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Hockey Helmets

It is no secret that head-on collisions or falls can be a common occurrence in the game of ice hockey, even at a junior level. With that being said, however, there is one piece of equipment that is non-negotiable when it comes to playing the sport—a helmet.

The best junior ice hockey helmets are from the brands Bauer, CCM, Warrior, and True Hockey. These helmets prioritize safety, impact protection, comfort, easy size adjustments with some ensuring a lightweight feel. These helmets all look great without sacrificing the most essential features.

If you or your kid is new to the sport of ice hockey or just simply want to upgrade your gear to some of the best, looking for not only a new helmet but the best one you can find can be a complicated process. Here we have revealed the best junior ice hockey helmets you can find today, with all the information you will need to make an informed decision.

Bauer RE-AKT 100 Youth Combo

Bauer’s RE-AKT 100 Combo helmet is one of the best selections when it comes to finding a helmet that prioritizes protection, comfort, and style. This helmet features a liner that is multi-density and uses XRD® Foam, a SUSPEND-TECH liner, and many features that are easy for a kid to use that add to both the comfort and protection of the helmet.

Here are the features of this helmet:

• Triple-Density Impact Management for safety
• Tool-Free size adjustments
• Lightweight Titanium Face Mask
• Bauer’s VT Technology with Seven+ Protection

Bauer’s Seven+ Protection offers protection for both high and low energy impacts, equipping the helmet with the best safety possible to keep the player’s head safe.

You can hear more about the Seven+ Protection and what it does in this video:

This helmet offers youth everything they need to play at their best, offering a customized fit, occipital lock, and central tool-free adjustment for ease and efficiency, making this helmet easy for players to wear throughout a long game even if an adjustment is needed.

This helmet comes in a variety of colours, including:

• Black
• Blue
• Navy
• Red
• White

Bauer IMS 5.0 Combo

The IMS 5.0 helmet by Bauer provides ultimate protection for the player during any type of game. While this option is more cost-effective, it does not sacrifice protection or ease of use when it comes to its features.

This helmet offers a two-piece shell construction with tool-less adjustment, integrated protective ear covers for comfort, as well as increased airflow from vents placed throughout.

The best features you get from this helmet for the value are:

• Multi-Density Foam for protection
• Integrated ear covers for comfort
• Easy tool-less size adjustments

If you are also looking for more colour options when it comes to picking out a junior ice hockey helmet, this helmet comes in:

• Black
• White
• Navy
• Red
• Blue
• Pink

Bauer Prodigy Youth Combo

The Bauer Prodigy Youth helmet was designed with kids in mind. The youth-specific (youth-friendly) features make it another excellent option for a junior ice hockey player.

Here are the features of Bauer Prodigy Youth Combo:

• J-Hook Mounts which can be used in 4 different positions
• Adjustable Top-Clips
• Fast and Easy Release Facemask Snaps
• Fast and Easy Release Chin Strap

While the helmet itself is a little bulkier, it is highly rated in concussion tests and remains relatively lightweight. Other features that make the Prodigy Youth helmet a great choice include:

• Dual-Density Foam for both comfort and protection
• Dual-Ridge Crown adds to the protection and allows for airflow in the vents
• Tool-Free adjustment for speed and convenience and easy to use for younger players

Even though this helmet is one of the lowest in cost that Bauer offers for youth, they do not sacrifice the protection when it comes to keeping players safe. This helmet provides an optimal fit for any youth hockey player and comes in multiple colours, including:

• Black
• Blue
• Navy
• Pink
• Red
• White

CCM Fitlite 40 Helmet

Another fantastic brand for junior ice hockey gear is CCM. The CCM Fitlite 40 helmet, in particular, is an innovative, lightweight helmet that comes fully customizable and highly recommended by many people.

This helmet features an engineered subshell with a soft yet solid foam insert that provides the ultimate comfort and top-notch protection for the head.

The best features of the CCM Fitlite 40 helmet include:

• Tool-free length/size adjustments
• Strapping to hold the helmet in place
• Multi-density foam liner for both comfort and protection
• An aerodynamic shell that has great ventilation

This helmet comes in a wide range of sizes and is best used on larger kids due to its heavier build. This helmet comes in the following colours:

• Black
• White
• Navy
• Pink

CCM Tacks 110 Helmet

The other option when it comes to CCM helmets for youth is the Tacks 110 Helmet. The Tacks collection was specifically designed for enhanced comfort and one of the comfiest of its kind.

The Tacks 110 Helmet is one of their newer models and comes with a variety of features, including:

• Multi-density foam liner to manage a variety of impacts
• Single-tool free adjustment that allows for easy and quick adjustments
• Customized fit and high-level comfort
• A shell that is designed to maximize its protection
• Has a pro-preferred look and shape to help absorb impacts

This helmet only comes in three colours which include:

• Black
• White
• Navy

Warrior Covert PX2 XS

The Warrior Covert PX2 helmet comes in both extra-small sizing as well as small, medium, or large size, and is said to have a great fit no matter the shape or size of your head. This helmet comes equipped with a traditional Krown 2.0 black cage and is built with performance and protection in mind.

While this helmet tends to range higher in price, it remains one of the top picks for ice hockey players.

Some of the fantastic features that come with this helmet are:

• The liner that uses a blend of multi-layered foams and plastic for comfort and protection
• Wide range of impact protection
• Highly adjustable with no-tool adjustments for ease and efficiency
• Shell focused fit that is lightweight and comfortable

This helmet comes in limited colours, including only black and white.

However, if you need a larger size, the Covert PX2 Combo or Covert PX2 in small, medium, or large comes in black, white, or navy.

True Hockey Dynamic 9 Pro

Although the True Hockey Dynamic 9 Pro helmets minimum sizing for a small is a 53-56cm (20 in - 22 in) circumference, this innovative helmet is definitely not one to rule out, so if you or your child’s head is big enough, this really is one of the best helmets out there.

The Dynamic Pro 9 helmet is engineered with safety and protection as its top priority. The helmet includes a MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) Brain Protection System (BPS) that adds protection to the Dynamic 9 Pro helmet. The BPS is found within the helmet between the comfort padding and the EPS or EPP (a high-quality foam used to reduce energy).

This helmet is one of the most innovative you will find and includes other essential features such as:

• Lightweight one-piece shell
• EPP foam used to reduce energy (minimizes impact felt when hit)
• Absorb foam that is a Vinyl Nitrile foam that provides both firm support and good durability
• Adjustable Fit Pads
• Moisture-wicking hydrophobic layer

Overall, the innovative True Hockey Dynamic 9 Pro helmet was made with three things in mind:

• A low friction layer safety system that is designed to protect the player.
• A one-piece ultra-lightweight shell construction that makes it the lightest in its class.
• A standard in this helmet is the personalized fit, with interchangeable side and rear occipital Fit Pads that come in three different thicknesses, providing all-around adjustability.

So, even if you think it might be slightly bigger, each helmet can be adjusted to be 5% larger or smaller depending on the player; however, it does run higher in price. This helmet comes in the following colours:

• Black
• White
• Navy
• Red
• Royal Blue

Best Junior Ice Hockey Helmets for a Goalie

As a hockey player, if you decide to become a goalie, you will need different gear and a new helmet. Below are some of the best ice hockey helmets for a goalie.

Bauer Profile 940X Goalie Mask

The Bauer Profile 940X Goalie Mask is one of the most cost-effective options when it comes to a goalie helmet.

LEXAN EXL polycarbonate is used by the 940x shell, which adds stiffness and disperses energy, which results in feeling less of the force in any head-on impact. There is also comfortable protection, all thanks to the mechanically attached soft VN foam and liner.

This helmet was made for use at the recreational level only and came in both black and white.

Coveted A5 CSA/HECC Certified

The Coveted A5 goalie helmet is made with premium, pro-grade, top quality stainless or nickel-plated hardware, providing you with a durable helmet.

They can guarantee an exact fit if you send in your measurements but comes a little pricier than the Bauer Profile 940X goalie mask that was previously mentioned. Nonetheless, goalie masks usually are much higher in price.

You can learn more about the Coveted A5 helmet in this video:

Ice Hockey Helmet Comparison

If you need to look at a quick comparison of the best ice hockey helmets, we have put them in an easy to read chart so you can easily compare some of the most important features such as protection, comfort and price level between all of the best helmets.

Rankings are out of 5 and based on information available on the brand’s website

Note: As you can see, some helmets were ranked a 4 / 5 for protection; this does not mean they are any less safe. It just means that they did not stand out when it came to features they have included for protection.

Goalie Ice Hockey Helmet Comparison

Here we have put together the information regarding the goalie helmets, so you can easily compare the features of each.

Rankings are out of 5 and based on information available on the brand’s website

Note: Goalie helmets run much higher in price than typical ice hockey helmets. So, when looking at the price in the columns, the lowest price for a goalie helmet in the chart above is still higher in price than the most expensive hockey helmet in the previous chart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more below about what it means to find the best junior ice hockey helmet! Here are the frequently asked questions about ice hockey helmets:

What Do I Look for in a Hockey Helmet?

When you are looking to make an investment in a youth ice hockey helmet, there are some crucial features that you will want to include, while others may not matter as much or just be the icing on the top of the cake.

Listed below are each of the features you should look for and why each component is essential.

Protection

I think it goes without saying why protection is so important when it comes to a hockey helmet. With hockey being a high-intensity and contact sport, head-on collisions and falls can happen more often than you may think.

By having proper protection through the padding on the inside of the helmet, you can lessen the impact as well as alleviate any potential injuries.

MIPS Protection

MIPS Brain Protection System (BPS) technology has been used by True Hockey in the making of their Dynamic 9 Pro helmet. This technology is unique in the world of helmet protection, and when it is used, it can reduce harmful impacts that can be transmitted to the brain even further than other helmets.

This system is based on the fact that most concussions happen because we fall at an angle, which, because brains are very sensitive to rotational forces, can cause injury. The idea of MIPS and their BPS is to reduce the rotational motion and risk of brain damage when a head-on collision or fall occurs.

While this system is not necessary to have in a helmet, it is a new innovative idea that changes the game of protection in a hockey helmet.

Comfort

One of the most noticeable features in an ice hockey helmet for the player specifically, is how comfortable it feels. Taking into consideration the comfort of a helmet includes thinking about:

• The pads that touch your head and how soft they feel
• The way the helmet fits around your ears or if it has protective ear covers
• How tight the helmet feels overall
• How heavy versus lightweight the helmet is (smaller kids will need lighter weight helmets)

All of these things are important to take into consideration as a helmet will be worn for long periods of time. If it is not comfortable on you or your child’s head, the game will become much less enjoyable as the focus will be elsewhere. The best way to test out comfort is to test it out yourself in a sporting goods store.

Adjustable Sizing

One of the biggest things about a hockey helmet is that most of them are able to be adjusted. This is because not every head is the same shape, so you may need to tailor things a little more to your head’s shape.

As well as the fact that kids are continually growing and buying a brand new hockey helmet each year is not the most cost-effective option, so being able to adjust the size a little bit is a great feature to have.

By investing in an adjustable hockey helmet, you can be sure that you will be able to fit the helmet to your head correctly and comfortably. By doing so, you can maximize the comfort, protect the head from traumatic injuries, and use it for longer than just one hockey season.

Tool-Free Adjustments

In addition to having a helmet that can be adjustable, one that has tool-free adjustments is best, especially when it comes to kids’ helmets. If by chance, the helmet needs to be adjusted in the middle of a game, it is much more efficient if no tools need to be used.

This is also beneficial as you may be able to teach the kid how to adjust it himself if no tools are needed, so they can fix it quickly while sitting on the bench.

Combo

If you are a first-time buyer of a hockey helmet, then you may not be aware that some come with a cage, and some do not. Either way, you will still need a cage to protect any pucks from flying at you or your kid’s face.

If you find a hockey helmet with the word “Combo” in the end, you can guarantee that it comes with the cage, and you do not have to buy it separately.

If you already have a cage that will fit the new helmet, you should buy one that is not in a combo so you can save a little money.

Why Is a Good Helmet Important?

Other than the obvious fact of having a good helmet for safety reasons, other considerations you should take into account about why you need to choose a good helmet when playing ice hockey are the comfort and the ease of and an option for adjustability.

When you have a good helmet, your focus can be entirely on the game. If your helmet is not comfortable, you may be unfocused at times. Having one that is not too tight and does not hurt your ears is important so that you can play your best.

In addition, having one that can be easily adjusted, and even better if it can be adjusted without tools, is extremely beneficial if a change needs to be made during a game. This ensures it can be done easily and efficiently without interrupting the game.

Lastly, you want a good helmet because it will be protecting your most important asset, your head. While all helmets go through extensive impact testing to ensure safety, some go the extra mile, such as the True Hockey Dynamic 9 Pro helmet, which includes the MIPS Brain Protection System.

Remember: A helmet does not offer 100% protection from getting a concussion. It can, however, lessen the injury the head will take.

Is High-Comfort or High-Protection More Important?

When it comes to an ice hockey helmet, you can guarantee that every single one went through extensive testing to make sure that it will protect the player’s head in any collisions or falls, so higher-comfort may be the better feature to look for.

While some helmet models have taken extra precautions to safety by using different padding or a specific technology to try and increase protection, a concussion or head injury cannot be avoided if the impact was too strong, no matter the helmet.

So, while you may want to opt for higher protection, each helmet will virtually do the same thing. What won’t be the same is the comfort of the helmet. If you or your child has to wear something on their head, comfort is going to make a significant impact on how much they enjoy themselves.

Should I Be Spending More Money on a Helmet?

While this is entirely up to you and the budget you have, keep in mind that if your kid is growing, you may need to invest in another helmet sooner than you would like. So, buying the most expensive helmet at a very young age is probably not the best call. However, just because the helmet costs more does not mean it is that much better than others.

As they start to get a bit older, however, you can expect their growth will slow down a bit, and they will be able to wear the same size for longer.

You should also take into consideration how often they will be playing. If it is more than once a week, you can be sure they will be getting their use out of it.

Where Are the Best Places to Buy a Helmet?

If you are looking to buy a hockey helmet, the best thing to do is to go into a sporting goods store. This is beneficial for two main reasons:

• You can try it on for size. This way, you ensure you are getting a helmet that fits properly
• You can try it on for comfort. If you buy a helmet without knowing how it feels, you may regret it, as some models run tighter, have different or less padding, and may not have protective ear covers.

If you are looking for somewhere to buy an ice hockey helmet in-store, here are some options:

• Dick’s Sporting Goods
• Walmart
• Pure Hockey
• Any sporting goods or hockey store

Before you go, give the store a call to make sure they have a few options in the stock of what you are looking for.

If you already know what hockey helmet you want to purchase and have the measurements of your kid’s head circumference, you can go ahead and buy it online.

There are many places to buy them online, including:

• Brand Website
• Amazon
• Walmart
• Dick’s Sporting Goods
• Pure Hockey

Remember, take a look at the online return or exchange policy if you have not tried on the helmet before as each website and brand will differ.

Final Thoughts

While all of these junior ice hockey helmets are some of the best out there, none are really better than the other. What it comes down to, however, is what matters most to the player. This could be the comfort of the helmet, ease of adjustability, added protection, the colour or style, and even down to how the chin strap fits.

Whether you choose a Bauer helmet or CCM, Warrior, or True Hockey, you can be sure that you are getting your money’s worth as the models mentioned above are the best when it comes to protection, comfort, and durability.

Now that you have seen the best ice hockey helmets revealed, it is time to try some on for size so you can really see which one will be best when the game is happening.

Sources

• Sport Consumer: Best Youth Hockey Helmets
• Goalie Coaches: Best Youth Goalie Masks
• True Hockey: Helmet
• CCM Hockey: Helmets
• Warrior: Hockey Helmets
• Bauer: Helmets
• Bauer: Goalie
• Coveted Mask: A5
• Bauer: PROFILE 940X GOAL MASK
• Clark Foam: VINYL NITRILE FOAM
• Foam Molding Machines: EPP vs EPS Foam
• MIPS Protection: Home Page
• Warrior: COVERT PX2 HELMET XS
• CCM Hockey: TACKS 110 HELMET
• CCM Hockey: FITLITE 40 HELMET
• Bauer: PRODIGY YOUTH HELMET COMBO
• Bauer: IMS 5.0 HELMET COMBO (II)
• Bauer: RE-AKT 100 YOUTH COMBO