The Backstep Firefighter Helmet Shield

Before Bluetooth rigs and fancy rigs with recliners, the backstep was where the real work started. The Backstep Firefighter Helmet Shield pays tribute to that era—and the firefighters who still carry that mentality. It’s not built for showrooms or collections. It’s built for the line. For the ones who still show up early, stay late, and handle business when the tones drop.

Traditional Layout, Real Firehouse DNA

The design keeps your company number front and center, surrounded by clean, fast-read banners for name, rank, or department. No clutter, no nonsense. This layout has been trusted for decades because it works—whether you’re crawling a hallway or standing in front of the house after the knockdown. When clarity matters, this shield speaks loud and clear.

Built from Full-Grain Leather, Finished by Hand

Each Backstep Shield is cut, tooled, and painted one at a time using full-grain leather built to take punishment. The clean borders and balanced form hold up through heat, sweat, and back-to-back shifts. Over time, the leather breaks in just like a seasoned firefighter—rougher around the edges, stronger where it counts.

Custom Gear, Straightforward Process

You bring the identity—company number, rank, name, or department—and the Backstep Shield delivers the tradition. Choose classic all-leather or add color for visibility. Every design updates in our live preview before it ships, so what you see is exactly what arrives.

Firehouse-Ready Fit

Each shield ships unpunched, giving you full control of the setup. Reuse old holes or drill new ones for a perfect mount. Works clean on Cairns N5A, N6A, Phenix TL2, and other traditional lids. Once it’s on, it stays locked through heat, chaos, and everything between.

For the Ones Still Riding Tailboard

The Backstep Shield isn’t for everyone—it’s for the ones who still do the job the way it was meant to be done. Whether it’s a new lid, a replacement for a veteran front, or a gift for the firefighter who never took the easy tour, this shield carries that firehouse pride forward.

Key Features

• Handcrafted full-grain leather firefighter helmet shield
• Traditional fast-read layout for company, rank, or department
• Customizable with live preview before shipping
• Compatible with Cairns N5A, N6A, Phenix TL2, and similar helmets
• Ships unpunched for a clean, custom fit
• Designed, built, and finished by hand—firehouse tough