I got to fondle an Alpha at VERTICON last week. When I mentioned my issue with every Gentex helmet I've worn, he put me in a larger helmet that was very comfortable, but too big to be useful. Once he downsized me, the helmet was snug, and while I could feel...something...on my forehead where I normally have a problem, I wasn't getting pain. I probably wore the helmet for 20-30 minutes and didn't start getting the splitting headache that I normally do.
When I took it off, I did notice for a few minutes afterwards the lack of pressure, so not sure what that means yet.
The helmet itself seemed really nice. For my head, it needed a slightly thicker liner to raise it up, but otherwise the cups seemed comfortable and the balance was pretty good. He had a PVS-style battery pack on the back and a GoPro on the front mount, so not as heavy as with goggles, but some extra weight on there. The visor seemed nice (although sat low, again because of the liner thickness). I forgot to pay attention to how a lip light would fit on the mic, but probably isn't a big issue. The whip mic would make it a little awkward though, so I may want to go with the older wire boom. Lastly, the adjustments were easy once the tension had been set. A quick twist and the neck strop would tightnen. Push a button and twist the other way, and it releases. Not quite like an Ops-Core tension, but similar.
The guy said they have a 30 day wear warranty, so I may end up ordering one and give it a shot. It's only money, right?
