Helmet Recommendation

[blueshirt80 0]

Well it’s time for me to look at new helmets. I have been looking at a few and have gone threw these forums and know that you people here are knowledgeable and if I’m going to spend the money for a nice helmet I want something I’m going to like.

I tend to sweet a lot, so I want something that is light, breaths very nicely, comfortable, and durable. I play about three times a week. I also wear an Itech X100 Half Shield and would like a helmet that would work with this. The helmets I am looking at are below.

Reebok 8K

Reebok 6K

CCM Vector

Mission Intake

Nike Bauer 8500

Nike Bauer 5500

Since I get hot very easily the helmet has to have a maximum amount of air flow first and formost.

Have any of you had any of these helmets? Which one or ones do you like better, any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

Bobby

[Clark12 0]

I've been wearing the 8k helmet for the past 5 months and like you, I sweat quite a bit when playing.

I used to wear a Bauer 4500 with a Itech HS22 Straight Cut visor with no problems. I decided to go for the 8K as I wanted something with a bit more comfort, which the 8K certainly has.

I kept the same visor on my 8K helmet as I had on the Bauer but due to me sweating alot I found that beads of sweat would drip from inside the helmet and land on my visor, causing it to steam up a little.

Other than that I would recommonded the 8K as a brilliant helmet, but you might want to look around a few others to see if there is a better helmet out there for you.

[louis 0]

I've been wearing the 8k helmet for the past 5 months and like you, I sweat quite a bit when playing.

I used to wear a Bauer 4500 with a Itech HS22 Straight Cut visor with no problems. I decided to go for the 8K as I wanted something with a bit more comfort, which the 8K certainly has.

I kept the same visor on my 8K helmet as I had on the Bauer but due to me sweating alot I found that beads of sweat would drip from inside the helmet and land on my visor, causing it to steam up a little.

Other than that I would recommonded the 8K as a brilliant helmet, but you might want to look around a few others to see if there is a better helmet out there for you.

I found that the 8k and 6k are nearly identical . So i would sugest the 6k and save 60$

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I use the 4500 with a cage, and love it

[tomh7 2]

I've been wearing the 8k for 2 seasons now and will be getting another one for next season. I was in the Bauer 3000 (now 4000/4500) before that. Both helmets are excelent. I also have the Bauer 5000 but it doesn't fit the shape of my head very well. All the helmets on your list are proven, excelent helmets. My suggestion would be to just try them on and go with what fits the shape of your mellon the best.

[english15x 3]

I used to wear bauer 5000 with cage, and bauer 4000 with cage now i wear an Mission intake with a bauer true vision cage. best helmet ever, i sweat like a mother- and it keeps you dry as can be. I used to have to wipe sweat off my forehead every shift but now i dont.

[B Neal 0]

4500 is defiently the best helmet IMO. It may not provide the best protection, but it looks the best, and hey, that's all that matter anyways, right?

[Dupes 1]

I played with 3 RBK 8k helmet in the past year, I really like them!

[CapsFan 5]

I've been using my 8500 for about a month now and I love it. It's a little heavier than my old 4000, but not much. Airflow seems to be really good too. There are a lot of ways to adjust it, so you should get a great fit out of it.

[DamnLocust 0]

If you sweat a lot, look into helmets with VN (the thick off-white padding) such as the NBH 4500, and Tacks 652/692. Although they're considered "Lower end" helmets, many consider VN to be more protective than the harder foams (EPP). More importantly, the VN will absorb some of your sweat, whereas the EPP will let it trickle down your face and onto your shield.

For Ventilation, however, the Intake is one of the best.

[Monty22 835]

Your head likley will be not an ideal fit for all the helmets you listed. You should try them all on and see which ones fit the best, then go from there.

[duch 0]

For excellent ventilation/protection get the Mission Intake.

For excellent protection and comfort get the Bauer 8500. It's a bit heavier than the Mission Intake and has good ventilation but in my opinion not quite as good as the Intake.

The 8K is also very light, has good ventilation but doesn't feel as solid as the above two helmets.

If you are willing to sacrifice a little protection (although this an argualby negligable difference depending on what level of hockey you play) get the Bauer 4500. As previouly stated the vinyl nitrate liner absorbs some of the sweat and is one of the most comfortable on the market. Still lots of NHLers who prefer it over the EPP liner.

[roscoe6 1]

I have used the NBH 8500 and the RBK 8k (both with cages, and removed ear guards)and thought both were very comfortable. The RBK seemed to be a little lighter in weight, but nothing EXTREMELY noticeable. I dont have that big of a sweating problem so I cant really help you on that part of the problem, but both (more-so the RBK) were well ventilated IMO.

If you have long hair I would be carefull putting on/taking off the RBK as the inside layer of padding seemed a bit sticky.

And for some reason the front of the 8500 looks like a truck to me. Does anyone else notice this? :)

[tlminh 0]

I have the NBH5500 and I like it a lot, you really have to try different helmets though, the NBH's liked my head, the intake squeezed my temples and the RBK was a bit too wide on me

[Doctor Hook 0]

I back the NBH 4500. Lightweight, great airflow, fits comfortably, comes in sizes S-XL, and offers solid protection.

[Hockey Player 0]

Well it’s time for me to look at new helmets. I have been looking at a few and have gone threw these forums and know that you people here are knowledgeable and if I’m going to spend the money for a nice helmet I want something I’m going to like.

I tend to sweet a lot, so I want something that is light, breaths very nicely, comfortable, and durable. I play about three times a week. I also wear an Itech X100 Half Shield and would like a helmet that would work with this. The helmets I am looking at are below.

Reebok 8K

Reebok 6K

CCM Vector

Mission Intake

Nike Bauer 8500

Nike Bauer 5500

Since I get hot very easily the helmet has to have a maximum amount of air flow first and formost.

Have any of you had any of these helmets? Which one or ones do you like better, any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

Bobby

I can relate...it's tough looking for a new lid, as I have been doing lately. After all my research, scratch the 5500 off your list. It may be one of the cheaper options in EPP, but remember...that's the helmet many players were wearing when they got severe concussions (Eric Lindros, Carlo Colaiacovo, etc.). Apparently it's hard to adjust, isn't all that comfy because of the gel pads that wear off, and offer less protection after a while.

The 8500 is butt ugly, heavy, and a bit pricy.

I don't know much about it, but it's scratched off my list.

I need more info on the Vector helmet before I make a judgement on that.

Now, the 8k, the most expensive helmet on the market. It's light, easy to adjust, protective, comfy and has a special feature; the microdial. It's just something more to adjust the helmet. Take out the micro-dial, and you have the 6k.

Now, the Mission Intake. Apparently it's the coolest helmet in the game, because of a unique ventilation system. It also has something at the back, called the Mission Head Lock. Not too sure what it does, but somehow, it rests at the back of your head and protects something and bla bla bla...

Only con, is that it's the only one of the names you mentioned that doesen't have tool-free adjustement

[forbs02 20]

Only con, is that it's the only one of the names you mentioned that doesen't have tool-free adjustement

Tool-free adjustment is over-rated. Its just one more thing to break. Plus, how often does one really need to adjust the size of their helmet. I haven't adjusted the screws on mine since I got it a couple of years ago.

[Alias81 0]

I'm in need of a new helmet aswell thinking either Intake, 8K or 5500. Leaning towards the Intake as the ventilation is a factor for me, although I love the 8K and have had 2 5000 (5500) helmets before and may side with them from habit,

any opinions on how to split those 3?

[tlminh 0]

After all my research, scratch the 5500 off your list. It may be one of the cheaper options in EPP, but remember...that's the helmet many players were wearing when they got severe concussions (Eric Lindros, Carlo Colaiacovo, etc.). Apparently it's hard to adjust, isn't all that comfy because of the gel pads that wear off, and offer less protection after a while.

I have the 5500 and its fairly easy to adjust, Im in the military (with your typical military buzz) and when my hair gets a little longer on vacation, its pretty easy to adjust when needed

Also about the concussions, there are still some top players that wear them incl forsberg, st louis, etc, even lindros still wears them after his concussion

[Dean_ 0]

if i where you i would get either the bauer 5500, or the 8500 helmet

[MLSman 22]

I see that you are looking at all EPP helmets. From the EPP perspective, I would have to say the NBH 8500 was the most comfortable and protective. I used to wear it but I went to a VN because it was more comfortable for me. I really like my CCM 892 pro stock. Check hockeymonkey if interested...only $34.95

[Medic 0]

I can relate...it's tough looking for a new lid, as I have been doing lately. After all my research, scratch the 5500 off your list. It may be one of the cheaper options in EPP, but remember...that's the helmet many players were wearing when they got severe concussions (Eric Lindros, Carlo Colaiacovo, etc.). Apparently it's hard to adjust, isn't all that comfy because of the gel pads that wear off, and offer less protection after a while.

Well thats certainly false causality. A concussion as a result of hitting your face/chin directly into the boards, or an elbow/shoulder in the jaw will happen regardless of helmet. I've had one for quite a while (3 years), and the gels pads have lasted just fine, and while it may be kind of hard to adjust, that only means it takes 5 minutes instead of 2. I think it's a great helmet for the price, and would buy another in a minute.

[barrett 0]

Not sure about what would fit you best , so you are better off trying a bunch of different ones on! Bauer has always been nice to me though.

[B-Nads 0]

I'll throw another "try them fro fit" in. I have a NBH 5500 and I love it, but it does tend to sweat - I think the material outside the inner foam padding makes matters worse. On the other hand, it fits me really well. I would strongly suggest the Intake if it fits. I could have snagged one last summer for dirt cheap but didn't because it wouldn't fit - my neck is pretty much an exact size extension of the back of my head (what little neck there is - lol), and there are these two little chunks of padding that stick in on each side of the neck in the Mission helmet that was just digging right into my neck - very uncomfortable. Otherwise, a sweet lid.

[TBLfan 25]

The only helmet with EPP that feels somewhat comfortable to me is the 8K. The width adjustment is nice and it's a bit deeper than most EPP helmets.