Choosing the Right Facemask

There are many reasons you might be looking for a new facemask, whether it’s beat up from last season, you’re switching teams, or maybe you’re just looking for something new. When it comes to picking out a new facemask, it’s important that you choose the right style for you.

Facemasks in football are the only thing standing between the opponent and your face when you walk on the field, so finding the correct facemask is key. Choosing the perfect facemask isn’t always easy, with things such as cost, materials, and styles, there’s a lot of options that could be overwhelming. So, let us show you the ropes. 

So, what are you looking for in a facemask anyways?

Let’s break it down into the most important parts to consider:

FIT

Football helmets and other helmet accessories can be an investment for most of us, and facemasks are among the most important parts of your football gear, making it an investment in your health and safety too. Being sure that the facemask you buy will correctly fit your helmet is vital.

It’s important to know the major football manufacturers that most of our gear comes from, Schutt, Riddell, and Vicis specifically design their facemasks to fit their specific helmets, and only their specific helmets. So, if you have a Schutt F7 2.0 Helmet, you will need a Schutt F7 Facemask. The same thing goes for the Riddell SpeedFlex Helmet, you’ll need a SpeedFlex Facemask to fit your helmet. A Riddell Speed Facemask on a Riddell SpeedFlex Helmet will not work.

MATERIAL

Generally, there are 3 options to consider when choosing the metal material of your facemask, Titanium, Carbon Steel, and Stainless Steel. But what’s the difference?

The facemask metal you’ll most commonly encounter is Carbon Steel - which happens to be the cheapest option, and is quite durable, but also the heaviest option. If you’re the type that considers weight as a factor when investing in a facemask, this might not be the best option for you.

Stainless Steel facemasks, though, provide great protection while also being lighter in weight than the Carbon Steel choice. However, this is a more expensive option.

The third material we most commonly use is Titanium. This is the most durable, but also most expensive facemask material. The Titanium metal provides not only great protection and durability, but also has a lightweight construction for speed on the field.

POSITION SPECIFIC

A facemask’s bar placement determines the protection, and performance on the field in most cases. This is why it’s vital to choose a facemask that coincides with the position you play. For example, a kicker’s mask should have no eye guards for a wider field of view, while a linebacker’s mask should have fuller coverage for better protection.

LINE POSITION FACEMASK EXAMPLE

KICKER POSITION FACEMASK EXAMPLE

Let’s dive into some of the key positions, and their corresponding facemasks.

Finding the bar configuration that gives you exactly the protection as well as visibility you need is the perfect way to find the mask that is right for your position.

The world of innovation in football helmet technology is ever expanding, with more modern, and advanced facemasks that are designed to bring that next level to your equipment. If you’re eager to go the step above your regular facemask and try something new, whether it’s for more protection or a more stylish look, then these options may be the route you’d want to take.

From inventive new facemask designs, to the latest flexible metals, modern facemasks work to combine absorption, and keep you fast and lightweight on the field.

First, let’s take a look at lightweight facemasks. Developed by Riddell, these facemasks deliver the strength of a traditional stainless steel mask, but with a 14% reduction in weight. Proving improved mobility, agility, and speed. These facemasks offer the durability and affordability of steel, and the lightweight performance of a titanium mask.

Next, Zuti’s custom facemasks are like nothing else on the market. Made in the USA, Zuti Facemasks created masks that  are produced unlike any traditional method we’ve seen. Their facemasks are investment cast, featuring no welds. This allows for sleek, lightweight, original designs, with maximum durability and strength. While these facemasks are made solely for the Riddell SpeedFlex at this time, they offer unique bar configurations that are sure to make you stand out on the field.