Protection

Better to find out that way.

Can anyone recommend a hockey helmet? I have no interest in modifying my Bern. What's comfy?

i really liked pk's grill, didnt play with it, but found A: the color really good B: the closeness of the guard to face better as it is more out of focus than my cricket grill, so you dont notice it as much.

I (perhaps somewhat foolishly) tested my plastic face-guard. It took 4 hits with a mallet to break it.

Shit.
Anyone want mine?

James - I found CCM helmets didn't fit my head shape at all but Bauer do so I'd suggest trying on different manufacturers and seeing which suits your head best.

My helmet also has two different densities of foam (one for comfort/fit one for protection) which I found much more comfy than the single layer of hard foam in lower spec models. I got a bargain on ebay with mine but I think spending as much as you can afford is worth it. I have this one from a few years ago http://www.bauer.com/gear/player/helmetsfacial/1066-BAUER

Shit.
Anyone want mine?

How many times have you been hit in the face by a mallet?
Even if it only lasts for four hits, you may as well get some use out of it, no?

Better to find out that way.

Can anyone recommend a hockey helmet? I have no interest in modifying my Bern. What's comfy?

I rate the bauer helmet, no frills does the job.

http://www.skateattack.co.uk/hockey-helmets-c-200_229.html

The 1500.

But like megacreep says, different heads fit different helmets

How many times have you been hit in the face by a mallet?
Even if it only lasts for four hits, you may as well get some use out of it, no?

But then when I come to replace it, which I surely will, I'll have to find one with the same fittings or get a new helmet. For the sake of a £6 guard I think I'll leave it.
Srlsy, if anyone wants it, they can have it. It's junior thooo.

Thanks for testing it Bill!

I rate the bauer helmet, no frills does the job.

http://www.skateattack.co.uk/hockey-helmets-c-200_229.html

The 1500.

But like megacreep says, different heads fit different helmets

Is this the one Gabes has? I tried his the other week and it was great. He had cut out a few bars from the gril and there was no vision problems at all.

No, I'm pretty sure that's not the one gabes has. His is a ref's helmet I think

GaGabes has Reebok 3k

I hate the hockey helmets, and would rather modify my Bern, so it's a cricket grille (grill?) (metal this time).

I have modified my helmet with a metal cricket guard and it works really well.

Snoops, yours is a Jofa? I tried that on and it was good. They became RBK?

I don't see what the problem with the plastic ones is? Has anyone been hit in the face four times?!

One issue with plastic is how it breaks: you can shoot an oakley lens and it stays intact but shoot a cheap lens and razor sharp bits of plastic fly everywhere.

Snoops now has a Bauer 4500, same as mine (but in boring navy blue)

I tried loads of different hockey helmets, and found this to be the comfiest by far. You can buy a cage combo version fitted with the tru vision 2. It's heavier than a bern but no viability issues, even with out the cut outs.

YouTube - ‪Nike Bauer 4500 Helmet Review‬‏

put my plastic guard on my bern yesterday, im not too bothered about the breakability, it only has to take 1 hit to have been worth it but i found it really disorientating and has really bad blindspots :(, going to try a metal one next and it thats shit im going for a hockey helmet

.

ste your like the teenslain of helmets!

ste, did you take that picture in the bath?

ste, did you take that picture in the bath?

bathroom!

Bauer 4500 is great.

My old helmet was a Jofa, I think Reebok bought the rights(?) to that helmet and now make it as the RBK 3K. It's comfy, but not so well ventilated and the padding didn't mold to my head, it just kind of rattled around.

My 4500 has definitely molded to my head, it was very uncomfortable when I first got it but after a few sweaty sessions it feels great, very snug but no tight spots. That is why I would recommend buying a new hockey helmet, I don't want someone else's helmet that has shaped to their head.

Since I've been wearing a face cage I have been hit in the face twice, the first time in Karslruhe would have broken a nose or had teeth coming out I'm certain. So it's worth it already.

Joe Spikes got a head injury on Sunday at a pretty tame session at Downs. It's just a matter of time before it happens to you.

#IMO #justsayin' #etc

+1.
Just bought a Bauer.

Had a very close call with a follow through shot which would have done some damage. Deciding factor.

I may be wrong here, but I think there's a tendency for people to not "check their sticks" when playing as much nowadays.

I agree that it seems like a sensible idea to wear a face cage, but people still have to watch for mallet-to-body contact (including faces/helmets). Although the "should've worn a face cage" argument is a little funny, it's not an excuse for causing an incident. Same goes for hooking/hacking people's hands (should've worn hockey gloves), etc.

This is especially true when playing around newer players (who may not have the reflexes/knowledge of positioning/equipment yet).

Slashing/spearing/blows are the equivalents in other sports and it's not cool/allowed and results in a penalty (with the exception of ice hockey "brawling", which is just theatre/stupid).

Incidental contact is fine, but "reckless" contact isn't: needless follow-throughs on shots, riding with your mallet on the bars, etc.

Agreed. But the majority of the time I have been hit in the face or hands in polo have been in completely fair and open play.

I don't want 'padding up' to create open season for any kind of wild mallet swings. I wear big gloves and a helmet so I can work with my hands and my family will recognise me, but also because I hate pain. It's a players decision to 'pad up' for their own protection, it should not affect how they play against the opposition. Equally you should not be expected to play any differently alongside players who chose not to wear certain protection.

"face cage or shut up" was a joke and should not be taken seriously, I respect anyone's right to not wear protection, to a degree. If you don't wear big gloves then you shouldn't try and hook mallets as the mallets are bound to slide down onto your hands at some point, if you don't wear a cage then I wouldn't go leaning low to the ground to block shots as you will probably get a ball or a mallet in the face.

#IMO ETC