About Itech
Itech is currently the top manufacturer of goalie helmets. They are also rapidly gaining market share in the player helmet sector. They are the largest single sponsor of NHL goalie helmets. Itech was long synonymous with mediocre quality and design in their hockey products, but even when most of their equipment was questionable, they were a top helmet maker. In recent years they have made huge advances and are quickly becoming one of the leading makers of all sorts of affordable, high quality protective equipment. The Itech 8000 is one of the best goalie masks on the market for less than $1000. The Itech 8000 helmet might not fit everyman’s idea of affordable, but it certainly ranks as durable.

About the Itech 8000 Helmet
The shell of the Itech 8000 features full Kevlar layer and carbon fiber construction. This is the same material that is used in custom-made pro helmets often costing in excess of $3000. Carbon Fiber and Kevlar makes the 8000’s shell the most durable on the market for a non-custom helmet. Kevlar is of course, the material used in bulletproof vests, enough to attest to its durability. Carbon fiber is stronger than steel and much lighter. While weighing the same as lesser helmets, the 8000 is unlikely to break until well after the padding has worn out inside the helmet. No fiberglass helmet will take the same amount of punishment without cracking.

The padding utilizes Itech’s outstanding EPP foam. EPP is similar in appearance and feel to black Styrofoam. It is a much harder substance than the more common, sponge-like Vinyl Nitrate lining in other helmets. I personally have tried on a number of helmets that I found the EPP to be very uncomfortable in. The gel lining of the 8000 helmet is more comfortable than the combination of EPP and vinyl nitrate found in their 4000 line.

EPP is currently the top material in helmets for safety. It ensures not only a tight fit, but absorbs a greater amount of impact inside the helmet than any other type of dual density or single density helmet. Like any other helmet lining, it has a limited life. After about 3 years, all helmets need to be replaced as the foams inside lose their protective malleability.

The cages on Itech’s helmets are a little unique. They offer superior vision to their competitors whether in the approved or Cat’s eye configurations. The cage is wide and offers good vision from the sides as well as the front.

Itech also uses a nice sweatband in this model. Not simply a bit of terrycloth like some goalie helmets use, the Itech sweatband is a sponge wrapped in terrycloth. It will keep a great deal of sweat out of your eyes and save you the efforts of changing sweatbands between periods. In fact, I have retrofitted this sweatband to other brand helmets that I own because it is so much better than average.

The quality of construction, paint and design of Itech’s masks has reached a very high level. A few years back there were some blemishes and questionable paint jobs. I have looked at dozens of the newer masks and never seen a blemish. The 8000 series helmets also include a very nice helmet bag.

Recommendations
Itech calls this a “Pro” helmet and it is a very good helmet. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that NHL players are wearing Itech’s 8000 helmet. An NHL pro goalie mask is always custom made and prices out in the thousands before the custom paint job. Still, the 8000 is still a very high quality helmet and likely in use for a number of minor league pros such as CHL, AHL and possibly some European pro Goalies. For the recreational player this helmet will more than suffice. It certainly has the durability and protection for players up to a junior hockey or college level.


Itech helmets do seem to be a little bit narrower than other brands. In itself, this is a good thing since goalie helmets are designed as much to deflect the force of impact as they are to deaden it. However, you will most likely have to order one size larger in this brand than in most others. Perhaps the only thing I personally don’t like about the 8000 is the fit. If you aren’t blessed with the uncommonly attractive shape of head that I am, this helmet might fit you a bit better than it did me.

The bottom line is that if you are playing elite level hockey and the Itech 8000 is comfortable, you will not find a better helmet at the price. If you aren’t routinely facing slapshots in the 100 mph range, you can probably save your money, the Itech 4000 or Koho 570 will suffice.

© Scott Noble – Unauthorized use prohibited

My other Helmet Reviews you might find helpful:
Itech 4100

Koho 570

CCM GF6 Pro


Recommended: Yes