Hockey Helmet life span and facts

Hockey Helmet Facts

Hockey helmets are made with a hard plastic shell for the outer portion of the helmet to protect from shots and hard force from hits. The inside shell of a hockey helmet is generally made of a substance called vinyl nitrile. This product is used to disperses force from the point of contact and or absorb the energy, to reduce the chances of concussion. The facemask is usually steel or titanium for all junior level players. For all professional players they usually wear Lexan shatterproof plastic that protects their eyes. A cage can be used for quite a long time, as long as it doesn’t begin to rust. A diligent owner who takes the helmet out of the bag to sit and dry after each skate can feel safe in a cage for over 10 years. Visors and full bubbles probably shouldn’t be used more than 5 years, as the coating will wear and crack and scratches will emerge, and the plastic itself will slowly weaken, just like a helmet. Besides the metal cages, all of the plastic used for masks or the helmet itself are recyclable. The lifespan of the item as a whole is very long. Kids keep their helmets from years past to remember those teams and their friends. I personally still have full hockey helmets from when I was 8. I have four hockey helmets in my house from all the teams I have played on since then. I would say most don’t get thrown away; they are recycled or “recycled” as in given down to other players who could use them. I’d say 20% actually get thrown away. Most people will keep them as memories or give them to siblings or friends to still use.     

History of the Hockey Helmet

Molded plastic helmets, imported from Europe, were first worn by NHLers in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, General Electric produced the “Patterson Helmet.” It was made of a synthetic material called Lexan and featured a suspension system that kept the head away from contact with the outer shell. During the 1970s, improvements in ventilation, comfort, and visibility made headgear more entertaining of an idea to pro players. On June 1, 1979, the NHL enacted a rule requiring the wearing of helmets for anyone entering the league after that date, though a “grandfather” clause allowed diehard veterans to continue to go hatless if they wished. Ongoing advances in foam technology, hard plastics, and structural configuration made helmets much lighter and stronger. And the clear Plexiglas visor, introduced in the 1980s, quickly developed to the point that glare, distortion, and fogging were virtually eliminated. Today, nearly two-thirds of all NHL players wear a visor.

http://newtohockey.com/hockey-cage-visor-guide/

http://blog.detroitathletic.com/2011/