to: 2821640
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they all are no bueno |
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Msg ID:
2823783 |
MSA Gallet or Alpha Eagle? +0/-0
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Author:Whichever
7/5/2024 11:46:24 AM
Reply to: 2821640
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provides the coolest wear, aka lowest head temp. Wiring/avionics can be adapted. I always wore suspension types, adapted to my wearability. Generally hate helmets unless needed in the normal and practical sense of operations such as military and HAA. Not fun banging one's head on a door frame or other parts of the machine just because 'time is of the essence' and the 'hurry-up' attitude prevails. |
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