The Best Goalie Masks for 2024
Undoubtedly, the goalie mask is the most recognizable piece of equipment for the position. It keeps the goalie safe, yet also provides a canvas of expression like you see on nearly every professional goalie. The mask is designed to protect both the head and much of the neck of the goalie, allowing them to feel confident and safe in facing even the most difficult of shots. Today’s masks have come a long way from the masks of year’s past. The masks you’ll find on the market today are made most commonly of high-end composites (fiberglass, carbon fiber, aramid/Kevlar) or polycarbonate, and have a vast range of shapes, sizes, and prices. Be sure to check out our full selection of goalie masks.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Bauer 960 Senior Non-Certified Cat Eye Goalie Mask$712.49 Original Price $949.99 You Save 25% Original Price $949.99 You Save
Overview: Simply put, the Bauer 960 is a legend. From its humble beginnings as a Jerry Wright design and later brought under the Itech name, the 960’s classic styling has inspired generations of goalie masks and designers and yet the 960 still stands today as the premier mask in Bauer’s lineup. The latest 960 model features a Smacwrap composite shell and upgraded Poron XRD padding compared to previous models.
Overview: The CCM Axis XF Goalie Mask sets a new standard in protection and comfort with its innovative NEST Tech liner, featuring 3D printed lattice structures for optimized impact protection. The triple density foam chin cup with D3O® Smart Material enhances shock absorption. The Exoshell Carbon Fiber Composite Shell offers a modern look and ultralight feel, while the AER-TEC Ventilation System ensures maximum airflow. This advanced design delivers an unmatched, custom-fit feel with elite-level protection, making it one of the best goalie masks on the market.
Overview: The Warrior Ritual R/F2 Pro Senior Certified Straight Bar Goalie Mask stands out with its Minimus Carbon 20 shell, offering strength and lightness. Its FantomFIT design ensures a perfect fit, while the OmniShock+ System and dual-density Impax foams provide superior safety and comfort. XFoam in the forehead and backplate enhances impact absorption, and the mask offers excellent chin mobility. The Polygiene sweatband controls odor and sweat, and a HECC certified stainless steel cage ensures top-notch protection. Perfect for advanced goalies, this mask blends maximum mobility and security.
Overview: The Bauer NME ONE is Bauer’s latest pro-level NME line mask. The ONE is packed with technology, includingAdvanced Carbon Layering for the shell, Poron XRD in the cheeks and a Defense Cloud Tech foam liner. ACL material wraps from the top of the head down to the chin to help reduce chipping but is strategically reinforced for evern more protection. The liner features extensive use of Poron XRD foam in the cheeks and a DCT Liner, protection and comfort have perfectly intersected in the Bauer NME ONE helmet.
-
Vaughn Pro Vision Senior Non-Certified Cat Eye Goalie Mask$649.98 Original Price $699.99 You Save 7% Original Price $699.99 You Save
Overview: The Vaughn Pro Vision Goalie Mask stands out as one of the best on the market due to its precision-molded pro composite construction, offering increased shell thickness for superior impact resistance. Its unique pro-style shape enhances fit and puck deflection, while the narrow chin profile improves head mobility. The mask's flared shape ensures complete coverage and proper fit. Inside, dual-density Vinyl Nitrile impact foams provide comfort and top-tier protection, complemented by a replaceable sweatband. An adjustable harness allows for a customizable fit, making it ideal for high-level play.
Overview: The Bauer 950 Senior Non-Certified Cat Eye Goalie Mask is a top choice for budget-conscious goalies due to its exceptional balance of protection, comfort, and heritage design. Featuring a highly protective Powercore shell that minimizes vibrations and impacts, it keeps goalies safe from head shots. The Airflow Liner and Thermocore sweatband ensure cooling and comfort during intense play. Its Poron XRD and IX Foams offer superior impact resistance, while the adjustable Pro Harness and elite chin cup provide a customized fit.
Overview: The CCM Axis F9 Goalie Mask is a top choice due to its innovative design and advanced materials. The Exoshell Fiberglass Shell provides a resilient, lightweight structure optimized for deflection and ventilation. Enhanced breathability and comfort are achieved through the AER-TEC Ventilation System and high-density VN foam liner, which integrates D3O® Smart Material for superior impact protection. The mask also features a triple-density foam chin cup lined with D3O® for secure fit and shock absorption. This combination of cutting-edge technology and meticulous design makes the Axis F9 exceptionally protective and comfortable for goalies.
Overview: The Warrior Ritual R/F2 E+ Senior Goalie Mask is a top choice due to its advanced features. It boasts a Minimus Carbon UD shell for durability and a FantomFIT design for superior comfort and fit. The OmniShock+ System integrates all shell and liner components, enhancing safety with dual-density Impax foams for excellent protection and reduced weight. Its chin mobility improves puck tracking, while a Polygiene sweatband minimizes odor. The non-certified stainless steel cat-eye cage and traditional backplate harness ensure security and visibility. This mask is ideal for advanced goalies seeking maximum protection and mobility.
-
CCM Axis A1.9 Senior Certified Straight Bar Goalie Mask$287.98 Original Price $479.99 You Save 40% Original Price $479.99 You Save
Overview: The CCM Axis A1.9 Goalie Mask stands out due to its NHL-inspired design and advanced features. It boasts a robust fiberglass shell with carbon fiber reinforcements for superior impact protection. Internally, it incorporates D3O Smart Material to dissipate energy from impacts and I.Q.Shion Gel for exceptional comfort with a memory foam liner. The mask also features a mesh construction sweatband and a triple density foam chin cup for added comfort and shock absorption. The stainless steel cage ensures high-impact protection. These elements combine to make the CCM Axis A1.9 a top choice for intermediate-level goaltenders.
Overview: The Bauer 940 Senior Certified Cat Eye Goalie Mask is one of the best on the market due to its blend of timeless design and modern features. Its durable Full Fibercomp shell provides excellent protection and reduces vibrations from headshots. The mask's Airflow Liner and Thermocore sweatband ensure comfort by keeping the goaltender cool. Soft VN foam padding offers a plush feel, while the NME IX chin cup with elastic straps ensures a snug fit. Additionally, the polycarbonate backplate with molded occipital support and Pro Harness allow for customizable adjustments, making it ideal for intermediate-level goaltenders seeking comfort and reliability.
Anatomy of a Hockey Goalie Mask
Shell: The shell is the most critical part of the mask and is what distinguishes higher end masks from budget alternatives. Pro level masks frequently feature proprietary carbon fiber, aramid fiber, and fiberglass blends to create the ideal combination of weight, strength, and durability. Lower end budget friendly masks generally are constructed of polycarbonate or similar material and while they retain durability, they lack the greater rigidity that composite constructed masks offer.
Cage: There are three main types of cage: Non-certified cat eye, Certified Cat eye, and straight bar. Both Certified straight bar and Certified cat eye cages are one of many criteria that allow masks to pass CSA and HECC certifications for leagues that require such. Non-certified cat eye cages have wider eye openings to allow for better visibility, but do not pass the CSA and HECC requirements. Most masks are offered in a non-certified cage as well as a certified straight bar cage.
Padding: Mask manufacturers have made significant developments in recent years in mask foam technology. Many high-end masks feature proprietary or exclusive foam and gel types that add additional layers of protection, dampening, and comfort to the mask shell.
Straps: All masks utilize elastic straps for the rear harness. A select few feature a “floating” backplate where each of the straps is individual, rather than the traditional 5 point harness that is sewn together.
How to Choose the Right Size Goalie Mask
When fitting a goalie mask, it is important that the mask fits snugly with no visible room between the forehead or cheeks. The chin cup should be adjusted so that it fits snugly on the goalie’s chin and limits any up/down movement of the mask. The backplate “harness” straps should be adjusted snugly so that the mask doesn’t shift out of place during sudden jolts of movement. Each manufacturer provides mask sizing guidelines based on hat size for each of their models, ranging from Youth to Senior sizes in many models of masks. These diagrams are available in the “size chart” tab of the GoalieMonkey product listing. To learn more, check out our complete guide on goalie mask sizing.
Check out our complete selection of:
Best Goalie Masks by Category
We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite masks on the market today. Check them out!
Best Overall Goalie Mask
CCM Axis Pro: CCM has brought their best to the game. Rigid, lightweight construction with revolutionary D3O and I.Q.Shion gel pods in the liner check all the boxes for light weight, pro-level construction and superior comfort.
Best Looking Goalie Mask
Bauer 960/950/940: We’re a sucker for a classic. There’s a reason why the 960 design features have been replicated, cloned, and copied for so many years. Its sharp lines and chiseled features stand out among the rest and make for a menacing look on the ice. This design has been around since the early 1990’s and it’s not going away any time soon.
Best Value Goalie Mask
Warrior Ritual R/F1: The Warrior Ritual R/F1 uses an excellent foam liner construction similar to that found on the high-end pro masks for the goalie looking for the budget friendly option.
Best Goalie Mask for a Wide Head
CCM Axis Pro: The XL size of CCM’s helmet shape runs rather large when compared to other models within the Large or Fit 3 range. While the chin seems short, the width at the temple and cheek accommodates larger head diameters.
Best Beginner/Youth Goalie Mask
Warrior Ritual R/F1 Junior+: One of just two masks currently on the market offering a composite shell in Junior sizing, the R/F1 Junior+ offers the greater protection of a composite shell, while scaling the mask in key areas to accommodate smaller goalies and preventing restriction of movement.
Best NHL/Pro Goalie Mask
Bauer 960 Senior: The Bauer 960 is a timeless classic worn by NHL goalies for many decades. Many of the top names in the NHL still wear this mask today. The 960 offers classic styling, great comfort, and excellent protection in a high-level mask. Bauer has taken the next step and loaded it with revolutionary composite materials to make a classic even better.
Best Goalie Mask Brands
GoalieMonkey has the best selection of goalie masks on the market today from the top brands to get you on the ice and keep you protected. From pro-level masks to budget friendly beginner and junior masks, we have a full selection of models, styles, and options to help you find the perfect fit to the most important piece of equipment.
Bauer
Hailing from the days of Itech, Bauer goalie masks have a legendary reputation for their classic styling and great performance. Today, Bauer packs each of their masks with their latest in material technology, from the composite shell to the inner foam liner. Bauer offers the Profile and NME lines of masks so each goalie can find their perfect mask.
CCM
CCM has been working hard to continually refine their masks for peak performance and continue to pack loads of technology in each. NHL goalies have found a love for CCM masks that offer a snug, profiled fit and excellent comfort. Offering a full line of Axis masks, there is a CCM mask for every goalie.
Coveted
Coveted is a small mask manufacturer, hand building each of their masks in Canada. Despite their lack of size compared to larger gear manufacturers, Coveted focuses strictly in goalie masks, directing all their attention to building high-quality masks with sharp design features.
Warrior
Warrior began offering their Ritual line of goal masks in 2020, showing the world they can provide thoughtful and revolutionary design to gear that doesn’t see frequent change or innovation. Their full line of Ritual masks were developed over years of design and research, with Warrior’s top material technology representing the final product. If one thing is clear: Warrior is here to stay.
Find the Best Selection of Hockey Goalie Masks at GoalieMonkey!
The goalie mask represents everything a goalie plays for. The menacing look not only intimidates opponents, but gives the goalie the confidence to put their body on the line to make one save after another. A mask is a critical component to the goalie’s gear setup, protecting their most valuable asset both on and off the ice. GoalieMonkey has a full selection of the latest and best goalie masks on the market so you can be sure you are getting the right equipment to get you or your goalie set up right. Be sure to check out all the options offered by GoalieMonkey, including the full selection of hockey goalie masks today.
Login and Registration Form
or
Create an account