When Should I Replace My Hockey Helmet?

Hockey players don an assortment of gear for practice and games, but the helmet is almost certainly the most critical. Designed to protect a player's head from injury, helmets use special lining and padding to absorb impact. When a helmet's ability to protect becomes compromised, either through damage or age, players should make replacing it a priority.

  1. Replace To Keep a Snug Fit

    • In order to provide maximum protection from impact, hockey helmets should fit snug against the head. With the chin strap properly adjusted, according to hockey specialty vendor Pro Hockey Stuff, the helmet should cradle the top of the head while the chin strap makes gentle contact under the chin. As young hockey players grow and change, even the best helmet can become ill-fitting and uncomfortable. If the helmet becomes too tight, its ability to provide impact protection may become compromised and the helmet should be replaced. Conversely, hockey players should use caution not to use a helmet designed for larger heads, as a loose-fitting helmet may slip loose or even come off during play.

    Replace a Helmet After Impact

    • Hockey helmets use special polymers between the plastic outer shell and the inside lining, typically arranged in a honeycomb shape, to absorb impact and provide protection. During a typical hockey game, the polymers compress during impact and then quickly spring back to their original shape. During serious impacts like a direct strike from a hockey puck or stick, though, the polymers may crack or fail to return to their original configuration. Although helmets certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC) can, according to the Canada Safety Council, withstand several impacts, a severe impact--and especially one that results in a crack--should prompt the helmet's owner to replace it. Similarly, helmets that have been dropped, involved in accidents or otherwise exposed to impact while not in use should be immediately replaced.

    Replace a Helmet After Seven Years

    • In addition to sustaining damage during impact, helmets can lose some of their protective abilities simply because they get old. As helmets age, according to the Canadian Safety Council, the polymers between the outer shell and inner lining can weaken, lessening their ability to protect the wearer during impact. Likewise, the lining inside a helmet can become old, worn and torn after years of use; loose lining allows the helmet to slide around on the head and reduce its protective abilities. For this reason, the Canadian Safety Council recommends replacing helmets every seven years regardless of wear or use.

    Replace Helmets With Unknown History

    • Hockey enthusiasts may experience temptation to purchase used equipment as a way to save money, but the Canadian Safety Council strongly cautions against buying used helmets. Because used helmets often have no documented history, the buyer cannot know the exact age of the helmet or if it has been involved in an impact. For this reason, hockey enthusiasts should always purchase helmets new and from reputable dealers, avoiding used equipment vendors, second-hand stores and private sellers.