Hockey helmets, as y'all can imagine, are the about important piece of protective equipment you can purchase. And then information technology goes without saying that while you tin can manage oversized shin pads or undersized shoulder pads, if your helmet doesn't fit correctly, you lot are setting yourself up for a potentially traumatic injury.

hockey helmets

That being said, it is most of import to recognize that on the electric current retail scene, at that place is no "best" or "worst" helmet. There is merely the helmet for the best fit for your head. This means that unless you have tried on and fitted a helmet, information technology is highly recommended that you lot do not purchase a helmet online or via itemize.

Price Range for Helmets

$60 to $299 for a helmet, $ninety to $350 for a helmet with muzzle sold together, for a new, current model. While a late model helmet, or a helmet that is no longer in production, tin can be found new and exist considered prophylactic, information technology is highly recommended to avoid used helmets. Used helmets run the risk of decayed foams and stressed plastic that may not provide suitable protection.

Cheap Hockey Helmets vs High End Helmets

high end hockey helmet Helmets are basically dictated into two types: EPP (expanded polypropylene), and VN (Dual-density vinyl nitrile).

EPP foam is a harder, typically black cream, which y'all may know from bike helmets. It often looks like Styrofoam, with visible cells. Because of the rigidity, it is typically lined with softer foam, meant to more cradle the head and create a more than snug fit. This type of foam is commonly constitute in the higher toll point helmets ranging from $100 – $200. These are typically more expensive helmets than their VN counterparts and will have more options for adjusting and fit.

cheap hockey helmet VN helmets are lined with a softer foam, that tin can exist pushed or pinched and visibly indented momentarily. This foam is typically tan, gray, or black, and is unremarkably not accompanied by other types of foam. Helmets that utilize the VN foam are typically on the lower end of the cost scale, usually $100 or less.

Common wisdom seems to trend towards the idea that EPP helmets are more protective than VN, but in that location is no reliable information to support that. Because of the slight give in VN helmets, the helmet commonly offers a tigher and more secure fit to the head, whereas an EPP helmet may take the trend to have gaps and slipping if non a perfect fit.

Most Popular Brands for Hockey Helmets

The major brands in helmets are Bauer and CCM with Warrior being a distant 3rd. In recent years, outlier brands such as Cascade, Mission, Jofa, take been captivated by the larger brands as well as bigger brands like Easton and Reebok. Mission recently re-debuted its helmet line, and although the brand is now primarily focused on roller hockey, it'southward helmets are certified safe for ice hockey.

Advanced Technology in Helmets

Well-nigh helmets rely on either the VN or EPP liner that nosotros discussed before, and a ii piece forepart to dorsum pattern for adjustment based on the length of the caput. Below, we'll talk about a few of the more than recently engineered helmets that deviate from the usual helmet makeup.

Bauer Re-Akt

bauer re-akt helmetThe Bauer Re-Akt comes equipped with a "Append-Tech Liner." This is a harness, lined with Bauers PoronXD cream, which is a light and strong new foam they're integrating into lots of gear applications. The harness is designed to slow and control rotational impacts that are more likely to crusade concussions. The liner, forth with large sections of PoronXD, allow the helmet to absorb impact better than a typical helmet, and the sliding aligning tool on the lower back of the helmet provides the most reliably tight fit of any helmet.

CCM FitLite 3DS

The CCM FitLite 3DS is the latest advancement in helmet engineering with an adaptive foam. The D3O foam is interesting in how it absorbs bear upon. In information technology's raw course D30 is a putty which tin can exist squeezed, stretched and twisted. If the D30 putty is struck it firms up and absorbs impact. This is a neat demonstration, however the D30 putty is not used inside helmets, the D30 putty is re-purposed into foam.

The D3O cream is said to share similar properties as the putty, yet I have not seen a skillful demonstration showcasing it. According to the CCM website the fitlite has "a cushioning layer made from a low density, lightweight memory foam gives superior condolement. D3O® rate sensitive and stupor absorbing smart material adapts to unlike levels of impacts."

The FitLite 3DS also has a very unproblematic micro punch at the back for tool less size adjustment. Having a helmet that fits properly is very important and a system like this makes information technology easy to fine tune the fit.

Will my Helmet Prevent Concussions?

hockey concussion helmetTo stem a common misconception, a hockey helmet's primary purpose is to prevent a skull fracture, not a concussion. A skull fracture or other blunt impact can be dissipated across the shells and foams of a helmet, but a concussion occurs due to rotational forces. What this ways is, if your head moves rapidly, such as in a whiplash situation, a concussion may occur even without whatsoever impact to the head. While helmet companies have dedicated themselves to creating helmets designed to prevent concussions, the results are non fully known or proven.

Another important signal on helmets is that it is the simply piece of equipment where the used marketplace should non exist considered a feasible option. Ebay, Craigslist and Play it Again stores should not be pursued for a hockey helmet, as the certifications are oft void on resale. This could be an upshot if a caput injury is sustained, which may negate the insurance of both the helmet manufacturer and the hockey governing body that offers insurance, such as Usa Hockey.

How Should a Hockey Helmet Fit?

hockey helmet sizingIn a word, tight. While the style may exist for a low hanging chin strap, this is dangerous. The Chin strap should be no more the width of two fingers below the chin, to make sure the helmet does not come off during a autumn, leaving the head and brain unprotected.

The helmet itself should be tight plenty that it won't milk shake loose when you shake your head up and downwards or side to side. To arrange the fit the aligning tabs or screws on the helmet should be loosened, the helmet placed on the head, and with both hands you should push button the pieces of the helmet together until it is snug (volition not move around). At that point, a teammate can tighten the screws or snap the adjustment tabs closed to maintain the platonic fit. Redness effectually the head is normal, and is preferential to a loose fitting hockey helmet.

The helmet should sit on or just above the brow line, and should feel snug at the crown, temples, the beginning of the neck, and the brow. If meaning gaps are felt, that helmet is not a proper fit and another selection should exist considered.

A good fit means the helmet is snug and does not move, shift or rotate while playing but is not so tight that it causes pain or discomfort.

Quick video on how to fit a helmet

Common personal preferences

Note from Coach Jeremy: In that location are a lot of helmet preferences that I see that volition jeopardize your prophylactic. I volition bear on on a few

hockey cage or no cageCage vs No Cage

Pocket-size hockey players are required to habiliment a full muzzle merely recreational players are not. Every year I see guys leaving the ice with blood dripping from their eye, nose, or mouth because they prefer a visor or no visor at all. It's your choice, but I don't take a dental program so I clothing a total muzzle

Removing the ear protectors

I'thou non really sure why players practise this, but I see a lot of guys wearing helmets with the ear protectors removed. I didn't notice this until later I saw a very gory picture of a player who had But taken his ear guards out, only to have a skate graze his ear and slice it in two. Sure information technology might expect cooler, only I'd rather accept my ear in one piece.

Hanging Chin Strap

loose chin strap hockeySome players like to have their mentum strap very, very loose. The only reason I can retrieve of is for style. Some will fifty-fifty skate at choice-upwardly hockey with their mentum strap undone. This might be absurd until that ane blow happens and your helmet comes off every bit you lot are falling and yous crevice your head correct off the ice. (or get a skate to the caput like Taylor Hall). At that place is also "Muzzle Hang" or Buckey Hang which we will cover in the Cage / Visor article.

The moral of the story is, wear your helmet correctly (Here is ane more reason)

Some other preferences and pros and cons of different helmets include airflow, sweat displacement, weight, and comfort.

Some of these factors, such equally airflow and sweat displacement, can exist nearly incommunicable to cheque in the process of purchasing. Online reviews can solve this problem in the shopping process. If sweat displacement seems to exist an upshot, a thin bandana or able-bodied skullcap can help solve the problem. However, modification of the inside or the outside of the helmet for weight or airflow reasons can exist very dangerous and compromise the protective integrity of the helmet.

How Are Helmets Sized?

sizing-hockey-helmetsHelmets typically are sized in adult small, medium, and large, as well every bit youth small-scale, medium, and large. Occasionally, developed extra big and youth extra pocket-sized helmets tin can be found.

It's important to notation that the sizing varies significantly from brand to brand, so head sizes that may be on the fringes between two sizes in i brand should exist careful nearly buying another brand without trying it on kickoff.

Expected lifetime of Hockey Helmets

Every helmet comes with a sticker of certification from various associations. Most certifications are valid for five years of play (some for 6.5). Helmets should not be used beyond this lifespan, as the foams and plastics tin can dethrone and the integrity of the helmet tin be compromised, risking injury.

Note from Coach Jeremy: Just because the sticker says the helmet is good for 5 years does not mean the helmet will last that long. After a very hard impact a helmet may need to be replaced.

Care / Maintenance of Helmets

hockey helmet hardwareThe biggest effect y'all will have with helmets are screws coming loose or falling out. It doesn't happen too often, but when information technology does yous will need to prepare it. It doesn't hurt to behave a helmet repair kit in your bag. If you don't need it during a flavor y'all can bet a guy on your team will so it is nice to have. (The 1 I linked to has a lot of different hardware that should exist everything you demand)

Helmets unremarkably don't require a lot of maintenance. Simply remove the helmet from the hockey bag subsequently skating, to dry out properly to protect screws and attachments from rust or corrosion.

Corroded screws can become difficult to adjust or remove, and the chin or cage strap closures often pull apart when corroded besides badly. While this is easy and inexpensive to replace, it can exist frustrating if it happens during a game or exercise. If the chin strap or muzzle straps are not fastened properly, the role player should non use the helmet until the pieces accept been replaced.

Recommendations When Shopping for a Helmet

While there are many factors to consider, such as toll, weight, looks, comfort, materials, all of them pale in comparison to the importance of the right, tight fit. Other factors can be considered when a good fit is plant.

Coin saving tips

used hockey helmetInformation technology is of import to avoid the used market for a hockey helmet equally y'all do not know what kind of abuse the helmet has gone through, and certification could be expired. If a lower priced selection is of import, consumers should wait for discontinued brands or models, such as Itech, Nike/Bauer, Jofa, Cascade, or Mission, which can sometimes withal be establish new., often at wholesale prices or less. Also, old models of current brands, such as the Bauer 5000, CCM HT2 or 1052, or Easton S9, and S17.

Near brands too have low cease models, and information technology's important to note that these low end models run across certification guidelines and should be considered condom options, although sacrifices may be made in weight, airflow, or looks.

Video on How to fit a Hockey Helmet

More than Resources

Hockey Monkey has a nice helmet fitting guide that links to sizing charts for all the major helmet brands

Where to Buy

The first choice for a helmet is to purchase locally from your local hockey shop. A shop with knowledgeable staff volition aid you get the right fit. If you lot don't have a good hockey store in your expanse you can purchase helmets online. Simply make sure the store has a good return policy in case your helmet does not fit properly.

Recommended online stores

  • Hockey Monkey – (largest online hockey retailer)
  • Pure Hockey
  • Pro Hockey Life (For Canadians)

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