Best Hard Hats

The MSA 475407 Natural Tan Skullgard Hard Hat is the toughest, most durable hard hat from the company yet. Made from high-strength phenolic resin, the hat withstands radiant heat as high as 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Besides that, its ANSI/CSA Type I compliant construction tells you that the hat will also be able to protect you from vertical impacts and penetrations. The difference here is that the model is also ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 (Class G) compliant, offering dielectric protection capping at a considerable 2,200 volts.

Setting protection points aside, the Skullgard is all about the Fas-Trac™ III 4-point suspension system. Using flush rear lug attachments, the system eliminates pressure points. Next, the system offers three nape strap adjustment levels so that you can customize the fit. Then, you have the graspable ratchet providing extra-smooth rotation as well as a steadfast hold. Last but not least, the ratchet comfort pad will contour to the back of your head, improving airflow and preventing hair-pulling.

The paint will start chipping off with time, that's where the product loses a few durability points. Even so, people that are involved in steelmaking and heavy machinery will not find a better option than the MSA 475407 Natural Tan Skullgard Hard Hat.

The Evolution Deluxe 6161 280-EV6161-10V is also a pretty tough nut to crack, fitting construction sites unlike even the most expensive helmets. Adopting a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) shell, this hat will protect you from falling debris, while its full-brim profile provides extra protection from sun, glare, and rain. To add more, the brim features finger grips around the front and rear and textured underside, reducing glare and reflection.

Sometimes, the manufacturers behind these hard hats focus too much on protection and forget about comfort. This is not the case with this hat though. On the contrary, the 6-point suspension system, using textile straps, ensures comfort without sacrificing performance. Meanwhile, the Chamlon™ sweatband, employing an Egyptian cotton core and a porous PU coating, gives you ample sweat absorption, with the vents promoting airflow and wicking away moisture.

On a less positive note, even on the lowest adjustment setting, the hat sits too high on the head, somewhat compromising the fit. Still, with the Revolution™ wheel ratchet, at the very least, you can make sure that the fit remains firm.

When all is said and done, the Evolution Deluxe 6161 280-EV6161-10V is practically unrivaled at balancing comfort, protection, and performance, making this vented hat a pretty easy choice to make.

The Pyramex Safety Ridgeline Full-Brim Hard Hat sticks to the basics and we're more than fine with that. Not the most important part but, to start with, you can choose between blue, yellow, red, gray, white, black, and many other colors. What's more important is that, made from high-density ABS thermoplastic resin, the hat remains relatively lightweight (around 13 ounces) yet pretty strong. While being ANSI-approved and, earning the Class E, G, and C certifications, it fits construction workers as well as electricians, with the latter crowd praising the hat for its hardness, gloss, toughness, and electrical insulation properties.

What they are not praising is the sweatband. It is effective, sure, and also replaceable and machine washable, making maintenance a breeze. But the band also takes more time to dry than you would expect, so you can seldom wash it one day and have the sweatband available the next day.

What you can and will have available the next day though (and the day before and after that) is the hat's low profile, sitting on the crown, keeping the fit secure yet comfortable while offering more coverage than high-profile hats. In other words, if you want protection without compromising the view, the Pyramex Safety Ridgeline Full-Brim Hard Hat is your best bet.

Even among the strongest, sturdiest, most rugged helmets, the Lift Safety HDF-15NG DAX Hard Hat manages to stand out. First things first, the model comes fitted with a fiber-reinforced resin shell, offering solid impact protection. Second, the hat integrates a triple-reinforced crown, providing even more impact protection. Like that's not enough already, this hard hat also introduces a perforated synthetic leather dome with a molded EVA foam insert to the mix. Apart from making the fit more comfortable, the insert also absorbs shock, so even sizable debris should not cause considerable damage.

Sure, due to these safety solutions, the model also becomes quite heavy, weighing almost one whole pound. But, from where we're standing, this is a trade-off that most people who work in dangerous environments should be fine with.

What these people should also be fine with is the oversized ratcheting fitment dial that lets you adjust the size even while wearing gloves. Likewise, the non-slip grips on the brim will enable comfortable transportation even with wet hands and gloves.

To sum up, the Lift Safety HDF-15NG DAX Hard Hat will make 100% sure that even the most dangerous environments will not be able to cause head trauma.

The ERB 19948 Omega II is a little less versatile than the hats we have discussed above, hence the respectable but still last spot on this list. What separates this model from its slightly more impressive competition is the protective cap that the hat is using, whereas the models above are fitted with full brims. As you can imagine, that means less protection from snow, rain, sunlight, and glare. But, considering that the hat also costs less than 9 bucks, we cannot really complain about that. We certainly cannot complain about the accessory slots on this hat that accommodate various eye-, face-, and hearing-protection equipment, from safety goggles to ear muffs to dust masks.

Aside from that, the model boasts a moisture-wicking brow pad that prevents the head that is wearing this hat from feeling stuffy. Plus, the pad is easily removable and machine washable. Finally, the Mega Ratchet secure-fit mechanism, featuring an easy-turn knob, lets you customize the fit without removing the hat. Each turn will automatically lock the fit with 50 meshing teeth, making the position firm and secure.

Without going into unnecessary and obvious details (like the fact that the hat accommodates chin straps), the ERB 19948 Omega II is an affordable and, as far as most jobs are concerned, reliable hard hat.