
Then, we spent 1 day testing each model to ensure that it was indeed comfortable throughout a workday and to find out if it met our criteria. However, we did set each model’s suspension up and checked out the different features like lights, accessory slots, and ratcheting adjustments. Since testing hard hats is more about comfort than safety, we ensured that all our hard hats met safety standards before ordering them (other than the bump cap) so we didn’t have to hit ourselves over the head to test them. First, we put our heads together to come up with some of the most important features of the best work hats and hard hats and compiled a list of top products for testing. We wanted to ensure that we were suggesting only the very best hard hats to our readers, so we performed hands-on testing to determine each hat’s quality.

Photo: Tom Scalisi How We Tested the Best Hard Hats

This guide provides technical details to consider when shopping as well as an assortment of models to help you pick the best hard hats for a range of different purposes.īut it’s not all just numbers on a screen.

However, with various classes, materials, and comfort systems to choose from, deciding on the right model can be difficult. Hard hats are a legal requirement on many work sites, and wearing one also makes very good sense for the DIY enthusiast. At the very least, they can save the wearer from cuts and bruises. Hard hats can protect the wearer from impact, penetration, and electric shock. Head injuries are among the hazards, and they can cause long-term disability or even death. The jobsite can be a danger zone, and various home improvement projects come with their share of injury risks as well.
