New to the group...but here it goes, hope youre still around. The Sam Houston (N6A) seems to have a higher brim on it (top of the helmet). Not sure if it does or not...I've not measured them. The N5A (New Yorker) at one time was the only one compliant with our almighty NFPA standards and the N6A was only OSHA compliant. Besides some small details they are pretty much the same helmet. the N6A has an extra layer of Kevlar for penetration protection that the N5A's don't have. I think now it has flip flopped and the N5A's are no longer compliant by the almighty NFPA standards but the N6A's are (N5A's are still OSHA compliant). So which ever one you go with, you should be fine. If somebody gives you lip about your N5A not being NFPA compliant: remind them that NFPA is merely a recommendation for a law and OSHA and ANSI are actual laws. NFPA can recommend whatever they want, that you can't have Bourke eye shields unless they meet NFPA standards, or an N5A helmet or...blah blah blah. If you meet OSHA and ANSI laws, youre good to go and the good ole NFPA can pack sand up their ass ;)

unfortunantly Paul there is one flaw in your reasoning about NFPA. If something were to happen what standards and guidelines do you think OSHA or ANSI look at?  When OSHA or ANSI do an investigation they look at industry guidelines and thats NFPA so whether or not its NFPA approved is still something to factor in. If you state or department has adopted NFPA equiptment guidelines as standard its a moot point. If your state has addopted them you have even less options.

"If" becomes a big word in that statement. If your state OSHA and ANSI have come out and said "We now adopt all of NFPA as law...different story. Most states pick and choose which NFPA "recommendations" they want to follow. That's why towns, city's and townships can cut firefighters when the budget gets tight....because their state said "Oh we just love NFPA.....well, except for NFPA 1500. That's going to cost us a lot of money, we're not going to do that one"