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OBO HELMET SAFTEY

OBO Helmet Safety

BY knighttimes November 24, 2009

The best … for the best. Strength, design, comfort. No comprimises, no shortcuts.

A bit of a no brainer!

In 1999 we asked goal keepers where they get injured most? Their heads they told us. The idea of amazing people getting brain injuries sent us screaming to specialists in the Czech Republic and Argentina where they make the most effective and durable helmets in the world. We then worked with them to develop helmets especially suited to field hockey. Helmets with an official CE and safety approval, all models impact tested to official safety standards.

The F.I.H. says hockey helmets should be tested, but HOLA! Hold-up! They are not. Go ask our competitors for their test certificates. (Ours is EC type – examination certificate number E-30-01488-02, CE certified in accordance with directive 89/686/EEC, standard reference EN ISO 10256:2003 (replaces EN967:1997), technical body CEN/TC-158, Reference Mkp P004357). Yes, some of our competitors sell cheaper, untested helmets (not quite made of China, but made in China). We could do this too… we don’t because while Obo as a company is all for challenging the rules and taking risks, we draw the line at doing it with our goal keepers brains! What do you think?

The amount of energy in a hockey ball is huge… the concussion and face injury danger to goalies if not well equipped is real.

OBO designs a range of goalie helmets designed for different levels of play and different ball speeds.

helmet-poly-p-black

The Poly P (Polypropylene) is designed to provide appropriate protection at balls speeds to 95 kph.

View the Poly P (Polypropylene) on the OBO site

helmet-pe-red

The PE (Polyethylene) is designed to provide appropriate protection at balls speeds to 120 kph.

View the PE (Polyethylene) helmet on the OBO site

FG-AND-CK

The FG (Fibreglass) or CK (Carbon Kevlar) will protect up to speeds of 160 kph.

View the FG (Fiberglass) and CK (Carbon Kevlar) on the OBO site

All the OBO helmets above are safety test approved (the Poly E designed for kids under 13 years and sold only in 3 countries is not a safety tested helmet, however our lab research shows they provide adequate protection for young players.) The amount of protection a helmet offers is a combination of the materials used in the main helmet body, the foam liners in the helmet, the cage, and several other design related / shape aspects.

Regardless of the ball speeds you face, if you want the highest possible protection we suggest you use the OBO FG (Fiberglass) or CK (Carbon Kevlar). Helmet bodies made using these materials offer the most protection, and longest life. The concussion protection offered by the OBO FG and CK is up to three times greater than some helmets on the market. Check out this video of the OBO FG in action:

Some helmet bodies in helmets sold by other brands break or even shatter.

helmet2
helmet1

Cages are an integral part of the level of protection a helmet provides. Our cages use the highest quality steels and bend less than others.

helmet3

helmet4

Find out more about OBO’s lab here

What do the F.I.H say about Helmets?

Finally here is a really good video about helmets and concussions. Although its about Baseball the ball speeds and impacts are very similar to what a goalkeeper will face within hockey:

Comments

viv

2009-12-17 00:26:40

Just want to say thank you OBO for all your hard work of protecting are faces I got one right between the eyes on sat and all i had was a few stars to deal with rather than a losing my good looks and missing the xmass party! my old 'slazenger international' went through 6 of the old cat eye grills one ending mm from my nose! So thank you again and please can you bring out a black and pink helmet( splat)? ViV

KeeperH

2010-01-02 04:50:28

This info is really useful. When it comes to helmets i always think of the bicycle shop i spent work experience at, they said that you should always replace your helmet after a certain number of years. So I've decided that in a few years I'm going to replace mine whether it looks damaged or not. depending on what level I'm playing at i might splash out on an OBO

hicko92

2010-03-04 05:06:36

An OBO helmet saved me from a broken jaw. Playing in a under 16's match on a short corner the first shot was raised at me which hit the part of the helmet protecting my jaw but unfortnately cracked the helmet Tom

batman

2010-05-02 04:28:56

been hit on the head 3 times now with my ck , only noticable thing on my helmet was the skid mark of the rubber from the ball , besides some slightly sore neck muscles and ringing ears , didint feel much at all ... awesome helmet ... u dont scimp when it comes to your head ha ha " you buy a cheap helmet for a cheap head "

batman

2010-05-03 06:15:32

ha ha ha ha i hate my life , yesterday i spoke about my helmet , no markes wat ever , read post above , but wat happens today i take one in the head , didint even see the ball , huge dent in my grill , now need a new grill , hmmm anyone know who to get hold of in south africa

broadstone

2011-03-28 04:06:42

i take far too many hits to the head for my liking tbh but my obo ck helmet has never failed me but i reckon its probably time to replace it but a new obo ck is well out of my price range. does anyone know when the PE helmets will be retailed in the uk? because i cant cant seem to find a shop that sells them