Bullard builds five structural fire helmets. The UST LowRider is the traditional-style option, the LTX and PX are contemporary low-profile helmets, the FX uses a fiberglass shell for chemical resistance, and the USRX carries dual certification for structural firefighting and rescue. All five share the same suspension, comfort, and eye protection systems, so the real decision comes down to shell shape, shell material, and what your department already runs. Departments tend to argue about traditional versus contemporary and stop there, which covers one of the four variables that actually differ.
Key Takeaways
- The UST LowRider is the only traditional brim helmet in the current Bullard structural line.
- The LTX and PX are contemporary low-profile designs built around a low center of gravity.
- The FX is the fiberglass option, chosen for chemical resistance and a simplified component count.
- The USRX is dual certified, which matters for departments running structural and technical rescue on one helmet.
- The U-Fit suspension, FireFit comfort system, ReTrak visor, and TrakLite lighting are shared across the line, so accessories and replacement parts cross over.
The Lineup Side by Side
| Model | Style | Shell material | Built for | At Fire Safety USA from |
| UST LowRider | Traditional brim, low ride | Thermoplastic | The traditional look without the traditional weight | $389.95 |
| LTX | Contemporary, low profile | Thermoplastic | Comfort over long working periods | $299.95 |
| USRX | Contemporary, low profile | Thermoplastic | Dual-certified structural and rescue use | $284.95 |
| PX | Contemporary, low profile | Ultem thermoplastic | Low center of gravity with a high-heat shell | $379.95 |
| FX | Traditional or contemporary | Fiberglass | Chemical resistance, confined space access | Check availability |
Prices are current catalog starting points and vary by eye protection configuration, color, and whether TrakLite integrated lighting is included.
UST LowRider
The UST LowRider answers the oldest complaint about traditional helmets: the look is right and the weight is wrong. It keeps the traditional brim profile while riding lower on the head than a classic leather helmet, which pulls the center of gravity closer to the neck.
Two configurations dominate. The 4-inch faceshield version with the FireFit comfort system starts at $389.95, and the ReTrak visor version with FireFit starts at $429.95. Both come in black, red, white, and yellow, with TrakLite available as an upgrade.
Pick it when your department wants traditional appearance, wears leather fronts, and has firefighters complaining about neck fatigue in older traditional helmets. Skip it when your operational profile leans toward confined space or heavy vehicle extrication, where a brim catches on everything.
LTX
The LTX is the comfort-first contemporary helmet: low center of gravity, low profile, thermoplastic shell. It starts at $299.95 with a 4-inch faceshield and runs $449.95 with TrakLite integrated lighting.
Twelve configurations cover black, red, and yellow across faceshield and lighting combinations, which makes it straightforward to color-code by rank or company without leaving the model.
Pick it when you want the lowest-fatigue option for firefighters on long working incidents, or when you are outfitting a department with no traditional-brim tradition to protect. Skip it when the department will not accept a contemporary profile, because that fight is cultural and a spec sheet will not win it.
USRX
The USRX is the dual-certified helmet in the line. Bullard positions it around multi-hazard protection, and the practical value shows up in departments running structural fire, technical rescue, and vehicle extrication without wanting three helmets per firefighter.
It starts at $284.95, the lowest entry price in the structural line, with twelve configurations across orange, black, and white and a choice of 4-inch faceshield or ESS goggles. The orange shell is the tell: departments buying USRX helmets are usually thinking about rescue visibility as much as fire.
Pick it when one helmet has to cover both structural and rescue assignments, or when high-visibility shell color matters for roadway and technical operations. Skip it when the helmet will only ever see structural fire, because you are paying for certification you will not use.
PX
The PX uses Ultem thermoplastic, a high-heat engineering resin, in a contemporary low-center-of-gravity shape. Fire Safety USA currently lists a PX with the ReTrak visor in blue at $379.95 on clearance.
The PX and FX share a faceshield hardware kit, which is a useful detail for departments running both: one replacement part number covers two helmet families.
Pick it when you want contemporary geometry with a high-heat shell material and the color options fit your identification scheme. Skip it when availability is tight, and check stock before writing it into a spec.
FX
The FX is the outlier and the one most departments overlook. It uses a fiberglass outer shell rather than thermoplastic, giving better chemical resistance, and Bullard designed it with fewer components to reduce cost and extend helmet life. Bullard positions it for confined space access, where balance and shell profile matter more than anything on the outside of the helmet.
Fiberglass behaves differently from thermoplastic when damaged, and inspectors need to know the difference. Thermoplastic blisters and bubbles under high heat, while fiberglass develops surface cracking and crazing and loses rigidity. Flex it, and any cracking sound or unexpected give means the shell is done.
Pick it when chemical exposure is a routine part of your call volume or your department runs confined space rescue. Skip it when your inspection program is not set up to evaluate fiberglass, which requires a different check than thermoplastic.
The Systems All Five Share
This is where the line saves departments money, and where most comparisons stop short.
The U-Fit suspension pairs a customizable suspension with a ratchet headband. Tab positions A, B, and C set ride height, moving the ratchet about one inch per position, and two post positions on the U-Channel adjust fore-and-aft balance. Bullard notes that the front of the helmet is the key interface to the SCBA, and most wearers prefer position C there.
The FireFit comfort system is a one-piece quick-release soft good replacing the separate brow pad, crown pad, and ratchet cover. It cuts the soft goods inside the helmet from three to one, installs and removes without tools, and retrofits to any Bullard structural fire helmet. With NFPA 1970 requiring every soft good out and back in within 20 minutes, fewer parts to strip means a helmet that actually gets cleaned. Fire Safety USA carries the washable FireFit replacement set at $83.95.
The ReTrak visor offers one-handed operation, accommodates eyewear, removes for cleaning without tools, and meets ANSI/ISEA Z87.1. Replacement visor and nose guard assemblies run $85.95, with a three-pack of nosepieces at $9.95. TrakLite adds integrated forward-facing LEDs and a rear buddy light for roughly $100 to $150 depending on model.
Eye protection options span Bourke eye shields on the UST, 4-inch and 6-inch faceshields, the ReTrak visor, and ESS goggles. Faceshield hardware kits are model-specific: one covers PX and FX, another covers LTX and USRX, both at $23.95.
How to Choose in Four Questions
Start with traditional or contemporary, which is a cultural question rather than a technical one, and settle it before comparing anything else. Traditional points you to the UST LowRider.
Then ask what else the helmet has to do. Structural only leaves the field open. Structural plus rescue points to the USRX. Confined space or chemical exposure points to the FX.
Third, look at what the department already owns, because matching an existing model means shared replacement parts, one set of inspection procedures, and no retraining on adjustment points.
Fourth, ask about the replacement parts picture. Confirm availability of suspensions, chin straps, ear and neck protectors, faceshields, and comfort systems for the full service life, because a $300 helmet with a discontinued suspension is a $300 disposal.
A Note on Certification Labels
Bullard's current production is certified to NFPA 1970, the consolidated standard that took effect September 18, 2024 and absorbed NFPA 1971. Some listings and older stock still reference NFPA 1971. Confirm the certification edition on the label with your vendor before writing a purchase order, and remember that the label edition does not change when a helmet must be retired. That clock is set by NFPA 1850 at ten years from the date of manufacture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Bullard UST and LTX?
The UST LowRider is a traditional brim helmet riding low on the head. The LTX is a contemporary low-profile helmet with a low center of gravity. Both use thermoplastic shells and share the same suspension, comfort system, and eye protection options. The difference is shell shape and price, not protection level.
Which Bullard fire helmet is the lightest?
Bullard designed the LTX and PX around a low center of gravity and a low profile, and markets the UST LowRider as a lightweight traditional option. Perceived weight depends as much on balance and ride height as on mass, which is why two firefighters can disagree about the same helmet.
Is the Bullard USRX good for structural firefighting?
Yes. The USRX is dual certified, covering structural firefighting and rescue applications, which is why departments running both assignments choose it. If the helmet will only be used for structural fire, a single-purpose model covers the same need for less.
Do Bullard helmet accessories fit across models?
The suspension, FireFit comfort system, ReTrak visor, and TrakLite lighting are shared across the structural line, and FireFit retrofits to any Bullard structural helmet. Faceshield hardware kits are model-specific: one kit covers PX and FX, a separate kit covers LTX and USRX.
What is the FireFit comfort system?
A one-piece quick-release soft good replacing the separate brow pad, crown pad, and ratchet cover in Bullard structural helmets. It reduces the soft goods inside the helmet from three to one, removes and reinstalls without tools, and is built to survive repeated washing.
How much does a Bullard fire helmet cost?
Current pricing at Fire Safety USA starts around $284.95 for the USRX and runs to roughly $530 for a UST LowRider with the ReTrak visor and TrakLite integrated lighting. Configuration, eye protection choice, and lighting drive most of the spread.
Compare the Full Bullard Lineup
Fire Safety USA is a longstanding Bullard dealer and stocks the structural line alongside every replacement part that keeps those helmets in service. Browse the complete Bullard collection, the full fire helmet catalog, and helmet accessories and replacement parts side by side, or call 1-877-699-3473 to have a rep spec a configuration against your department's assignments.