[teebob21]

Traditional-style mask: as light as I can get it and as loose as I can wear it without looking sloppy. Short brim hat (4 stitch), too.

Here is the rationale: I don't want the mask transferring the impact force to my skull. I have a history of concussions, and so I am more likely to get additional ones at lower impact forces than those who have never had one. When I get hit in the face hard, I want the mask to pop off, carrying much of the energy with it, rather than transmitting it through the brim of my hat to my skull. I got knocked out of temporarily injured in a college game this year when I ate an inside rise ball. I was able to finish the game on the bases, but it was close to a concussion. Had I worn a bucket, I would have likely needed medical attention. The mask ended up 8 feet from the plate. That's a lot of kinetic energy that I was not on the receiving end of.

That's not possible with a HSM, so you're dependent on the damping ability of whatever cushioning or springs are attached to the face guard. This concept is used in racing cars, too. When they wreck, parts start coming off, taking energy with them.