Helmet For A Large Head

[TruBluShirt 0]

How's it going folks? Here is my situation. When I first got into hockey the only helmet that would fit me was the Jofa 390 (the helmet that Teemu Selanne wears). If it isn't broke don't fix it. I got it. But I'd like to try something new. I had 3 helmets in mind.

Jofa 690

Mission Intake

Itech HC100

I know I would have to wait until I get back from the sandbox to try on these helmets but I thought I'd get some input. Is the fit of the 690 similar to the 390? How is the fit with Mission and Itech for large heads? I had my wife try and find a 690 at a LHS and she had no luck. Is this helmet drying up and can only be found online? If you have any other recomendations with other helmets (Nike Bauer, CCM, RbK) please post. Thanks again. B)

[Hoquyguy 0]

If you can fit into a Jofa, your head isn't fat at all. Just round. I have a certified FAT head, and the only helmet I can squeeze into are the Bauer 3000 or 4000 series. The Bauer 5000, along with the CCM, Itech and Jofa 690 (I had one for a while) either pinch or give me a blinding headache by the end of a game. As for the new model helmets, the Rbk fits me the best, though I'm too cheap to pay $120. It sounds like you gotta try them on for yourself. :P

[kosydar 0]

I'll second the Bauer 4000/Nike 0004. Any helmet that has an XL should be good though (which I didn't even existed for the longest time).

[KYHockey3 0]

i honestly feel that the bauer 800 is the biggest & widest

[Chadd 916]

If you can fit into a Jofa, your head isn't fat at all. Just round. I have a certified FAT head, and the only helmet I can squeeze into are the Bauer 3000 or 4000 series. The Bauer 5000, along with the CCM, Itech and Jofa 690 (I had one for a while) either pinch or give me a blinding headache by the end of a game. As for the new model helmets, the Rbk fits me the best, though I'm too cheap to pay $120. It sounds like you gotta try them on for yourself. :P

I found the 4000 too tight on the sides but the 690 fits me perfectly. 5000 was better than the 4000 but it didn't last too long. The HC100 is similar to the 690 in terms of fit for me but the 690 is much more comfortable. Then again, I have the older model 690.

[BK 0]

I would steer clear of the new nikebauer helmets. I picked up a 5500 today in Large (biggest they make it) and I had to do some really big adjustments for it it to fit my fat melon.

CCMs fit better, but my LHS didnt have anything higher than their 452tacks line.. After a slight concussion, I swore I would never go back to the dredded yellow foam.

[TruBluShirt 0]

Since Mission and Itech got together to form one company, is it safe to assume that the Intake and the HC100 are the same? You can't help but see some sort of resemblance between the two. I know the Intake has better ventilation but both helmets have the same points of adjustment. They use the same type of tool to adjust the helmet. Will I get the same fit from either helmet?

[NJ2000DEVILS 0]

A Bauer 4000 XL might be your only choice.

I had the same problem and the Itech and Mission helmets did not fit.

I haven't tried the newer Nike Bauer 4500, but it should be the same as the 4000.

[clarke-BOH 0]

I'm in the same boat as you, the last time i went looking for a helmet the only thing i could fit into was a CCM 852 XL, but its getting pretty beat up, so right now im waiting for my LHS to get in the bauer 8500 XL.....if not then back to the CCM...either helmets worth a look

[ecjp11 0]

I personally wear a size 8 fitted hat and have had problems getting a helmet for years. I had been wearing a CCM 1052 in a size Large for a long time, and that was a huge bucket. That helmet lost its insides a couple months ago and after trying on everything possible I can tell you without doubt the NBH 4500 XL is the biggest volume helmet on the market. It opens up to a size 8 1/8, but feels even bigger than that. It's the first time I've ever reduced the size of a helmet. Good Luck!

[joshy207 15]

Pretty sure there is an Itech HC95 in XL. Otherwise it's probably Bauer 4000 (4500?) or 8500 in XL.

[Shane_e_19 0]

My old manager from work had a huge melon head and the only helmet he could fit in was the bauer 4000 for the longest time, until we got some of the rbk 8k's in and the mission intakes, he fit those pretty well my bet would be to try one of those 3

[TCsnipes9 0]

A Bauer 4000 XL might be your only choice.

I had the same problem and the Itech and Mission helmets did not fit.

I haven't tried the newer Nike Bauer 4500, but it should be the same as the 4000.

the 4500 is pretty close with just a few differences i noticed. the sides of the helmet, say where ones side-burns would be, comes further out to the front of my face. its slight, but after wearing the 0004 for 4-5 years, i noticed that right away. second, the back seems to wrap around the bottom of my head a lot better, so it doesnt come forward on contact like it used to. other than that the fit is very close to the same.

[Big_Al 0]

I have a big and wide head, and I have found many of the XL helmets are longer front to back, not wider.

A guy on my team got a Jofa 690 and I tried it, and it worked, but I couldn't find one for myself.

I got a deal on an RBK 8K, though, and that has done the trick. I would recommend at least trying it.

While every head is different I'd recommend you try either the 690 or 8K.

[TruBluShirt 0]

I'm starting to give up hope on the Jofa 690. You really can't find those in LHS. My wife couldn't find any around town. My Jofa 390 is still a pretty good helmet. But I'd like to get with the times and take a look at something new. I think my problem is that my head is wide. If I remember correctly I couldn't fit into any of the large sized helmets back then. A lot of manufacturers now have adjustable helmets. But my understanding is that it adjusts the helmet length wise and not width. Is this true?

[clarke-BOH 0]

just an update, my LHS got the 8500 in, but it wasn't wide enough. I ended up with a RBK 6k, the large was longer and wider than the 8500 XL, cheaper as well! take a look at thoes

[sc37 0]

I'm starting to give up hope on the Jofa 690. You really can't find those in LHS. My wife couldn't find any around town. My Jofa 390 is still a pretty good helmet. But I'd like to get with the times and take a look at something new. I think my problem is that my head is wide. If I remember correctly I couldn't fit into any of the large sized helmets back then. A lot of manufacturers now have adjustable helmets. But my understanding is that it adjusts the helmet length wise and not width. Is this true?

Yeah you might have to resort to buying online to find a 690. I got lucky and found a new one on eBay for $18, which made me happy :) But there's not much in a ways of a helmet that adjusts width wise, except the NBH 8500 and Rbk 8k. But that's more of clamping the helmet to your head to keep it from moving around then being able to expand the width.

[tsanga 0]

I'm starting to give up hope on the Jofa 690. You really can't find those in LHS. My wife couldn't find any around town. My Jofa 390 is still a pretty good helmet. But I'd like to get with the times and take a look at something new. I think my problem is that my head is wide. If I remember correctly I couldn't fit into any of the large sized helmets back then. A lot of manufacturers now have adjustable helmets. But my understanding is that it adjusts the helmet length wise and not width. Is this true?

Exactly my problem as well. I can't find the Jofa 690 in any LHS's either, and there's no way I'm buying until I try it first - no online purchase for me. Last time I tried on helmets I must have tried on 6-7 helmets and the only one I could force fit onto my wide head was the Bauer 3000. Without the EPP foam the yellow foam is softer and deforms to fit wider than the shell alone permits.

[gtoddh 0]

I wear and HC100 in size L. I've also got an older Itech (HC1505 maybe?) that I use for reffing. They both fit pretty well.

I've tried on many helmets. Bauer 4/5/8000 fit me pretty well but are expensive. CCM's tend to ride too low on my forehead/brow. I recently tried on an RBK 8K and my head was swimming in it. That thing is made for a round melon. I haven't tried one, but I imagine an Intake would fit similarly to my HC100, although the Intake does have a flex piece in the lower back of the helmet to help hold it on.

Never tried the 690, but have been interested in it. Everyone who has them seems to like them (epinions.com reviews.) A couple of my teammates wear the 690. But like the original poster, without being able to try one on I've been wary of ordering one.

I've got a big head, but luckily not that big! :)

[ju87 0]

How does an Intake or a RBK 8K fit compared to the Jofa 690? I'm thinking of getting a new lid and there are no Intakes available to try locally.

Thanks !

[TBLfan 25]

How does an Intake or a RBK 8K fit compared to the Jofa 690? I'm thinking of getting a new lid and there are no Intakes available to try locally.

Thanks !

Haven't tried on the 8k but I find the intake to fit shallower than my ccm 652. I barely fit, width wise, in a 652 large and fit a bit better in the intake... but it wasn't quite as comfortable(in my opinion), I can see why some pros switch out the padding.

I personally wouldn't buy a helmet without trying it on, I was in love with the intake until I tried it on... it just didn't work well for my head :(

[Chadd 916]

How does an Intake or a RBK 8K fit compared to the Jofa 690? I'm thinking of getting a new lid and there are no Intakes available to try locally.

Thanks !

The 8k is much smaller. I can easily wear medium 690 but I had to modify my medium 8k in order to wear it.

[ju87 0]

Thanks for the replies! Maybe I'll just get another 690...the fit is great. Any other recommendations for helmets with a similar fit?

[Chadd 916]

Thanks for the replies! Maybe I'll just get another 690...the fit is great. Any other recommendations for helmets with a similar fit?

HC100 is probably the closest that I've tried

[DamnLocust 0]

I never Used a 690, but the Mission Intake is similar to the Itech HC100. The Intake has larger front vents, gel padding, the Mission Head lock thingy, and a heftier price tag. Other than the vents, the shell shape is pretty much the same.