Old Style Helmets

[Chadd 916]

I know that with cycling helmets you are supposed to replace the helmet after a crash where the helmet takes direct impact. I wonder if the same principle applies to hockey helmets using EPP.

Yes, after any major impact you should replace an EPP helmet.

[dsjunior1388 81]

These kinds of situations are when I'm all right with being a hoarder. When I saw Nike 0004s going on clearance as low as $20 I swooped in. I'm superstitious and picky to begin with but I just don't like the majority of new helmets I've tried on.

Plus at this point you can flip 0004s on ebay for $80+ to the fanboys.

[Louie 28]

These kinds of situations are when I'm all right with being a hoarder. When I saw Nike 0004s going on clearance as low as $20 I swooped in. I'm superstitious and picky to begin with but I just don't like the majority of new helmets I've tried on.

I completely hear you on this, I have about 20 brand new CCM 110 Vector sticks all in light flex with a Stuart curve.

[BuckleyHockey15 0]

The same can be said about the Cooper/Nike Bauer/Bauer 4000-4500.. why are players still using that? Like 70% of the NHL still uses it to this day (which I'll be moving to.. as the CCM HT652 I have is cracked).. I guess it's just a classic helmet.. so as someone said, if it's not broke, don't fix it.

It is a classic helmet, it looks great, and a lot of pros don't like the new padding in the helmets, you see a lot of guys wearing the 4000-4500, the v08 and sometimes the 4k because of the simple old padding and thats comfortable to them

[SirJW 207]

Hasek's later helmets were custom from goalie mask designers.

<div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.warwickmaskcompany.com/shop/">Warwick Masks</a><br></div>

[pby 0]

There's no proof that the new helmets provide any additional protection over the old ones. In fact there is proof that the VN protects better than EPP in certain types of hits and EPP protects better than VN in others.

fair point, but do helmet materials deteriorate overtime with time? I know my old bauer/itech's foam got rock solid over the years and probably wouldn't do much in a collision.

[Chadd 916]

fair point, but do helmet materials deteriorate overtime with time? I know my old bauer/itech's foam got rock solid over the years and probably wouldn't do much in a collision.

Yes, they do. I believe the current suggested replacement time is every three years, if not before.

[troy 12]

Designation?

Direct impact is pretty obvious, indirect impacts were at an angle other than 90 degrees. VN was better as dissipating the rotational force (if I remember correctly) than EPP, while EPP was better at dissipating an impact directly perpendicular.

Yes, i was curious what is designated a direct impact as opposed to an indirect impact. Indirect impact seems like an oxymoron to me, but with your explanation it seems like the difference between getting a concussion from slamming your head into the boards or from the whip effect of an open ice hit.

[Chadd 916]

Yes, i was curious what is designated a direct impact as opposed to an indirect impact. Indirect impact seems like an oxymoron to me, but with your explanation it seems like the difference between getting a concussion from slamming your head into the boards or from the whip effect of an open ice hit.

No. Indirect impact would be a glancing blow or something that hits at an off angle. Whipping usually induces problems in the neck or increases the speed of the secondary impact with the boards or ice and those impacts are often more of a direct impact than a glancing blow.

[troy 12]

I mistook then what you meant by rotational force. I would assume the greater pliability of the VN helps it in that aspect. And from my experience, I've been hit squarely on the front, back and sides of my head much less frequently than other areas.

[jds 20]

Yes, they do. I believe the current suggested replacement time is every three years, if not before.

This is MSH, don't you mean the suggested replacement time is every three weeks ;)

[Chadd 916]

I mistook then what you meant by rotational force. I would assume the greater pliability of the VN helps it in that aspect. And from my experience, I've been hit squarely on the front, back and sides of my head much less frequently than other areas.

You can get hit squarely from any direction, but I do agree that most hits are more of an indirect type of contact.

This is MSH, don't you mean the suggested replacement time is every three weeks ;)

Despite the weekly stick or glove replacement, I see a lot of guys here using the same helmets for long periods of time.

[troy 12]

You can get hit squarely from any direction, but I do agree that most hits are more of an indirect type of contact.

Yeah, that's why I specified front, back and sides. It would be nice if there was a greater availability of thorough information regarding helmet protection, especially with the concussion frenzy in all contact sports.

[Chadd 916]

It would be nice if there was a greater availability of thorough information regarding helmet protection, especially with the concussion frenzy in all contact sports.

Good luck with that. I don't think anyone (other than a few of us here) wants real information out in the public domain.

[zebra_steve 11]

Many of them were SK2000s.

Yep IRRC there was very little difference between them. Wasn't the SK2000 discontinued while he was still playing? I can honestly say that I would like to find a couple of those helmets new as they were one of the most comfortable buckets I've ever worn.... Nothing even close these days.

And that custom job that Hasek wore... didn't it cost around $1500 before the paint job?

[Jarick 5]

It does seem like guys will rotate sticks, gloves, and sometimes skates weekly but hold on to the protective for dear life.

Does the EPP actually "dry out" or get hard over time? My 5500 was old when I bought it and the padding is rock hard now. Can't remember if there was any give when it was new.

[cptjeff 0]

It does seem like guys will rotate sticks, gloves, and sometimes skates weekly but hold on to the protective for dear life.

Does the EPP actually "dry out" or get hard over time? My 5500 was old when I bought it and the padding is rock hard now. Can't remember if there was any give when it was new.

EPP doesn't have give, that's why EPP helmets have gel pads. Unless it's cracked, it won't go bad with time. VN will harden over time and become perfectly useless as a protective substance.

[Chadd 916]

EPP doesn't have give, that's why EPP helmets have gel pads. Unless it's cracked, it won't go bad with time. VN will harden over time and become perfectly useless as a protective substance.

Actually, the gel pads are solely for comfort. Not many people would consider wearing them if they didn't have something like those gel pads.

[cptjeff 0]

Actually, the gel pads are solely for comfort. Not many people would consider wearing them if they didn't have something like those gel pads.

That's what I meant, I'm perfectly aware that the EPP is the protective bit. With VN, the spongy foam serves both to protect and for comfort, but the lack of give in the EPP means you need the gel pads to make it wearable.

[cptjeff 0]

Delete this, was a double post.