Helmet

Known as the oldest forms of combat protection, helmets were worn by ancient Greeks, Romans, throughout the Middle Ages and up to the end of the 1600s by many combatants. At that time, they were purely military equipment, protecting the head from cutting blows with swords and flying arrows. They were initially constructed from leather, then bronze and iron during the Bronze and Iron Ages. World War I and its increased use of heavy artillery had renewed the need for steel helmets, which were globally introduced for the foot soldiers. In the 20th century, such helmets offered protection for the head from shrapnel and spent, or glancing, bullets. Today’s militaries often use high-quality helmets made of ballistic materials such as Kevlar, which have excellent bullet and fragmentation stopping power.

Helmets are common in the military, construction, mining and some sports, including American football, baseball, ski, snowboarding, ice hockey, equestrian sports, motorsports and rock climbing. Motorcycle helmets and bicycle helmets are compulsory headgear in some countries. The primary goal of a motorcycle helmet is to protect the rider’s head during impact, although many helmets provide additional conveniences, such as face shields, ear protection etc. A cycle helmet is specified to withstand simple falls onto a flat surface and it should be light in weight, provide adequate ventilation because cycling can be an intense aerobic activity which significantly raises body temperature.