Snow-Beanie
Easton Stealth S19 Z-Shock Helmet
David A. Dodson

Easton Stealth S19 Z-Shock Helmet

What do ice, pucks and hockey sticks have in common? They are all harder than your skull. When playing around such objects, it is advisable to wrap said skull inside a helmet. Preferably one that that not only offers high levels of protection, but is also lightweight and comfortable to wear. Unfortunately, it's been difficult to combine the mutually exclusive qualities of strength and comfort. Luckily for you Easton has managed to fuse the two together nicely in their new Stealth S19 Z-Shock Helmet. The big idea: by using a one-piece, solid-state construction of specially laminated polycarbonate plastic micro-shells and Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) foam, the Z-Shock can withstand an impact fifty-percent over its certification requirements… and all this at around 325 grams, the average weight of a small cup of coffee.

Sounds great, but how does it play? Exceptionally well. Easton gave us a size medium Z-Shock to try out and I was impressed. True to their word, the helmet is amazingly light, about half the weight of a standard helmet. The vented shell kept my head cool while the anti-microbial pads held the Z-Shock securely in place. After a few hours on the ice, my neck and shoulders were barely feeling the Z-Shock at all.

As swell as it feels, the Z-Shock brings even more to the party in terms of protection. When squeezed, it is eight times stiffer than its competitors, meaning that the Z-Shock offers impact and crush resistance that is off the charts. The EEP foam that makes up the inside of the shell is used in the automotive to make car bumpers. And since EEP is designed to return to its original shape after impact, the Z-Shock is not a single use helmet. It will continue to protect your brains after multiple hits.

Both HECC and CSA certified, the Stealth S19 Z-Shock is also compatible with facial protection, sports tool-free removable earpieces and an adjustable fit strap.

The bottom line is, if you value your head and the contents inside then you could do far worse than jamming it inside Easton's Stealth S19 Z-Shock Helmet. Available in a wide array of colors and sizes, for about $170 you can grab one wherever hockey equipment is sold or online at one of the dealers located at www.EastonHockey.com.