How to Buy an Ice Hockey Helmet

A helmet is essential for protecting your head. While this is true of any sport, it is even more important in hockey, considering the speed at which the puck can move.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Hockey Helmets
• Mouth Guards Attached To Helmet's Mask

1. Note that most helmets will work the same and that most differences have to do more with appearance than with function. You can get a good helmet for between $70 and $80, a youth helmet for roughly $55.

2. Understand that size is the most important thing. Your helmet should fit your head snugly and not move around too much, but it shouldn't feel tight. Your helmet can be adjusted by the screws in its sides to better fit your head. This is nice if you have a growing child, because you won't have to buy a new helmet every season.

3. Note that the biggest difference in helmets is the type of face mask you get. Plastic masks, similar to Plexiglas, don't block your vision. Most pro players will wear a plastic mask if they wear one at all. Vision is rarely a problem with wire masks, but sometimes the bars will get in the way. Try it on and make sure that none of the horizontal bars block your vision.

Tips & Warnings

• Plastic face masks, often sold as half-masks, sell for $50 to $60. The wire mask is an older style and is somewhat cheaper. Many helmets are sold combined with a wire mask; buying one separately might set you back between $25 and $30.

• Plastic masks can fog up when you're breathing hard. You can buy a special treatment to prevent this.

• Many of the pros don't wear masks in their helmets because they have chosen to accept frequent trips to the doctor for stitches on their faces as a career hazard. Wear a mask.

• Don't forget to pick up a mouth guard to attach to your helmet. Your orthodontist will thank you.