At the end of 2019, the Revision brand of soldier support accessories (eyewear, head protection, and armor) split, with the various armor aspect of the company consolidating and continuing on under the name Galvion. Since then, Galvion has provided soldier support solutions and helmets to the US Department of Defense, Canada, Norway, Germany, and over 125,000 Caiman ballistic helmets to NATO forces as the conflict in Ukraine has shifted geopolitical concerns.
Today, the Caiman ballistic helmet by Galvion is on its second generation of production, with slight improvements to the suspension and helmet’s hardware over its initial design release. Intended to mitigate the fragmentary and threats faced by service members, the Caiman is tested extensively to defeat threats up to NIJ IIIA profiles. The Caiman has a 0.240” outer shell that incorporates a proprietary blend of advanced Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) material.
Exterior
On the exterior, the Caiman incorporates a high-cut approach that utilizes a helmet rail system for accessory mounting. This rail also integrates with most other popular headborne solutions (sold separately); such as eyewear, mandibles, and respirators that expand on the functionality of the helmet to include other protective systems. Additionally, two .1875” (or 3/16th inch) wide elastic shock cord/retention cords connect from the rail to any attached night vision device to aid in retention.
The dimensions of the Caiman’s exterior protective shell extends to the rear occipital lobe (i.e. the back of your skull) without interfering in full range of motion, or contacting the end-user’s neck.
A helmet shroud at the front of the helmet is a Wilcox L4 Series made from polymer, and provides a fixed point for various night vision devices, helmet-mounted cameras, or other solutions. The integrated aluminum Wilcox mounting plate is removable to account for different night vision mounting solutions without necessitating removal of the overall shroud.
Six hook-and-loop panels are positioned around the crown and rear of the Caiman for attaching various accessories with supportive mounting material.
Interior
The interior of the Caiman uses Galvion’s APEX Liner System with low-profile rubberized dial-adjustment framework for sizing. As the dial turns, the fitment band either draws in or extends to the desired head circumference.
The APEX Liner System includes; an impact liner made from a type of foam called Expanded Polypropylene (EPP), comfort liner, fitment band, and a retention harness. The comfort system includes; a four-pad front set, a three-pad rear set, two double-pad sets, and two individual pad sets placed throughout the interior for maximum protection. Each pad is ½” thick and held in place by hook-and-loop material. Also available with the Caiman (though not included) is one additional set of ¾” thick L/XL pads for the end-user to adjust the interior’s comfort.
The harness system of the Caiman features a four-point Batlskin chinstrap with slide-adjustment buckles, and a leather-lined chin cup.
Performance
During development, the Caiman was tested at Chesapeake Testing (a division of NTS located in Belcamp, MD) to meet NIJ 0101.06 standards (updated December 2023 to 0101.07) for IIIA ballistic threats in body armor. Additionally, Galvion uses its own testing laboratory, which is ISO 17025 accredited. Included in this protective value, the Caiman was also designed to defeat associated blunt force and fragmentary impacts as defined by CO/PD-05-04. Using Galvion’s performance data for the Caiman (via the Ballistic Limit (BL) test specifically for helmets—which in turn is a continuation on the previous NIJ Standard 0106.01), and the velocity data of the rounds identified, the Caiman shows the following:
The Caiman ballistic helmet is available in 499 Tan (featured), Ranger Green, Black, and newly available Multicam. It is also available in sizes between Small and 2XL.
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Good (4/5): The Caiman Gen 2 ballistic helmet has an MSRP of $1,995 and is one of the newer protective helmets on the market (second only to Ops Core’s rifle-rated XR ($2,182.00) and RF1 helmets ($3,249) that were both introduced in 2022). The Caiman ballistic helmets are specifically designed for military and law enforcement applications, and incorporate the latest materials (UHMWPE) and technology to offer protection tested to meet IIIA NIJ standards. In comparison, Ops Core FAST SF High Cut ($2,080), the EXFIL ($1,361) by Team Wendy, and the ATE Lite ($1,654) from Hard Headed Veterans are designed for law enforcement or civilian use, and meet NIJ IIIA standards. What separates all these options and delineates their price range is the level of industrial testing and development, formal NIJ testing compliance, as well as practical fielding each has undergone. Thus, the Caiman offers a good balance between cost (not being as expensive as upper-end Ops Core) and industry development using weight-saving materials that don’t sacrifice any protective value.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): From the comfort perspective, the Caiman incorporated two design aspects that gave it a good level of comfort with minimal excess bulk or material. The first being the open-cell foam padding segments inside the liner of the Caiman that did a very good job at padding the interior of the helmet and giving the wearer a soft degree of comfort. The ability to swap out padded segments for thicker padding segments also meant that the wearer was able to find a customized solution that fits them best. The second element was the low-profile adjustment dial that cinched/loosened the interior retention band to find a solid (but comfortable) hold on the head. The adjustment dial itself had a tactile and audible click when adjusted, denoting the locking mechanism inside, but slid smoothly when loosened with no modification needed. The adjustment dial was an improvement over other brands that have a ratcheting dial design but necessitates resetting the dial to loosen. The rubberized exterior texture of the adjusting dial made for a sure grip with/without gloves, but over time may separate or crack (common to that type of rubberized material over excessive use, or exposure to UV light). The sliding buckles for the chin strap did retain a solid hold and did not slip or fail to keep its position. Perhaps the only negative observation for comfort came from the design of the interior’s APEX liner system, and its lack of including a headband channel to alternatively wear electronic ear protection under the helmet. This was still done, but without accommodation of the headband slotted into a recessed channel under the helmet, the headband (which often includes an aluminum or semi-rigid material) of the ear pro pressed uncomfortably into the head. Use of rail attachments (such as the Ops Core AMPs or Peltor ARC Rail Adaptors) for electronic ear protection was the ideal solution (either off the top rail or back angled rail). Galvion could adjust for this simply by adding a channel into the APEX liner system and adjusting the removable pads to account for it.
- Durability – Excellent (5/5): The durability of the Caiman really came down to the excellent performance characteristics of the lightweight UHMWPE material that comprise the helmet’s shell. This material has been around since the 1950s and made its way into protective armor, high-tensile cordage, and bio-applications (like hip joint replacement) with a proven track record for long-term use and stable durability. It also gives the overall helmet a high degree of resistance to environmental conditions (Galvion maintains the Caiman will continue to provide protection from -60 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit), and the obvious IIIA ballistic characteristics. Throughout evaluation and dynamic movements, the helmet’s seams/edges/stress points showed zero signs of wear, nor did the suspension/retention system show any signs of fraying or slippage in the buckles. The exterior of the Caiman shell was sprayed to color, but did not have a textured matte finish that could have assisted in tactile feel and break up any potential reflection. Some minimal surface marring on the exterior was quickly noted from contact to the ground and other hard surfaces, but nothing that penetrated to the underlying material and well within the expected level of wear. Lastly, Galvion does offer a seven, three, and one-year warrantee based on the Caiman’s various components.
- Functionality – Good (4/5): Functionally, the Caiman was a helmet that did what it was intended to do, it provided the head with enough surface area to protect the end-user from IIIA level threats. The Caiman had a padding and suspension system that also provided a good level of flexibility, and enabled the wearer to find a comfortable and tailored level of retention and fit. As previously noted, the head harness and buckles provided a clear and solid lock to the nape of the head and chin, and it was noted the buckles did not inadvertently slip or become undone. The shock cord used for retention of night vision devices was the thinner 3/16th rather than the commonly used 1/8th inch type, but the hooks did not have the type to connect into the intended slots on the Wilcox mount itself – leaving the end user to only link the two under the shroud when not in use. Under IR, the Caiman did not offer any level of reflectivity or NIR concerns. Not having a headband channel in the APEX liner meant having to use a helmet-mounted or in-ear solution for ear protection, and when a set of Talking Heads SWATCOMs and Ops Core AMPs were used it was noted there was some contact between the headset’s ear cup and the helmet’s fitment band. Closer inspection revealed the fitment band does not follow the same contour line as the helmet’s high-cut shell (such as seen in Ops Core helmets) and sticks out below the edge slightly. It’s an easy solution to slowly work the ear cup under the edge of the fitment band, but something for Galvion to be aware of. Lastly, while the hook-and-loop panels on the helmet’s exterior were of good size for attaching many accessories, there was a notable space in coverage towards the front that could have aided in power cable management when using a battery pack with NVGs. Furthermore, there was no integrated routing channel as part of the accessory rails to run power cables under the rail and minimize its side profile—and it’s a suggestion to Galvion to consider adding at some point in the future. The shock cords that run along the side do suffice for this role, but the cable is still exposed. Galvion does plan on upgrading the rail design as part of its future Energy Data Grid system, which will address this and other power needs.
- Weight – Good (4/5): Weighing in between 2.38 pounds (Medium) to 2.89 pounds (2XL), the Caiman owes half of its total weight just to the UHMWPE shell itself. The remaining weight was then divided between the impact liner, padding, harness and hardware. The evaluated Caiman in this review was a size Large and weighed 2.49 pounds. This sat evenly on the head and neither pulled excessively on the head or was unbalanced. The supportive padding of the APEX liner to the nape of the neck also added good support while adding accessories like a battery pack. In contrast, the Team Wendy EXFIL (size large at 2.6 pounds), the FAST SF High Cut (size large 2.33 pounds) by Ops Core, and the ATE (size large at 3.0 pounds) by HHV demonstrate that while various companies differ in materials and design, the Caiman has a difference in terms of ounces on the market and a good degree of light weight for its protective level.
Overall Rating – Good (21/25)
Product Link: https://www.galvion.com/products/caiman-ballistic-helmet-system
I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.
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