Cage Question

[Zinger 0]

Hey guys, just took of my NBH 4500 cage off my NBH 4500 helmet and replaced it with a 9500 cage....

the helmet and cage are both size medium...

problem is, the cage doesnt fit in both j-clips on the helmet...i have to squeeze the cage to make it fit....

are J-Clips necessary??

any tips on how to make the cage fit?

[jeremyp 3]

Just carefully bend the cage slightly so that it fits nicely in the j clips. It's easy to do. The 9500 helmet is slightly wider than the 4500, as you just found out.

[Jarick 5]

I had to do the same thing with my 9500 cage and 5500 helmet. Just squeezed the cage a bit a few times and it fits fine now.

[start_today 778]

The solution has been posted, but those J-clips are necessary. They keep the cage from being able to be pushed back. This provides a little bit of protection against an impact that would jam the cage into your face or jaw or possibly throat, depending on how everything fits you.

[joshy207 15]

If there's a chance your cage could be jammed into your throat, it's way too long, buy a shorter cage.

J-clips are not necessary. Ideally the chin cup will fit snugly to your chin. Any impact to your cage should be absorbed by your jaw and mouthguard. If your cage hits your j-clips before it hits your chin, you risk having your helmet knocked off, even if it is fitted tightly to your head.

[jarret_g 5]

If there's a chance your cage could be jammed into your throat, it's way too long, buy a shorter cage.

J-clips are not necessary. Ideally the chin cup will fit snugly to your chin. Any impact to your cage should be absorbed by your jaw and mouthguard. If your cage hits your j-clips before it hits your chin, you risk having your helmet knocked off, even if it is fitted tightly to your head.

Only you and hockeygiant think that j-clips aren't necessary. I still can't grow hair on my chin from my high school days. If you rely on your chin and mouthguard to absorb the impact you're looking for trouble....and one of the top 10 KO's in hockey history.

[Hockeyman11385 1]

If there's a chance your cage could be jammed into your throat, it's way too long, buy a shorter cage.

J-clips are not necessary. Ideally the chin cup will fit snugly to your chin. Any impact to your cage should be absorbed by your jaw and mouthguard. If your cage hits your j-clips before it hits your chin, you risk having your helmet knocked off, even if it is fitted tightly to your head.

Wrong.

The reason that the J clips are there is to transfer the energy of the impact to the helmet instead of your jaw. The companies wouldn't include them if they weren't necessary. A properly tightened chin strap (~1 finger) will easily keep the helmet on your head.

[raoul_duke2k 0]

Off topic a bit, but related - did you ever notice how a lot of div 1 College players wear cages much larger than necessary? The chin guard is like even with their throat. Is there some vision improvement by doing this?

[Chadd 916]

Off topic a bit, but related - did you ever notice how a lot of div 1 College players wear cages much larger than necessary? The chin guard is like even with their throat. Is there some vision improvement by doing this?

They also wear them as loose as possible in a lot of cases. While there may be minimal gains in vision, the huge decrease in safety makes it a really bad idea.

[jeremyp 3]

Technically J clips aren't necessary except for younger players where its mandatory (youth or junior). I use them and like them on my helmet.

Any really hard hit you take to the face that could cause you a potential injury is probably going to shear the clips anyway. I have an older Jofa helmet that didn't have j clips for the cage and it was fine. I took a few sticks and pucks to the face with that cage and never once did I get hurt.

[Hockeyman11385 1]

A stick or puck to the face isn't going to test the helmet. Something like falling to the ice face first or being hit into the boards will be the greater test of the package.

[e23barton 0]

Technically J clips aren't necessary except for younger players where its mandatory (youth or junior). I use them and like them on my helmet.

Any really hard hit you take to the face that could cause you a potential injury is probably going to shear the clips anyway. I have an older Jofa helmet that didn't have j clips for the cage and it was fine. I took a few sticks and pucks to the face with that cage and never once did I get hurt.

even if the j clips shear off, that process has removed a lot of impact energy off your jaw and into the helmet like they are supposed to...

[AHF 1]

Technically J clips aren't necessary except for younger players where its mandatory (youth or junior). I use them and like them on my helmet.

Any really hard hit you take to the face that could cause you a potential injury is probably going to shear the clips anyway. I have an older Jofa helmet that didn't have j clips for the cage and it was fine. I took a few sticks and pucks to the face with that cage and never once did I get hurt.

Gimme a break dude. As a previous poster said, sticks and pucks won't test the J clips. A Scott Stevens type hit would...and without J clips, I'd imagine you'd be eating hamburgers with the help of a straw for a while...

[layziebone_ 0]

If there's a chance your cage could be jammed into your throat, it's way too long, buy a shorter cage.

J-clips are not necessary. Ideally the chin cup will fit snugly to your chin. Any impact to your cage should be absorbed by your jaw and mouthguard. If your cage hits your j-clips before it hits your chin, you risk having your helmet knocked off, even if it is fitted tightly to your head.

I don't know enough about J clips to say they're completely necessary, but I've coached boxing long enough to know that impact is not meant to be absorbed by the jaw. In any sport.

[jeremyp 3]

Hey, I agree with you guys and that's why I use them. Besides, it makes for a better fitting cage, IMO. AHF, I still feel that a very hard hit, ie. a shoulder in your face, is going to cause a pretty good injury regardless of whether or not you have clips on your helmet. You'd be eating out of a straw with or without them, most likely. But again, I believe in using them, so don't take this the wrong way.

[Zinger 0]

thanks for all the tips guys...i squeezed the cage and it fits fine now...

I think im gonna keep the J-Clips too l:)

i got hit from behind a few days ago and rather not take the risk....and now that the cage fits into the clips, no reason to take em off...

the 9500 cage is a HUGE improvement over the 4500 btw...

so much lighter and better vision

[Jarick 5]

I know, right? I tried an Itech full shield and traded it in for the 9500...it's like nothing at all.

[jeremyp 3]

Zinger,

That's the same move I made, 4500 to 9500, and I'm pretty happy with it as well. I ended up getting the Bauer visor/cage combo at the same time. I used it for the first time last night and I loved it. I had no fogging issues to speak of. I did have to deal with a couple sweat drips on the inside, but they weren't causing any vision problems. I didn't even bother to wipe them up until afterwards.

[Zinger 0]

just played with the 9500 cage for the first time...

best $60 i ever spent

[wetwilly17 6]

i saw all the opinions about j clips in this thread when it was new. I was skeptical when some of you said j-clips were necessary to reduce the risk of injury by impact to the chin. However, I didn’t argue because I figured the helmet manufacturers must have done their homework.

Well the other day i received my new nbh 5500 helmet with cage. Nbh’s pamphlet for the cage states “Please note that the use of J clips is optional. By using J clips, the faceguard will rest in the clips and allow the users jaw to move more freely.”

[VakarLajos 5]

i saw all the opinions about j clips in this thread when it was new. I was skeptical when some of you said j-clips were necessary to reduce the risk of injury by impact to the chin. However, I didn’t argue because I figured the helmet manufacturers must have done their homework.

Well the other day i received my new nbh 5500 helmet with cage. Nbh’s pamphlet for the cage states “Please note that the use of J clips is optional. By using J clips, the faceguard will rest in the clips and allow the users jaw to move more freely.”

I don't know if Bauer wants to make a claim that the J-clips will make any sort of energy transfer. The clips breaking while getting hit might be a lawasuit waiting to happen in that instance.

I advise greatly in using the j-clips.

[wetwilly17 6]

i saw all the opinions about j clips in this thread when it was new. I was skeptical when some of you said j-clips were necessary to reduce the risk of injury by impact to the chin. However, I didn’t argue because I figured the helmet manufacturers must have done their homework.

Well the other day i received my new nbh 5500 helmet with cage. Nbh’s pamphlet for the cage states “Please note that the use of J clips is optional. By using J clips, the faceguard will rest in the clips and allow the users jaw to move more freely.”

I don't know if Bauer wants to make a claim that the J-clips will make any sort of energy transfer. The clips breaking while getting hit might be a lawasuit waiting to happen in that instance.

I advise greatly in using the j-clips.

1) of course they wouldn't make a claim about energy transfer because the j clips aren't designed to absorb energy. that is what the compressible helmet/chin padding is for. the only way the j clips can absorb energy is by breaking.

2) in the event of huge impact to the face, the chin will still take plenty of impact as the padding in the helmet compresses. it is my opinion as a mechanical engineer that the j clips won't really help, they will merely create a reaction force to push the back of the helmet upward.

[VakarLajos 5]

i saw all the opinions about j clips in this thread when it was new. I was skeptical when some of you said j-clips were necessary to reduce the risk of injury by impact to the chin. However, I didn’t argue because I figured the helmet manufacturers must have done their homework.

Well the other day i received my new nbh 5500 helmet with cage. Nbh’s pamphlet for the cage states “Please note that the use of J clips is optional. By using J clips, the faceguard will rest in the clips and allow the users jaw to move more freely.”

I don't know if Bauer wants to make a claim that the J-clips will make any sort of energy transfer. The clips breaking while getting hit might be a lawasuit waiting to happen in that instance.

I advise greatly in using the j-clips.

1) of course they wouldn't make a claim about energy transfer because the j clips aren't designed to absorb energy. that is what the compressible helmet/chin padding is for. the only way the j clips can absorb energy is by breaking.

2) in the event of huge impact to the face, the chin will still take plenty of impact as the padding in the helmet compresses. it is my opinion as a mechanical engineer that the j clips won't really help, they will merely create a reaction force to push the back of the helmet upward.

then have at it, hoss.

[jarret_g 5]

1) of course they wouldn't make a claim about energy transfer because the j clips aren't designed to absorb energy. that is what the compressible helmet/chin padding is for. the only way the j clips can absorb energy is by breaking.

2) in the event of huge impact to the face, the chin will still take plenty of impact as the padding in the helmet compresses. it is my opinion as a mechanical engineer that the j clips won't really help, they will merely create a reaction force to push the back of the helmet upward.

Yes, it will push the helmet upward, at which point your properly fastened chin strap will prevent this. Allowing the impact to be dissipated through the rest of the helmet. Your theory suggests "absorbing it with your chin". With that attitude only Rocky Balboa and Mac from PunchOut will be able to play hockey.

[wetwilly17 6]

1) of course they wouldn't make a claim about energy transfer because the j clips aren't designed to absorb energy. that is what the compressible helmet/chin padding is for. the only way the j clips can absorb energy is by breaking.

2) in the event of huge impact to the face, the chin will still take plenty of impact as the padding in the helmet compresses. it is my opinion as a mechanical engineer that the j clips won't really help, they will merely create a reaction force to push the back of the helmet upward.

Yes, it will push the helmet upward, at which point your properly fastened chin strap will prevent this. Allowing the impact to be dissipated through the rest of the helmet. Your theory suggests "absorbing it with your chin". With that attitude only Rocky Balboa and Mac from PunchOut will be able to play hockey.

i don't think you fully understand the physics behind this problem...the reactionary forces, the movement and pivoting of the helmet and the energy absorption due to compressed padding. as a mechanical engineer, i analyze problems like this for a living. and i see a lot of nontechnical people on websites stating their opinions which aren't based on any sort of technical understanding of the issue (perfect example is VarkarLajos on post#21). if you dont believe me thats ok - i'm not going to take the time to draw free body diagrams for you. but the fact remains that the helmet manufacturer states that the clips aren't required. who has more merit and understanding of the product and its purpose: the engineers at nike/bauer or some randomn kid on a website forum?

about the chin strap...go put your helmet on and tighten the chin strap as much as possible. then attempt to lift the back of your helmet and see what happens. now consider how much the padding compresses during a big hit to the head.