HELP: I need to find Box Lax gear.

[jmoschen]

:dummy: I'm so confused! I am a lax addict mom with a 12 year old who has played for 4 years. This year he has started playing like a superstar. he needs all new equipment and I don't know where to start! I just watch the sport, I've never played.

Most important right now he needs a helmet and gloves. But really almost everything besides his stick needs replacing. he plays with a harrow i-beam and h2 head...thanks to the aunties and uncles!

Any suggestions? Hisd Dad is concerned with the helmet, most lacrosse helmets seem to be designed for field. What about box? Do the field helmets offer the same level of protection?

What about gloves? What are the best median priced glove? Lots of movement with a mesh palm...

Thanks for any help you can offer!

[coqlax]

you can use any hockey hemet or hockey cage for box lacrosse, the only reason people use lacrosse cages is for better vision. I dont think that field helmets have more protection. It dosent really matter what helmet you get, field or hockey, its just depends on how much money you want to spend.

[jmoschen]

I am looking at the Brine Triad ST and the Cascade CLH2. In my previous post I meant to say, do field lax helmets (like the ST and clh2) offer the same level of protection as a hockey helmet?

I mean they are all certified so I can't imagine that it would be an issue but thought I'd ask you experts!

its hard to find a balance between safe, cool gear that makes me happy and cool gear that makes him happy!

[coqlax]

well it all depends what cage you put on the hockey helmet. Like if you put on an STX cage then there will be less protection around the jaw, compared to a field helmet. but then if you put on a junior STX or a Cascade(spider cage), or a hockey cage then the protection is about the same.

[MBLacrosse]

a CLH2 actually cannot be used in box lacrosse because the visor sticks out too much off the cage(legal limit is 1/4 or 1/2 inch i cant remember) and im not sure exactly about the Triad one. Just wanted to warn you because refs arent suppose to allow it if the visor sticks out too much

[slinkyspine]

Say nay to field gear.


Get him hockey helmet. With a Nami/STX 20/20 cage

Hitman 5.0 Shoulder Pads

Some form of arm pads with hard plastc on the outside.

Warrior Hypno's are very good gloves for a very small price tag

Knee pads if he is that young, hell I wear knee pads

And KIDNEY PADS! Not field rib pads.

They should cover the back, kidney's and the ribs everywhere the SP's dont.
Have some sort of hard plastic in them

[#15Roadies]

I say go with the hockey helmet and avoid anything with a visor unless he is going to be playing in the sunlight. Field buckets are a detriment in box because they take away the upper peripheral vision which is key in box. A good Calcoat or NAMI Jr. Cage will be fine. Try the Bauer line, nice comfortable helmets that fit very well.

My kids use Brine Ventilator shoulder & arm pads. I would also suggest the hard plastic slash guards, but he might be more comfortable wearing the slip-on types with heavy duty bicep pads and wrist guards if necessary.

If his hands are at the 13" stage, I wouldn't skimp on gloves. My kids used Brine Supercross & Gait Hyperflex - they are good gloves, but some hard slashes came through - especially on the thumb on the high hand holding the stick. They now wear STX Ignitors which seem to have been built with box in mind. Good, comfortable protective gloves will last him more than a few years.

Kidney pads are a must - not rib pads as Slinky advises. One of my payers took a nasty check in the back while he was wearing field pads in box and next game he had the trusty old fibres on.

Good luck!

[coqlax]

(legal limit is 1/4 or 1/2 inch i cant remember)

in the 10 years i have played box lacrosse i have never seen someone get checked or called for a visor being too long. and in the last 3 years when i have used a field helmet i have never been checked

[slinkyspine]

[quote](legal limit is 1/4 or 1/2 inch i cant remember)[quote]

in the 10 year i have played box lacrosse i have never ever seen someone get checked or called for a visor being too long, or get checked my self.
Me either. But it is a rule.

[RichWutLax]

theres a Gait box helmet ..it doesnt have a visor ...its almost the same as a hockey helmet ..better vision then a hockey cage ... and its cool, lots of kids have them and love them . and there not too expensive ! as for box player equipment ..ive been a goalie for the past 4 years and have nooo idea what the "good" eqiupment is for a player ...so goodluck

[slinkyspine]

If you buy a Gait helmet, be prepared for endless teasing and being a target.

Please for the love of god. Don't buy one. Get an Itech helmet and a lax cage, same helmet. 20$ cheaper.

[coqlax]

i would go with a bauer because they are comfy and mostly because they look cooler

[I Am Legend]

If you buy a Gait helmet, be prepared for endless teasing and being a target.

Please for the love of god. Don't buy one. Get an Itech helmet and a lax cage, same helmet. 20$ cheaper.

whoa! i rock a gait for box...i won it though. Never heard anything for wearing it. Must be a canadian thing.

[slinkyspine]

Possibly. We beat a kid with his Gait helmet 'cause he bragged about it.

[RockStar]

I guess kids make fun of the Gait because the facemask and the two-tone finish looks a bit goofy.

Wouldn't buy one for the price (I see them for about $169 at National Sports) - the facemask isn't as good as the 20/20 or the O'Neill, and it's just a re-branded Itech hockey helmet anyway.

For the same $169 you can get the STX facemask (O'neill is illegal for kids)and a better hockey helmet than the Itech.

[WHEELAX2]

if you need a junior face mask for a hockey helmet, let me know.. i have one for sale with all the hardware.

[jmoschen]

You are all fantastic! Thanks so much for all th ehelp! Now let me recap:

Helmet: Go with hockey helmet. Better for vision, stays within the rules. Do NOT go with Gait box helmet - It is soooo not cool! Bauer is good with a lax cage.

Cage: Calcoat, Nami Jr Cage or STX 20/20. Not O'Neill. Any more opinions or suggestions for choosing a Cage? Black, chrome, brand, does it matter?

Kidney Pads not rib pads- got it.

Gloves: STX Ignitors are worth the money. Keeps hands protected from hard hits. I don't think he is a 13" yet. But then I found the measurement of this a bit difficult. The tip I read said to measure from the tip of the finger to the slashguard and that would be the glove size. But we don't have any slash guards yet so we guessed! I figured a 12 would do it.

Shoulder pads: Brine Ventilator or Hitman 5.0 Shoulder Pads

To: Wheelax: I'd be interested in your face mask if I end up needing a junior one...not sure if that is the size he will need...Guys: is 12 still a junior?

One more question: He plays field in the fall/winter season. Should (I know I don't need to) I get him a different helmet for that? We are in Vancouver so I am not worried about sun unfortunately! Rain is more of an issue here!

I'll be honest, I have been looking online at this gear and I am kind of shocked by how much cheaper it is in the US. I kind of think it is worth it to buy in the US and have it shipped to a family friend in Blaine, WA. Anyone have any experience with this?

I happened upon a US website that was pretty affordable... http://www.arccloseouts.com/FEATURED%20ITEMS.html It's a tough website to find in a simple search but there was lots of good stuff posted about it on one of the forums here.

Anyway, thanks for all the help...

[RockStar]

.........
I'll be honest, I have been looking online at this gear and I am kind of shocked by how much cheaper it is in the US. I kind of think it is worth it to buy in the US and have it shipped to a family friend in Blaine, WA. Anyone have any experience with this? ...........
Yes.

If you find a deal, exploit it! I have a close friend in Rochester NY who acts as my US Mail box service.

Works great for both of us. He receives my shipments, I get an excuse to visit and bring him a box of duty free cigars and/or a bottle of duty free whisky for us both to get into while I'm visiting.

[I Am Legend]

Possibly. We beat a kid with his Gait helmet 'cause he bragged about it.

I won mine...

and its much better than my cpx titanium.....try moving your head alot in that thing.

[slinkyspine]

Oh its no doubt better than a field mask for box. A hockey one is better though.


Word of advice.

No CalCoat. They have bad prephiperal vision. And sticks tend to get through them eaiser than Nami's. Curved...

[RockStar]

.....Word of advice.

No CalCoat. They have bad prephiperal vision. And sticks tend to get through them eaiser than Nami's. Curved...
Good words.

I haven't been able to figure out the point of Calcoat cages

The powers banned the old-school Cooper cat-eye cages (The crap that Tim Soudan and Tom Marachek used to wear), and the eyeholes on those were smaller than on the Calcoats......what gives?

I'm lucky to have got my mitts on one of those ugly-arse birdcages.....It was mounted on an old wreck of a Cooper SK2000 bucket and it even has that distinguished bit of chipped paint in the bent eye-bar!

http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mcelliott2/detail?.dir=/21ab&.dnm=bcc0.jpg&.src=ph

http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mcelliott2/detail?.dir=/21ab&.dnm=9822.jpg&.src=ph[/

[slinkyspine]

RockStar have you suffered brain damage from that helmet?


Lol, I wore the exact same but a CalCoat. I got 2 concussions. Got a new helmet and a good cage.



That's antique though, how'd you find that?



Oh, do not buy your kid his helmet. Its for people unable to let go of the past...

[titans 43]

Possibly. We beat a kid with his Gait helmet 'cause he bragged about it.
that was probably me haha

[RockStar]

RockStar have you suffered brain damage from that helmet?.........

My bucket shown there provides "moderate protection" at best!

I mostly just treat it as a plastic structure to keep the facemask in front of my eyes. The rig is pretty good at protecting eyes and face from loose sticks and bad passes, but won't do much to protect the head against a concussion.

I've got a better CCM/O'Neill combo that I wear most of the time and really only wear that Cooper bucket when I'm playing with people I know and trust!

The helmet was a $10 find at a nearby Salvation Army type junk store. It came with an ultra-retro hockey bubble cage which is actually pretty funky looking. I still have this as well, and might put it on a helmet if I ever play goal again.

The Cooper birdcage was sold to me by a friend after they were banned by CLA for minor and junior. They might even be banned for senior now, I haven't seen anyone wear one for men's box lacrosse since 2002. There's a few left in the masters leagues, but you're not even required to wear a facemask for Ontario masters.

[slinkyspine]

that was probably me haha
Yes, but not you in particular.
I was thinking the Dallas kid in the Doyle camp

[Stonewall35]

a CLH2 actually cannot be used in box lacrosse because the visor sticks out too much off the cage(legal limit is 1/4 or 1/2 inch i cant remember) and im not sure exactly about the Triad one. Just wanted to warn you because refs arent suppose to allow it if the visor sticks out too much

The legal limit a visor can stick out from the cage is 1/2 inch.

[yourtenderloins]

I am trying to find a mask or cage for a ccm or itech helmet for box lax. Something open at the bottom identical to the ones in the nll. I have been using my field c-pro and its like a sweatbox indoors and just not ideal for the indoor game. Can anyone help me find a website or something where I can find this stuff? Thank you.

[D3STRO]

i have 2 cages for ccm hockey helmets ... is that what you are looking for??

if you want one ... pm me ... pay shipping and its yours

[RottingMind13]

Probably have better luck with your questions in the Box Section.

[yourtenderloins]

Are they rounded cages or something like the open bottomed chin like the stx20/20 type deal. I just cant see much out there with the field helmet on.

[D3STRO]

<img src="http://www.iceprossports.com/stores/i/iceprossports/catalog/B051t.jpg">
<img src="http://www.iceprossports.com/stores/i/iceprossports/catalog/C107t.jpg">

they are vary simliar to those

[Melax]

mountainedgelax.com has what you are looking for

[WHEELAX2]

I have a junior stx 20/20 cage.. and it's slightly rounded at the bottom..

(if that helps you at all)

[RockStar]

I am trying to find a mask or cage for a ccm or itech helmet for box lax. Something open at the bottom identical to the ones in the nll. I have been using my field c-pro and its like a sweatbox indoors and just not ideal for the indoor game. Can anyone help me find a website or something where I can find this stuff? Thank you.
O'Neill cage, ~$50 (Canadian) at probosslacrosse.com , probably similar price at Mountain Edge.

Or, grab Wheelax's STX 20/20 if you can still fit a junior.....it's almost the same cage just with tighter eyeholes.

[coqlax]

O'Neill = ilegal
STX = legal

[Dadabhoy_Muzzi]

They have some of the mentioned above here on this websote:
http://www.probosslacrosse.com/helmets.htm

[GarysGod]

i believe that gait box helmets are pretty good

edit: are these field legal?

[slinkyspine]

i believe that gait box helmets are pretty good

edit: are these field legal?
If you read the rest of the thread...

Gait Helmets are crap. Just an expensive Itech helmet and cage.

Its cheaper to get the Itech helmet and a cage.


Most likely not field legal, since they make a field model as well

[titans 43]

Yes, but not you in particular.
I was thinking the Dallas kid in the Doyle camp

hahahahaha ya but that could would be targeted with or without the helmet, he's soooo annoying. I might actually start wearign it again ahah :clap:

[slinkyspine]

hahahahaha ya but that could would be targeted with or without the helmet, he's soooo annoying. I might actually start wearign it again ahah :clap:
I will break your legs... I am fully capable.


I agree though he woulda got nailed. But the helmet didn't help him any at all.


Moral, if your kids a tool then by all means get him the helmet. He will get hurt either way.

no its not a canadian thing its just an immature thing


Well, when my parent's call a kid a tool for wearing one. I start to think its a helmet for posers.

[RichWutLax]

whoa! i rock a gait for box...i won it though. Never heard anything for wearing it. Must be a canadian thing.

no its not a canadian thing its just an immature thing

[RockStar]

...........Most likely not field legal, since they make a field model as well

The Gait field helmet is just the same P.O.S. hockey helmet with a peak added.

Now, field helmets all have peaks, but I don't think there's a rule that says they have to. Box might be legal.........are both models NOCSAE approved for "lacrosse"?

(Note that this probably only applies in the US anyway. In Ontario, last time I saw a game, most of the guys playing U-19 or Senior men's field were wearing their box helmets anyway!)

[jmoschen]

I still haven't managed to make a decision on a helmet for the kid! I have heard that hockey helmets combined with a lacrosse cage are potentially going to be banned for minor box. So I am back to the field helmet I guess. I have found a Cascade CPX TI online for 179.95USD. I think this is what the final decision is...I am just not sure it's the right one...any thoughts?

[Riot]

You seem like a cool mom.

[RockStar]

..........I have heard that hockey helmets combined with a lacrosse cage are potentially going to be banned for minor box........

Considering that Gait's "approved for lacrosse" overpriced P.O.S. is just a hockey helmet + Lax Cage anyway, I can't imagine that the CLA would ever enact this foolish and shortsighted ban. The CLA is helped by higher minor laX registration numbers.....why force parents to buy an expensive lacrosse helmet when a $35 combo is perfectly adequate protection for a novice player.

The right thing to do would be to retain CSA to test and approve a selected number of hockey helmet/lacrosse cage combos for lacrosse. I don't see this as a huge deal. Testing protocols would be essentially identical for both sports, just sub a ball for a puck.

Anyway, for your 12 year old - he may very well outgrow at least one field lacrosse helmet before his head reaches full adult size. Even if a ban is ever implemented, I don't figure the CLA finishes implementing it before your kid outgrows the field bucket in a couple years anyway.

(PS - who's to say whatever model field field you're looking at will even be considered legal in a couple of years? Worry about the now!)

Suggest a that a midrange senior hockey helmet with Calcoat/Nami/STX cage in the ~$100 Canadian range is a better buy. Spend the $80 you saved on better gloves, a backup head, towards a fitted mouthguard...........

[Melax]

oK One more thing about the hockey helmets. The cla is trying to ban them due to insurance reasons. Because the hockey helmets are tested with hockey masks and not lacrosse masks they think they aren't safe. They almost passed it this year but it didn't go through. I imagine they will try again next year. If they do ban the hockey helmet combo then you will still have one year to use it because of the grandfather rule. So buying a hockey helmet with mask is still a good option because at the minimum you're going to get 2 years of useage out of it.

[slinkyspine]

It won't get passed. Many people are going to quit since they dont want to buy new helmets.