Well gang, I finally bit the bullet and put my money where my mouth (and mind) is: I just got my new ProMask and man, is it ever sweet.
Before I launch into a detailed, Bryan-esque review, I'd like to take a moment to thank two guys who made this purchase possible: Jukka Ropponen, who initially advised me to go with ProMask and offered invaluable guidance regarding its specs and fit; and leeobos35, who sold me his unused mask at a reasonable price because it was a little too small for his mellon. Actually, I'd like to extend extra thanks to leebos for the care and effort he took in shipping it to me. You see, when I feverishly opened the box it arrived in, I was impressed to find this mask -- which its manufacturers claim can withstand a 140 MPH shot -- lovingly suspended in scrunched newspaper balls, encased in a sheet of bubblewrap, and enclosed in its carrying bag with 2 extra sweat bands, 3 extra clips, original receipt and warranty, etc. Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Lee -- very classy.
As for the mask itself, it is everything it was hyped to be and more. I was initially skeptical about abandoning my trusty Jofa 390, HM30 & Itech dangler because no off-the-shelf mask I had ever tried on was as light or as comfortable as this combo. They were either too heavy, too narrow on my cheeks, or the padding hurt my head, or the backplate dug into the base of my skull when I looked up... I could go on. Even the $1,000+ Itech 961 just didn't feel right. And considering how protective the Jofa is, I never really felt the need to switch.
But then I got bitten by the "gotta-get-a-new-piece-of-equipment" bug, got sucked over to the Dark Side, and made a pact with the devil (well, GaW, actually
). And the truth is, I couldn't be happier. The ProMask is a brilliant gem for all the reasons I will list below:
DESIGN - The visual appeal of this mask is tremendous. The lines, which appear to be inspired by the classic Harrison, are, IMHO, gorgeous. The vent holes are triangular with rounded corners to reduce cracking and perfectly positioned over the ears for improved accoustics. Furthermore, the EXT (extended throat) manages to cleverly increase throat protection without lengthening the chin too much. I can fully swivel my head without catching the mask on my c/a. I'll wear it for a while before deciding if I even need to attach a dangler.
WEIGHT - Everybody who's worn one of these raves about how light it is, but you have to try one on to believe it. Honestly, I've never encountered such a light mask, at any price. At just a little over 2 lbs., it rivals my helmet combo for the featherweight crown.
FIT/COMFORT - Unbelievable. I'm wearing it right now as I write this review (such a goalie thing to do, eh?) and I couldn't be more comfortable. The terry-lined padding is soft to the touch and not sticky, like rubatex sometimes is. The thick, removable terry sweat pad is a nice bonus. In addition to being wide enough for my face, the shell is incredibly balanced and well-ventilated. The fit was fine right out of the box -- reminiscent of my Jofa -- but I decided to follow Jukka's advice and put the heat-activated memory foam padding from the helmet and backplate in the oven at 230F for 12 minutes. Then I replaced the liners (which attach with velcro), put the mask on and lay face-down on the floor while my wife sat on the back plate for five minutes. (What a picture THAT would have made!
) By the time the foam had cooled back down, it was molded perfectly to my irregular skull. The padding is about the same thickness as the rubatex found in most masks, but somewhat denser (I'd say it's between medium- to high-density). The chin cup is a big improvement over the foam bar in my HM30 in terms of both comfort and fit. There's also a separate chin strap to keep the mask from getting knocked off, a la Hedberg's ReidiC.
CRAFTSMANSHIP - On par with Jofa, Saab, Volvo and other fine Swedish products. Seriously, I'm extremely nitpicky and I couldn't find a single flaw
anywhere. The shell is perfectly molded and finished throughout, without a single rough edge or blemish. The polished stainless-steel cat's eye cage is a work of art: perfectly symmetrical, with welds that would make Arctother weep with joy. The screws, straps, clips and fasteners are all top-notch. Even the "ProMask.com" decals that festoon the front, sides and back are perfectly applied.
OUTWARD VISIBILITY - Ah, here's where the gushing abates, albeit only slightly. Even though I have the uncertified pro cat's eye (not the Canada Cage with the extra bar) the sight lines are obscured just a tad, due to smaller eye openings than those on the HM30. Also, I think it will take time for me to get used to smaller face hole of the ProMask shell. I can see the edges when I look to the sides and bottom, whereas with my Jofa I have unimpeded peripheral vision.
Based on first impressions alone, I'd have to give this mask a 10 out of 10. I can't really comment on the protection yet, as I've yet to wear it in a game. The mask is subjected to some of the toughest certification tests in the world, and it is the #1 mask of the Swedish Elite League, so I don't really have any doubts about its ability to withstand a shot. My only concern would be how it would stand up to a collision with a charging skater, or whether the backplate would prevent a concussion if I was slammed to the ice. My Jofa was tops in that regard. Oh well, I guess time will tell.
I'll post a follow-up review after logging a few games in it and let y'all know how it performs in the real world.
(P.S. If you're looking for pics, check out leebos35's post entitled "Un-Used Swedish ProMask" in the Equipment Classifieds).
[This message has been edited by Finer the Twiner (edited July 19, 2001).]
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