Top 10 Best Carbon Fiber Hard Hats in 2020 Reviews

Last updated: 05 March 2020

Carbon fiber hard hats are used to protect the head from unsafe debris during road or building construction projects, electrical projects, mining or chemical plants. They look like hard hats but are more durable, lightweight and expensive due to the extra materials, such as hydro dip, that they are manufactured with. That way, they won’t be as easily broken in case something dangerous falls. They are also designed to withstand up to 2200 volts if an electrical repair job goes wrong.

Best Carbon Fiber Hard Hats (2020):

Lift Safety DAX Carbon Fiber Full Brim Hardhat

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Pyramex Ridgeline Full Brim Hard Hat

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MSA 475407 Natural Tan Skullgard Hard Hat

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10. HDPE- Hydro Dipped Full Brim Carbon Fiber Hard Hat

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This HDPE is actually a subtle blood red color because it’s hydro dripped in red and made of plastic. It also comes with a silver brim.
Designed to encourage cool air flow and keep the rain off of the back of the neck. It’s also equipped with a fas-track ratchet style.
It’s a Type 1 Class C and meets all of the type 1 requirements. The webbing is standard MSA and NSI.
Weighs 1.17 pounds.

It’s received a mix of reviews. These carbon fiber hard hats have been many compliments about its color and its easy adjustment. Those seem to be its main features. However, there have been some complaints that it feels heavy and that it lacks suspension replacements.

9. CJ Safety Full Brim Fiber Glass Hard Hat with Fas-Trac Suspension

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As its name suggests, it’s primarily made of fiberglass. It weighs only one pound and two ounces. This seems to be its main feature.
It comes in four colors: black, grey, gold and white.
It comes with four-point adjustability and a ratchet-style suspension, a soft and replaceable brow pad, and replaceable headbands. However, the vents are not adjustable. The chin strap, on the other hand, is replaceable.
Meets ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Z89.1, Type 1 and Class C standards.
The full brim is designed to fully shield against falling debris.

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It has received mostly positive but still a good mix of compliments. A good majority have mentioned that it’s comfortable and that they can feel the lightweight. Many say that it fits well and that it’s easy to adjust. However, it does not seem to be designed for oil fields as there has been at least one complaint that it doesn’t provide the proper ventilation or headband material for it.

8. Carbon-Aramid Fiber Hard Hat ANSI-ISEA Certified

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Made of the same stuff that’s used in the military and aerospace projects. It contains a combination of carbon fiber and aramid.
Comes with an eight-point adjustable up to 63 centimeters headband suspension with a knob-like close.
Designed to fit lower on your head to make working in tight spaces easier.
Weigh 10.8-11 ounces, however, this not listed officially. it is designed to prevent head and neck strain. It’s ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 certified, Type 1, Class C. The weight seems to be its best feature.

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It has received a total of 11 reviews so far and only six are U.S.-based. They are all 5 out of 5 stars. It has received the most compliments for being lightweight and having a snug fit. The only criticism so far is that it’s been known to chip slightly if it’s dropped.

7. RIDGEROCK Full Brim Hard Hat Safety Helmet

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It comes with an HDPE full brim. It is designed to be easy to remove when you still have your gloves on.
The sweatband is washable and the chin strap is easily adjustable.
Weighs one pound, six ounces. It has a six multi-point suspension and an EZ lock adjustable ratchet design. The soft clothe x straps make for a comfortable fit.
Designed to shield from the rain and sun. It is designed to withstand electrical, industrial and utility projects. You can also easily put your company’s logo sticker on it. As a result, the brim seems to be its main feature.
Meets both OSHA and ANSI Z89.1 standards as well as Class C and Type 1.

Over 80 percent of the reviews that this has received up to this point has received five out of five stars. It has received compliments on everything from affordability to serving drydocks. However, there have been some complaints about the adjustability and a lack of offers for replacement bands.

6. ACERPAL Full Brim Pyramex Carbon Fiber Hard Hat

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It comes in several different colors from pink to white.
Weighs slightly less than one pound at 13.8 ounces and has up to a four millimeter thickness.
Is ANSI-Z89.1, Type 1, Classes E, G, and C
Ratchet suspension is designed to be easy to adjust.
Has low center gravity for the rear padded suspension. It comes with six-position harness points for neck comfort and you can easily move it up, down, forward and backward. This seems to be its best feature.
The sweatband is replaceable. The polyurethane and padded fabric provide nice breathing room for full-time work.

This has received almost 80 percent of five out of five stars. It has especially been complimented for comfort, the goodness of fit, ease of adjustment, doing well with electrical projects and oil fields. There have been a few complaints that some have arrived with a four- instead of a six-part suspension.

5. ACERPAL Adjustable Full Brim Hard Hat Safety Helmet

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It comes in several colors from red to white.
Weighs 13.3 ounces and comes with a soft replaceable brow pad.
Meets ANSI Z89.1, Type 1 and Classes E, C and G. It also comes with a three-year money-back guarantee in your full purchase amount.
Fits head sizes six and a half to eight inches and its headband can adjust up to 26 and a half inches. This seems to be its best feature.

So far, this has received a 78 percent five out of five stars. It has received compliments on holding very well in emergency response situations, for successfully shielding against the rain, the ratchet adjustment, and vents. However, there have been some complaints that it doesn’t hold headlamp clips very well and that it sits too low on some heads. One disadvantage is that it comes with only a four-point suspension.

4. MSA 475407 Natural Tan Skullgard Carbon Hard Hat

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This is made for electrical environments. It is a Class G and made to withstand temperatures of up to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit and up to 2,200 volts. It also fits ANSI Z89.1. So this is its most useful feature.
They are designed to fit heads that are between six and a half to eight inches. It weighs 24.1 ounces.
One neat thing about it-it darkens over time. It’s primarily made of polyresin and fiberglass.

It has received a mix of reviews. It has received a lot of compliments for not sitting too high on the head, comfort, withstanding up to nine pounds of falling concrete, and to also be good in plumbing jobs. However, it has received a lot of criticism for missing features, especially the suspension and the brim cracking.

3. DAX Carbon Fiber hard Hat – Full Brim Matte Black

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It comes in several colors from light brown to white. Also, it weighs between 17 ounces to exactly one pound. It meets ANSI Z89.1, Type 1 and Class C.
A couple of its other main ingredients are fiberglass, clarion synthetic leather, and EVA foam to prevent shock to the head. It also comes with a moisture wicking foam back to prevent perspiration build-up. The crown also has a triple reinforcement. These seem to be its main features.
Its six-point suspension is at the top of the feature list.
Unfortunately, it does not come with headlamp attachments so something like sticky backs or s-shaped wires is needed for that.

It has received 74 percent five out of five stars. It is said to fit comfortably in large heads, it doesn’t scratch easily and the synthetic leather and carbon are very resistant to debris. There have been a few complaints about it sitting too low on the brow, about the suspension system and the latches not staying.

2. Pyramex Ridgeline Full Brim Carbon Fiber Hard Hat, Matte Black Pattern

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It meets ANSI Z89.1, Classes E, C and G, Type 1. Depending on the material, it weighs between 7.6 and 13.9 ounces.
It’s most highlighted feature is that its four-point suspension can be converted to a six-point. It is extremely easy to adjust.
Replaceable soft brow and headbands are also available.
It comes in seven totally different colors from yellow to graphite black.

At this point, it has received 82 percent five out of five stars. It has received a lot of compliments on comfort, for shielding against any falls, durability, easy adjustment, and stylishness. Full-time workers and even those who work double shifts have said that The comfort holds up well during the long hours.

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One disadvantage, though, is that if you have long hair, it tends to pinch on it. As a result, it’s advisable to pull your hair back or put it up while you’re wearing it. The paint also tends to melt in high heat. However, it is overall very good with construction projects and hobbies such as woodwork.

1. Lift Safety DAX Fifty 50 Carbon Fiber Full Brim Hardhat (Yellow)

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It weighs 1.7 pounds, 550 grams with suspension and 425 without. It also provides a six-point suspension for maximum comfort. This seems to be its best feature.
Comes in a yellow, orange and white front with a black back.
Comes with a brim grip, reinforced crown, a synthetic leather dome, and an EVA foam insert. It also comes with a moisture wicking foam to prevent perspiration build-up.
Meets ANSI Z89.1, Type 1 and Class C.

This has received a 76 percent five out of five stars up to this point. It has been complimented for its comfort but unfortunately, most of them haven’t been very specific. However, it has been criticized for not feeling super lightweight, being too expensive, odd strap fittings, the paint chipping and fading to a different color over time.

Buying Guides

Buying Guides for the Best Carbon Fiber Hard Hats:

How do I know which are the best carbon fiber hard hats for my company?

Well, for starters, you need to consider what kind of company your company is. For example, if your company involves working with electrical voltage, you do not want a simple Class C hard hat because they’re made of aluminum and designed to shield only from debris impact. Instead, you want to make sure that they’re also of classes E and G. If you’re company is simply a construction and remodeling company that doesn’t involve electrical work at all, then you can get a Class C.

Class E stands for Electrical and Class G stands for General. The main difference between the two is that G is designed for low voltage areas and can successfully shield against up to 2,200 volts. Class E, on the contrary, is designed to stand up to 20,000 volts.

Hard hats are built to serve as protection against falling debris and high electrical voltage. They are like motorcycle helmets for hazardous worksites. Just like motorcycle helmets protect the rider from head impact during a fall or a crash, hard hats and carbon fiber hard hats protect the workers from voltage, flying and falling debris.

So, What’s the Difference Between Carbon Fiber Hard Hats and Simple Hard Hats?

Carbon fiber hard hats are much more lightweight. However, they are simultaneously designed to maintain durability and strength. They are basically an improved evolution from the hard hats of the past because they’re designed to be more comfortable to wear. They are also much more budget-friendly with a mission to put safety above everything else.

Mores, they are built to last much longer than the hard hats of the past. The minimum amount of time that most go without needing to be replaced is two years. They are also not supposed to crack or peel easily. That’s usually only if you work in a super hazardous environment with constant voltage or constant sliding or falling debris.

Other Benefits of Owning/Wearing Carbon Fiber Hard Hats

Aside from the obvious protection from debris, the best carbon fiber hard hats also have a full brim to shield against the sun and rain. They also come with easily adjustable ratchet suspensions for your own custom fit. There are also soft brow pads that are washable and replaceable. They also often come with chin straps and little ear muffs. The hats of the past didn’t have any of the above luxuries. Workers had to wear earplugs when operating something like a jackhammer or a drill. The fact that they now come in different colors is actually quite handy. For example, orange and neon stand out well at night.

How To Choose The Right Hard Hats:

When Do You Need To Wear It?- Although hard hats are designed to protect, there are also categories of hard hats that you have to consider. There are 3 classes of hard hats based on the level of the protection that you need. Choose which one you need.
Carbon Fiber- Carbon fibers are unlike conventional hard hats. It is lighter, stronger, and durable. It is also more comfortable to wear, and because of innovation, it is lighter compared to the old style of hard hats. When it comes to the price, it is expensive, although you can assure that this product can fully protect you because this type of hardhat cannot easily be cracked when a hard object hit it, and it is made to last long.
ANSI Approved- Any hard hat must be ANSI approved. Select the appropriate type and class of helmet that you need to avoid having problems in the future. Type 1 is for top protecting and Type II is for the lateral. The safety of a person is what we are talking about here, and it is important that they wear proper safety helmets because they are risking their lives.
Suspension and Style- There are many styles of hard hats when it comes to the suspension of hard hats the popular ones are ratchet and pin lock. A ratchet suspension adjusts a ratchet at the back, while the pin lock adjusts it with pins and holes at the back of the hat. You have to consider which one is better for you. There are also vented and non-vented carbon fiber hard hats. A vented one is the one with small slots that encourage the air flow, while the non-vented has no slots. For people working outside, it is important to get the vented one because overheating is a serious thing that needed to be prevented.

There are three classes of hard hats that are based on the level of protection that they provide from electrical hazards.

Class C (Conductive)– It does not offer electrical protection. It only protects you from falling debris.
Class E (Electrical)– It can protect you from electrics that rate up to 20,000V.
Class G (General) – It can only protect you from electrics that rate up to 2,200V

FAQ

FAQ:

a. Are carbon fiber hard hats OHSA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) approved?

Yes. Every hard hat, including carbon fiber hard hats, that are sold on the mainstream market, has to be OSHA and ANSI approved. The OHSA legally requires construction, mining and electrical workers to protect themselves at work at all times. Countless lives have been saved as a result.

All of the above-mentioned hats are Type 1. This means that they are designed to reduce the impact of falling debris to the top of the head only. Type 1’s are also tested for strength, impact resistance and flammability.

There is also a Type 2 hat. Those are designed to shield from impact from the sides and the off-center of the head. For example, they’re designed to shield from sharp corners of side beams. As a result, they are usually designed with thick, dense foam and extra protective suspensions.

b. What are the best carbon fiber hard hats?

Judging from the list of the 10 above, the Carbon-Aramid Black-Blue stands at number one for being lightweight.

The Pyramex Ridge-Line Four-point Suspension stands at number two. The biggest complaint it seems to receive is pinching on long hair. Next to the Carbon-Aramid, it has received the most compliments for feeling lightweight and holding up during long hours. The best compliment it’s received is being able to stand to a falling person. Many have said that it tends to last for several years at a time.

c. What is the lightest hard hat on the market?

Comparing the list above, the Carbon-Aramid Black-Blue wins. It is said to weigh between 10.8-11 ounces but, again, this is not listed officially. However, it has so far received 100 percent of compliments for actually being lightweight.

d. What are Class C hard hats used for?

They are designed mostly to protect against falling debris and other impact hazards. However, they are not designed to shield from electrical voltage because they are partly made from aluminum. Aluminum transmits electricity.

As a result, Class C’s are mostly designed for construction projects. They are commonly worn in extremely hot environments such as weather-exposed factories and construction sites. As a result, they usually contain vents to keep the wearer cool and breathing properly.