REVIEW: FMA EXF BUMP Helmet

Who has brains also takes care of it. And not always is a ballistic head protection necessary. After Ops-Core has been very successful in this segment with its FAST helmets (here the reviews of Base Jump and Carbon), it is no wonder that the competition is catching up. Team Wendy released another carbon helmet on the market, the EXFIL Base Jump. This carbon has now been copied in plastic. We at SPARTANAT take a closer look at the FMA EXF BUMP helmet.

You can easily recognize this helmet by the aggressive ventilation slots, and also that it is not completely round, but has "edges" at the top. The replica here offers a shell made of plastic instead of expensive carbon.

Mounted on the front is a well-made Wilcox NVG mount, like the original. If not for night vision goggles, then very nice for using a GoPro helmet camera.

The back. The helmet has its own distinctive way of placing Velcro and also includes a bungee cord for securing equipment that is Velcroed to the shell (e.g. strobe), which is already included (for Ops-Core there is the War Bungee). Here you can also see the adjustment dial for the helmet retention system.

Team Wendy didn't cut corners and also invented their own rails. The slots are called T-slots and can be fitted with various screws; however, the short sections of Picatinny rail are sufficient for helmet lights or headphones.

The interior of the EXF is also copied from the original. Essentially, it is a complex lining in which these small "jars" are inserted, which absorb impacts and still allow air to reach the head. The helmet wears very well.

Here again the interior and also the adjustment system: Turn or press the dial, then different functional modes are activated, namely continue or fix. At first glance, one is blinded by the comparatively simple Ops-Core interior and thinks about Wendy: "What is this?" At second glance and with increasing wearing time, this interior is quite good. We find the Team Wendy adjustment dial alone significantly better than that of its competitors.

CONCLUSION: FMA has made a $450 helmet without a carbon shell affordable in plastic. (Update: FMA now also offers a copy with a $110 carbon shell.) The FMA EXF is also a visible sign of the increasing quality of Chinese clones. The helmet is street-worthy in black, and as a GoPro carrier, it is certainly a good helmet for recreational activities. And for everyone else: the affordable copy of a very innovative helmet, which is starting to be seen more and more in American units (apparently especially PJs).

You can get the FMA EXF BUMP Helmet at Toy Soldier in tan and black for $69 (excluding shipping). If you want a Multicam Helmet Cover to go with it, you can get it directly from Team Wendy for $55 (excluding shipping).