I glued ShockTec foam liner to the inside of this helmet per Buhurt/SCA safety standards, and I was all set. I now feel basically nothing when my friends hit me in the helmet with buhurt swords and rattan weapons. I made a very good investment out of custom-ordering this helmet with as much extra protection/reinforcement as possible, to the point that I don't even need a gorget underneath it. It is not too bad to put on and then remove this helmet, and it's absolutely worth every single penny for its safety, steel/longevity quality, and its style points. In fact, I didn't even notice the brassed maille rings towards the bottom in this store image, so seeing my helmet out of the box for the first time was a breathtaking sight because I didn't expect it.