why is the ccm fm480/580 the most popular cage in college hockey?

[strosedefence34 175]

title says its all. I have been watching a lot of college hockey since last season and noticed that pretty much everyone who uses a cage is in a 480 or 580 (except for the obvious few who wear whatever bauer cage that used to be made by itech)

[Beleafer 14]

Looks good.

[JIMRB96 0]

Combination of looks, eye hole placement reliability, light weight and history. 10 years ago its what we were all used to. Now I guess it's just stuck around. I have personally used the Bauer with the flat bars ( the model escapes me now) but don't notice much difference from the 480.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Makes it easy for EQMs to stock it. Just order one model.

[Coldclay 53]

I wonder about the question myself... As far as visibility and weight, imho, Bauer 9500/9900/Re-Akt all have better visibility, better chin cups and my medium 9900 cage weight less than my kid's small FM480 chrome, so it appears there are better options out there. I just think the college kids prefer to hang their cages with the dirtier FM480/580 over the Bauer's...

[forbs02 20]

Because college players want to wear a black cage, and the 480/580 is the best looking.

[strosedefence34 175]

Combination of looks, eye hole placement reliability, light weight and history. 10 years ago its what we were all used to. Now I guess it's just stuck around. I have personally used the Bauer with the flat bars ( the model escapes me now) but don't notice much difference from the 480.

this makes the most sense. I have to agree with the fact that it looks real good. I was just something that has been racking my brain for while.

[pittu 15]

I know this is slightly off topic, but related..I think.

Why do you see so few clear full shields (fishbowls) in college hockey?

To me the vision is a huge improvement over a cage...is is just the fogging factor? I always wondered that...

[interpathway 9]

Fog, weight, scratches. Cage will last forever, visors have a shelf life.

[strosedefence34 175]

I know this is slightly off topic, but related..I think. Why do you see so few clear full shields (fishbowls) in college hockey? To me the vision is a huge improvement over a cage...is is just the fogging factor? I always wondered that...

heat as well. Full shields don't breath as well for obvious reasons.

[pittu 15]

Good points. For me, I found that the improved vision was worth the hassle with scratches.

[fultonreed 1]

I would say in D1 the number one reason is contracts with various athletic depts

[shoeshine boy 242]

I would say in D1 the number one reason is contracts with various athletic depts

but sooner or later those contracts have to end, right? even teams that have everything else Bauer like the Minnesota Golden Gophers still have their players in the CCM cage.

[forbs02 20]

Yeah, contract doesn't have much to do with it. The contracts are more worried about the items that are more visible- pants, gloves, helmets, skates, and sticks. Even then there is usually a percentage of players who don't have to use the skate/sticks. Bjugstad is a good example in the photo above me. He wears CCM skates and is constantly switching stick brands.

[strosedefence34 175]

the other thing i don't get is the infamous "cage hang" I once bought a cage that was too big and i felt like every time i turned my head the cage got caught on my shoulder pads. I also don't get why people don't wear there cage a little closer to their face. I mean mine never pressed completely up against my chin and it hangs out a good distance but the people who set their clips to the very end of the strap. I just feel like both things are not the most protective thing you could do.

[hb4167 6]

I know this is slightly off topic, but related..I think. Why do you see so few clear full shields (fishbowls) in college hockey? To me the vision is a huge improvement over a cage...is is just the fogging factor? I always wondered that...

Guys get chirped for wearing those from what I can tell. "Cant hear you buzzlightyear, roll your window down", something to that affect.

[nisselrm 21]

The fog, heat and moisture of playing in an arena with a few thousand people plays a huge roll. Wore a cage to alleviate those issues even though the vision I had was clearly better with thr shield.

[Chadd 916]

The fog, heat and moisture of playing in an arena with a few thousand people plays a huge roll. Wore a cage to alleviate those issues even though the vision I had was clearly better with thr shield.

I found that I had fewer fogging issues in the local AHL rink that is significantly warmer than our normal rink. The colder the air, the more your body heat and breath are likely to fog the visor in my experience.

[pittu 15]

The fog, heat and moisture of playing in an arena with a few thousand people plays a huge roll. Wore a cage to alleviate those issues even though the vision I had was clearly better with thr shield.

Ahhh, there is one thing I never considered. Playing in a building with a large crowd....

[fultonreed 1]

yeah