Quote:
Originally Posted by originalhypa
I've started playing div A this year, and in the last 3 weeks I've taken three shots to the head. One resulted in a head injury, while the other two just annoyed me. The bottom line is that you want to protect your head as much as possible. Honestly, the only Bauer I would ever use is the NME10.
A buddy and I were talking about this the other day. Goalie masks are like the old days of car tuning, instead of cheap/fast/reliable (pick two), it's cheap/protective/light (pick two).
My Eddy GT is decked out with Maltese gel and a big cheater cage. It's protective, but it's heavy at 3.5lbs. I would love to get into something new. Bump your starting price to $800 and you're in a good range for custom made and full carbon protection.
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I wouldn't buy a NME10 or any of Bauer's current retail masks. Almost $1000 for a Chinese made mask? No thanks. Buy something Canadian made instead. The difference in quality is night and day. Always try on the mask before buying, especially if it's your first one. I'd recommend Sportmask. They have a couple different price points. The Hockey Shop carries them.
Spend as much as you can on your skates. Doesn't have to be top end but get something comfortable. The cowlings have come a long way in the last 5 years. They used to be very bulky but now are more streamlined and lightweight.
Get a C/A that fits well and is at least Canadian-made or pro level protection. Cheap out on everything else if you're on a budget. Chances are you will upgrade as you gain more experience. You'll go through multiple sets of pads before deciding on what you like.