I'm always on the lookout for the best catcher helmet (to me) in terms of safety features. DD uses a discontinued Wilson Shock-FX 2.0 S/M. It is such a great helmet, but is such a diva in terms of maintenance. Pads are always falling out, if any part of the steel cage gets bent it throws the suspension action out the window. I like the helmet so much that I've bought a L/XL when my daughter inevitably outgrows her current one. However, the soft padding of the S/M that I really liked was replaced by that hard backing with about 1/8" of soft padding, no good. (already ripped out the junk and have replaced it with Schutt padding which is awesome).
Anyway, my son is starting to catch and I've done some research and I've ended up with the Rawlings Mach Jr Helmet for him. There are some features that I really like and some features that I'm open to seeing if it pans out. What I really like from the top... To me, the helmet looks really good. Clean lines and not too narrow through the face mask part. The weight of the helmet in youth size is 2.786lbs, definitely not a feather but not as heavy as the schutt.
Besides the asthetics, I really like the no cage mounts on the forehead, and I really really appreciate the way that the cage is mounted. The chin mount is horizontal allowing the forces from a ball strike to the cage to rotate backwards (moment) into the rear mounts which are also horizontal, albeit in another plane. The rear bar then pushes down into the fastener... Engineering wise, it makes sense to me.
Also, I really like the padding. Out layer is very soft, inner layer is harder but definitely moveable as can be seen by my thumb pushing down into it. Ha, it seems like yellow is the universal (hey look at how safe this padding is!)
What I'm intrigued about, but makes sense is the chin cup instead of the generic chin pad. Along the same lines of the impact transmitting forces immediately through to the back of the helmet for the cage, same for a hit to the chin. The helmet chin opening is way below the catchers chin allowing the catchers voice out way way easier. Some helmets are notoriously quiet in this regard.
The helmet fits my son and my DD (DD is 13 and son is 7) equally with simple adjustments to the chin cup and back straps. Son says the chin cup is really comfortable, DD puts it on and says no way, my wilson is so much better, and immediately goes off the deep end thinking that I bought it for her. When she found out that it was for brother, she calmed down and talked me through it. Chin cup is comfortable, but front is way more open than the wilson.
Anyway, hope this may help if anyone is looking for good gear.
Anyway, my son is starting to catch and I've done some research and I've ended up with the Rawlings Mach Jr Helmet for him. There are some features that I really like and some features that I'm open to seeing if it pans out. What I really like from the top... To me, the helmet looks really good. Clean lines and not too narrow through the face mask part. The weight of the helmet in youth size is 2.786lbs, definitely not a feather but not as heavy as the schutt.
Besides the asthetics, I really like the no cage mounts on the forehead, and I really really appreciate the way that the cage is mounted. The chin mount is horizontal allowing the forces from a ball strike to the cage to rotate backwards (moment) into the rear mounts which are also horizontal, albeit in another plane. The rear bar then pushes down into the fastener... Engineering wise, it makes sense to me.
Also, I really like the padding. Out layer is very soft, inner layer is harder but definitely moveable as can be seen by my thumb pushing down into it. Ha, it seems like yellow is the universal (hey look at how safe this padding is!)
What I'm intrigued about, but makes sense is the chin cup instead of the generic chin pad. Along the same lines of the impact transmitting forces immediately through to the back of the helmet for the cage, same for a hit to the chin. The helmet chin opening is way below the catchers chin allowing the catchers voice out way way easier. Some helmets are notoriously quiet in this regard.
The helmet fits my son and my DD (DD is 13 and son is 7) equally with simple adjustments to the chin cup and back straps. Son says the chin cup is really comfortable, DD puts it on and says no way, my wilson is so much better, and immediately goes off the deep end thinking that I bought it for her. When she found out that it was for brother, she calmed down and talked me through it. Chin cup is comfortable, but front is way more open than the wilson.
Anyway, hope this may help if anyone is looking for good gear.