Nocsae-Certified Lacrosse Helmets Offer Vital Protection
Lacrosse is an exhilarating but high-impact sport that requires proper protective gear to prevent injuries. This is especially true for lacrosse helmets, as head injuries are common due to the aggressive physicality of the game. That’s why the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) has developed rigorous standards and testing for lacrosse helmets to ensure their effectiveness at reducing the forces that lead to concussions and traumatic brain injuries.
When shopping for a new lacrosse helmet, looking for the NOCSAE seal is a must. This indicates the helmet model has passed a battery of performance tests measuring the ability to absorb impacts from multiple directions. NOCSAE uses advanced pneumatic ram testing to replicate the g-forces a helmet undergoes during checks, collisions, and falls on the field. Variables like impact velocity, duration, and location are all analyzed.
To earn NOCSAE certification, a lacrosse helmet must demonstrate the capacity to reduce impact forces below required thresholds, ensuring a high level of protection. Brands like Cascade and Warrior design their lids from the ground up to ace these evaluations, incorporating innovative materials and structural techniques. For example, many models use dual-density vinyl nitrile foam padding to enhance impact dissipation. Others employ polycarbonate alloy shells constructed via advanced engineering software for optimized energy management.
While the exterior shell, interior padding, and adjustable fit system all contribute to the protective capabilities of NOCSAE lacrosse helmets, their ability to pass intense impact testing is the real proof. So don’t just rely on looks or brand reputation when selecting head protection for the upcoming season. Go for gear displaying the coveted NOCSAE mark to take the field with confidence every game.
Top Lacrosse Helmet Brands With Nocsae Certification
When you’re outfitting yourself or your lacrosse-playing child with protective gear, the helmet is too critical to compromise on. That’s why it’s wise to stick with helmets from leading athletic brands that have a proven track record designing lids that meet Nocsae safety standards. Top manufacturers like Cascade, Warrior, STX, and Brine consistently produce Nocsae-certified helmets packed with features to fend off injuries during competitive play.
Cascade dominates the helmet game, offering acclaimed Nocsae-approved models like the S and R lines. These helmets boast technologies like the SevenTech liner system featuring Strut+ and PoronXR padding for multi-directional impact management. The adjustable Boa fit system ensures customized comfort and stability. For elite protection and ventilation, the Cascade S helm is a top choice.
Warrior also produces a deep roster of helmets with Nocsae certification preferred by hard-hitting players. The Burn Nine.9 shifts during impacts to mitigate energy transferral thanks to the magestic fit system and Seven+ liner. The shell is crafted from durable polycarbonate alloy for rugged performance. Meanwhile, the Regulator II prioritizes cooling airflow in its sleek design while still acing Nocsae testing.
For field commanders needing to communicate formations, the STX Stallion 500 helmet includes integrated side clips for attaching a headset. Along with Nocsae certification, it uses STX’s Softer Density Layering pads engineered to adapt to force. And Brine produces the popular King IV model offering robust protection along with customizable trim kits for personal flair.
Every reputable lacrosse helmet brand understands the importance of rigorous Nocsae testing. With the myriad of helmet options available, narrow them down by focusing on famous names with a legacy of designing high-performance and compliant head protectors.
Essential Pads for Lacrosse Protection
Beyond a Nocsae-rated helmet, lacrosse players need substantial protective padding on their bodies to shield against routine contact. Key gear like shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves, and rib protectors absorb the brunt of checks, pokes, and collisions during demanding play. Protective accessories also defend against stray lacrosse balls travelling at high velocities.
For shielding the upper body, shoulder pads are a necessity in lacrosse. Brands like Maverik and STX design lightweight pads with materials like D3O and polyethylene foam to disperse impact forces. Padding extends over the sternum, collarbone, and back for comprehensive coverage. Integrated plastic caps add hard shell protection over vulnerable zones.
Forearm and elbow pads like those from Nike and Warrior utilizing padding and plastic plates greatly reduce bruising and abrasions from checks. Gloves with thick foam padding across the fingers and back of the hand offer defense when handling checks and passes. For girls’ lacrosse, mid-section padding like Warrior’s Core Shield protects vital internal organs.
Rib protectors are crucial for boys’ lacrosse players vulnerable to jarring body blows. Brands like Cascade and Shock Doctor outfit these sleeve-style pads with combinations of foam, air chambers, and polymer materials to absorb heavy contact. And for goalies, anatomic padding in areas like the throat and chest is critical.
Lacrosse gear manufacturers dedicate substantial R&D towards crafting pads with optimal impact dissipation properties. Take advantage by equipping yourself in quality pads protecting all zones commonly exposed to contact during intense game action. Don’t assume standard apparel is sufficient – get gear engineered specifically to mitigate lacrosse collisions.
Custom Lacrosse Helmets for Style and Swag
Today’s lacrosse helmets offer more than just uncompromising protective performance and Nocsae certification – they also provide ample opportunities for customization and self-expression. All the major brands allow players to customize paint jobs, decals, visor styles, and attachment points for a personalized look that amplifies swagger on the field.
Cascade lacrosse helmets are particularly known for their unique styling, bold color schemes, and ability to outfit them with collectible novelty visors. The R model offers the option to customize colors on the shell, vents, facemask, and visor for over 2,000 possible combinations. STX also lets you create your own look on helmets like the Stallion 700 via the custom STX lacrosse helmet studio online.
Warrior lacrosse lids including the Burn and Regulator II feature interchangeable visors, trim kits, and decal options galore for showcasing your personality. Or get a custom airbrush paint job depicting unique designs. Switch out helmet decals each season to freshen up the look. And brands like Brine and Maverik also offer helmets with color and graphic customization.
The right lacrosse helmet expresses who you are as a player while providing vital impact protection. So take advantage of all the options from the lacrosse gear manufacturers to create a lid that’s truly your own. Pick the perfect shell color, cool visor, numbering, decals depicting your favorite team logos or characters, and any other accessories that let your passion for the game shine through.
Choosing a Lacrosse Stick to Lessen Injuries
In the fast-paced, contact-heavy sport of lacrosse, even the equipment used to play can pose an injury risk in the wrong hands. Sticks with subpar construction can fracture and splinter during checks, leading to lacerations and eye injuries for both the wielder and opponents.
That’s why when selecting a lacrosse stick, it’s important to go with a model from a reputable brand that meets key safety standards. Major manufacturers like Warrior, Maverik, and STX only produce sticks with shafts and heads passing stringent tests for structural integrity under duress.
Fiberglass composite and alloy metals like titanium and scandium are developed specifically for lacrosse stick engineering to optimize strength-to-weight ratios. Advanced polymers increase durability without adding excess heft. Strategic wall thickness, layering, and position of joints boost resilience and prevent warping.
Quality lacrosse stick heads must maintain integrity after repeated impacts from checks, scoops, and passes. Crooked or cracking sidewalls affect ball control and handling. certified heads feature sturdy yet responsive sidewall designs and adequately robust scoops.
Don’t just choose any bargain-bin lacrosse stick and assume it will hold up. Investing in models from the premier brands featuring advanced materials and construction techniques ensures the tool you wield poses minimal risk of injury to yourself or fellow players during intense game action.
Ensuring Proper Fit on Lacrosse Protective Gear
Even premium lacrosse protective equipment from leading brands can falter at protecting you if the fit is not dialed in. Helmets, pads, and gloves all must be comfortably snug without impeding mobility. Take time to properly size and adjust your gear for responsiveness and safety.
For lacrosse helmets, use the adjustable wheel or Boa system to eliminate wiggle room inside the liner. The helmet should sit securely on your head even when shaking it around. However, avoid overtightening to the point of discomfort or headache. The fit should feel snug yet breathable.
When sizing shoulder pads, make sure the epaulets fully cover the caps of your shoulders without drooping over the biceps. Straps should keep the lightweight shell centered on your torso as you move freely. Don’t settle for pads loose enough to shift and expose areas during checks.
Arm pad length is also critical – they must fully cover the elbow for protection when extended or bent. Rib sleeves must wrap your core without bunching up and exposing the midsection. And lacrosse gloves give maximum stick control and protection from checks when fitting like a second skin.
Getting the right lacrosse gear size for your body type ensures full coverage as you hustle all over the field. Brands like Warrior and Maverik guide sizing to remove guesswork. Take time to properly don and secure your equipment for a locked-in fit. Then reap the benefits in nimble performance and peace of mind.
Choosing the Safest Lacrosse Balls
In lacrosse, a solid rubber ball travelling at high velocities becomes a dangerous projectile that can cause major injury on errant shots. That’s why ball construction is an important safety consideration for players, goalies, and spectators alike.
Leading lacrosse ball manufacturers like Warrior, Maverik, and STX utilize advanced thermoplastic elastomers to optimize ball performance. These advanced composite rubbers balance durability, resilience, and softness for playability without excess hardness. Premium NOCSAE-approved lacrosse balls retain shape and bounce without going rock solid.
Texturing on the ball surface increases grip for handling and passing accuracy. Dimple patterns modeled after golf balls cut through the air with less drag for zippier shots. Contrasting cosmetic designs enhance visibility to aid reaction time.
Better quality rubber compounds retain elasticity and playability longer before going dead. Multi-layer constructs fight moisture damage and other deterioration from constant abuse. And sturdy seams ensure the ball stays intact after repeated checks and launches.
While most lacrosse balls meet basic safety standards, choose training and game models from the most trusted brands in the sport for optimal performance and durability. This gives you the safest projectiles to wield that maintain shape after repeated impacts.
Lacrosse Gear to Reduce In-Game Injuries
Beyond simply protective padding and helmets, lacrosse players can utilize specialized gear to enhance on-field safety. Innovations from top brands help minimize collisions, wild ricochets, and other common causes of injury during intense game play.
Well-designed lacrosse goals with rounded frames and taut netting prevent unpredictable ball bounce-outs that can strike nearby players. Foam padding on the poles shields against contact. Portable and collapsible goals are ideal for practice to avoid leaving rigid goals in high-traffic areas.
Training aids like Gladiator lacrosse rebounders direct errant shots up into netting instead of careening downfield dangerously. Ball stop netting behind goals contains overthrows for safer indoor play. And visual screening on sidelines shields spectators from stray balls and checks.
For officials, equipment like lacrosse cleats provides needed traction while avoiding exposed cleats that can cause ankle injuries on close plays. Padded Officials’ belts protect from ball impact while keeping flags secured.
Innovations in goalie gear provide maximum protection without excess bulk that limits movement. Throat protectors, chest padding, and reinforced gloves reduce sting and stop shots up close while enhancing reaction time.
With the proper lacrosse gear guarding all areas of the field, players can give max effort without undue concerns about preventable equipment-based injuries. Use modern innovations tailored for safety to fully immerse yourself in the game.
Must-Have Lacrosse Facial Protection
In such a high-speed, high-impact sport like lacrosse, facial protection is absolutely vital. Stray sticks and balls as well as physical contact make face and mouth injuries extremely common without proper protective gear.
Helmet cages or visors rated for lacrosse help shield the face but still leave the mouth vulnerable. That’s why integrating a mouthguard into your protective ensemble is a must. Brands like Shock Doctor and SISU make guards ideal for lacrosse with slim fits to enable breathing and communication.
Full-coverage guards with thick anterior walls absorb intense frontal impacts from checks that can easily cause dental and jaw damage. Multi-layer construction increases durability and fit. Some feature modular links between upper and lower portions to dissipate forces.
Boil-and-bite lacrosse mouthguards mold to each player’s bite when heated to ensure snugness. Custom dental guards offer even more precision by being professionally formed from dental molds. These provide the most secure fit.
Many guards incorporate ventilation ports for easier breathing and anti-displacement tethers to prevent swallowing. Select models also allow custom graphics for individual flair. Using advanced mouth protection along with a helmet cage, shield, or visor gives lacrosse players essential, comprehensive facial protection.
Lacrosse Gloves for Protection and Control
As lacrosse players handle sticks and jockey for possession, their hands take a beating, making gloves a requirement. Along with absorbing checks, modern lacrosse gloves enhance feel and control for carrying, passing, and shooting.
Leading brands engineering advanced gloves include Maverik, Warrior, Brine, and STX. Features like compressed foam padding across the fingers, segmented padding assemblies, and ventilated lycra mesh backs increase protection and mobility. Padded palms improve grip.
Gloves designed specifically for lacrosse provide much more shock absorption compared to ordinary sports or work gloves. Materials used in padding like D3O and Poron XRD excel at diffusing impact forces through flexible constructs that increase freedom of movement.
Many gloves integrate removable palm padding to customize stick feel. Adjustable cuff closures dial in secure fit. And half finger designs allow greater dexterity for stick handlers who desire it.
Don’t risk hand injuries or diminished performance with subpar gloves. Utilize advanced options from the premier lacrosse brands to get integral protection and enhanced control when handling your stick during intense play.
Choosing the Best Lacrosse Cleats
With the amount of cutting, quick changes of direction, and physical contact inherent in lacrosse, players’ footwork and traction are put to the test. The right cleats provide stability and maneuverability to avoid rolls and ankle injuries.
Leading athletic brands like Nike, Under Armour, and Warrior design lacrosse cleats maximizing support and grip ideal for the sport. They incorporate features like mid and forefoot cleats for drive off the turf, raised heels for sprinting, and wide distributions of smaller cleats for multidirectional traction.
Synthetic leather or mesh uppers allow for breathability during intense game action. Integrated toe caps protect against bruising shots and stomps. Removable sockliners accommodate orthotics. And padded collars minimize Achilles irritation when running.
For youth players, cleats with youth-specific fittings ensure proper growth and developmental accommodations. And goalies choose models with extended medial spikes for optimal side-to-side push off their nets.
With shoes playing such a pivotal role in lacrosse performance and safety, don’t settle for generic cleats. Seek out models from premier brands designed and engineered expressly for excelling at and staying protected during America’s fastest growing team sport.
Essential Lacrosse Arm Protection
With all the jostling, poking, and checking involved, lacrosse can take a major toll on players’ arms. Using padded sleeves and elbow pads reduces injuries from routine contact.
Leading lacrosse gear brands like Maverik, STX, and Warrior design arm guards scaling protection based on player position and preference. Features like compression fit sleeves with removable elbow caps allow for modular protection.
Defensemen benefit from maximum coverage with full arm sleeves and extended elbow pads. These shield the forearms and biceps from crosse checks and absorb elbow blows from all angles. Lightweight padding materials used by premium brands maximize mobility.
Meanwhile, midfielders and attackers may opt for slimmer elbow sleeves providing basic joint protection without restricting passing, cradling and shooting mechanics. Half-arm sleeve and strap styles offer lightweight shielding as well.
Don’t assume standard compression sleeves and basic elbow pads will suffice against hardcore lacrosse collisions. Use gear engineered to protect against the sport’s specific contact stresses. With the right pads, you can fend off checks with confidence.
Rib Protectors for Vital Lacrosse Protection
In the high-impact sport of lacrosse, blows to the midsection from checks, errant shots, and tumbles can cause debilitating injuries. But rib girdles and padded shirts add a key layer of protection.
Leading brands like Warrior, Maverik, and Brine design rib padding sleeves and shirts specifically for lacrosse. Lightweight, breathable materials like perforated foam with mesh backing allow free movement while dispersing body checks and blunt force.
Full rib sleeve models use Velcro and adjustable belt straps for secure fit during intense activity. Separate sternum and rib modules maximize mobility and layered cushioning around the core.
Other rib shirts feature integrated chest padding and extended waist lengths for extra coverage. Removable shoulder caps boost protection up top as well. And goalies choose anatomic padding shirts protecting the collarbone and spine.
Don’t risk taking a painful shot to the ribs or awkward tumble that incapacitates you for the season. Lacrosse-specific rib and chest protection ensures blows that would knock the wind out of you simply become glances you can shake off.
Essential Knee and Elbow Pads for Lacrosse
In a sport with as much contact and physicality as lacrosse, injuries to vulnerable joints are commonplace without protection. Lacrosse-specific knee and elbow pads safeguard players as they dive, cut, and absorb hits.
Leading brands like STX, Maverik, and Brine engineer padding optimized for lacrosse’s impact stresses. Low-profile builds maximize mobility while materials like Poron XRD and D3O excel at dissipating point-impact forces before they reach joints.
Contoured padding wraps joints for comprehensive shielding. Neoprene or spandex sleeves prevent slipping. Adjustable strapping dials in secure fits. And many models incorporate ventilation to prevent overheating and moisture buildup.
Youth lacrosse pads feature growth flex zones and scaled protection for developing players. Goalies choose reinforced padding for knee-down save stability. And women’s pads fit optimally for their build and typical contact level.
Relying just on everyday knee and elbow sleeves leaves you poorly protected from the constant physicality of competitive lacrosse. Sport-specific pads let you play all out without worrying about training-derailing joint trauma.
Displaying Your Lacrosse Gear Collection
After investing in all the top-tier Nocsae-rated helmets, pads, gloves, and other gear to dominate on the lacrosse field, you’ll want to proudly display your equipment. Lacrosse-specific display cases and racks showcase your set up in style.
Display cases from brands like Guardian and A&R Sports shield your helmet, gloves, shoulder pads, and other gear from dust and damage while showing it off. Fully enclosed models feature transparent polycarbonate or acrylic cases with lacquered wooden frames.
For extra protection, look for cases with padding inside that cradles gear and prevents scratching. Ventilation holes prevent moisture buildup. Hang racks offer open air displays. And specialized sticks stands like the Guardian Hawk securely store your prized lacrosse stick.
Display your gear bag itself as a wall hanging or convert it into a table using a protective glass top. Install shelving designed specifically to showcase lacrosse helmets and pads. And utilize stick holders to arrange multiple crosses for prominent presentation.
Show your passion for lacrosse and all the hard work acquiring elite gear by dedicating display space just for your equipment collection. Sturdy, lax-focused displays protect and exhibit your items with stylish pride.