8 tips to help YOU choose the right RIOT HELMET size

Are you ready to find the perfect fit RIOT HELMET? In today’s environment, it is important to be protected, but it is even MORE important to make sure you and your team’s protective gear fits correctly. Protective garments that do not fit correctly can expose users to risks, as well as be uncomfortable for long operations. Check out some tips below to make sure you choose the right sized riot helmets for you and your team.

1. Determine who will be the users of the riot helmets. 

Are you buying a riot helmet just for yourself, or for your whole team? It’s important to know exactly who will be using the riot helmet in order to size them correctly. Questions such as height, head size, gender, and body stature are all important when determining the users of a specific riot helmet.

Does your team usually switch out riot helmets frequently? If so, a one-size-fits-all helmet helmet like EDI’s TERMINATOR-X Riot Helmet may be a good option. But if your team keeps helmets individually and has a diverse head size then a multi-size helmet such as EDI’s PROTEC-X Riot Helmet may be the best option. 

EDI’s tactical specialists are happy to discuss this with you and make suggestions about sizing. Contact us for advising today.

2. Pinpoint where and how the riot helmet will be used. 

Is your primary operation in street riots? Are you regularly deployed to contain prison riots? Will your riot helmet be used for barrier guarding operations (BGOs)? It is important to determine in which environments your riot helmets may be used in order to choose the right size.

Some helmets like EDI’s TERMINATOR-X Riot Helmet are designed with a steel face cage primarily for prison extraction operations and are meant to be very tight. On the other hand, EDI’s Bubble Riot Helmet is designed for gas mask use for street protest operations and should fit a bit roomier. Make sure to discuss with your riot helmet provider before placing an order of helmets to make sure they can be used well in the desired applications. 

3. Determine how frequently you will use your riot helmet. 

Some departments, need to dress up in their riot gear every week (or day), whereas other departments may only need to use their riot gear once or twice a year. If you’ll be putting on and taking off your riot helmet on a daily basis, you may want to choose a helmet that has a more universal fit such as EDI’s Mini Bubble Riot Helmet or TERMINATOR-X Riot Helmet.

Additionally, if you are using a riot helmet along with a riot suit, such as EDI’s universal fit TURBO-X Riot Suit, then you may want to also opt for a universal fit riot helmet. 

4. Will you keep your riot helmet if you switch positions? 

What will happen to your riot helmet if you switch positions within your department and you no longer need to use it? For smaller departments with limited budgets or grant funding the riot helmet may need to be re-used. In situations like this, it’s important to keep in mind whether a multi-size helmet such as EDI’s PROTEC-X Riot Helmet should be ordered, or if a universal sized riot helmet may be a better long-term option for your department. 

5. What is the climate where the riot helmet will be used? 

Less of a question pertaining to sizing, but an important topic nonetheless. Does your riot helmet offer anti-fog treatment on the visor such as EDI’s PROTEC-X Riot Helmet? Does it have proper ventilation holes on the back? Will you be wearing a thermal balaclava underneath the riot helmet?

All of these question should be carefully considered before choosing the riot helmet model that fits you best. EDI’s tactical specialists are here to help discuss this with you via email or phone. 

6. What happens when you receive a riot helmet, and it doesn’t fit someone on your team (or yourself)? 

No need to panic. There are many options to resolve a loose, or tight, helmet. Firstly, if the helmet is too loose, you can try adjusting the inner chin strap to make it tighter. All of EDI’s Riot Helmets are equipped with strong non-rust buckles and durable nylon suspension straps in order to adjust the helmet to the user’s head.

If the helmet is too tight, try also adjusting the straps to be looser, or even removing the rubber chin cup all together.

You can always call or email an EDI tactical specialist to discuss sizing and see what can be done to ensure that the correct helmet can fit the correct user. 

7. Request a T&E (testing and evaluation) sample. 

Any reputable riot gear / riot helmet supplier should always have a set-aside stock of samples to send out to departments to try and test out. This is the best option to try on a riot helmet for you and your team before making a department-wide purchase.

EDI proudly provides T&E samples to departments across the United States and internationally in order to make sure police departments are 100% confident in their sizing decisions before placing an order. 

8. When should I start thinking about procuring riot helmets for my department and thinking about sizing? 

In today’s environment riot gear providers are working overtime to help make sure security personnel can stay protected in all environments – whether in cities, rural environments, correctional centers, parks, sporting events, and many other situations.

It’s important not to delay critical equipment purchases such as riot helmets, riot shields, or riot suits; or even ballistic gear such as ballistic helmets and ballistic shields. If budget is a challenge, then contact your riot gear provider to learn about programs and grants that can assist you in getting the gear your team deserves.

EDI’s specialists are happy to guide you to a list of grants which have helped many departments previously. Please contact us today, and one of our tactical specialists will get back to you immediately.  

And please, STAY SAFE.