My Gigantic Head (Goalie Helmet Thread)

[fetuslasvegas 1]

So, I just received my vaughn 7700 non certified cat eye. Ordered it online. I ordered a senior large, which fits my giant dome 7 ⅝, but this helmet has ⅛" raised padding right in the cheekbone area that even after removing the chin cup, keeps my forehead nearly a ¼ to ½" away from the sweat band. At this point, I haven't modded or used the helmet, so I'm sure I could return it, problem is, the season starts in a few weeks and all of the custom helmet options I'm sure people are going to try and suggest are currently at ~17 week waits. If I cut back the base (dense) padding in the cheek bone area, I'm pretty sure the helmet will be a perfect fit, although no longer returnable, and devoid of warranty. Do I go the maltese route? Will it make that big of a difference? Is it really going to come down to spending an additional 150 (Maltese) on a mid level bucket??

Thanks in advance!!! I'm on my way out the door, but I will try to post some pictures this evening.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

So, I just received my vaughn 7700 non certified cat eye. Ordered it online. I ordered a senior large, which fits my giant dome 7 ⅝, but this helmet has ⅛" raised padding right in the cheekbone area that even after removing the chin cup, keeps my forehead nearly a ¼ to ½" away from the sweat band. At this point, I haven't modded or used the helmet, so I'm sure I could return it, problem is, the season starts in a few weeks and all of the custom helmet options I'm sure people are going to try and suggest are currently at ~17 week waits. If I cut back the base (dense) padding in the cheek bone area, I'm pretty sure the helmet will be a perfect fit, although no longer returnable, and devoid of warranty. Do I go the maltese route? Will it make that big of a difference? Is it really going to come down to spending an additional 150 on a mid level bucket??

Thanks in advance!!! I'm on my way out the door, but I will try to post some pictures this evening.

I would HIGHLY recommend you go up to a higher level helmet. I went through this when I was considering a Bauer NME3 or NME5 helmet. Don't buy ANYTHING that's made of plastic! Maybe for street hockey...

That Vaughn is Lexan (plastic).

Beyond that, why not try on some masks in the store? Some of the masks I was really into fit like crap when I tried them on so I'm glad I did.

If you really want to stick with the plastic bucket, you could try maltese but those kits aren't exactly pocket change... you might as well count that money towards a better mask.

Goalie mask certification is WAY too loose. These plastic things should never be able to pass.

[fetuslasvegas 1]

I appreciate your concern. While the 7700 is mostly plastic it is carbon fiber and polymer reinforced. I did extensive research before making my purchase, and although vaughn admits it is not a pro level mask, I don't play in the nhl, and feel confident with this mask at the level I play.

If someone has had an experience with this exact mask not holding up please let me know. In all my research I was unable to find even one account.

As for other major production masks, my research has shown that I'm most likely not going to find a stock production mask that fits me out of the box. And again with the season starting , I don't have the time to wait for a low end custom.

[Zylos45 118]

I send all the goalies I dangle here....

Pro's Choice

progoaliemask.com

Tell Paul "Zylos" sent you...If you do, he may charge you double!

[fetuslasvegas 1]

I send all the goalies I dangle here....

Pro's Choice

progoaliemask.com

Tell Paul "Zylos" sent you...If you do, he may charge you double!

Thanks for the referral. A bit out of my price range. My gear was stolen this spring. I've been replacing it with the best quality I could get, while keeping my budget as low as possible. Unfortunately, It was crunch time and I needed a helmet now (season starts in a few weeks). There is no way a custom order will be ready in time. Also, it is very unlikely that an off the shelf mask is going to fit me any better than this one.

I'm between two fixes for this season, mod the existing padding (cut away an 1/8" of the dense padding under the soft pad in the cheek bone area) or spend another $150 on this mid level bucket going the Maltese route. Or, I guess I could always cut some eyeholes and a mouth hole in a paper plate and tape it to my face?? :)

[IPv6Freely 2092]

How do you know nothing retail would fit? Well stocked store near you where you were able to try them all on? It's amazing how different they all fit me at least.

[fetuslasvegas 1]

Based on other people with big melons like mine saying custom may be the only way other than Maltese. Part of why I went with the vaughn, mechanically attached padding, so I could still sell it as stock if need be.

[IPv6Freely 2092]

Based on other people with big melons like mine saying custom may be the only way other than Maltese. Part of why I went with the vaughn, mechanically attached padding, so I could still sell it as stock if need be.

One of the reasons I went with the NME8. Good price and three different fits for various melons. Also mechanically attached padding :) Could not be happier.

[fetuslasvegas 1]

One of the reasons I went with the NME8. Good price and three different fits for various melons. Also mechanically attached padding :) Could not be happier.

The fit sizes on the Bauer are identical to Vaughn's. The fit on my head isn't the issue, it's the fit on my face (cheekbones) which is the problem. From what I've read, the bauers tend to run narrow in the face. I will go try one on though, because if it fits better than the vaughn, ice warehouse has them in stock so I would just exchange.

But at the same time, for $100 less than the Bauer, I can have a completely custom mask made.... Just not in time for this season...

[fetuslasvegas 1]

Well, I had been hoping someone would chime in as far as modding the padding of the helmet, but since that has not happened and with the season about to start, I'm just going to get after it on my own. My camera battery is charging as I type, and I will document my progress as I go...

[IPv6Freely 2092]

Well, I had been hoping someone would chime in as far as modding the padding of the helmet, but since that has not happened and with the season about to start, I'm just going to get after it on my own. My camera battery is charging as I type, and I will document my progress as I go...

You shouldn't be surprised. Based on what I've seen of this site for the last bunch of years, people are usually pretty unlikely to help you modify equipment to make it less safe, which is why pretty much the only responses you got were suggestions to buy a mask that fits in the first place.

[fetuslasvegas 1]

Are you suggesting that going the maltese route would compromise my safety? In my original post I said I was looking to either mod the existing padding (which, I know is not the safest route) or order the maltese kit (spend additional money on a mid level mask). Honestly I do not see how removing ~⅛" of padding in a primarily non-impact area would effect the safety of the mask, but I am not an expert.

All that being said, I will be making a head mold and ordering a custom mask from Protechsport in the near future. For now, I had to do what I could to make the equipment I have work for this season (this is after all mod squad hockey). Hopefully after I receive my custom, I will still have a solid backup/loaner mask.

Thank you again for all of your information and suggestions Optimus, perhaps my intentions were not made clear enough in my initial post.

[fetuslasvegas 1]

The problem was the fit of the mask being too tight in the cheek bones and not allowing my forehead to reach the front padding of the mask.

First I removed all necessary screws and removed the padding from the mask.

here is a picture of the padding that was causing the issue:

First I traced the shape of the white lower density foam onto the black higher density foam. The original idea was to cut away the white foam, then remove an ⅛" of the black foam from behind where the white foam was, and then glue in the white foam to a now flush position with the rest of the padding.

You can see in the following picture how much the padding was sticking out and causing major pain and improper fit of the mask:

inside prior to cutting:

The next picture is after I cut out the white foam from the left side:

and then the right:

I decided against removing any of the black foam, and instead decided to leave it un-modded so that later on I can sell the mask in stock condition. It now fits like a glove, and I saved money I can put towards my protechsport rather than maltese Here is the final fit

[IPv6Freely 2092]

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for you doing what you need to do - I'm just saying you're unlikely to get help on here about it. That's all.

Looks good though!