Accessorizing Your Helmet
Five Petzl users tell all about their favorite helmet accessories.
May 4 2020
Petzl offers a wide range of accessories for tower workers, arborists, rope access techs, wind techs and more. Accessories are great for added protection against hazardous elements, weather, flying objects and loud environments. All Petzl eye and face protection accessories are certified to the ANSI Z87.1 standard to be compliant with the OSHA eye and face protection regulation.
VIZIR & VIZIR SHADOW
The VIZIR SHADOW is an eye shield with a 2.5 solar protection filter and clips into the sides of the VERTEX and STRATO helmet using the EASYCLIP feature. Ryan Torcicollo, an arborist for more then a decade and manager of the Park City Sav-A-Tree branch said, “I’ve used the VIZIR SHADOW for years now because it’s lightweight, compact and I never notice it on my helmet. I love having added eye protection when cutting, especially on windy days when the dust is kicking back into my face.”
VIZEN & VIZEN MESH
The full face shields, VIZEN and VIZEN MESH protect the eyes and face. Jimmy Kiethly, owner of Outlook Window Cleaning, seen washing the iconic windows of the Petzl America office, has been in the window washing business for more than 20 years. “I use the VIZEN when power washing or drilling holes in rough surfaces because that can be dangerous. It doesn’t fog up on you and keeps your money maker intact.”
EXTENDED CHINSTRAP
An extended chinstrap for the VERTEX and STRATO is available for those who find the standard chinstrap too snug around the neck and ears. Neal Gyngard started as a wind technician in 2008 and has spent the last three years building Tower Climbing Grease Monkeys, an online community for wind techs around the world. Neal said, “I love the Petzl hard hat, but there was one thing that bugged me. The straps would rub under my ear lobe when I had the chin strap clipped. After we installed the chin strap extension that issue was taken care of.”
EAR PROTECTION
The VERTEX and STRATO are also compatible with the 3M Peltor earmuffs and the SENA Tufftalk Bluetooth earmuffs. Keith Luscinski, a former Vertical Access technician for 11 years as a rope access supervisor and project manager, SPRAT/IRATA Level 3 and also a SPRAT Evaluator, said his favorite helmet accessory is the 3M Peltor ear muffs that snap into Petzl helmets. “Hearing protection is one of the hardest types of PPE to remember to wear because hearing damage is so insidious. When you get something in your eye, that's immediate feedback that you should be wearing safety glasses. But the effects of hearing damage take decades to surface. Having hearing protection always mounted on your helmet allows you to don it quickly, and also remove it quickly to communicate with co-workers.”
Photo credit Vertical Access LLC
BEANIE
Steve Petty, a former firefighter, Sheriff's (Reserve) Deputy for 8 years and Sheriff's Search and Rescue team member for 21 years said that, “this past winter, the BEANIE with windstopper material over my ears really helped keep me comfortable and focused during cold & windy rescues.” The BEANIE is a cap, designed to wear under a helmet, to keep the head warm during cold and extreme weather.
Additionally, all Petzl professional headlamps are compatible with the VERTEX and STRATO helmets when using the proper mounting accessory.
Learn more about Petzl helmet accessories:
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