When it comes to a helmet for hockey, it’s a no-brainer that you will need one, since hockey is a full-contact sport. It’s not just crashing into players that you’ll have to worry about either as you can get a concussion from a fall or from bouncing off the wall.
Just like any other kind of helmet there are very cheap ones, then there are others that are ridiculously expensive.
Why is that? Is it just a marketing scam?
And, just to make it even more confusing is that the cheap ones and the expensive ones are equally safety certified.
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How Much Does A Hockey Helmet Cost?
The marketing and price structure in hockey helmets is often a curious thing. You can look at two, nearly identical hockey helmets and see a drastic price difference. What it all boils down to is safety and the materials used in the manufacture of the hockey helmet.
Not all hockey helmets are created equally and that holds true no matter what they look like. A premium product in this case usually indicates a premium result, but not always and you’ll have to be on the lookout for that as well.
So, as you can see, answering the question of how much does a hockey helmet cost, requires an understanding of what they’re made of.
The Quality Difference In Hockey Helmets
Unless you understand the subtle nuances of touching one type of plastic over another type of plastic, you’re probably not going to be able to tell the difference in two different hockey helmets that look identical, except for their respective price tags.
However, there are differences, and the best way to find those differences is to do your research online prior to buying. If you’re buying a hockey helmet locally, write down the brands and models, then do your research. The reality is, the differences can be crucial.
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Low-End Hockey Helmets
- Standard expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam
- Plastic shell (low-density polyethylene) with vinyl nitrile
- Fixed ear guards
- Cheaper material in the straps that lacks poly-cotton webbing
Mid-Tier Hockey Helmets
- Higher density PE (polyethylene) plastic shells
- No-tool adjustment features for quick and simple fitting
- VN or gel-based foams
Premium Hockey Helmets
- Gel-based foams
- Impact-resistant technology
- Liquid filled bladders
- High level of comfort
It’s easy to see the fundamental differences in the different groups of hockey helmets, typically according to price. Your low-end helmets are going to run $25 to $100, while your mid-tier will run $100 to $200 and your premium helmets are going to run $250 and up.
Hockey Helmets in Each Tier
There’s a pretty good selection of hockey helmets at any price point. Just be aware that the cheaper alternatives are really meant for backyard play or teaching one of your kids how to play. The middle tier is for local leagues and anything up to the collegiate level.
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After that, you should be eyeballing premium hockey helmets for college, semi-pro, and professional leagues. At that level of play, the premium features that are designed to increase your safety will be challenged on a consistent basis.
Low-End Hockey Helmets
Bauer Lil Sport Hockey Helmet Combo
For a traditionally sub-$60 price point, there are a few things to like about the Bauer Lil Sport. You’re definitely not getting a gel base, but the EPP foam is about what you’d expect in the middle-school league baseball helmets. It will do the job, plus it includes the facemask.
Bauer Lil Sport
Available from Amazon.com
Warrior Alpha One Youth Hockey Helmet Combo
Better than what you’d expect for the price, the Warrior Alpha One has EPP foam like the Bauer but is said to be a little more comfortable. The Alpha One also includes the Alpha One Face Cage making for a pretty neat deal overall.
Mid-Tier Hockey Helmets
Warrior Covert PX+ Hockey Helmet
Almost on the premium end of the mid-tier range, the Warrior Covert PX+ offers EPP foam and dual-core technology. You also get an additional layer of VN foam for increased safety and protection.
CCM Tacks 310 Hockey Helmet
The CCM Tacks 310 offers a low-profile shell, tool-free adjustments, and their own D30 Smart Material for extra impact support. According to CCM, the Tacks 310 helmet’s high-end technologies provide safety, quality and great value.
Premium Hockey Helmets
Bauer RE-AKT 200 Hockey Helmet
The focus of this premium hockey helmet is getting the most out of premium materials while keeping it as lightweight as possible. It also offers moisture channels to keep the flow of sweat away from your eyes and both VN and VTX memory foams for extra protection and a superior degree of comfort.
CCM Super Tacks X Hockey Helmet
Everything about this helmet has a premium feel to it. Built to protect like no other, the multi-density foams absorb impacts while the Nest Tech liner conforms to your head shape for better comfort and protection. Definitely aimed with the elite level hockey player in mind.
You can see, as you move up the price-scale, the overall helmet quality improves exponentially. That includes materials and the degree of safety offered with better fits and better protective material.
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All Things Considered
When considering how much a hockey helmet costs, this is one of those occasions where you generally get what you pay for. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule, including with so-called, premium hockey helmets. However, so long as you know what to look for, you can tell the difference between what’s quality and what is nothing more than an expensive price tag.
The primary focus is safety and the rule of thumb is, the better the material, the safer you’re going to be.
