Buying football helmets has always been a major part of this sport. Without this type of equipment, the safety of the game will be compromised. As we all know, football is one of the toughest and most dangerous sports there is. With all the aggressive and forceful action in the football field, it is so easy to be clobbered and end up injured.

Needless to say, the head being one of the most essential body parts that a player has, has to be well protected at all times. A good quality football helmet can serve this purpose. Aside from that, with the rich and colorful history of football helmets, it is also a great idea to start collecting this football safety gear.

This article will provide you with a wide array of useful information that you will find handy in the event of your football helmet shopping adventure.

CONSIDER THE BRAND

One of the foremost factors that you have to consider when buying a football helmet is the brand. Make sure that you only go for brands that speak of the highest quality, excellent features and utmost comfort so that you get maximum protection and satisfaction with the helmet that you purchase. For example, buying NFL Helmets can assure you of this.

Moreover, it is crucial to specifically choose a brand that sells football helmets. As we all know there are many sporting brands out there that manufacture different kinds of helmets. A company that is popular in producing excellent motorcycle helmets is not automatically a good choice when it comes to buying football helmets.

CHECK OUT THE FEATURES

Of course, it does not stop with looking at the brand. You also need to examine the product especially its features. Remember, different helmets have different features and you need to distinguish and understand each of them to ensure that you are getting a good buy.

Below are some of the helmet’s components and features that you must know about:

1. Football Helmet Air Systems

This is the system developed to be able to cushion the head more effectively than regular foam pads. It works to absorb all the impact the helmet gets from being hit and allows for more distance between the helmet shell and the head. Furthermore, it gives a comfortable fit since the air system can be adjusted according to the head’s specific shape and size.

Not all helmet brands offer models with this kind of system. If you are into serious football playing, it is always a good bet to go with helmets with this feature. This will make sure that your head is protected more efficiently. However, if you are simply collecting football helmets, this can be an optional feature.

2. Football Helmet Padding

All helmets come with a series of pads, which are usually made of foam. These pads serve to cushion any blows on the head, jaw, neck, and nose. They also come in different thicknesses that usually range from ½ to 1 inch so that you can choose which thickness you are most comfortable with. Replacement pads are readily available at many sporting goods and it is imperative to replace worn out pads with new ones that are specifically made for your helmet.

Check out the football helmet pads if it meets the NOCSAE requirements. NOCSAE or National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment is a voluntary organization that monitors and regulates the standards for a wide array of sporting protective equipment like football. A helmet that bears the NOCSAE seal assures you that the manufacturer met the required standards for this gear.

3. Football Helmet Chin Straps

Football helmet chinstraps are designed to serve two vital functions: one is to protect the chin area with a protective and durable cup that is fit securely under the chin, and the other is to ensure that the helmet is firmly anchored to your head. Because of this, it is a must that the chinstrap is kept centered and without slack at all times during a football game.

Most football helmets come with a standardized chin strap but if you are not comfortable with this, you can replace it with a different kind since many manufacturers offer a vast array of chin straps with either 4-pt or 6-pt hookups and in different materials, colors and sizes.

4. Facemasks

As for facemasks, these are the protective layer in front of the football’s helmet that protects the player’s face. They can be made of Titanium, Stainless Steel or Carbon Steel. There is no standard facemask as there is a wide variety of this component to fit the type of playing position of a football player. Facemasks are designed to protect different parts of the face for optimized protection while giving players the best visibility to play their position.

Generally, there are two types of facemasks: open cage and closed cage. The type of facemask you don will inevitably affect your vision so it is wise to consider your position before getting any type of facemask.

The first one, which has two or three horizontal bars and no vertical bars is the ideal choice for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and defensive backfield players since this provides more visibility. On the other hand, linemen typically prefer the closed cage facemask with vertical and horizontal bars because this can help protect their faces and eyes against their opponent’s hands and fingers.

The abbreviations below are indications on the kind of protection you need with your helmet’s facemask as well as the styles of the facemask. Knowing these will help you decide which one to get.

· OPO - Oral Protection Only

· NOPO - Nose and Oral Protection Only

· EGJOP - Eye Glass, Jaw and Oral Protection

· EGOP - Eye Glass and Oral Protection

· JOP - Jaw and Oral Protection

· NJOP - Nose, Jaw, and Oral Protection

· ROPO- Reinforced Oral Protection Only

· RJOP- Reinforced Jaw and Oral Protection

· DW - Double Wire Configuration

· SW - Single Wire Configuration

· R - Reinforced

· UB - U-Bar Attached

· K - Kicker / Punter

5. Helmet Shell Materials

High-end helmet makers typically use GE Lexan molded polycarbonate alloy for the football helmet’s outer shell. This is the same plastic material used for making astronaut helmets. Other manufacturers meanwhile use non-branded molded polycarbonate.

This type of material has been proved to be the best choice because not only is it very durable but it can also spread the force of impact and thus, significantly diminish coercion in the head.

Youth football helmets are usually made of ABS plastic, which is a common thermoplastic used to make molded products. This is also great for football helmets because it possesses shock absorbent properties.

GET THE PROPER FIT

Getting the proper fit of your helmet is very important this means optimal protection for your precious head. For adults, you may want to get full sized helmets; for children, kids NFL helmets are a great idea. Here are more tips on how you can get the perfect fit without the fuss:

· Get the size of your head so you know what model to get when you are in the football sporting goods store.

· See to it that the front of the helmet is around one inch above your eyebrows.

· Go for a snug fit that is neither too loose nor too tight.

· Cut your hair to get the perfect fit. You can also dampen it during fitting to anticipate sweat conditions.

· Try pressing downward the top of the helmet. If the pressure is on the crown of the head and not on the brow, this means you have a good fit.

· Keep the chinstrap exactly centered and without slack to get the right fit.

· Use this chart as a guide for finding the right helmet size for you.

(SEE THE TABLE 1)

SET YOUR BUDGET

Low end youth football helmets usually range around the prices of $45 to $70. Mid range pricing level is around $70 to $100 while high-end helmets for youth and adults can cost around $100 to $160 or even higher. It is always smart to set your budget when buying a football helmet so that you do not spend beyond what you can afford.

It does not matter whether you are a great player or just a keen fan, you still have to go through the process of carefully choosing and buying the right helmet so you end up satisfied and happy with your choice.