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Suggestions on a new helmet?


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#1 findursol

findursol
  • LocationPittsburgh, PA

Posted 09 May 2020 - 09:00 AM

Hi all - 

I'm at my wits end trying to find a helmet that actually fits me. I've tried an IMS 9.0 in Medium which was just too small, a 4500 in Large which was too narrow, and after I stopped getting access to Bauer crap I tried an Alpha One Pro that was way too heavy but otherwise fit super well, and an E700 that everyone swears by that fit like cheeks all around. I've tried on a Resistance and a Re-Akt VN from buddies and didn't mind either briefly but haven't played games in them. 

I'm not worried about sty, protection beyond wearing a helmet or anything else. Just need something comfortable. I really like the mounting system of the Alpha One Pro where it fits the 'ropes' around your head, I don't like anything really tight to the head unless it's incredibly comfy. Huge wide head covered with thick hair. Only looking at CCM for next season. Have been playing for years and have yet to leave a game without a tension headache in my skull cap following shortly after which I'm coming to realize isn't normal. Haven't tried on a V10/V08, but I likely could get my hands on most common CCM models.

What do you guys like? Any help appreciated!

Thanks!



#2 althoma1

althoma1
  • LocationToronto

Posted 09 May 2020 - 09:06 AM

Try on a CCM Fitlite 3DS. I don't own one, but have tried it on and it was one of the more comfortable helmets I've tried. It has a fit dial for adjustments and isn't as light as something like the E700, but is lighter than the average high end helmet. 



#3 findursol

findursol
  • LocationPittsburgh, PA

Posted 09 May 2020 - 09:26 AM

Try on a CCM Fitlite 3DS. I don't own one, but have tried it on and it was one of the more comfortable helmets I've tried. It has a fit dial for adjustments and isn't as light as something like the E700, but is lighter than the average high end helmet. 

I have access to a regular pro-stock FitLite which looks to be similarly constructed, anything I'm missing between it and the 3DS? It looks like my AOP but smaller which seems like a great direction to head in. Appreciate it a ton!



#4 Robbieaik

Robbieaik

Posted 09 May 2020 - 09:52 AM

Tacks 710.

Simple as that.

#5 althoma1

althoma1
  • LocationToronto

Posted 09 May 2020 - 10:15 AM

I've only looked at and tried on a retail Fitlite 3DS. I have no experience with a prostock Fitlite, however; I googled "pro stock fitlite" and saw some pictures on Prostockhockey. I see it has the microdial, but I know that CCM has a retail Fitlite (non-3DS) where dial only adjusts the back occipital region, whereas; on the 3DS models it adjusts the entire helmet (front, back and sides - similar to the Alpha Pro adjustment). So while a regular Fitlite could work for you, the 3DS models will allow you to tweak the fit more. 

 

I know in Canada the retail price of the 3DS was originally around $300 and the regular Fitlite was approx. $180. I believe the key difference is the complete 360 adjustment. I know the regular price on the 3DS is steep, but some shops have them on clearance and there some new ones below retail on SLS:

 

Small white: https://sidelineswap...lite-3ds-helmet

Medium white Fitlite 3DS: https://sidelineswap...ds-white-helmet

Medium Royal blue: https://sidelineswap...m-royal-canucks

Large Royal: https://sidelineswap...royal-canadiens

Medium Green: https://sidelineswap...m-green-st-pats

Large Green: https://sidelineswap...en-north-dakota

Large Harvard Red: https://sidelineswap...-harvard-red-sr



#6 althoma1

althoma1
  • LocationToronto

Posted 09 May 2020 - 10:27 AM

Tacks 710.

Simple as that.

Everything I've read about the Tacks 710 has been positive. The foams they use are supposed to be very comfortable. I don't think it's as adjustable as the 3DS (you can adjust it front to back and it has an occipital dial, but I don't think there's side to side adjustment), but people love if it fits their head well. 

 

This is a solid review of the 710: http://hgreview.net/...-helmet-review/

 

Here's a thread on reddit comparing the Tacks to the 3DS: https://www.reddit.c...or_fitlite_3ds/

 

The Tacks 710 is worth considering, but I'd try them both on if it's at all possible (I know it's tough in the current environment) or grab them from a place that allows free returns. The Tacks 310 gets good reviews as well. 



#7 Robbieaik

Robbieaik

Posted 09 May 2020 - 10:35 AM

Everything I've read on the Tacks 710 has been positive. The foams they use are supposed to be very comfortable. I don't think it's as adjustable as the 3DS (you can adjust it front to back and it has an occipital dial, but I don't think there's side to side adjustment), but people love if it fits their head well.

This is a solid review of the 710: http://hgreview.net/...-helmet-review/

Here's a thread on reddit comparing the Tacks to the 3DS: https://www.reddit.c...or_fitlite_3ds/

The Tacks 710 is worth considering, but I'd try them both on if it's at all possible (I know it's tough in the current environment) or grab them from a place that allows free returns.


I got both.

Used to be 100% Bauer re-akt.

Would never go back now.

Would rate the re-akt higher than the 3ds as well.

#8 findursol

findursol
  • LocationPittsburgh, PA

Posted 09 May 2020 - 05:29 PM

I've only looked at and tried on a retail Fitlite 3DS. I have no experience with a prostock Fitlite, however; I googled "pro stock fitlite" and saw some pictures on Prostockhockey. I see it has the microdial, but I know that CCM has a retail Fitlite (non-3DS) where dial only adjusts the back occipital region, whereas; on the 3DS models it adjusts the entire helmet (front, back and sides - similar to the Alpha Pro adjustment). So while a regular Fitlite could work for you, the 3DS models will allow you to tweak the fit more. 

 

I know in Canada the retail price of the 3DS was originally around $300 and the regular Fitlite was approx. $180. I believe the key difference is the complete 360 adjustment. I know the regular price on the 3DS is steep, but some shops have them on clearance and there some new ones below retail on SLS:

 

Small white: https://sidelineswap...lite-3ds-helmet

Medium white Fitlite 3DS: https://sidelineswap...ds-white-helmet

Medium Royal blue: https://sidelineswap...m-royal-canucks

Large Royal: https://sidelineswap...royal-canadiens

Medium Green: https://sidelineswap...m-green-st-pats

Large Green: https://sidelineswap...en-north-dakota

Large Harvard Red: https://sidelineswap...-harvard-red-sr

 

Hmmmm...taking a closer look I see what you mean. The 3DS looks a lot more comfy and adjustable. I'm not a millionaire but if it fits I'm more than willing to pay up for something I'm gonna use for a year.
 

Everything I've read about the Tacks 710 has been positive. The foams they use are supposed to be very comfortable. I don't think it's as adjustable as the 3DS (you can adjust it front to back and it has an occipital dial, but I don't think there's side to side adjustment), but people love if it fits their head well. 

 

This is a solid review of the 710: http://hgreview.net/...-helmet-review/

 

Here's a thread on reddit comparing the Tacks to the 3DS: https://www.reddit.c...or_fitlite_3ds/

 

The Tacks 710 is worth considering, but I'd try them both on if it's at all possible (I know it's tough in the current environment) or grab them from a place that allows free returns. The Tacks 310 gets good reviews as well. 

I'm basically limited to what teammates and friends have on-hand or what my team provides (if I'm patient) unless I suck it up and buy one. That being said, the 710 is actually one of the few options from my team (probably because it's cheap, lol) and I'd say 3/4 of the guys are in it so that's encouraging and makes it much easier to try out. We're talking about collegiate, not the NHL, so team-supplied options are kind of limited but they're not too anal about it.

Going to try out a 710 first and see where we end up. Any difference between the retail and pro stocks that I'm not seeing?

Appreciate the help from everyone a ton! :D



#9 althoma1

althoma1
  • LocationToronto

Posted 09 May 2020 - 05:55 PM

Trying a teammates 710 before making any decisions is a good move. The only difference I notice when looking at some pro 710's vs. retail online are there's less branding on the pro 710's. On the retail 710's there are CCM logos on the front and the sides, but it looks like on some of the pro models there's no side branding for a cleaner look. Other than that, I don't see a difference, but don't own either helmet; so perhaps someone who has a pro version and a retail version or has at least seen a retail version can chime in to confirm that they're basically the same. 



#10 CCMHockey

CCMHockey
  • LocationNorth America

Posted 12 May 2020 - 07:14 PM

Hi all - 

I'm at my wits end trying to find a helmet that actually fits me. I've tried an IMS 9.0 in Medium which was just too small, a 4500 in Large which was too narrow, and after I stopped getting access to Bauer crap I tried an Alpha One Pro that was way too heavy but otherwise fit super well, and an E700 that everyone swears by that fit like cheeks all around. I've tried on a Resistance and a Re-Akt VN from buddies and didn't mind either briefly but haven't played games in them. 

I'm not worried about sty, protection beyond wearing a helmet or anything else. Just need something comfortable. I really like the mounting system of the Alpha One Pro where it fits the 'ropes' around your head, I don't like anything really tight to the head unless it's incredibly comfy. Huge wide head covered with thick hair. Only looking at CCM for next season. Have been playing for years and have yet to leave a game without a tension headache in my skull cap following shortly after which I'm coming to realize isn't normal. Haven't tried on a V10/V08, but I likely could get my hands on most common CCM models.

What do you guys like? Any help appreciated!

Thanks!

we have a new helmet coming out this summer thats super comfortable, protective and has 29% more adjustment travel than our existing helmets.  Also fits deeper like a v08 


Est. 1899