The best construction helmets, compared.
Top pick: HEARMOR Voltek helmet with dual visors Best value: Centurion full-peak non-vented hard hat – The next EN 397 listing under £10 with at least 100 reviews: about £8.69, a wheel ratchet, and EN 50365 claimed without a printed class. Check the adjuster before the first shift. Updated October 2026.
A construction helmet here is an industrial hard hat, or a helmet-led kit with a visor or ear defenders, sold on amazon.co.uk. You look one when a site, a scaffold, a, or a chainsaw job still has a risk of head injury after falling objects have been designed out. Where that risk remains, the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 require suitable head protection. If there is no risk, a hard hat is not required. One UK review says the adjuster snapped on day one. EN 12492 is the claim when the helmet must stay on. The [EN 397 and EN 12492 split](/hub/occupational-safety/construction-helmet/sub/construction-helmet-en-397-vs-en-12492) matches the standard to the job. Height work, or off-ground chainsaw work, points to EN 12492, or to the mark the site names, such as EN 14052 or EN 397:2025 Type 2. Passed an EN 397 test is not certified to EN 397. The states EN 12492 and uses the first phrase for EN 397. EN 50365 counts only when that class is printed on the shell. EN 397 straps are designed to release if they snag. Do not treat every strap as a fall-arrest retention system. A chin strap counts only when the listing states it.
A construction helmet here is an industrial hard hat, or a helmet-led kit with a visor or ear defenders, sold on amazon.co.uk.
38 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +22,800 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What is the main hazard?
The HEARMOR Voltek at £29.99 is an orange vented ABS helmet at 890 g with a clear visor and a smoky visor, a rapid-dial ratchet, and a Y-style chin cup. The listing claims EN 397:2012 at −20 °C, ANSI Type I Class C, and EN 166 on the visors. The size line says 52–63 cm and a bullet says 53–63 cm. The star line is 4.8 from 50 reviews, and the captured UK sample is five texts, mostly praise for less misting than separate safety glasses. Class C plus vents is not an insulation claim. Fifty ratings are a thinner record than the 4,743 on the JSP. Buy it when you want a removable visor on an EN 397 shell and you accept that short UK sample.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A visor on an EN 397 shell when glasses mist and you can live with 50 reviews.
Less suitable: Live work, or a decision you want backed by hundreds of UK reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
Can the visor come off?
Yes. The bullets say the visor is adjustable and detachable, and the included-components line lists a visor.
Is this an electrically insulating helmet?
It claims ANSI Type I Class C and sliding vents. Class C is not an insulation class, and the listing does not claim EN 50365.
How heavy is it?
The details line says 890 g, which includes the visor set rather than a bare shell.
The JSP EVO2 at £6.99 is a white vented HDPE hard hat, made in the United Kingdom, and the listing states EN 397. Across 4.6 from 4,743 amazon.co.uk reviews, UK buyers describe an easy tighten and a shell that does not feel heavy on site visits. Many of those reviews only say it does the job, so the star line is broad comfort evidence rather than an impact result. The title is a slip ratchet, not a wheel dial. One UK review says the headband is not comfortable enough for everyday wear. A chin strap is not stated on the listing. It is the top pick here for ordinary ground work when you want the largest review file and a marked EN 397 shell at the lowest price in this set, and you do not need a wheel or an insulation mark.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Ordinary site visits where a light vented EN 397 shell is what the job needs.
Less suitable: Live electrical work, a wheel dial, or a chin strap the site has already required.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the JSP EVO2 vented?
Yes. The amazon.co.uk title calls this white helmet a vented slip-ratchet hard hat, and the listing states EN 397.
Does this listing include a wheel dial?
No. The title says slip ratchet. A wheel dial is a different adjuster.
Where is it made?
The product details give the country of origin as the United Kingdom.
The Portwest PS63 at £15.98 is an orange peakless ABS helmet, vented, with a Y-style four-point chin strap and a stated 52–63 cm wheel range. The listing claims EN 397 from −30 °C to +50 °C and ANSI Type I Class C. Class C is the conductive class, and there is no EN 50365 line. Across 4.6 from 509 reviews, UK buyers mention using the strap to meet a site rule and describe the vents as real. One review calls the back strap massive and too long, and another finds it less comfortable than a climbing helmet. The scraped page URL is B07N8C7R4B while the details ASIN is B07N8B39TT. The details line says 450 g and a bullet says a 410 g shell. It is the vented peakless option when you look up and you are not working beside live conductors.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Looking up on a warm site where a vented EN 397 helmet with a chin strap is what was asked for.
Less suitable: Live electrical work, or a head the long rear strap cannot close.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the PS63 electrically insulating?
The listing states ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 Type I Class C and says the shell is vented. Class C is the conductive class. It does not claim EN 50365.
What head sizes does it state?
The bullets say the wheel ratchet fits 52–63 cm.
Does it have a chin strap?
Yes. The bullets describe a Y-style four-point chin strap with a soft rubber chin piece.
The Centurion full-peak hat at £8.69 is non-vented HDPE with a wheel ratchet, made in the United Kingdom, and the listing states EN 397 and EN 50365. The captured line is 4.6 from 110 reviews. UK comments call the wheel easy to set, including for a site visitor, and call the shell sturdy. One reviewer says the adjuster snapped on the first day and looked cheaply made, and another says there was nothing to fasten. A further review used it under the stairs, which is not site evidence. The voltage class is not printed in the captured details, so you still read the shell. It is the best value pick here when you want a wheel and a non-vented EN 397 shell for about £1.70 more than the JSP, and you check the adjuster before the first shift.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A non-vented EN 397 shell with a wheel, if you confirm the class on the shell before any live work.
Less suitable: A hot site that needs vents, or a buyer who will not check the wheel on day one.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this Centurion hat vented?
No. The title says non-vented, with a full peak and a wheel ratchet.
Does the listing claim electrical insulation?
It states EN 50365 as well as EN 397. The voltage class is not printed in the captured details, so check the shell.
What service life does the listing state?
The bullets say it is engineered with a 5-year service life. The warranty line also says 5 years.
The black HEARMOR De-voltekvent at £34.99 weighs 748 g and lists sliding vents, a 6-point rapid-dial ratchet, a cooling liner, a bag, and an accessory slot. It claims EN 397:2012 at −20 °C and ANSI Type I Class C, with a 53–63 cm bullet. Across 4.6 from 98 reviews, UK notes call it light and useful in hot weather, including one crane supervisor who said it kept the head cool. One UK review says the rear buckle comes loose easily, so the hat becomes a loose fit. The size line in the saved listing is a placeholder rather than a measurement. It is a vented shell with a liner when the buckle holds on your head, and it is the wrong shell beside live conductors.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A vented EN 397 helmet with a liner when you have checked the rear buckle stays closed.
Less suitable: Live electrical work, or a fit you cannot re-check after the buckle slips.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the black De-voltekvent include a liner?
Yes. The bullets include a cooling helmet liner, a sweatband, and a carry bag.
Can you add a lamp?
The listing says an accessory slot can take a headlamp or hearing protection. It does not include the lamp.
What do UK reviews say about the buckle?
One UK review says the rear fastening buckle comes loose easily, so the hat becomes a loose fit.
The Portwest PS54 at £11.84 is a white ABS helmet whose bullets claim EN 397 and EN 50365, a 6-point harness, a wheel ratchet, and a 4-point chin strap. Across 4.5 from 952 reviews, UK buyers praise the rear dial and say the strap stops a nodding fit. One reviewer used the side cut-outs for a head torch. The same file says it was still too big on the tightest setting and fell off, and that the chin strap stayed too long. The details line says 410 g and a bullet says about 360 g. The closure field says Snap while the bullets say wheel ratchet. It suits you when the site wants a chin strap on an EN 397 hat and your head is inside the range the dial can actually close.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An EN 397 hat with a built-in chin strap when the wheel closes on your head.
Less suitable: A smaller head the minimum setting already failed, or live work until the class is on the shell.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the PS54 include a chin strap?
The title and bullets say a 4-point chin strap, with a 6-point suspension and a wheel ratchet.
Which weight should you use?
The details line says 410 g. A bullet says about 360 g. Both figures are on the listing.
Is an electrical class printed?
The listing claims EN 50365. It does not print a class or a voltage in the captured text.
The HEARMOR helmet with a smoky visor and SL1 ear muffs at £54.99 is a black vented ABS kit listed at 1.14 kg. The title claims EN 397 and ANSI Z89.1. The bullets describe a 6-point suspension and say the visor and muffs can be removed. The details closure is Buckle. Across 4.5 from 36 reviews, UK notes call it comfortable and secure, and one reviewer says the visor clip broke in the first week and then flapped. Thirty-six ratings are a small base beside the Portwest files. A chin strap is not stated as its own line. It is a site kit when the visor clip and the muffs stay attached, and a poor default if you only needed a plain EN 397 shell.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A visor and muffs on one EN 397 shell when you can accept a 36-review file and check the clip.
Less suitable: A plain hard hat, or a kit you need to trust after a clip has already failed.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the visor and ear muffs removable?
The bullets say the ear protection and visor are adjustable and can be removed.
What broke in reviews?
One UK review says the visor clip broke in the first week and then flapped. Other reviews call it comfortable.
How heavy is the kit?
The details line says 1.14 kg.
The Portwest PS53 listing at £15.98 is a black peakless ABS helmet sold as a pack of two, with a printed weight of 907 g. The bullets claim EN 397, EN 50365:2023 Type B Class 0, ANSI Type I Class E, and up to 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC, plus a 4-point chin strap and a 52–63 cm wheel. Across 4.4 from 2,540 reviews, buyers mention buying pairs and a strap with a release buckle that can come off. Criticism is that it sits high, the strap will not go short enough, and it is not very breathable. One review says a helmet fell from sixth-floor scaffolding and broke. That is one account, and a struck shell should be retired. The scraped URL is B071V55J3C while the details ASIN is B0H3HKKW69. A bullet says up to seven years from manufacture. It is the electrical-class pack in this set when the shell in your hand shows Class 0.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Two peakless shells when the job needs the Class 0 mark printed on the helmet you receive.
Less suitable: A single-hat price comparison, a hot vented job, or a head the strap cannot close.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the £15.98 price for one helmet?
The size line says One Size (Pack of 2). The printed weight is 907 g. Treat the price as the pack price shown, not a confirmed single-shell price.
What electrical mark does the listing claim?
EN 50365:2023 Type B Class 0, ANSI Type I Class E, and up to 1000 V AC or 1500 V DC.
Can the chin strap come off?
One UK review says you can remove it by squeezing the clip at the back. The bullets include a 4-point Y-style strap.
The white HEARMOR De-voltekvent at £34.99 shares the black twin’s EN 397 and ANSI Class C bullet family, at 748 g, with sliding vents in the bullets. The product-details closure is Buckle, not the black listing’s Ratchet. Across 4.4 from 95 reviews, some UK buyers say it stays on and mention a bag and a bandana. Others say the rear adjustment sits awkwardly and the hat never feels secure. One reviewer was unsure whether the supplied bandana belongs under the shell. Do not add that layer unless the maker’s instructions allow it. Choose the white shell only after you have checked that the closure on the page you open is the one you meant to buy.
Pros
Cons
Best for: The white shell only if the closure on the live page matches what you expected and the rear strap holds.
Less suitable: Anyone who wanted the black listing’s ratchet field, or a layer under the harness.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the closure a ratchet?
The product-details closure for this white ASIN is Buckle. The black twin's details line says Ratchet. They are not the same field.
Do reviewers mention a bandana?
Yes. One UK review mentions a bag and a bandana and questions wearing the bandana under the shell.
Does it feel secure?
One UK review says the rear adjustment sits awkwardly and the hat never feels secure. Other reviews say it fits.
The HEARMOR Mervex Vent Air at £59.99 is the only listing in this set that states EN 12492 certification. It is a vented ABS shell with an EPS liner, listed at 550 g, with a ratchet and a rechargeable lamp. The same page says it passed an EN 397 shock and penetration test, which is not a statement that it is certified to EN 397. Across 4.4 from 82 reviews, buyers like the helmet and criticise the lamp: the holder does not lock, one lamp was lost while working at height, and another review says the torch lasts about 30 minutes. A spare holder is described as expensive. It is the height-mark option here when the shell shows EN 12492, and the lamp is the part you should not rely on.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A job that needs EN 12492 on the shell, with a separate lamp if the mount will not lock.
Less suitable: Live electrical work, or anyone treating the included lamp as secure at height.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Mervex certified to EN 397?
The listing says EN 12492 certification and that it passed an EN 397 shock and penetration test. Those are not the same claim.
Does the lamp stay on the helmet?
One UK review says the holder does not lock and the lamp was lost while working at height. Another says the torch lasts about 30 minutes.
How much does it weigh?
The details line says 550 g.
The HEARMOR Voltek Forest kit at £49.99 is a 1.23 kg ABS set with ear defenders, a mesh visor, a sweat cap, and a bag, sized 53–63 cm in the bullet. The captured bullets say CE and “EN standard compliance” and do not print an EN number. The line is 3.8 from 10 reviews. One UK reviewer says the ear-defender plastic snapped on the first day and calls the kit flimsy. Another says assembly was complicated, while a separate comment calls the hard hat solid. A noise-reduction figure was asked on the listing and is not given. It is a helmet-led kit only if you confirm the mark on the shell you receive, and it is not evidence that the set meets HSE’s chainsaw line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A kit buyer who will read the shell mark before any chainsaw or site job.
Less suitable: Any job that requires a named EN standard on the listing.
Specifications
Common questions
Which EN standard does the forest kit name?
The captured bullets say CE certification and EN standard compliance. They do not print an EN number.
What is in the box?
The listing describes a hard hat, ear defenders, a foldable mesh visor, a sweat cap, and a carry bag.
What failed in UK reviews?
One reviewer said the ear-defender plastic snapped on the first day. Another said assembly was complicated. The rating is 3.8 from 10 reviews.
Eleven construction-helmet listings on amazon.co.uk were scored on 19 October 2026 from the UK product pages and the review notes for these ASINs. This comparison did not run an impact test. A star rating is not an EN 397 result, and a line that says a helmet passed an EN 397 test is not scored as EN 397 certification. ANSI Class C is scored as a stated conductive class, not as insulation. Weights are Amazon evidence 30, listing fit 35, review outcome 20 and value 15.
Amazon evidence
30%Up to 30 points. The star portion is the amazon.co.uk rating divided by 5, multiplied by 20, and rounded. Review count then adds 10 points at 1,000 or more, 8 at 200–999, 6 at 50–199, 3 at 20–49, and 2 at 8–19.
Listing fit
35%Up to 35 points, then deductions. EN 397 or EN 12492 printed as the certification adds 12. A printed insulation class adds 6. EN 50365 without a class, or ANSI Class C stated, adds 3. A chin strap on the listing adds 5, a named adjuster 4, a yes or no vent 3, a numeric head band 3, and a sweatband, visor, liner, lamp or ear defenders in the box 2. Deductions cover a details ASIN that differs from the page URL, two weights, two head-size bands, a closure field that clashes with the bullets, no EN number, and a passed-test line that is not certification.
Review outcome
20%Up to 20 points from the UK review notes. A large sample that names both a fit and a fault scores 13–15. A smaller sample with one serious fault, such as a snapped adjuster, a lost lamp or a broken clip, scores 8–11. Under 15 reviews scores 5. A chin strap, vent or class mentioned only in a review is not scored as a listing claim.
Value
15%Up to 15 points for the 19 October 2026 shelf price against the mark and the review file. Under £10 with EN 397 and at least 1,000 reviews scores 15. The next EN 397 listing under £10 with at least 100 reviews is the best value. A pack of two, a short review file, or no EN number scores lower. The price is the amazon.co.uk figure, not a promise that it is the cheapest in the UK.
Start with the hazard and the mark on the shell, then vents against electrics, then whether the harness and chin strap match the job. The notes below follow that order for these eleven listings. None of the scores is a laboratory impact test.
A construction helmet in this set is an industrial hard hat, or a helmet-led kit with a visor or ear defenders, sold on amazon.co.uk. You buy one because a site, a scaffold, a MEWP, or a chainsaw job still has a risk of head injury after falling objects have been designed out. A bump cap is not this category. Name the hazard before the brand. Falling objects point to EN 397.
ANSI Class C is the conductive class. Vented Class C shells in this set do not claim EN 50365. Insulation is a class printed on the shell, not a star rating.
The Mervex states EN 12492 and says it passed EN 397 shock and penetration tests. Those are not the same claim. The forest kit says EN standard without a number.
HSE L25 tells you to follow the maker on life, and a significant impact is a reason to retire the shell. One scaffolding-fall review is an account, not a lab result.
EN 397 is the falling-object mark. EN 12492 is the claim when the helmet must take side blows and stay on. EN 50365 counts only with a printed class. ANSI Class C means conductive. ANSI Class E and a printed EN 50365 class are the insulation lines in this set, and they sit on non-vented listings. The Centurion page states EN 50365 without a class in the captured text.
A slip ratchet, a wheel and a buckle are different. Stated bands are often 52–63 cm or 53–63 cm, and UK reviews still report a minimum that is too big or a strap that will not shorten. EN 397 straps are designed to release if they snag. EN 12492 straps are designed to hold. Follow the date clock and the maker: HSE L25’s general guide is three years from manufacture, JSP states up to five years in use, and the Centurion listing says five years.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You need a marked EN 397 shell for site visits, and you will judge it on vents, fit and price. The JSP EVO2 is about £6.99, made in the United Kingdom, with 4.6 from 4,743 reviews. It is a slip ratchet, and a chin strap is not stated.
On a scaffold, a roof or ropes, do not assume an EN 397 strap will hold. The Mervex is the only listing here that states EN 12492, at about £59.99. UK reviews say the lamp holder does not lock, so take a separate lamp if you work at height.
A kit title is not HSE’s chainsaw line. The forest kit prints no EN number. The muff kit claims EN 397 and ANSI Z89.1 in the title, at about £54.99, and one UK review says the visor clip broke in the first week. Read the shell before any chainsaw job.
In this set of eleven amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the JSP EVO2 at about £6.99. It leads on a stated EN 397 shell, UK manufacture, and 4.6 from 4,743 reviews. It is a slip ratchet with no chin strap on the listing, so it is a ground-work hat. The best value is the Centurion full-peak hat at about £8.69: the next EN 397 listing under £10 with at least 100 reviews, a wheel ratchet, and EN 50365 claimed without a printed class. One UK review says the adjuster snapped on day one. None of these scores is a lab impact test.
Centurion full-peak non-vented hard hat
The next EN 397 listing under £10 with at least 100 reviews: about £8.69, a wheel ratchet, and EN 50365 claimed without a printed class. Check the adjuster before the first shift.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file. The price bands are this set, not a market average.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the UK listings checked on 19 October 2026. We did not lab-test these construction helmets.
