4 different fire helmet eye protection types

1) Face shield

Pros

• Protects from the helmet brim to the bottom of the firefighter's mouth

Photo courtesy of Fire-Dex.

• Some side protection for the eyes

• Can be worn with eyeglasses

Cons

• Entanglement risk due to protruding from the front of the helmet

• Heaviest eye protection type

• Can get in the way of adding helmet lights and straps

2) Bourke eye shield

Pros

• Doesn't get in the way of adding helmet lights and straps

Photo courtesy of MSA.

• Easy to deploy eye protection

• Some side protection for the eyes

Cons

• Protects only the eyes

• Can't be worn with eyeglasses

• Entanglement risk due to protruding from the front of the helmet

3) Retractable eye shield

Pros

• Light weight eye protection type

• All around eye protection

Photo courtesy of MSA.

• Non-entanglement risk due to being stored inside the helmet

• Accumulates less grime and scratches due to being stored inside the helmet

Cons

• Fits tightly to the face

• Protects only the eyes

• Can't be worn with eyeglasses

4) Goggles

Pros

• All around eye protection

Photo courtesy of Paul Conway Helmets.

Cons

• Can get in the way of adding helmet lights and straps

• Entanglement risk due to the goggle straps and mountings

• Can't be worn with eyeglasses

• Protects only the eyes

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See you at the big one.