$1200 to spend for my head

[Law Goalie]

Get the best custom-made mask you can. The End.

However, I might suggest earmarking a portion of that $1200 to protecting the thing that holds your head - get yourself a Maltese Combo, and you'll be solid from the neck up.

[estogoalie]

Your mask, like the rest of your gear, is personal choice. I think fit is the #1 criteria. Material maybe second.

Without getting into brand names, I'd reasonably say you can probably find something safe for well under $1,200. Just stay clear of entry level masks. There's alot of good masks in the $300-600 range.

If you want to drop $1,200 on a custom mask, there's nothing wrong with that, but it's becoming more of a vanity item as the level of protection won't be much better, if at all (ie: a $1200 mask won't protect your head twice as much as a $600 mask).

[Gregan]

whoa... someone has a GSBB Quote phobia... You get up on the wrong side of bed this morning?

Originally Posted by goalieboy29

I know, I said that.



I know, you said that already. How do YOU determine safe? For you it's a $400 lid.... MY point is that $ buys better protection. He asked for opinions and mine is to buy the best you can afford. He already said he has $1200 to spend. Why not spend it?



Huh? Didn't you just say spending $1200 was MAJOR overkill? Yup, you did;

Sorry, No idea what you're driving at...

[hroark2112]

I have a pretty good range of masks in my collection, from a couple of Olie 2000's to a custom Stacey mask.

I've been NAILED by some A league shooters in the Olie 2000. No ringing, nothing. Good masks for the money.

However, for the FIT aspect, none of my masks come close to my Stacey mask. Under $800, perfect fit, great sitelines. To be honest, it has taken some time to get used to the fit, since all my other masks don't fit nearly as well. At first, I thought it wasn't sized properly. After 2 or 3 games, I realized the error of my ways, and realize just how important the proper fit is.

So...whoever you go with, be it Stacey or Staytrix or Warwick or Protechsport...get it fit 100% properly and you won't go wrong. Trust me, it is worth it. I just went out & got some additional padding, and I'll probably be adding some padding to my other masks to improve the fit.

[cuprajake]

i must also shadow what has been said about stacey masks, i'm on my second.
the fit is stock sizing and thats pretty good, for a custom it must feel like a glove.

the mask i have now is full kevlar-it weighs 890grams its super light, and super strong. i'd point you in the direction of a full custom stacy or a staytrix.


and for those saying that you dont need to spend as much-balls

you have one head, you have the money-get the best protection you can.

also the combo from maltese is a top peice.

jake

[Flying Dutchman]

Originally Posted by estogoalie

Your mask, like the rest of your gear, is personal choice. I think fit is the #1 criteria. Material maybe second.

If you want to drop $1,200 on a custom mask, there's nothing wrong with that, but it's becoming more of a vanity item as the level of protection won't be much better, if at all (ie: a $1200 mask won't protect your head twice as much as a $600 mask).

Eric - what do you base your logic on????
A widowmaker could give a perfect fit for some guys - but safety in higher leagues - no way so I think (read know) materials play a very important part in protection.

As for your remarks about a 600 and 1200 $ mask - a full ARAMID (not to be confused with 1 or 2 FULL SHEETS of Aramid) will cost you around 11-1200 bucks in some cases, and will ALWAYS be at least twice as strong (definately more than twice) than say a predominantly glass mask costing around 600$ upto 900$ with 1 or 2 full layers of Aramid (Kevlar or Twaron) - commonly referred to as FULL Kevlar or FULL Aramid but having only 1 or 2 sheets of Aramid. So based on MY logic a 11-1200 $ mask made of at least 98% Aramid will protect you twice as much - if not more than a 600 $ mask <<<< more than twice as much if you read up on the fiber characteristics and apply them properly with the right resin.

FD

[Flying Dutchman]

Originally Posted by Gregan

I'm all for getting top notch gear... but to me it doesn't sound like you are playing a particularly high level of hockey and $1200 on a custom mask seems like MAJOR overkill.

Personally, I play the higher end mens leagues out here in Vancouver and I don't see any need for spending that kind of coin on a custom mask for protection purposes.

Are you spending that much just because you can and you think it would be awesome to have a custom molded mask?

I have a $400 lid and have no concerns that I will get my head injured. Granted I'm not playing against NHLers... but I do play in the top mens leagues here in Vancouver so I do face my fair share of zingers.

Why buy a Caddilac when you can buy an AMC Pacer or Ford Pinto - they ride on the same roads.

Some of the beer-leaguers I saw in YVR were ex AHLers - not exactly soft-shooters.

The time to find out if 400 bucks was enough is when you say "Where am I" to guys in white coats at YVR General.

FD

[PSYCHO SID]

For what it's worth, I play with all levels of players including Eric Cole and Craig Conroy before training camp, and the worst guys are the terrible Gretzky want to bee's. You guys know who I mean, the first shot in warm up, that whizzes over your head, and then the next guy dekes, and the next hits your shoulder. My opinion is the type of material is important for the weight of a mask, but a big part of today's masks are the aerodynamics. I used a Cooper sk600 helmet with a cage, in the 80's and took 50 stitches to the head above my forehead. My new mask (happens to be a Warwick, but there are many good models today) and it's how the puck glances off the newer style masks, that make them safer on shots(material advances granted). Yes there are concerns on the back plate. So far in the last two years, hit in the head many times and the play has never had to stop. Tomorrow I'll probably get cut open. Back to my initial point, good shooters actually try to score, bad ones shoot to test their composite sticks. With that said, I would not want to get hit in the head with Cole's slapshot. You guys should see the vertabrae bulging in his upper back/neck from that hit last year. I digress, but you have only one head, continue to do your research and pick something for your safety, at whatever price your can afford and think your head is worth. Good luck. Great question.

[goalieboy29]

Originally Posted by Gregan

whoa... someone has a GSBB Quote phobia... You get up on the wrong side of bed this morning?

Not at all. Did you? You started the quoting so I just returned your remarks. I think the Dutchman made my point. $ buys protection. Case closed.

[Jim Bob]

Originally Posted by macman

If I go with a combo helmet, I have the warwick “Hasek” helmet $1100 the custom made masks combo helmet for $400 or $360 without the cage and the Sportmask Mage $500 or Centurion $600 though most likely not the Centurion since its not being made as of now. Past the ones listed I don’t know of any other modern combo helmets out there. Option 2 is to have a fully custom molded mask made. Here there are a great many mask to choose from, and the differences are many. The one main area I have looked at is the price. I have seen it written that most all masks that are custom made are in the range of $1000 there about.
We even have a thread started this week asking what the high price masks are. My question here, is a mask that is fully custom molded but cost $600-700 range lesser grade then a $1200 or do you feel it can be as good . I know people say don’t skip on a mask, and im fine spending all $1200 on one. But is it necessary to spend that much when another company offers one for less that is as good. There are about 8-10 mask makers offering fully custom molded masks that I know of.

My first question is what level of hockey are you playing in?

While you most likely will get what you pay for (ie a $1200 custom mask that fits perfectly will likely protect you better than a $600 non-custom), the question is will you really need it?

I've been playing in a C/D beer league for a while and I've yet to see a shooter where I've felt like I would need a "pro level" mask to provide adequate protection.

If you like the open sitelines of your combo, then I'd suggest going down the Mage/Mage2/Warwick Combo path as I've heard nothing but good things about those products.

If I had $1200 to drop on a new brainbucket, I'd probably go with a Mage or a Mage2.

[Flying Dutchman]

You could get a lower priced mask that will serve you well but who is going to guarantee you that you wont EVER face really hard shots from a GUEST player at some time (or a lousy skater with a shot like a cannon).

Gambling is not the same as Guaranteed Income.

FD.

[goalieboy29]

You raise a very good point FD. Some of the crappiest players I've seen have had the hardest shots imaginable. We have a few guys known as "fridges on wheels". Hulking big guys who can barely skate but manage to rip a slapper. Doesn't really take much skill. So the level of hockey skill has almost nothing to do with how hard a shot is. THAT is precisely why I choose to pay for the best technology I can afford to protect my melon. That is why I would counsel anyone that asks to do the same. To do otherwise is, in my opinion, risky.

[mont]

The price shouldnt be an issue re. your mask whether expensive or cheap. Whats important is the mask.

Do your research as to whats "in" and "behind" the mask in terms of material, technology, history, and know-how.

Whatever the price you can afford to obtain these criteria is money well spent (or wasted).

[kevinsane]

Dutchman nailed it. I used to play with a guy we called "Ankles", 'cause that's what he skated on.
Hardest shot I've ever seen.

[Gregan]

Originally Posted by Flying Dutchman

You could get a lower priced mask that will serve you well but who is going to guarantee you that you wont EVER face really hard shots from a GUEST player at some time (or a lousy skater with a shot like a cannon).

Gambling is not the same as Guaranteed Income.

FD.

What is the cheapest mask that you make FD?

My concern is that you're in the business of selling high end masks and that you will do what you can to push consumers to buy higher end lids. Nothing wrong with that, that is your lively hood, go for it.

The reason I'm going down this road is, is I'm trying to find out where is the cut off point of strength vs. price?

Do you really need a lid that is 2 times stronger then another lid at a lower price point? Heck, I'm sure if you spent 5K making a mask, you could make a mask that was 5 times stronger then your best and strongest mask. Does that mean that we as consumers should be compelled to spend 5K on a lid?