Best Cage for Visability?

[canuckdude 0]

Searching "cage" brings up comments on individual products - I want forum's advice as to what cage offers best visibility.

Industrial adult hockey player. When I returned to hockey six years ago I tried on a black cage and a zleader (fogged up), couldn't handle either.

The past month I've had two sticks in the teeth, the last costing $2000: it's time for a cage.

What model / design and colour offers the best visibility?

Thanks in advance.

[hockeynick1234 0]

I just got a CCM chrome cage and i can see fine. if you want to stick with the cage-shield combo, i no that there is some products to keep them from fogging.

[canuckdude 0]

The clear shield should have better visibility, but when I wore the zleader it fogged up way too much, even with anti-fog spray. I sweat a lot, and like the feeling of wind on my face. I have to find the best cage and learn to deal with it.

[TBLfan 25]

From what I hear the 8500, I'm waiting on one in the mail so I'll let you know what I think. But with the way it's designed reminds me of a few different certified goalie cages and the visability from some of those cages are incredible and being that the bars are roughly twice(maybe more) as thick as a players cage the placement of the bars is crucial.

[Viking 1]

Last year I replaced a black Itech 905 with a chrome Jofa (/CCM) FM480, and I've noticed a slight improvement in visibility with the 480. I've never had a problem wearing a cage before though, so maybe the improvement would be more noticeable to someone else.

[canuckdude 0]

There were good things said about the 8500 in searched forums. Not much about other cages.

The bars aren't thicker than other cages are they?

[Fury of One 6]

If you're willing to shell out the $150 for it, the Itech Titanium has been personally one of the best for me in terms of vision, and it's damn light.

[TBLfan 25]

no, I believe they are like the true vision cages with thinner, oval bars.

being that the bars look thinner from your sightline but if you turn the cage to look downwards across the projected sightline you'd see a wider bar. I hope that makes sense.

[Edge 0]

Itech's new "Fantom" cage is supposed to have the best vision available from a cage. Take a look in the Itech catalogue. It is not out yet as far as I know but it should be coming soon.

The Titanium cage is great because of the weight but $130 is a lot for a cage. I ditched mine for a CCM 480 just because of looks...

[canuckdude 0]

Thanks TBLfan, thinner bars sounds great, and explains why in the photos the bars seem wide.

[topshelf11 0]

I use one of these, since I play Men's league, and it doesn't need to be certified.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-HIGH-VISIBILITY-IC...1QQcmdZViewItem

Not perfect for protection, but way better than nothing, and the visiblility is great.

[canuckdude 0]

Thanks topshelf, your not the first one to point this design out - dr hook mentioned this but now is considering the 8500 - why?

It looks like it would do the job for sticks in the teeth.

[colt45 0]

on one helmet i have the Bauer FM4000 True-Vision

and on the other i have the CCM FM480

I would highly recommend both, but the only drawback is that the CCM FM480 has a different chin cup, and it doesn't always stay on you chin.

[deadmanjolt 1]

Nike Bauer 8500. The silvery cage is almost unnoticeable to me. I tried to go back to my FM2000 for one pickup and was consistently losing the puck. Way better bang for buck than the titanium.

[Jarick 5]

I love my 8500. Matte finish isn't distracting. Taken a few pucks and sticks up high and it keeps paying for itself.

[Monty22 835]

Jofa/CCM/RBK 480 is by far my favorite cage. That said, I don't think any of the ones mentioned so far would cause you problems.

[canuckdude 0]

So if money's no object, go for 8500 over titanium?

[Fury of One 6]

If money isn't an object, than I would go Titanium. I thought it was crazy at first but to feel like you're not wearing a cage on your head is awesome plus it's rustproof, so yeah totally worth it.

[Razr 2]

the 8500 is the best bang for the buck. It's "lighter" and the gaps between bars are wider. Definitely worth the $$$

[Doctor Hook 0]

Thanks topshelf, your not the first one to point this design out - dr hook mentioned this but now is considering the 8500 - why?

It looks like it would do the job for sticks in the teeth.

I used the noncertified cat's eye cage and the vision is phenomenal, however it's not the safest cage so you probably shouldn't consider it seeing as how you actually want to protect yo grill.

I ordered the 8500 but it was backordered so I cancelled and instead picked up a new white Jofa 381 from eBay for $10. It's the precursor to the Jofa/CCM FM480 and is lighter and narrower, with a fixed position chincup. I wanted to switch to a white cage from a black FM480. Only problem is I have not seen this cage for sale on its own in any traditional online store or at my LHS. Usually it's paired with a Jofa 390 bucket.

With that being said, I'd suggest an FM480 in chrome or white, since you hated on black cages. I just know from personal experience that these are top notch cages and look great both from your own perspective as well as aesthetically.

[shifter 0]

I have the Nbh 8500 tru vision cage on a nbh 5500(5000)helmet and i have mentioned it in Dr hook's thread. My helmet and the 8500 cage seem to go fine and is hardly noticible. It is light and the vision is truly amazing because everytime I go on the ice I never notice my cage is on, but a bad thing about it was i sweat a lot and I sometimes missed when squirting water into my mouth and it results into rusting. =/ this cage was like 50$ CDn approximately don't remember and the chin cup has a dri-fit liner which is really good because it helps absorb all my sweat =D

[Doctor Hook 0]

I'll also add that the Itech VIII with I2 technology intrigues me...

[Viking 1]

Is "I2 technology" the thing where they paint it white on the inside?

[Doctor Hook 0]

Is "I2 technology" the thing where they paint it white on the inside?

Skindeed. Wish they could do this on an FM480, but apparently Itech owns the rights.

[Viking 1]

Then this is technology that I don't understand... If it's easier to see through white bars, why don't they just make it a white cage? Is there some advantage to the black on the outside that I don't understand, or is it just for the looks (if so, I don't really see how a black cage looks that much different or better than a white one)?