The shield has let me down, best full facial protection/questions

[gemini8026 1]

Hey guys.

I currently wear a Bauer helmet with an HDO Pro Clip clip straight cut. I play 3-4 times a week in various ASHL divisions, so it can be good hockey some nights, and poor hockey other nights.

Anyhow. For the second time, I have come VERY close to my eye, and gone for stitches. Dont lecture me on my chin guard not being tight enough, Ive got it practically choking me :)

This last one was a perfect example of how ineffective the half shield can be. A guy followed through on a shot, and I was in a position where his stick followed through and lifted up my visor and then proceeded to do the damage. Second time in the last little while while wearing my visor, and I have lost all confidence in it.

BUT, I truly dislike the cage option, so I am looking into other solutions. Does anyone offer a cage where I can retain my optically superior HDO visors while having a half shield/cage mounted on the bottom half ?

I was looking at these because they have visors that can be replaced... http://www.hockeymonkey.com/avision-ahead-hockey-facecage-the-hockey-mask.html

However, I really like the quality of my HDO visors. They offer superior visibility and do a good job minimalising scratches.

Any takes/opions/suggestions?!?

Jeff in Saskatoon

[kjcjhockey 2]

Life is about trade-offs my friend, but judging by the photo you already know that. If you're dead set on not wearing a cage because you dont want to look like a bender, then you're gonna have to deal with the nicks and stitches. Took me years of stitches and insurance deductibles to figure this out.

Nonetheless, if you're looking to maintain the standard of a half shield you'll have to use something like the Avision combo. I've seen a few guys wearing them and they look silly as heck, but they keep you safe. Try that or the Heatley 3/4 shield.

[gemini8026 1]

Whilest I agree, I am also considering fabricating something in terms of a dual solution so I can have maybe a bar or something come across that could prevent rogue sticks from coming up.

I wish Bauer offered a quality solution that offered half cage, yet connections for the HDO half shields, as I really do enjoy the quality of those visors.

and it isnt the nicks and stitches I am worried about. It is the eye damage. I somewhat wish that hockey rules required "rounded" ends instead of the Lidstrom/Getzlaf style square toe. Ive seen a few guys even cut off their rounded toe so that it is a sharp (albeit taped) end. Thats a recipe for eye damage!

[pittu 15]

I mentioned this before but never posted any photos. I feel just how you do about this and I found a solution that works for me relative to the risk vs vision thing.

I took a Bauer concept II full shield and cut out the mouth bars with a dremel. It has the chin cup and jaw protecting part of the shield there to deflect stick coming up from below, but improves airflow, access for wiping sweat,etc and vision over the stock shield. May not be strictly legal in terms of USA Hockey, but IMO it is not a danger to other players any more than a cage or half shield. Just make sure that the edges are not sharp. I have noticed professional players that have the contours of their half shields dremeled in the NHL, so its not something new. It works for me....YMMV

[Beflar 55]

I'm thinking a different half shield like a pro wave or something bigger might reduce the problem? Without going into to much detail, I figure bigger is better?

[gemini8026 1]

interesting Pittu. I wouldnt think thats a terrible idea.

My own interest as mentioned above, would be to find a solution where I retain the HDO visor. Now call me crazy if its me subscribing to marketing buzz or not, but I find the clarify and scratch resistance much better then the older units.

[Vet88 674]

The Avision is from Boulder hockey, they are really good and have excellent reviews.

[jsykes 35]

If you want to put something together using the new HDO shield, you could take this shield, http://www.hockeymonkey.com/bauer-hockey-faceshield-hdo-pro-straight.html

Then get this cage, http://www.hockeymonkey.com/bauer-hockey-cs-combo-deluxe.html

Remove the visor from the cage, fix the shield to the helmet and attach the cage to the visor using the top screw.

It will rotate a bit on the top screw to get it on and off and should offer plenty of protection to the chin area. May not meet all leagues requirements, but I think it could be made to work.

[NOVECHKIN 3]

I know you hate the cage. Buuuuutt, the titanium cages are so lightweight and the bars are so thin, they really aren't that bad!!!!! Anyone who's got their teeth brushed with some other guys $29 Sher-Wood would know, cuz he's always, "Sorry! "!!!!...... Just my thoughts!!!!

[MN old and slow 92]

Really "try" the cage. Go absolute cage 20 games and you will never go back. Started wearing a cage at 51 and after 20 games it is no issue. I use Bauer 7500 cage. Check out how well the college players (Gophers) can see and handle the puck with a cage.

Are you making your living at hockey? Your "cut" look not great in corporate america!

[strosedefence34 179]

i love my 480. I know they stopped making them but the 580 is the same. The Re-Akt has great reviews on this forum as well. Check the last two pages of this thread for tips on making the cage disappear http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?/topic/62495-modifying-cage/page-3

[Zorlac 22]

I second the RE AKT cage. I don't even know I'm wearing one after a second on the ice. lightweight too! I swear by mine....

[hunt3rsean 44]

You could try to find the Itech FX 50 Optech sheild/cage system somewhere. I picked one up from a MSH member and love it. I couldn't get myself to get used to a cage and have always liked the half visor setup. But after watching a teammate lose two front teeth and recently getting a bloody mouth myself....decided to make the switch. Vision is still good and it's a clip in system. I have no idea if the new HDO clip system will work but it looks almost identical. I just picked up replacement visors on clearance at Hockey Monkey.

[Chadd 916]

I have been a visor guy for more than a decade, even going sans shield if it was too messed up and I didn't have a spare. After seeing a friend eat a puck in a game I was reffing, I put on a cage. After three weeks, it doesn't bother me at all. The first game, my balance was off and I felt really odd. The second game, I wanted to put the visor back on but I gave it away so that I couldn't do that. By the end of that game, the bars were just kinda fuzzy in my vision. After the third game tonight, I think I am comfortable enough with it to keep it, The biggest issue for me is drinking on the bench (water, the beer comes later). Fortunately the gatorade squirt bottles have a ton of pressure.

[sickwilly 37]

Add another vote for a high end Bauer cage. The wires are shaped to minimize how much they obstruct your vision. It will take several skates to get used to it, but I think you will. Mine has saved me from a lot of BS over the years.

[tmw1582 6]

I'll put in another vote for the ReAkt. Super light and oval bars. I've never played without a cage except for stick and puck and pond hockey, but I can't even tell that it's there. It is a bit pricey though.

[NOVECHKIN 3]

+1 on the Bauer 7500! Solid cage for the price IMO!!!!!!

[Larry54 243]

I remember when the Itech Titanium cage was $200CDN! So I didn't mind paying $80 for the Re-Akt cage.

[wrangler 157]

I have trouble accepting a price of $70 for the RE-AKT cage, when there's a $30 price difference between the helmet, and the helmet and cage. It makes me want to get the cage for $30. If I could, I'd sell my Itech titanium, and go for it.