Night Vision Helmet Strobe

[aslrookie]

I am looking at three strobes. Hel star 5 exo, hel star 6, and the MS2000 (M2). My idea behind the strobe is for dual purpose use. Not only for shooting at night with others using NV but also to use while I am in the mountains as a device for SAR. Either to save myself or someone else I come across.

The 6 is the latest and greatest, but it seems like too much going on with the switches and options.

The 5 exo is more streamlined and simple in operation, but a buddy of mine said his 5 (not the exo) delaminated.

The MS2000 is bulky, but it’s commonly used by SAR. It also seems to need more retention than the others on a helmet because it doesn’t contour the shape of a helmet.

 

[TNVC_Will]

Hel-Star all day long for me. I’ve got a 5 & 6. The 5 isn’t bad and I like how flat it mounts but I prefer the 6. It does a better job signaling 360-wise compared to the 5. The switches on both are easy to find and use. Very intuitive once you start using it.

They have a bunch of different options. Mine is vis steady green/steady green with white high flash and IR dim flash/IR high flash. Don’t remember the model. The white high flash works great.

Buy from a reputable dealer because there are a lot of airsoft knockoffs

 

[aslrookie]

Hel-Star all day long for me. I’ve got a 5 & 6. The 5 isn’t bad and I like how flat it mounts but I prefer the 6. It does a better job signaling 360-wise compared to the 5. The switches on both are easy to find and use. Very intuitive once you start using it.

They have a bunch of different options. Mine is vis steady green/steady green with white high flash and IR dim flash/IR high flash. Don’t remember the model. The white high flash works great.

Buy from a reputable dealer because there are a lot of airsoft knockoffs

Yeah I’ve come across those. Damn airsofters lol. Do you have the added retention piece with the cord or are you just using the velcro on the 6 itself?

 

[TNVC_Will]

Made my own with shock cord. The base has holes in it. I fed it through the vents on the helmet and cinch it with an itw cord lock so I can take it off when I need to. The Velcro works good but I’ve snagged stuff plenty of times when free hiking so prefer the back up. Nothing worse than burning up fun time looking for lost stuff. I don’t turn it on unless there’s a need for it.

If you won’t be running with other NVD users and just want a SOS strobe (always have something) I’d get a headlamp with SOS and wear it around your neck. I do this too because when you take a break and put your lid down, you’ll have it ready to go.

 

[TheGerman]

I never liked the footprint of the attached tail on the 5. My only problem with the 6 that I have is that the method of changing it from visible to IR light is a total pain in the ass via the small plastic clip/arm that you have to pull up and rotate that's also rediculously thin and just a matter of time before it snaps off. You also can't easily manipulate it while its on your helmet with is really a big CON.

The output on the 6 is probably the best of all the units I've used and own, but the visible/IR lever thing is stupid.

I have the 6 on one of my helmets and the VIP light with a velcro mount on the other. I tend to prefer the older VIP even though my issue with it is the much easier possibility of a light ND while rotating the settings.

 

[TNVC_Will]

On mine you just pop the front switch lever up/down to go from vis to IR. I’m not sure which gen I have but I remember when I bought it seeing a version like yours. It’s to avoid accidentally white light IIRC

 

[aslrookie]

I am going to order the hel star 6. I like its smaller footprint and better at 360* as far as light visibility.