How to Fit a Hockey Helmet and Cage

Hockey is an exciting, fast-paced sport that can be fun for people of all ages and a great way to stay in shape. It is a full-contact sport played on ice and requires padding and equipment to keep players safe. One of the most important pieces of safety equipment a hockey player needs is a well-fitting helmet. Here are some tips for fitting a hockey helmet and cage.

Instructions

    • 1

      Buy new equipment if possible. The padding inside a used helmet will have conformed itself to the head of its previous owner, just like an old pair of shoes. Wearing a used helmet could cause it to fit improperly on your head and be too loose in some places or too tight in others. Invest in a new helmet with fresh padding to ensure a proper fit.

    • 2

      Fasten the chin strap properly. Many major-league players wear the chin strap fastened loosely and hanging under their chin. This may be more comfortable, but it also compromises the safety of the helmet. Fit the chin strap on your helmet so that the strap is snug under your chin and holding the sides of the helmet firmly around your face.

    • 3

      Assess peripheral vision. When wearing the helmet, you must still be able to see in front of you and on either side of your face. The helmet must shield the sides of your head but must not obstruct your vision. If it sticks out so far that your front or peripheral vision is impaired, the helmet is not a proper fit. Try a smaller size or the same size made by a different brand since each brand makes helmets slightly differently.

    • 4

      Measure the cage. The cage is the metal grid plate covering the player's nose and mouth and is designed to protect their face and, in particular, that most endangered body part to any hockey player--his teeth. Fasten the cage in place and measure the distance that the cage comes out from the front of your jaw. A properly fitting cage must not extend more than an inch from your face. A cage that sticks out farther than this will be easier for a sneaky opponent to grab and is generally cumbersome when playing.

    • 5

      Try it out. A helmet and cage fit differently when you are standing still than when you are skating in it. While you can't take it to a game and try it out before buying it, you must still make sure that your new helmet and cage fit properly when you are moving. Jump up and down or do a few side-to-side drills and evaluate how secure the helmet and cage feel. If they are snug and lightweight on your head and conform to you well, they are a good fit.