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MochiTomi

Helmet Fit Help

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I have a CCM V08 combo and a Bauer IMS 9.0 combo, both in large. Both were ordered online as the proshop at the rink I go to hasn't had any helmets that were in the right size the last few times I've gone in- they cater almost entirely to children when it comes to helmets it seems. There are no other retail stores in my area so I'm stuck with guesswork. Both helmets have fit issues and I'm trying to figure out what I should do as I still have time to return/exchange either of them.

The V08 fits well ear to ear but I've got a finger sized amount of space at my forehead with the helmet on the smallest setting. The cage needed to be spread a little because it was causing headaches it was so tight at my temples. Now that the cage fits better it's comfortable but the gap in length worries me. Also the chin cup is pretty weird on the cage- I think the cage may be a bit too big. Would dropping down to a medium make the helmet too snug width wise if it fits very close in a large?

The IMS 9.0 fits front to back but leaves quite a bit of wiggle side to side. I can wear my glasses with this but that doesn't even help hold the helmet in place. The cage size is perfect. Would dropping this one down to a medium help the width issue I'm having? I actually ordered a medium but the company messed up so this would be an easy exchange.

Would either one of them be acceptable in their current state and I'm just overthinking the issue? I know there's going to be a little bit of movement- I just want it to be as good a fit as I can get...preferably without spending the price of a helmet in return shipping to figure it out.

Both helmets passed the head shake test for small movements but the IMS 9.0 moved a lot side to side when I applied any decent amount of pressure. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I'm not looking to be brand specific either so if you have another idea let me know. I haven't played in over 10 years and this is the last piece of equipment I need- I was really hoping to make it out Monday night for p/u and a skills clinic but I don't want to put myself at risk. I've had concussions in the past and I know a properly fitting helmet is the best defense in making sure I don't have another one.

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Fit on a helmet is critical. It should be snug without being too tight. If it gives you a headache or head pain after wearing it for a while, it's too tight. It's also not good to have tight or "hot" spots.

First you need to get the helmet fit right, then get the cage fit right. With the two helmets you've tried, you've already seen that the fit isn't just about size, it's about shape. You can get recommendations of helmets to try, but it will still come down to trying them on yourself, to see how the different models, in the different sizes, fit your head.

If you can try friends' helmets, that might give you an idea. If you can drive, even a couple hours, to a store with a good selection of helmets and sizes, that's the best thing to do. I understand that that's probably more work than you want to do, but it's better than a worthless helmet, which sounds like what you have now.

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I don't have much to add other than making sure that your helmet fits right. I would return both of those if it were me. A finger sized gap is way too much. I won't wear a helmet that is not snug front to back and side to side.

The CCM V08 runs big compared to other helmets. I have a 22.5" head. I wear a medium V08 at the smallest setting. I can even fit into a small V08 if I wanted but it is a bit snug. You might want to try the medium V08.

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Thanks to both of you for the response. Unfortunately I don't have any stores close to my area besides small pro shops with limited stock. I guess the real question comes down to the following: What type of width change would there be when dropping a size in a helmet? The V08 for example is already pretty snug side to side- if I go down a size my concern is the helmet will be too small width wise. The IMS 9 on the other hand has a decent amount of room and my concern is that dropping a size wouldn't be enough. I'm trying to minimize the amount of return shipping I'm eating while I do this.

I contacted a few different online retailers and none of them had any information about helmet widths. Some even contradicted each other on width averages and no one was really able to help much other than telling me what the sizing chart says. It seems like all the information on helmets is for circumference but none of the manufacturers give out any information on shape- which makes it hard on those of us in areas where hockey isn't common.

Both helmets are going back for sure. I just don't know if exchanging the size is going to be the right answer or if I need to find a different helmet.

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Many people with wider heads like Reebok, but I have never tried one. Fitting helmets is hard because two people with the same head diameter can have a completely different experience based on the shape of their head. I certainly appreciate the frustration of not being able to try them on at a shop.

When you try on a helmet, try it on without the cage closed to make sure the cage is not putting the pressure on the sides. If it is, just bend it out like you already did. Also try wearing it around the house for a while before condemning it. They often fit better once the pads take shape to your head. Your family will laugh at you for wearing a hockey helmet at the dinner table I am sure.

I am fortunate to live an hour from a Total Hockey store with just about every helmet you can think of. I tried on several in the past month to replace my Bauer 2100 which doesn't fit to well. Bauer 2100 and 4500 are a bit narrow for me, and the padding does not seem to conform to my head shape very well. Bauer Reakt 100 felt pretty good. CCM Res 300 (Large) and CCM V08 (Medium) felt the best of the helmets I tried. My head is probably nothing like yours so you may find a completely different experience.

Just remember that helmet fit is more important than anything else. A perfect fitting $80 helmet will protect better than a $300 helmet that wobbles on your head.

What is your head size out of curiosity?

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I'm right around 23" or 58.5cm. I don't know my hat size. From all the sizing charts I've looked at I'm right between a Medium and Large for most manufacturers. I've also learned from this experience not to trust the sizing charts listed online. The IMS 9.0 for example, it's listed a few different ways online and some of them don't match what's printed on the helmet.

I got lucky and my rink finally had a few helmets to try: Bauer 4500, 5100, and 7500. The 4500 is out- large was too big and a medium was too narrow. The 5100 they only had a large and it was a bit too loose, no medium to try. The 7500 they had a large and it was way too big, no medium to try on. I was surprised to see Easton and Reebok helmets (4 total and 3 total respectively) but all they had were smalls and extra smalls.

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I wear mainly bauer helmets for playing. Find them a little on the narrow side, however I don't mind the more snug feel when I'm skating around. When I do stick n shoot sessions or coach, which I coach a lot I prefer my ccm helmet. It's the small size just like my bauer helmets but does provide a wider fit. Same I've found with reebok helmets as well. I haven't ventured much outside of those brands as I'm partially loyal as well as the look of the helmet plays a factor. Just my 2 cents.

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I couldn't get the 4500 on my head it was so narrow. If the V08 is only slightly wider I believe I have my answer to the width question- yes the helmet width will be smaller when going down a size. In that case the V08 is out as a medium will be too narrow for me. Shipping the helmets back tomorrow so I'm glad you guys posted- I won't be requesting an exchange on the CCM, it will be returned outright.

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It's been my experience that smaller helmets are narrower.


I also found the CCM and Reebok helmets that I tried were narrower than the 4500. So were the 5100, 7500, and 9500.


Other folks have posted different experiences, which illustrates the difference in head and helmet shapes. Try some searches here for different helmets, and you should find some threads where people compare fits of different models.

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