The Loadout Blog

Gear & Optics|Gear

By Drew Bryant
March 13th, 2023, theloadoutblog.com

Hard Head Veterans(HHV) is a veteran-owned and operated company in Sweetwater, Texas. HHV manufactures ballistic helmets and accessories associated with ballistic headwear. Since the company’s inception, HHV has been making strides in the highly competitive market of ballistic and protective headwear for shooters and operators worldwide. Recently, HHV was proud to introduce its newest ballistic helmet, the ATE_Lite. The new helmet will be produced here in the United States and will feature a lightweight and adaptable design while attempting to blend performance, comfort, and price into one package.

Below is the production description from HHV on the ATE_Lite.

Product Description

Hard Head Veterans’ mission of protecting our protectors shines through with the ATE_Lite, as it provides impressive protection while also being ultra-lightweight. The helmet is made from a hybrid blend of UHMWPE and Aramid and has a shell weight of 1.6 pounds, with a total system weight of 2.3 pounds in the medium size. The ATE_Lite is a perfect blend of performance and comfort, making it ideal for extended use.

Hard Head Veterans is dedicated to producing gear that performs in real-world situations. That’s why the ATE_Lite was put to the test at the National Technical Systems testing lab, the leading independent testing lab for personal protective gear. The helmet consistently hit single digit ballistic transient deformation numbers, with an average of 8.27mm against 9mm at 1400 fps (Testing Data Here).

Furthermore the ATE_Lite has been thoroughly tested against .40 and .45ACP, with deformation numbers still far below the 24mm required for 9mm (Testing data here). FBI casualty data tells us that these three calibers account for the majority of handgun threats in the US. While many manufacturers move away from BFD testing, and even new standards such as ASTM WK70812 make this testing optional, Hard Head Veterans helmets have always been designed with limiting BFD at the forefront and we will continue to do so. The ATE_Lite has also been tested to the NIJ IIIA standards and is rated to stop .44 magnum in resistance to penetration tests.

HHV’s MicroLattice Pads not only play an important role with BFD and blunt impact mitigation, but provide unparalleled comfort, and support in the ATE Lite. Conforming the helmet naturally to each individual’s skull shape, while maximizing airflow inside of the helmet. The ATE_Lite also features Hard Head Veterans’ signature A3S Lite shroud, one of the lightest helmet shrouds on the market, weighing only 32 grams. This night vision retention shroud features rubber inserts and machined aerospace aluminum inserts that prevent movement on most common mounts. In addition to this the ATE_Lite comes standard with our patented SnapBack Retention system, which is a set it and forget it alternative to dial type retention systems that have failure prone mechanical parts.

HHV’s new ATE_Lite ballistic helmet is available now and retails for $978.99 or $764 for the stand-alone helmet without any accessories. The new helmet comes in Black, Tan, or OD Green. For more on the new ATE_Lite and HHV’s other products, click here.