The US style helmet I wear at work is frankly awful...noise attenuation is terrible, and hang goggles on it and it wanders all over the place unless you practically garrotte yourself with the neck strap. The US style-based flying suit is comfortable, and looks good, but needs knee pads and I wouldn't trust it in front of a hair dryer let alone a flash fire. The leather jacket looks great, but definitely no good below 10 deg OAT. The US style nomex gloves are too thick...I've just got too used to wearing the british light weight leather gloves....which are referred to by my host nation as frog fa**y leather..or words to that effect!
My opinion after 3 years abroad is that we have some great kit, and some not-so great kit, but it is in the main better than the stuff I currently use.