Ops-Core FAST SF Gen II Guide: Sizing, Weight, Protection and Setup

Ops-Core makes the FAST helmet, the high cut design most of the market has copied since. Ops-Core is part of Gentex Corporation, and its helmets are made in the USA. In 2019 USSOCOM selected the FAST SF for its family of tactical headborne systems. This guide covers the helmet we carry, the Ops-Core FAST SF Gen II: what it protects against, how much it weighs in each size, how to size it and how to set it up for night vision.

What the FAST SF Gen II Is

The FAST SF Gen II is the current generation of the FAST SF, a high cut ballistic helmet. Gentex calls it Ops-Core’s lightest ballistic helmet system yet. The weight came out of three new parts: a next generation shell, the LockDown Liner and the Head-Loc Flex chinstrap. Gentex rates it at the same ballistic protection as the first FAST SF with 10 to 15 percent less system weight, depending on size.

• Shell: high cut, FAST geometry, two stage non-slit construction, 0.170 in (4.32 mm) thick.
• Liner: LockDown Liner with pads you place where your head needs them, moisture wicking fabric and reticulated foam.
• Retention: cable Occ-Dial with a conformable nape pad, and the Head-Loc Flex chinstrap with a chin cup you can wear under or over the chin.
• Rails and shroud: PowerPath ARC rails with a channel behind the rail for NVG cables, and the Modular Bungee Shroud with carabiner clips for NVG retention.
• Colors: Black, MultiCam, Ranger Green and Tan 499.

Protection

Gentex lists the FAST SF to NIJ 0106.01 with NIJ 0108.01 Level IIIA (9mm FMJ at 1,400 ft/s). That covers common handgun threats and fragmentation. It is not rated for rifle threats. No helmet is bulletproof, so match the helmet to the threat you actually expect. Ops-Core makes a separate rifle-rated helmet, the FAST RF1, which is heavier.

Sizing

Measure around the widest part of your head with a soft tape, level and about an inch above your eyebrows. Then match it to the Gentex chart:

System weight is the shell with the LockDown Liner. Gentex lists the weights as estimates with a 3 percent tolerance. If you land right on the line between two sizes, call us before you order. Helmets are hard to return once worn, so it pays to get the size right first.

Setting It Up

1. Fit the liner. Place the LockDown pads so the helmet sits level, about two fingers above your eyebrows, with even pressure all the way around.
2. Set the retention. Snug the Occ-Dial so the nape pad holds the back of your head, then adjust the Head-Loc Flex chinstrap. Wear the chin cup under the chin day to day and move it over the chin when you mask up.
3. Mount night vision. Clip your NVG mount into the shroud. The Wilcox G24 Night Vision Mount is the one we carry. Route the NVG cable through the channel behind the PowerPath rail.
4. Balance it. Add the Ops-Core Helmet Counterweight on the back. It is built for FAST and Sentry helmets and carries five removable 70 g weights, so you can run fewer for a light monocular and all five for a heavy binocular. Each pocket also holds a spare battery. Our counterweight guide covers how to dial in the balance.
5. Add the rest. Lights and strobes go on the rails or the external VELCRO Brand loop. If you want a different color or pattern on the shell, the Ops-Core FAST Helmet Cover is cut for FAST shells. We make it in Knoxville.

For more on rails, pads, retention and mounts in general, see our helmet accessories and setup guide.

FAST SF Gen II or Something Else

The FAST SF Gen II is $1,800 at Midwest Armor in Black, Ranger Green and Tan 499 (sizes Medium to X-Large). MultiCam and 2X-Large cost a little more. If you want the same NIJ Level IIIA rating at a lower price, the PGD ARCH GEN3 starts at $599. We put the two side by side in Ops-Core FAST SF Gen II vs PGD ARCH GEN3. For the history of the FAST and how high cut compares with mid cut, see the FAST helmet guide.