Helmet

GEAR REVIEWFUTURE-SAFETYMANTA HelmetMany UK Fire Services feel the Manta is the answerto most of their prayers - one helmet thatdoes the lot -rope rescue, waterrescue, extrication, USAR, ATV/bike/horse riding and even wildland firefighting(though obviously noturban firefighting) and it does itto recognised certification.And it is this above all elsethat swings it these days interms of a purchasing decisionbecause if it doesn’thave the relevant EN orNFPA code, it pretty muchdoesn’t matter how good itis at the required task it justwon’t be purchased by a governmentagency.We can be pretty confident instating that the Manta is the currentlythe best multi-role helmet onthe market because in Europe it is currentlythe ONLY rescue helmet to meet thisarray of standards: EN14502, PAS 028: 2002Marine Safety Helmet & FS/1 Quad & ATV Helmet aswell as EN352-3:1997 Mounted Hearing Protectionand EN166:2002 Personal Eye Protection!Its key feature is an expanded polyethylene liner indistinct contrast to the suspended cradle of a Galletor a Petzl. Users of water rescue and cycling helmetswill be more familiar with this style of compact foamlining than climbers and we were amazed to learnthat after years of thinking that peak impact was allabout the clearance between the head and the shell(hence the prounced cradle of, for instance the Edelridhelmet) it is the solid foam liner that wins out in impactresistance, or more accurately, absorbtion. The introductionof EN14502 relating to High Performance SafetyHelmets has given technical rescue a relevant standardthat was previously only partially met by UIAA/EN12492.That’s not to decry that particular climbing-based standardbut the vast majority of protection requirements arenot from objects falling onto the crown - they are lateraland front or back impact (collision) and falling over or offof something - too many other helmets simply quoted theold industrial standard EN 397 which is far too general tobe of relevance to a modern multi-role rescue helmet.CONSTRUCTION & IN ACTIONThe Manta has a smooth ABS shell with two sets of ventilationholes that are covered by clip-on vent covers. Thesecan be supplied in different colours to allow for rank orservice distinctions within the same coloured helmet orthey can be luminous which is useful for night ops.Something that pleases the purchasing departments noend is that the Manta is a one-size fits all (52-62cm) no...really it is - it fits an 11 yearoldjust as easily as a fat-headed 60-year-old so all you average-headedfolk should have no concerns.What’s more, all of thecomponents are replaceablewhich adds to the longevityof the Manta. You can seefront-on that the Mantalooks relatively wide butin fact it’s no wider orlonger than a Petzl Vertexit’s just that it risesalmost vertically from theedges before curving toform the dome so there isdefinitely more surface areaof helmet. Adjustment is providedby a one-handed ratchetmounted on a familiar plastic headband. I found that I was uncomfortablyaware of it’s presence especiallyafter long periods of work but notone other person I’ve spoken toagreed and they all seemedpleased with the Manta’scomfort levels. Aside fromthe expanded foam linerthere is a soft foam ‘star’-shaped padding to protectthe crown and improve comfortas well as a removable paddedsweat cover on the front band.Hearing is excellent because this is acut-away helmet which I know causes discussion withsome water rescuers. Our lads felt that this was a greatdesign overall but there will be die-hard full- shell userswho will denounce the cutaway as leaving the ears tooexposed to cold and impact. That’s down to personalchoice and user-conditions.Anton Phillips one of the fire service’s Animal Rescuespecialists has been using a low-key green version withluminous vent covers for several months and makes thevery valid point that the lack of frontal peak (as comparedto standard fire helmets) is a definite plus whendealing with flailing animals in confined spaces plus thisis the only multi-role rescue helmet to comply with equineregs.Our own Gary Cross has been using both theCoastguard version (pic above) and the fire service versionmodeled by Paul in the main pic:[the Manata} felt alittle uncomfortable either side of my crown,althoughafter a short period of time it wasn't a concern, (I thinkright: The Manta with commsbeing trialled by UK CoastguardFar right: Gary Cross in midswim. The open ear is good forhearing but not so good forkeeping out the cold and wet -one of the trade-offs with amulti-role over dedicated waterrescue helmet? Note also thatthe vents are best removed whenin-water to improve through-flowand limit the forces of water actingon the chin strap.Paul Hebdige of Hampshire & Rescue was an original member of the Technical Rescue Unit whenwe first started the magazine and has never forgiven us for not having him on the front cover of thevery first issue instead of Les Agate. So here he is, resplendent in his Manta Helmet with Petzl universalheadlamp mount and Tikka XP and not at all bitter! Note theSOLAS tape and press-studsfor a full or cut-down clear face visor much loved by boat crews. Photo Gary CrossGEAR REVIEWthe helmet comes in 2 different sized foam inners?). Thehelmet has performed really well with no excess movementwhilst in whitewater, the insulating properties inwater are very good although not quite the snug fit ofmy old favorite predator or the gecko which are secondto none in freezing conditions.... I found the helmet to beunobtrusive in confined spaces and used it forInternational Extrication Competiton in Cardiff with noprobs apart from being hot( something crews shouldmonitor on baking hot days as your head is prone tooverheating no matter what the helmet. I believe therewere some complaints from USAR personnel using theearly version that the visor was striking the nose and/orbecoming scratched dusty confinedspace conditions butI have experienced no such problems with this latestmodel and they are now easily replaced.We also spoke to Humberside Fire & Rescue who werethe first in the UK to adopt Manta across-the-board andthey continue to be very pleased with performance andlongevity...........................................................................................................................................Manta comes with drop-down goggles (title pic) concealedbetween the shell and the liner. These are quitestiff on the USAR model we’ve been using and require twohands to release. But the visor is a very useful featurecommon to the best fire helmets. Also extremely useful isthe optional Petzl Tikka mount for the Tika XP head torch.It’s only a small headtorch but it packs a useful punch forsomething so easily lost in your pockets. What was notquite so useful was that even though this mount isextremely low profile with no torch on it, it still impedesmovement of the visor. Moral: put the mount higher upthe curve and utilise the Tikka’s swivel more. The expandedpolypropylene liner has an obvious insulating qualitywhich is brilliant in water and on a cold day but not quiteso good in full chainsaw or disc-cutter garb on a hot day -I found it very warm compared to a more open cradle helmetbut of course that would lack this degree of protection(and certifcation). Future-Safety have a backgroundin supply of forestry helmets and accessories so it’s nosurprise that their USAR package is pretty good with theirown wrap around mesh visor (or a full clear/ smokedvisor) married to high-spec Peltor Optime II ear defenders.The entire assembly with Tikka headtorch is about920 grams. In its most stripped -down form the Mantaweights ___ and costs ____ . Compare this to an F2 at520g and £100 or a Petzl Vertex at 465g and £47. It’s littlewonder that so many agencies worldwide from SpecialForces and Navies to Coastguard and Fire Services aredrawn to the Manta. It’s going to have alarmed a numberof the traditional market leaders who will find it difficultto wrestle back market-share for true multi-role rescuehelmets from the Manta.contact: www.future-safety.com