Over time, however, catcher's masks have evolved from being unsightly looking, oval shaped steel contraptions to the sleek form they have today. Masks today - especially when compared to those that existed more than a century ago - offer far better protection and visibility, especially since modern masks are paired with a protective helmet, also commonly known as a skull cap. For more insight on how modern masks are designed, check out the below video from All-Star, a major manufacturer of catcher's gear.
Catchers today can choose from two general options to protect their head and face: a catcher's mask or a catcher's helmet. The catcher's helmet is a relatively new introduction to the game, and you can learn more about them in our article on the topic. It's our hope that this site will provide you with solid information to help you make an informed decision on which one to use. Fastpitch Softball catchers have, until fairly recently, traditionally worn catcher's masks.
As you can see in the picture below, Stacey Nuveman from Team USA used a traditional catcher's mask in the summer Olympics, for example. Embed from Getty Images. However, around the mids use of the catcher's mask in Fastpitch Softball declined as more and more began wearing catcher's helmets.
Today, practically all Fastpitch catchers use catcher's helmets, and this is supported by the fact that virtually every store and online marketplace sells only catcher's helmets for Fastpitch Softball catchers.
The current landscape of the catcher's mask marketplace is interesting. Many brands of catcher's masks don't specify whether they are "adult" or "youth" masks. However, a quick search for "youth catchers masks" will yield some results containing products that are specifically made for youth catchers. These products tend to be more lightweight, with smaller head sizes and frames, than traditional facemasks. Our suggestion is to purchase a high quality, traditional mask if you or your child has a hat size within the range that the product specifies, regardless of age.
If you or your child is younger and has a notably smaller head than traditional facemasks allow for - and only if you truly don't want to use a catchers helmet - then we'd suggest looking for a high-quality mask manufactured by a respected brand. Keep in mind that if you go that route then you would also need to purchase a youth specific skull cap to go along with the mask. And always check your league rules before buying!
Based on our research, the best catchers mask on the market today is the All Star Lightweight, Classic Facemask. It has a strong steel cage, a solid harness system and a design that enables you to have an increased range of view behind the plate. Our overall picks for the best catchers masks are the following:.
Now that you've got a bit of background, keep scrolling to learn more about our picks for the best catcher's masks of the season. Excellent quality, and built by a top brand. This mask is anchored by a strong - yet hollow - steel cage.
The hollow nature of the steel reduces the mask's overall weight without compromising protection. There are three All Star proprietary technologies built into this mask. This is a special "dual-density foam liner" built by All Star that helps keep the catcher cooler than they might otherwise be in a different mask. Lastly, the LUC pads are moisture wicking. They are comfortable and they are able to be removed and washed ie, machine washable. In short, it's hard to go wrong with this mask.
Provides excellent visibility due to the patented cage design. Stays pretty steady - does not shift much in a game. Competitively priced despite its high quality and being made by a top tier brand. Strong, yet lightweight, steel bars for the cage. The All Star brand is very well respected among catchers. Nothing that we've seen thus far. Check Price on Amazon.
Picking the right helmet needs serious consideration and due diligence. That is why we have taken the time to review and recommend the safest options available. This selection from Easton has a strong steel face mask, offering excellent protection without limiting the field of vision.
The interior also helps with wallop protection, padded with comfortable impact-diffusing, multi-layered tech foam. Its finishing details boast a modern-looking rubberized matte finish and well-placed air vents for proper circulation. The Mizuno Samurai G4 was engineered for optimal performance. It offers enduring foam protection with an adjustable pad in the jaw area for a better fit.
With plenty of ventilation holes, this helmet is suitable for youths playing on hot and humid days. Made by a long-standing baseball brand, the Wilson Prestige helmet offers maximum protection with a premium-grade ABS shell and lots of strategic ventilation. The steel mask extends to the chin area, and the helmet comes in a variety of sizes.
This sharp-looking helmet has a matte gloss finish, but its hard ABS shell is what really makes it a sound choice. It has an Ultra Cool mesh liner to provide extreme protection while maintaining comfort. The padding and patented I-Bar Vision face mask ensures maximum field sight and protection. Farmer's teammate, Yasmani Grandal, also a Force3 investor, was similarly effusive. Umpires will ask if I need some time, and I say, 'No, I've got the good mask on. The Defender mask is the brainchild of Force3 founder and president Jason Klein, a year-old former minor league umpire.
It really needed to be a full-time thing -- the development, design, testing. So when I got out of umpiring in , I started on it. It took a good five-plus years to develop it and fine-tune it.
The Defender's engineering premise is fairly simple and intuitive. Traditional catchers' masks, which haven't changed appreciably in generations, feature a wire cage with padding. But the Defender has two cages -- one inner and one outer -- which are separated by three pairs of stainless steel springs one pair at each temple and another pair at the chin.
The idea is that the outer cage and the springs absorb most of the force of an impact, with relatively little force being transferred to the inner cage and the user. The innovative design, which was recently granted a patent, looks a lot like a standard mask, with the telltale springs being the mask's primary visual signifier.
If you want to see whether a catcher is wearing the Defender, look for the springs. Side-by-side comparison of a traditional catcher's mask left and the Force3 Defender mask, which has an inner and outer cage separated by springs to cushion impacts.
Are there any trade-offs or downsides? Depending on which mask a catcher has previously been wearing, the Defender may be a few ounces heavier, which can take a couple of days to adjust to. Aside from that, nobody interviewed for this article could come up with any drawbacks.
The rise of the Defender, which also comes in a hockey-style model , exemplifies two current trends in sports equipment. First is the changing face of baseball headgear, which can also be seen in the increasing use of the C-Flap batting helmet attachment. And second is the sports world's growing emphasis on preventing concussions, which until recently had not been much of a concern for baseball catchers.
Viewed in that context, the Defender is similar to the Vicis Zero1 football helmet , which, like the Defender, is a high-tech model from an upstart brand that has slowly but steadily gained popularity and has attracted several active players as investors.
But the similarities have their limits. NFL helmets are not permitted to carry a manufacturer's logo, so there are no endorsement contracts and players are free to wear a wide range of helmet models.
As a result, several MLB catchers who've been spotted wearing the Defender declined to be interviewed for this article, presumably for fear of angering their equipment sponsors.
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