For years, the ARC rail has been the default standard for mounting accessories to a ballistic helmet. It’s a system many of us have used, and it served its purpose in its time. But at Hard Head Veterans, our mission is not to follow the default path—it’s to provide our users with the most effective, reliable, and versatile protective equipment possible. That's why, after careful consideration, we deliberately chose to engineer our helmets with the M-LOK rail system.
This wasn’t a decision made for aesthetics or to be different. It was a strategic choice rooted in objective performance data, a forward-thinking philosophy, and direct feedback from the community we serve. This post outlines exactly why M-LOK isn't just an alternative, but the superior standard for helmet modularity.
The Synopsis: Why M-LOK Reigns Supreme
For those short on time, here are the core reasons behind our commitment to the M-LOK system:
Proven Performance: In 2017, testing for USSOCOM proved M-LOK is stronger, more reliable, and holds better under stress than any other modular system. The data is unequivocal.
Cross-Platform Freedom: M-LOK is the universal standard for the modern tactical industry. This allows you to share accessories like lights mounts and more between your gear, saving you money and simplifying your gear loadout.
Open-Source Innovation: Magpul’s free M-LOK license fosters massive competition and innovation, resulting in more choices and better prices for you. This stands in stark contrast to the proprietary, litigious nature of the ARC rail system, which can stifle competition and inflate costs.
Industry-Wide Shift: We’re not alone. Major brands like MTEK and Armorsource are also adopting M-LOK, cementing it as the new industry standard and ensuring a rich, growing ecosystem of compatible gear.
1. M-LOK Helmet Compatibility & Accessory Guide
The most common question we get is, "What can I mount on my helmet?" With M-LOK, the better question is, "What can't you mount?" The M-LOK ecosystem is vast, giving you unparalleled freedom to customize your setup. Here are some of the most popular accessory categories and trusted brands.
Headset Adapters The initial challenge of mounting headsets has been completely solved by a variety of robust adapter plates.
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Hard Head Veterans: We offer our own mounting solutions to ensure your comms are secure and reliable.
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Comm Gear Supply: A leader in this space, they offer simple, rock-solid adapters that allow you to mount standard 3M Peltor™ ARC arms directly to your M-LOK rail.
- AXL Advance: Designs and manufactures high performance upgrades and improvements for products across multiple brands. Including common comms adapters.
Lighting & Illumination This is where M-LOK's cross-platform benefits truly shine. Standard M-LOK rifle light mounts work perfectly on your helmet.
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SureFire: Their M-LOK compatible Scout Light mounts are an industry standard.
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Arisaka Defense: Known for their sleek, low-profile, and highly durable M-LOK light mounts.
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Unity Tactical: Unity creates innovative mounting solutions, including the FUSION and Spark marker light systems that integrate directly with M-LOK rails.
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Princeton Tec: Princeton Tec’s helmet lights are industry leading in quality, modularity, and operation.
Universal & General Accessories Your options are nearly limitless because you can tap into the entire rifle accessory market.
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Magpul: The originators of M-LOK offer a huge variety of rail covers, accessory rails, and mounts for nearly any application.
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Thyrm: VariArc Helmet Mount creates a full 360 degrees of lighting options, where a helmet-mounted light would usually be fixed.
2. Acknowledging the Limitations of a Legacy System
To understand why we moved forward, we must first look at the drawbacks of the system we left behind. While functional, the ARC rail presents several distinct disadvantages for the modern user:
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Significant Snag Hazard: The external, raised dovetail design is a notorious snag hazard, easily catching on slings, cables, vegetation, or vehicle interiors. The flush, internal-locking design of M-LOK virtually eliminates this risk.
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The "Proprietary Walled Garden": The ARC system locks users into a specific ecosystem. Accessories are often more expensive and less varied. Innovation is controlled by one parent company, which has historically used litigation to protect its patents, scaring off smaller innovators and limiting options for the end-user.
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Wear and "Rattle": The plastic-on-plastic or metal-on-plastic friction fit of ARC accessories can wear down over time, leading to a noticeable wobble or rattle in critical equipment like headsets and optics—a frequent complaint among long-term users.
3. The Data Doesn't Lie: M-LOK's Proven Performance
Our decision began with hard data. The most definitive evidence comes from a 2017 study by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division for USSOCOM. While testing the M-LOK system, the results on the mounting system's integrity are universally applicable.
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Rock-Solid Repeatability: After being subjected to drop tests, M-LOK accessories demonstrated a minimal shift, proving their ability to hold their position under harsh impact.
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Incredible Strength: M-LOK was proven to be the strongest system. A direct-mounted accessory failed at an average of 1,788 lbs of force dramatically outperforming its rivals.
For a user mounting mission-critical gear to a helmet that cannot fail, this level of tested reliability is non-negotiable.
4. The Philosophy of Innovation: Open vs. Closed Systems
Beyond the hardware, the core philosophies behind M-LOK and ARC are worlds apart.
Magpul made M-LOK an open-source standard. Any company can use it for free, as long as they adhere to the specs. This has unleashed a tidal wave of innovation and competition, driving quality up and prices down across the entire industry.
In contrast, the ARC system is a closed, proprietary design. This leads to the "walled garden" effect, where one company controls the flow of compatible products. This model can stifle creativity and ultimately hurts the consumer, who is left with fewer choices and higher prices. We chose to align with the open, customer-centric model.
5. The Market Has Spoken: Industry Adoption & Ecosystem Maturity
As time goes on, the industry agrees. Other major manufacturers like MTEK and Armorsource have also adopted M-LOK rails on their premier helmets. This isn't a niche trend; it's a paradigm shift.
This growing ecosystem has also solved the system’s only significant early hurdle: headset compatibility. Initially, standard 3M Peltor™ adapters for ARC rails didn't fit. But the market responded. Now, simple and robust M-LOK adapters from companies like Comm Gear Supply are widely available, allowing you to securely mount the most popular headsets on the market. This proves the M-LOK ecosystem is mature and responsive to user needs.
6. The Exploding Accessory Market: Ultimate User Freedom
The single greatest benefit of M-LOK is the user's access to a truly massive accessory market. You are no longer limited to a handful of expensive, helmet-specific brands.
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Helmet-Specific Innovators: Companies like Comm Gear Supply and Unity Tactical are creating cutting-edge mounts and other solutions specifically for M-LOK helmets.
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Universal Compatibility: You have access to the entire M-LOK accessory ecosystem. That means proven light mounts from Magpul, Surefire, and other major brands, and countless other items can be used on your helmet just as easily as on your rifle. This cross-platform compatibility offers unparalleled versatility and value.
7. "What if I already have a bunch of ARC rail accessories?"
While every helmet manufacture may have slight curvatures differences in their shells we have had numerous customers find success attaching off the shelf ARC rails to HHV helmets!
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Check EBAY & Amazon: While we can't vouch for every seller, look for ones offering ARC rails for our helmets that have solid reviews and good customer feedback.
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Join Our Facebook Group: You will find that our community truly cares about helping out. Many of our customers there can either help you find the accessories you are looking for, or provide more information on doing swaps!
Our Final Word
Our choice to build our helmets around the M-LOK system was a deliberate, data-driven decision to provide our users with the best. It is a system that is demonstrably stronger, more reliable, and less prone to snagging. It is built on an open-source philosophy that fosters innovation and lowers costs. And today, it is supported by a growing ecosystem of accessories that gives the user ultimate freedom and control over their setup.
The era of proprietary, single-purpose rails is over. M-LOK is the better standard, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this evolution.