Helmet ear protect

[Jason91 0]

I've always kept mine because they're manditory in most leagues around here. I'm glad i have them most of the times when i get hit and i feel the protector receive a solid knock against the glass.

[Tailboard Jockey 25]

I've taken them out of every hockey helmet I've ever had, because my ears always rub on them.

[LkptTiger 1]

I don't remember what the rule is in juniors.

Required.

[kosydar 0]

I've taken mine out for as long as I can remember. Been hit in the ear numerous times (never too bad), but its never prompted me to put them back on. They just bug me for some reason.

[#44wannabe 4]

I always take mine out as i widens the helmet (not an issue since i switched to a RBK 4K) bu also because i found it to rub on my ears.

[number21 3]

I noticed some of the younger pros (Kane and Crosby) still have there in. I wonder if they're just so used to them.

They never bothered me so I never even thought about taking them out.

[TBLfan 25]

I've played with them and without them on most of my helmets. When it comes to sound, I can hear fine(with them) when someone is talking to me or yelling for a pass... but when it comes to little things especially guys talking with mouthpieces calling for passes or telling me where they are, they make a big difference. Tblades are obvious but some guys just sound differently then others on steel, add that with a certain skating style and you easily recognize who is who on the ice. It really helps me complete "no-look" passes because obviously I can't see them but I know where they were and what direction they're going, how fast and who it is. When I joined my current team I was surprising some of them by getting the puck to them quickly with my back to them so I started calling them out by name and it's helped them. Obviously this is situational but I feel that the more information you can gather at a time helps you know and understand what is going on around you.

Most of my teammates with ear guards claim they can hear fine but I swear they don't listen for crap, because they dont respond when you call them or you have to repeat yourself, even on the bench. With goalies, most can't hear and about half of them are barely understandable at more than 5 feet away.

As with ear guards, I think it's where the hole is located in relation to the ear canal and of course how well you hear to begin with... Hell, it might be HOW we hear. I have trouble hearing on the phone, especially when I'm in a place with a lot of noise while most of my friends can hear just fine in the same place on the same phone. At the same time I can hear things like a phone vibrating in a noisy restaurant. This might be just one more reason why it's personal preference.

[scorer75 9]

I used to take mine out, then got hit in the ear.

The 17 stitches didn't hurt as much as the $1,500 doctor bill!!!

Now I keep 'em in.

[shades9323 0]

Do some of you have really sweaty ears?

[DavidT 11]

I take mine out.

I have a hard enough time hearing as it is, plus I find them really annoying.

I've taken pucks and sticks to the ear, Im still here and doing fine.

[eric42434224 1]

I find no difference in ventilation or in the ability to hear.

But I did find it annoying that they rubbed on my ears and hurt them when I put the helmet on. So bye-bye ear covers.

And yes, I thought it looked better. So sue me.

Hey, that sounds like a Jewish Sushi restaurant. So-Sue-Me.

mmmmmm......suuuuuushi.

[ashtonhutch05 0]

I leave mine in just because I dont want to get called for it and have to sit out a game, I've been sitting enough lately as it is. Stupid injuries...

[coryroth24 15]

If you're over 18, anything goes as long as you have a certified helmet covering your melon. You guys remember in the playoffs a few years back when Scott Stevens got drilled in the ear with a shot?

[njd07 0]

just took a slapshot in the ear area last game, glad I left the ear protectors in..lol. I did notice when helmet was new that they made it really right on my temples, but after a few uses it has stretched and doesnt bother me anymore.

[epstud74 24]

I've played with them and without them on most of my helmets. When it comes to sound, I can hear fine(with them) when someone is talking to me or yelling for a pass... but when it comes to little things especially guys talking with mouthpieces calling for passes or telling me where they are, they make a big difference. Tblades are obvious but some guys just sound differently then others on steel, add that with a certain skating style and you easily recognize who is who on the ice. It really helps me complete "no-look" passes because obviously I can't see them but I know where they were and what direction they're going, how fast and who it is. When I joined my current team I was surprising some of them by getting the puck to them quickly with my back to them so I started calling them out by name and it's helped them. Obviously this is situational but I feel that the more information you can gather at a time helps you know and understand what is going on around you.

Most of my teammates with ear guards claim they can hear fine but I swear they don't listen for crap, because they dont respond when you call them or you have to repeat yourself, even on the bench. With goalies, most can't hear and about half of them are barely understandable at more than 5 feet away.

As with ear guards, I think it's where the hole is located in relation to the ear canal and of course how well you hear to begin with... Hell, it might be HOW we hear. I have trouble hearing on the phone, especially when I'm in a place with a lot of noise while most of my friends can hear just fine in the same place on the same phone. At the same time I can hear things like a phone vibrating in a noisy restaurant. This might be just one more reason why it's personal preference.

I'm guessing you have a hearing loss

I always have taken mine out. They irritate my ears and I have to always adjust them, so I've always taken them out.

[colt45 0]

I removed mine because they were loose without a cage, so I took them out. If they don't bother you then leave them in. They have no effect on hearing.

ditto...i gotta leave them in for HS and travel and stuff, but I take them out for reffing ONLY because it didnt fit when i put my visor on...no effect on hearing and air flow for me.....and i would probably not suggest it

[TBLfan 25]

I've played with them and without them on most of my helmets. When it comes to sound, I can hear fine(with them) when someone is talking to me or yelling for a pass... but when it comes to little things especially guys talking with mouthpieces calling for passes or telling me where they are, they make a big difference. Tblades are obvious but some guys just sound differently then others on steel, add that with a certain skating style and you easily recognize who is who on the ice. It really helps me complete "no-look" passes because obviously I can't see them but I know where they were and what direction they're going, how fast and who it is. When I joined my current team I was surprising some of them by getting the puck to them quickly with my back to them so I started calling them out by name and it's helped them. Obviously this is situational but I feel that the more information you can gather at a time helps you know and understand what is going on around you.

Most of my teammates with ear guards claim they can hear fine but I swear they don't listen for crap, because they dont respond when you call them or you have to repeat yourself, even on the bench. With goalies, most can't hear and about half of them are barely understandable at more than 5 feet away.

As with ear guards, I think it's where the hole is located in relation to the ear canal and of course how well you hear to begin with... Hell, it might be HOW we hear. I have trouble hearing on the phone, especially when I'm in a place with a lot of noise while most of my friends can hear just fine in the same place on the same phone. At the same time I can hear things like a phone vibrating in a noisy restaurant. This might be just one more reason why it's personal preference.

I'm guessing you have a hearing loss

I always have taken mine out. They irritate my ears and I have to always adjust them, so I've always taken them out.

Actually, I have very good hearing, I think that's the issue... I have trouble separating what sound is which so I just hear too much background noise and can't pull out the voice. But at the same time, if there is anything covering my ear canal, I can't hear well... considering how sound waves work, that makes sense.

[maxamillion 3]

i used them on every helmet i've owned, but i took them off of my new 4500 after i almost cut my ear off the first time i put it on. i don't really know what the likelihood of getting hit in the ear seriously enough is. i mean, you should be aware of the puck, so if it's hitting you in the side of the head, maybe you deserve it :D

[LivHockey84 0]

I remove them....the first thing i do when i get the helmet home.

[BenderHockey 127]

i used them on every helmet i've owned, but i took them off of my new 4500 after i almost cut my ear off the first time i put it on. i don't really know what the likelihood of getting hit in the ear seriously enough is. i mean, you should be aware of the puck, so if it's hitting you in the side of the head, maybe you deserve it :D

ask scott stevens

[CannonBall 0]

I've already broken my nose 3 times, I don't need jacked up ears to complete my troll look.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

you know, you guys with rubbing issues may want to wear them, you know, tuck your ears in and reduce your drag.

[sickwilly 37]

I forgot to take them out of my 9500 when I bought it. I'm glad that I left them in, too. I was forechecking a d-man (on a team of newer players) the other night. He was trying to dump it out, but drilled me right in the ear area. It hurt quite a bit with the guard in. I think I would have at least had several stitches without the gueards. It was the first time I can remember getting hit there (in 30 years). I notice no difference in hearing, and I think the helmet's pretty well-ventilated with them in.

[Patrick67 1]

I blocked a shot without ear protection in a game recently.

I thought the guy would firsttime it, but instead he recieved and then fired, that fraction of a second made me slide with my head into the shotlane. (went legs first on would have caught it perfectly with the shin guards had it been a onetimer)

I got hit directy on the ear flap, most agonizing pain I've ever felt. Thought my ear was hanging onto my head by a thread and was convinced there was blood everywhere.

According to the doctors I was lucky it hit the flap instead of directly on the ear, made my ear swell 50% and my head would ache everytime I tilted my head that side for a week.

I was wearing a Rbk 8k, and have since noticed the massive amount of unproteced space in the earregion on the Rbk's opposed to virtually all other brands.

[skarbro 0]

I don't care how it looks or what other people think of me, I will never take them out of my helmet. Last thing I need is to show up to the office with a million stitches in my ear.