NFL Helmets: A Buying Guide for Football Fans

There are a number of features to consider when buying a football helmet, whether you need an NFL helmet as a collectible item or to wear while playing football. There are various price ranges depending on the brand name, and prices are generally less for youth-sized helmets. NFL helmets may also vary in the way they fit and the amount of protection offered. So depending on why you wish to buy a helmet, it's good to know all the facts before spending your money. Read these helpful tips before getting started.

For Players

College helmets and NFL helmets are stylish with your team logo of choice printed on them, but there's so much more to a helmet than appearance. It's important to choose a high quality helmet for ultimate comfort and protection if you plan to wear it while playing. Facemasks are generally made of carbon steel, titanium or stainless steel. They are designed to protect certain areas of the face while offering optimal visibility based on the player's position. Open cage masks are recommended for wide receivers, quarterbacks, running backs, and defense players in the backfield. Closed cage helmets are often used by linemen.

Consider the helmet shell materials. High-end helmets often have GE Lexan molded polycarbonate alloy, while others may use non-branded molded polycarbonate. For youth helmets, manufacturers often use ABS plastic, which offers protective shock absorbent properties. Other features to consider are the chinstraps, helmet padding, and air systems, which tend to offer better cushioning than foam pads.

Collectible NFL Helmets

If you plan on buying a keepsake helmet, safety features aren't as important but you'll still want a good quality NFL helmet that will last for years to come. This doesn't mean you should spend a fortune. Shop around for a great quality NFL helmet that fits your budget. You might consider shopping online to find great bargains. Some online sports shops offer helmets with NFL football team logos at reasonable pricing without sacrificing quality. No matter where you buy, expect to pay $150 to $250 for a full size collectible helmet, depending on the brand and team. High end products such as Riddell helmets are often around $235 to $250, but shop around to find these items on sale, especially around holidays or around the time of a special football event.

Creative Gifts for the Football Lover

If you're seeking a great gift for a football lover during the holidays, birthdays, Father's Day, or other occasions, consider Riddell or Schutt helmets for high quality gifts. If you're on a tight budget when gift shopping, opt for mini replica helmets. Mini replica helmets look and feel like the life-size helmets, but are usually about half the size. These cost around $35.00 with team logos and work well as a display on your loved one's collectible football shelf or in a display case! They'll make a wonderful gift for a co-worker, father, son, brother, husband, or even a lady friend who just so happens to adore football.

When shopping for NFL helmets online, you'll likely discover many great sports products. From MLB items to NASCAR merchandise, you can take advantage of bargain deals on throw blankets, duffle bags, doormats, NFL flags, cooler bags and more to demonstrate your team pride!

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About the Author

Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2010 (Mon Nov 16 2009) Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://majon.com