unless you are in need of a tactical helmet there is no need for you to pay for a ballistic helmet. They are heavier and more expensive.
I second this big time and I think I can help you some here too. I've used this stuff over 20 years now, 14's in particular, and I've got a Crye ballistic helmet. It's nice and light for armor. But a few months after I got it, the Crye soft cover came out. Vic at TNVC told me about it right away, we'd been discussing how bad the old "skull crusher" sucked. $100 + a less expensive polymer/metal shroud to keep it light and I haven't looked back. The helmet? It's nice, but it just sits in the vault. I hope I never have to use it, but I have it. IMO, if you're gonna get a helmet, don't cheap out, get the lightest 3A model they have. If you don't need head protection, get Crye soft cover. Only way to describe it is that it's like wearing a baseball cap with a chinstrap where the bill folds up and down. It's that comfortable. Can be worn with a watchcap too if it's cold. This is probably the singular best piece of NV gear, well, ever. Several companies now make new versions of skull crushers, some are expensive, but I'd just stick with the Crye soft cap. Also folds up and fits in a pocket. WISH we had this when I was in the army! Besides, really, how often do you need a helmet now? That's gonna be how often you need it when you get the NODs, no different. Other companies make comfortable headsets now, but really, I'd shy away from 'em because some are overengineered, some are just too big and bulky, and most all of them cost quite a bit more than the soft cover.
Use the Wilcox shroud, the $60 one, for the soft cover. I used the VAS shroud on my helmet and it's nice, but the Wilcox polymer/metal one will be better for the soft cover being lighter.
For the counterweight, which isn't really needed with the 14 but does help some I guess, I'd go with the Crye battery pouch for the soft cover or the EOG gen2 which I have. It comes with a sack of powdered lead but I just threw that in with parts and put batteries inside a Ziploc bag in there instead. Few AA's, few 123's. This will cost you $30 less. I think I have a second one for my helmet, but I can't recall, I haven't had it out of the vault in two or three years now.
The MAWL laser is THE way to go if you're gonna go civilian laser. I can't say much on those, I only have the old school high power shit. But from what I've heard and seen, it's kind of in a league of it's own. I have full power shit, 2's and 15's, and I'd still love to have a civilian MAWL.
I had to look up your mounts. Things have changed. They used to have a lot more up there, much is obsolete now I suppose, but I didn't see any Norotos stuff and Norotos makes good gear too, I use the INVG mount, easily the strongest and most adjustable mount ever made. But it's bulky and heavy so nobody but me really uses 'em. That G24 looked like a good one though. Not many choices really, not anymore, but at least they're among the top choices so it doesn't really matter. If store 2 had sixty different mounts you're probably still gonna go G24.
Then I'd cut out the helmet liner, the helmet, helmet parts, etc.
Do get:
An IR strobe, 9v. Phoenix makes 'em I think. The cheapo 9v is fine. They make a carrier for 'em that's nice to attach to gear. IR chem lights are nice too. This is for when you'll be out with other people with NV.
A good soft case for the NODs --mine came with one.
A hand select phosphor tube with a high signal to noise rating, along with the best resolution can you get to go with it. It's worth the wait. Phosphor costs more but IMO it's worth it now.
A Butler Creek flip cap that fits the obj. I like the ones with the little button to flip it open. Drill a small hole in the center the same size as the pinhole cover. This is just for convenience. ***Alternatively, you may want to put one of those auto focus rings on the end instead. Instead of turning the focus ring to go from close to far, you just flip up a lens.
Thread in replaceable sacrificial windows for the obj. I forget what mine is called, I could take a picture if need be. I consider this and the next item to be must haves.
I swapped out the demist shields and rubber eye cup for an amber window. This thing has a thick rubber bumper so it won't hurt your eye socket if it hits it. The amber neutralizes the green glow around your eye and since you don't need the eye cup, it doesn't mist up anymore. This thing is NICE.
If the gear you get doesn't have a tie down, they sell those retractable ones or you can also just use gutted 550 with a clip on the end. That's what I use on the soft cover. My 14's have a small black split ring I can clip to. You always want it tied down, ALWAYS, and 550 is cheap and works.
So maybe that'll help you save some money and at the same time get good gear that suited for what you do. TNVC has always been straight up with me and squared away and they never tried to sell me on anything. I got all my stuff from them so you should be able to find everything I mentioned. And of course you can always call 'em. Vic is the cat I deal with but I remember they're all good people.
Shit, good luck! You had mostly good stuff picked out, TNVC won't let you down on that. and they likely squared you away with the helmet you asked about, but I'm positive you'll find that soft cover superior for most use. Hell, if you don't I'll buy it off of you, I'd like a second one.
