Buy Hockey Helmet
More advanced hockey helmets often feature materials found in military technology, industrial workwear, and other extreme applications. For example, some Bauer hockey helmets feature XRD multi-density impact management foam while some CCM hockey helmets feature D3O smart foam that disperses force away from the impact point.
buy hockey helmet
Fit is the top priority when choosing a hockey helmet. No matter how expensive, technologically advanced, or protective the helmet, if it doesn't fit correctly, it won't protect you properly. Correct fit makes the difference between taking a hit or sustaining a head injury, so take your helmet choice seriously. Your helmet needs to be snug and comfortable, so you might need to try several brands to find the perfect helmet for the size and shape of your head.
Bauer offers elite protection in helmets like its Re-Akt line, with Poron XRD temple foams, VTX and IX-Foam interiors, and Suspend-Tech Liners, all designed to keep everything stable and secure. Their Hyperlite helmet, which was built for speed, has similar technologies and protection but is 20% lighter than the Re-Akt 150.
A youth helmet usually costs from $35 to $250, but you can often find one on sale or clearance. Cages alone run from $35 to $70, and a combination helmet/cage in XS-S/M sizes can range from $60 to $260.
Are you in the market for new helmet? Shop our full selection of hockey helmets, cages, and visors online, or if you're still unsure which helmet might be right for you, visit a Pure Hockey store near you for a full assessment from our staff.
Check out our handy guides on how to fit a hockey helmet and how to buy a hockey helmet for everything you'll need to know to make the right purchase. Take your head and your brain seriously: It's worth your health and safety to invest in a high-quality hockey helmet. And our Low-Price Guarantee means you'll get the best value possible. For parents or players who want an outstanding past-season model, we offer helmets and helmet accessories on sale as well.
When you buy helmets from Pro Stock Hockey, you receive so many additional benefits we hardly know where to begin. Here are some of the things our customers mention most often as reasons why they are so happy with their Pro Stock Hockey helmet:
There are so many pieces of hockey equipment that every player needs, with the helmet arguably being the most important. All hockey helmets are primarily designed to protect the skull and brain. However, a handful of models, such as the Bauer Re-Akt or CCM FitLite 3DS, also have special foams and paddings which are designed to help maximize protective capabilities and absorb impacts.
Helmets come in a wide variety of prices, typically ranging from a slim $27 for a Bauer 2100 to a wallet-draining $300 for a Bauer Re-Akt 200. This huge gap between prices is heavily dependent on the foams, plastics, comfort level, and research used to design and create the product. Let's take a look at the differences between some helmets.
Helmets under $60 will be made of cheap plastic shells and have standard EPP (expanded polypropylene) foams. They often have fixed ear guards which cannot be removed or replaced, and will not be very comfortable or protective. Sometimes "middle-of-the-road" clearance helmets will be available at this price range, but they will likely have expired HECC certifications, making them unsuitable for full-contact or travel hockey. However, they can still be used in recreational adult league play.
Hockey helmets that are under $100 usually feature slightly more-protective VN foams. These foams can withstand harder impacts than basic EPP foams, but are still not extremely protective. Some helmets at this price range, like the CCM FitLite 60, will have more-strategically placed foams to provide a little more cushioning.
One of the most iconic helmets in hockey since the early 1990s, the Bauer 4500, is available at this price and is still used by several NHL players today. Many players swear that it is the best-looking helmet they've ever worn. With that in mind, players using the 4500 are protecting their heads with a helmet originally designed about 27 years ago.
The majority of helmets on the market fall into this price range. Here, players will start to get high-density PE (polyethylene) plastic shells, gel-based foams, and tool-less adjustment features which greatly improve comfort. These helmets will be protective and available at a good price. Occasionally, clearance helmets that were once "expensive" or "very expensive" will be found at this price range but may have expired certifications.
All of these helmets will feature gel-based comfort foams and some will feature impact-dampening technologies. They will all use high-density PE shells with sizing adjustment capabilities. Bauer helmets, like the Re-Akt, use a suspension liner and CCM helmets, such as the FitLite, use liquid-filled "bladders" that are both designed to minimize brain movement during rotational impact - the most common type of concussion-causing impacts.
Helmets that cost more than $250, such as the Bauer Re-Akt 100, Bauer Re-Akt 200 (pictured), and CCM FitLite 3DS, are at the pinnacle of helmet technology. They are extremely comfortable, thanks to the high-quality foams like Poron XRD found in Bauer helmets and D3O found in CCM helmets. These types of foams are designed for repeated, high-impact absorption.
Very expensive helmets offer the highest level of fit customization. For example, the Bauer Re-Akt 200 helmet uses a special, heat-moldable "fit plate" at the back of the helmet to completely form around the player's head. Then, the CCM FitLite 3DS uses the Microdial III at the back of the head for a full 360 wrap.
A: It depends. A helmet is a piece of equipment that players shouldn't cut costs on. Sure, you probably won't be getting lined up at the blue line when your head's down in adult league, but accidents happen. Sometimes two players who aren't looking collide pretty violently, resulting in accidental elbows or shoulders to the head, or worse - heads hitting the ice.
There's nothing wrong with having a nice helmet in adult league. If you have the funds for a $200+ helmet, by all means, go for it. But, if funds are a little low, you will be fine in a "middle-of-the-road" helmet.
A: Absolutely not. All hockey helmets for youth and travel hockey require HECC (Hockey Equipment Certification Council) and CSA (Canadian Standards Association) certifications. According to HECC policies, helmets are certified for use for 6.5 years after their manufacturing date, which will be identified on a sticker on the back of the helmet. Once the helmet passes the expiration date, it is no longer HECC certified and cannot be used for youth hockey.
A: The short answer is no. No two impacts in hockey are exactly the same, which makes it impossible for manufacturers to create a "concussion-proof" helmet. However, manufacturers perform years of research, development, and testing before releasing these helmets to the public. Because of this, the likelihood of getting a concussion in a $300 helmet using state-of-the-art foams and padding should be vastly lower (but still possible) than a $60 helmet.
When shopping for a hockey helmet, the main idea all players should base their purchase on is this: "How much is my brain worth?" Nobody wants to be told by a doctor that they cannot perform basic tasks or play hockey anymore because of a brain injury.
While the study can absolutely help some players make a decision about the helmet they choose to wear, the data should be taken with a grain of salt because it was not created using hockey-style impacts.
$60 to $299 for a helmet, $90 to $350 for a helmet with cage sold together, for a new, current model. While a late model helmet, or a helmet that is no longer in production, can be found new and be considered safe, it is highly recommended to avoid used helmets. Used helmets run the risk of decayed foams and stressed plastic that may not provide suitable protection.
VN helmets are lined with a softer foam, that can be pushed or pinched and visibly indented momentarily. This foam is typically tan, gray, or black, and is usually not accompanied by other types of foam. Helmets that utilize the VN foam are typically on the lower end of the price scale, usually $100 or less.
Common wisdom seems to trend towards the idea that EPP helmets are more protective than VN, but there is no reliable data to support that. Because of the slight give in VN helmets, the helmet usually offers a tigher and more secure fit to the head, whereas an EPP helmet may have the tendency to have gaps and slipping if not a perfect fit.
The FitLite 3DS also has a very simple micro dial at the back for tool less size adjustment. Having a helmet that fits properly is very important and a system like this makes it easy to fine tune the fit.
Another important point on helmets is that it is the only piece of equipment where the used market should not be considered a viable option. Ebay, Craigslist and Play it Again stores should not be pursued for a hockey helmet, as the certifications are often void on resale. This could be an issue if a head 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.
In a word, tight. While the style may be for a low hanging chin strap, this is dangerous. The Chin strap should be no more than the width of two fingers below the chin, to make sure the helmet does not come off during a fall, leaving the head and brain unprotected.
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 forehead. If significant gaps are felt, that helmet is not a proper fit and another option should be considered.
Some of these factors, such as airflow and sweat displacement, can be nearly impossible to check in the process of purchasing. Online reviews can solve this problem in the shopping process. If sweat displacement seems to be an issue, a thin bandana or athletic skullcap can help solve the problem. However, modification of the inside or the outside of the helmet for weight or airflow reasons can be very dangerous and compromise the protective integrity of the helmet. 041b061a72