Totally silly? I bet your one of those guys that has one of those sun visors on the inside of your mask. Now that looks totally silly. Why would you need the sun visor, the hat your wearing is below it and it has no affect on your vision at all.

I wear the HSM (with a 4-stitch hat) all Spring and the comfort, protection and vision is far superior to the traditional mask. However, when the weather warms up, I'm back to the traditional mask due to the heat. That is the only drawback to the HSM in my opinion.

A2d ....................................
 

You're right ! MASKS do look silly !

Us cool kids wouldn't want you wearin' our stuff anyway !:D :D :D




Doug

Wow, another HSM V. MASK thread!!! Brilliant!!!http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_9_22.gif

I agree with you. Clean, pressed uniform, shined shoes, etc., are all important. Not one coach, team, or league will give a crap whether an umpire uses a traditional mask or a helmet.

Is the protection actually better? Of course the top, sides, and back of one's head is protected, but that doesn't matter at all. Has there ever been some type of study which has said that they hockey mask protects better than a standard mask? You can't say the protection is better unless you have tested it with the exact speed and location against a shot to both masks. Just saying I took a really bad shot with my standard mask, and I haven't had another bad one since doesn't mean anything, as bad shots don't occour often. You may not have taken one during that time period if you had still been wearing your standard mask.

About the same up/down view can be obtained by using a low profile standar mask. So you must be commenting on the side to side vision. But what are you using the better peripheral vision to see? I cannot think of a single thing that there is to see that cannot be seen using a standard mask.

Helmet protection is far superior to a mask.

And best when you don't wear a cap under it, by design.

I have yet to see any catcher, at any level, wear a cap under a helmet.

Cooling is better than a cap and mask, when you don't wear a cap under it, by design.

Visibility is far superior to a mask, especially when you don't wear a cap under it, by design.

Has any body, besides me, figured out that Helmets were designed to be used without a cap ?

Right mask, wrong last line.

Get your movies straight! :p

Yes.

You are preachin' to the choir.

What do you have to support this claim?

I just saw it today.

I have read posts (by Rich F?) saying that a hockey mask is hotter than a standard mask with a cap. Why is it that you guys don't agree?

Sorry Steve. And Rich !

Ahhm !

Who do you thing the Borg stole that line from ?

Watch episode IV & V again.

Two eyes that don't need glasses yet.


There's a first time for everything. Send me a picture.


Don't know. I work in Central California, where it's hot, even when it rains. I worked with a Mask for many years before switching to a Helmet. The difference is like wearing a Motorcycle Helmet (Mask & Cap) vs. a Bicycle Helmet (HSM). The HSM has built in AC, just like a bicycle helmet. I also sweat very easily, not overweight, just sweat easy. I am much cooler in an HSM than I ever was in a wool cap. The Wool Cap is what causes the overheating, not the mask or the helmet. I guess if you wore a fishnet with a mask, it would be cooler than a helmet.:cool:

I have worn the HSM for two years now. On the hottest days, I have to switch back to my standard mask because the HSM is just too hot. Yes, it may have cooling vents, but it is still hotter than a standard mask/hat combo.

Even on moderately hot days, the sweat gets into my eyes more often because there's no hat to absorb some of that sweat and stop it from flowing down from the top of the head. This is particularly noticeable for those of us who are "folically challenged" (bald), because there's no mop of hair to help hold back the sweat, either.

This is why I carry a small towel in my left ball bag, the one with no pockets. In between innings or action I remove the helmet, wipe my sweaty brow, fold up the towel and put it back in the bag. 7 seconds, sweat gone. I sweat a lot in hats too. When I have the bases, I usually have to wring my hat out late in the game. It gets hot here in the low desert.

There is no doubt the helmet is hotter. I sweat more and there's nothing to stop the sweat. Like I've said, we'll see when July rolls around whether I stick with the helmet this season. I haven't yet once the weather gets really hot.