How To Choose The Best Chainsaw Safety Helmet?

A chainsaw safety helmet provides protection against three main hazards.

One, accidental impact to the head from falling branches,or chainsaw kickback. Two, noise from the chainsaw’s engine and three, flying chips and debris.

To provide full protection, chainsaw safety helmets include earmuffs and a mesh face visor.

In this buying guide, we review the best chainsaw safety helmets you can buy online. Our picks are based on the construction and design of the helmets, their level of protection and customer feedback.

But first, some tips to keep in mind when shopping for a chainsaw safety helmet.

What to Consider When Choosing a Chainsaw Safety Helmet

a) Certification

Look for these three European certifications.

  • EN 352-3: The standard for earmuffs that are attached to safety helmets.
  • EN 397: The standard for industrial safety helmets.
  • EN 1731: The standard for mesh eye and face protectors. Look for a safety helmet with a metal mesh, not a plastic one.

Having these three certifications indicates that the helmet has met the basic minimum protection requirements.

Note: Goggles are not included with most chainsaw safety helmets. But they are essential for safety. Fine bits and debris can still pass through the mesh.

b) Size and Fit

Similar to chainsaw trousers, boots and gloves, a well-fitting safety helmet is essential for safety. A loose-fitting or too-tight helmet will not offer the best protection.

Chainsaw safety helmets don’t have specific head sizes. Instead, they have an adjustable harness or straps that allow you to tighten or loosen the helmet depending on the size of your head. There’s usually a knob at the back of the helmet that you use to adjust the harness.

For a snug fit, most chainsaw safety harnesses also come with brow and chin straps.

c) Light and Breathable

A well-fitting safety helmet is important for comfort. So is the weight of the helmet.

With advances in technology, manufacturers have been able to create very strong helmets with high impact resistance using lightweight materials, usually hard plastics.

There’s no hard and fast rule regarding the weight of chainsaw safety helmets but the ideal maximum weight is around 1kg.

In addition to weight, also check the helmet’s ventilation. A helmet with good ventilation keeps your head and face cool and sweat-free.

Most safety helmets incorporate small holes around the helmet that allow air to flow in and out. This keeps you from overheating when working in the sun and prevents sweat build-up.

Talking of sweat, look for a helmet with a sweatband if you tend to sweat a lot when working with a chainsaw. It will keep the sweat from getting into your eyes.

d) Visibility

For forestry pros and tree surgeons, visibility is an important part of staying safe. We recommend a brightly coloured safety helmet that is easy to spot from far away.

Black, green, grey and brown colours don’t stand out much in the woods. They can also be hard to see from a distance.

Better helmet colours for visibility are yellow and orange. These can be seen even in low light conditions.

The Best Chainsaw Safety Helmets Reviews

1. Stihl Birch Helmet Set with Ear Defenders and Anti-Dazzle Visor

Genuine Stihl Birch Helmet Set with Ear Defenders and Anti-Dazzle Visor

 

Stihl is known for their quality products. Their Birch safety helmet is no different.

It’s sturdy but lightweight and conforms to standards EN 352, EN 397 and EN 1731.

The Birch helmet comes complete with earmuffs and a mesh screen.

The Peltor earmuffs keep out most of the engine noise. They are designed with a soft seal that sits comfortably around your ear, allowing you to keep the helmet on for long period.

The screen shields your face and eyes from flying wood chips. It has an additional feature you won’t get with mesh screens on most other helmets: anti-dazzle protection.

Light glare can affect your vision and cause an accident when you are working. The visor reduces glare when you are working in the sun.

Remember that the visor does not provide full protection. You’ll still need to wear goggles to keep out finer debris.

The Stihl Birch helmet has a one size fits all design, meaning there’s no specific size to select. But you can adjust the inner webbing to achieve a comfortable fit over your head.

The helmet also comes with a leather sweatband to keep sweat out of your face and eyes.

What I like about it:

  • High quality construction.
  • Adjustable fit. The face shield is also adjustable.
  • Anti-dazzle protection.
  • Lightweight and comfortable.

2. McCulloch PRO016 Protective Forestry Helmet

McCulloch PRO016 Protective forestry Helmet with Semi Professional Quality Safety Hat

 

Stihl products are high quality but they can be pricey. If you are on a budget, the McCulloch PRO016 forestry helmet is a pocket friendlier choice.

That doesn’t mean it is lower quality. It is well made with hardy but lightweight construction. As for certification, it is compliant with standards EN 352-3 and EN 1731.

The helmet comes as a complete kit that includes comfortable earmuffs to block loud engine noises and a metal visor to shield you from flying wood chips.

The visor reduces visibility only slightly so you should still be able to see what you are doing.

The McCulloch forestry helmet is designed for maximum comfort. Like other helmets, it doesn’t come in different sizes. Rather, you adjust the inside webbing until you get a perfect fit.

McCulloch’s ratchet system is super easy to use. You can tighten or loosen the helmet with just one hand without taking the helmet off your head.

Egyptian cotton inside the helmet provides a breathable and cool environment, which you’ll appreciate when working in the sun.

The helmet also comes with a sweatband that’s been tested to ensure it doesn’t irritate the skin.

What I like about it:

  • All-round face and head protection.
  • Very comfortable to wear.
  • Adjustable fit.
  • Bright yellow for visibility.

3. Oregon 562412 Yukon Chainsaw Safety Helmet

Oregon 562412 Yukon Chainsaw Safety Helmet with Protective Ear Muff and Mesh Visor

 

If you are on an even tighter budget, the Oregon Yukon chainsaw safety helmet is the cheapest of our picks.

The manufacturer doesn’t mention anything regarding certification, which is probably one of the reasons it’s cheaper than other helmets.

Another possible reason for the lower price is that the helmet is made from polypropylene (PP) plastic, not ABS like in some premium safety helmets.

PP has lower tensile strength. But don’t worry; it’s still sturdy enough to resist impact from branches, debris or the kickback of a chainsaw.

The adjustable stainless steel mesh screen provides additional protection from debris and wood chips. But it will not stop very fine particles. You should wear safety goggles under the visor.

The Yukon helmet also comes with earmuffs for hearing protection.

A 6-point harness fits snugly over your head. You can adjust it to ensure the helmet stays put when you are working.

The helmet requires some assembly but it’s easy to put all the parts together. However, don’t rely on the included instructions. They are almost impossible to follow. Use the pictures to know what part goes where.

What I like about it:

  • Good value for your money.
  • Good head, face and ear protection.
  • Adjustable fit.
  • Includes 6 ventilation holes to keep you cool and sweat-free.

4. Wolf Safety Hard Hat

Wolf Safety Hard Hat Combination Helmet Set with Protective Ear Defender Guard and Face Visor EN352-3 EN397 EN1731

 

The Wolf safety hard hat is another good choice if you are looking for an affordable chainsaw safety helmet.

Unlike the Yukon helmet, the Wolf helmet has all the requisite certifications: EN 352-3, EN 397 and EN 1731.

It is a complete protective kit that includes a hard hat, ear defenders and a mesh visor.

To provide a good fit on different head sizes, the helmet comes with an adjustable harness on the inside. Use the knob at the back to tighten or loosen the harness for a snug and comfortable fit.

The helmet also comes with a brow strap and chin strap, both padded for comfort.

One thing customers love about the Wolf safety helmet is that it comes mostly assembled.

Unlike most safety helmets where all the parts are separate and the assembly instructions are usually inadequate, you only need to attach the visor to the Wolf helmet. Takes only a few seconds.

What I like about it:

  • Compliant with European standards.
  • Adjustable fit.
  • Bright yellow colour for easy visibility.
  • Easy to assemble.

5. Silverline 140873 Forestry Helmet

Silverline 140873 Forestry Helmet Forestry

 

This is one of our top value picks. It provides excellent protection at a very affordable price.

It is tested against EN 352-3, EN 397 and EN 1731 standards, so you can be sure it will perform as expected.

The impact-resistant hard hat shields you from falling branches and debris. It can also save your life in case of a vertical kickback.

The metal mesh visor stops wood chips from hitting your face and eyes. You can raise the visor up when not in use and lower it down when you start cutting.

A pair of ear defenders shield your ears from the chainsaw’s noise.

Like other chainsaw safety helmets, the Silverline helmet has an adjustable fit. Twist the knob at the back to loosen or tighten the harness.

It also comes with a chin and brow strap for a snug fit.

What I like about it:

  • Helmet includes ventilation holes to prevent heat build-up.
  • Affordable.
  • Adjustable fit.

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