Dangler Set-up

[return_of_raba]

I just bought a new mask and am transferring my dangler to it and I am trying to find a good set-up. Loose? Tight? Middle undone? I just want to see what anyone else has theirs set up like. Pics would be good. My temporary set-up is wierd, but I'll see how it works. Compy's on the fritz, I'll post pics later.

NEW: Go ahead and use this thread for discussion on neck guards (the kind you strap on to, you know, your neck).

[spidergoalie]

I"m really happy with how I have my dangler set up, but it is a bit unusual.

Now I am going from a Mage to a mask. I had an incident where the dangler came up as I was going down on a screen shot and the puck hit me in the throat, sending me to hospital. This prompted me to make the switch to a mask where I got a custom sportmask with a little extra length on the chin. I also got a maltese combo...I"m not going to take any unessesary chance with my throat anymore.

My priorities were:
1. the dangler cannot fly up obscuring my vision or more importantly leaving my throat exposed.
2. Should not impede head movement
3. should not be any more noisy than absolutely nessesary.

Here was my solution:


First the dangler is tied entirely to the cage, and not the ear holes. This tends to keep the dangler forward a bit, so it swings more, but is away from the mask more.
I tried longer laces on the sides, but found that allowed the bottom of the dangler too much room to come in and the bottom edge could then impact my throat. Going to shorter lace not only solved that, shorter on each side created a kind of suspension system. and reduces the dangler impacting the mask and making noise.

The real beauty of my method is the front. I ran the lace through the hole in the the dangler, tied it around the bottom bar of the cage...not unlike how you do a neck tie, then ran the lace down the inside of the chin drop between the chin sling or chin cup and the chin drop of the mask...then the lace comes up and under the chin drop and back through the danglers hole. I measured the correct distances. I shortened these up a bit since this picture, so the dangler hole is just above the bottom of the chin drop. If I push the dangler up the highest it can go is so the hole is in line with the bottom bar of the cage.
This accomplished the goals of keeping it out of my line of vision and keeping the dangler from lifting on me.
I can still look down without the dangler getting in the way, and looking to either side is easily is moved to the side by my shoulder floaters.
Lastly by using a U shaped dangler (a V shaped dangler will be noisier) tieing it the way I do, and using unwaxed skate lace, it is super quiet. I played tonight as a matter of fact, and noticed dangler noise once.
Oh once you have tied the knots I put a lighter over the knot to melt the lace together so it cannot come undone. This also stops freying.

Now I"m sure some will be wondering how even I can have this long of a post on tying a dangler, but I really believe not tying it well is why so many people hate them.
I"ll never play without one, and I intend to continue tying it in this manner from now on.

[vaughn35]

just wear it so it protects your neck!

i have mine tied on the front middle bar of the cage (cat eye), and on each side of where there are cut outs on the side of the mask (i dont tie it on the side of the cage).. you could say it's pretty tight, there is no big gap from the profile of the mask to the neck protector (looking from side view).

similar to this, but my sides are higher up (almost to where his lower strap is)


haven't had any problems what so ever with it, and would feel naked playing without one!
btw mine is an eagle

[joeysallamander]

I bought a "V" shaped dangler and have it on a Reidic and NXI.
I found the Round shaped danglers to wobbly.
I think it really depends on the chin shape of your mask.
The "V" shape rests really nice on the chin of my masks
and doesn't get hung up on my bulky CA.

I guess its a matter of preference but I don't even notice I am wearing one
anymore.

The only problem I have encountered is I took a slap shot to the neck.
I was screened and didn't see it and it hit the neck dangler, saving my neck,
but the skate laces snapped right off. My neck wasn't even touched and the Lexan didn't
crack. Maybe the laces were supposed to give?

Maybe there is a different tie system you can use?

[hroark2112]

I hate danglers. I had one shatter on me from a slapshot, got a piece of plastic in my eye and felt like I was crying (ok, maybe I was) for the rest of the game.

I solved my problem with a Maltese combo. I feel very protected now! I also left the neck guard on my C/A to help deflect any shot rising up in that area.

[joeysallamander]

I tried on collars- CCM and Itech
These were too big for me and I could not look down or bend my neck.
Is the Maltese big or on the small side?
Can you bend you neck?
Does it Trap heat?

[Soritong]

Originally Posted by joeysallamander

I tried on collars- CCM and Itech
These were too big for me and I could not look down or bend my neck.
Is the Maltese big or on the small side?
Can you bend you neck?
Does it Trap heat?

Do a search for Maltese collar or Maltese combo.

You'll get all the information you want and more. No need to regurgitate it for the 5000th time.

[brooke]

Originally Posted by spidergoalie

I"m really happy with how I have my dangler set up, but it is a bit unusual.

Now I am going from a Mage to a mask. I had an incident where the dangler came up as I was going down on a screen shot and the puck hit me in the throat, sending me to hospital. This prompted me to make the switch to a mask where I got a custom sportmask with a little extra length on the chin. I also got a maltese combo...I"m not going to take any unessesary chance with my throat anymore.

My priorities were:
1. the dangler cannot fly up obscuring my vision or more importantly leaving my throat exposed.
2. Should not impede head movement
3. should not be any more noisy than absolutely nessesary.

Here was my solution:


First the dangler is tied entirely to the cage, and not the ear holes. This tends to keep the dangler forward a bit, so it swings more, but is away from the mask more.
I tried longer laces on the sides, but found that allowed the bottom of the dangler too much room to come in and the bottom edge could then impact my throat. Going to shorter lace not only solved that, shorter on each side created a kind of suspension system. and reduces the dangler impacting the mask and making noise.

The real beauty of my method is the front. I ran the lace through the hole in the the dangler, tied it around the bottom bar of the cage...not unlike how you do a neck tie, then ran the lace down the inside of the chin drop between the chin sling or chin cup and the chin drop of the mask...then the lace comes up and under the chin drop and back through the danglers hole. I measured the correct distances. I shortened these up a bit since this picture, so the dangler hole is just above the bottom of the chin drop. If I push the dangler up the highest it can go is so the hole is in line with the bottom bar of the cage.
This accomplished the goals of keeping it out of my line of vision and keeping the dangler from lifting on me.
I can still look down without the dangler getting in the way, and looking to either side is easily is moved to the side by my shoulder floaters.
Lastly by using a U shaped dangler (a V shaped dangler will be noisier) tieing it the way I do, and using unwaxed skate lace, it is super quiet. I played tonight as a matter of fact, and noticed dangler noise once.
Oh once you have tied the knots I put a lighter over the knot to melt the lace together so it cannot come undone. This also stops freying.

Now I"m sure some will be wondering how even I can have this long of a post on tying a dangler, but I really believe not tying it well is why so many people hate them.
I"ll never play without one, and I intend to continue tying it in this manner from now on.

Amazing post, mate! I believe this is what I'll try with my Itech 1400 mask. I'll probably wear a soft neckguard as well just in case. The neck is an area you can never been too safe with IMO. I used to use a combo similar to Osgood back in the day so wearing one won't bother me none.

[TBLfan]

Originally Posted by brooke

Amazing post, mate! I believe this is what I'll try with my Itech 1400 mask. I'll probably wear a soft neckguard as well just in case. The neck is an area you can never been too safe with IMO. I used to use a combo similar to Osgood back in the day so wearing one won't bother me none.

I hope you're planning on upgrading that mask!


spidergoalie, great work! very smart idea!

[Supergoalie]

Originally Posted by spidergoalie

I"m really happy with how I have my dangler set up, but it is a bit unusual.


The real beauty of my method is the front. I ran the lace through the hole in the the dangler, tied it around the bottom bar of the cage...not unlike how you do a neck tie, then ran the lace down the inside of the chin drop between the chin sling or chin cup and the chin drop of the mask...then the lace comes up and under the chin drop and back through the danglers hole. I measured the correct distances. I shortened these up a bit since this picture, so the dangler hole is just above the bottom of the chin drop. If I push the dangler up the highest it can go is so the hole is in line with the bottom bar of the cage.
This accomplished the goals of keeping it out of my line of vision and keeping the dangler from lifting on me.
I can still look down without the dangler getting in the way, and looking to either side is easily is moved to the side by my shoulder floaters.
Lastly by using a U shaped dangler (a V shaped dangler will be noisier) tieing it the way I do, and using unwaxed skate lace, it is super quiet. I played tonight as a matter of fact, and noticed dangler noise once.
Oh once you have tied the knots I put a lighter over the knot to melt the lace together so it cannot come undone. This also stops freying."

This is the exact same way I set up my dangler. I really never notice it unless the puck hits it.

[VisionQuest]

Originally Posted by hroark2112

I hate danglers. I had one shatter on me from a slapshot, got a piece of plastic in my eye and felt like I was crying (ok, maybe I was) for the rest of the game.

I solved my problem with a Maltese combo. I feel very protected now! I also left the neck guard on my C/A to help deflect any shot rising up in that area.

WE ARE BROTHERS FROM DIFFERENT MOTHERS.

[hroark2112]

Originally Posted by VisionQuest

WE ARE BROTHERS FROM DIFFERENT MOTHERS.

Interesting...very very interesting...

I have a 1/2 brother out there somewhere who I've never met. Maybe you're him...

[Jim]

Originally Posted by hroark2112

I hate danglers. I had one shatter on me from a slapshot, got a piece of plastic in my eye and felt like I was crying (ok, maybe I was) for the rest of the game.

I solved my problem with a Maltese combo. I feel very protected now! I also left the neck guard on my C/A to help deflect any shot rising up in that area.

I never used a dangler. only a D&R collar.
And my mask has an okay chin drop about 3 inches. so far no throat shots or issues. but i figure why not try a dangler for that added sense of security.

how long ago did this happen? what make/ model? why did it shatter old material?
I thought the stuff danglers was made of was a shatterproof material.
oh great , i finally decide to try one of these things and now should i be concerned it may shatter on me?
i just bought a Eagle dangler. Are they a good one?

[Jim]

Originally Posted by spidergoalie

I"m really happy with how I have my dangler set up, but it is a bit unusual.

Spider great post! i will try and tie mine like you did yours.
cheers
Jim

[Masked_Warrior]

Sorry off topic but.....

ha, you have captain underpants books on your dresser. My 9 year old brother reads those.

Back on topic.

Spider that post was informative, I may try that. My dangler shifts quite a bit.