This is epitomized by plate armor versus steel swords from the Middle Ages.
A modern dagger still creates primeval feelings when handled.
Research sources indicate that helmets are among the oldest forms of personal protective equipment.
Sumerian soldiers in 2,300 BC are known to have worn helmets into battle.
Since then, helmets continued to be important on battlefields around the world.
One of the most recognizable steel helmets is the U.S. WWII eras M1 steel pot.
It stayed in service until 1983, being replaced by a Kevlar-based design.
Hadfield Steel offered toughness combined with easy to work/shape properties.
This stems from the desire to reduce weight and increase the ballistic protection offered.
However, the age of steel has not passed and is even being revived thanks to Adept Armor.
The Adept NovaSteel helmet was initially designed for the European police market.
The Adept NovaSteel helmet (L/XL) weighs in at 2.85 lbs., including a head retention system.
This compares favorably to most composite helmets.
For comparisons sake, the current issue DOD Enhanced Combat Helmet weighs 3.3 lbs.
The NovaSteel is VPAM 3 rated.
The VPAM armor scale is European and reflects the initial market for the NovaSteel helmet.
The VPAM 3 rating signifies the ability to absorb three 9mm 124-gr.
FMJ rounds fired at 1,361 fps from 5 meters away with strikes all spaced within a 4.7 area.
Back face deformation of less than 1 is also a VPAM 3 requirement.
Back face deformation is minimal due to steel alloy construction, thus lowering concern of traumatic brain injury.
This same principle is how the NovaSteel helmet deals so well with blunt force trauma.
The NovaSteel helmet produced an average headform acceleration of 78.5Gs versus maximum allowed acceleration of 150Gs.
The Combat Circlet is created from glass-filled polymer and weighs just 2 oz.
The Ballistic Mandible provides additional ballistic and blunt force impact protection to the user.
This is distracting at best and at worst impacts performance.
An ill-fitting helmet also causes excessive neck fatigue.
Adept urges a user to take the time to properly fit their NovaSteel via provided instructions.
The Adept retention system offers both adjustability and stability with hardy adjustable buckles/binding avoiding more complex parts.
Frankly, I would have preferred a ratchet system based on previous experiences.
Two other advantages of the steel alloy NovaSteel must be brought up edge to edge protection and environmental stability.
Composite helmets offer little protection around their rims or near attachment point holes.
Specifications written for composite helmets acknowledge this with terminology of fair hits included in the literature.
Combat has nothing to do with fair.
Steel alloy NovaSteel features edge-to-edge protection.
Composite helmets are susceptible to environmental degradation.
The NovaSteel Helmet is not impacted by cold, chemical/solvent exposure, UV radiation and structural loading.
It is also heat resistant.
What am I getting at?
Imagine gear including a composite ACH stored in a trunk or other conditions commonly encountered during active duty.
This could be a problem.
Heck, even dropping your composite ACH could be problematic in terms of its structural integrity.
Comfort eases the chore of maintaining self-discipline in wearing gear.
Use with mandible installed would be more problematic.
It did with me.
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