The Koho 570 mask is one of the best helmets on the market for under $500. As far as helmets that the general public can afford, the closest competitor to the 570 is the Itech 4000. The 4000 has a slight edge on protection and the 570 has a large edge on comfort. The Itech liner is actually almost painful as it is so unyielding. The 570 on the other hand is the most comfortable helmet I have ever tried. Also the 570 is about $100 cheaper.

Of the half dozen helmets that I own, my 570 is the only one that I regularly use. I have noticed a much less pronounced ringing in my ears when taking a hard shot off this helmet than I have with my others. It actually takes quite a rocket to get the ears ringing with this one. This is a nice change from the concussion that I got from a slapshot wearing an older helmet.

The overall quality of the 570 is generally very high. I have seen a rare case where the paint is not quite perfect on a helmet. This is the exception rather than the rule. Their helmets come with a padded zipper bag that is every bit as good as the Itech bag.

This helmet, while advertised as a Pro level helmet, is best suited for high level recreational play, up to and including junior hockey and college hockey. NHL players spend thousands on a custom-made, full carbon fiber and Kevlar helmets, so don’t be fooled into thinking that you can get an NHL helmet off the shelf from anyone.

This mask has a full Kevlar layer sandwiched between fiberglass. This makes the shell of the 570 much more impact resistant than any pure fiberglass helmet would be. It is a very durable and fairly lightweight goalie mask. It also utilizes dual density foam for good impact protection. The dual density vinyl nitrate foam in the 570 offers a very high level of protection, but is much more comfortable than competitor Itech’s EPP liner. While Itech’s EPP might offer a slightly higher level of impact protection, for me the comfort level of the Koho far exceeded any extra protection.

Both the Itech and Koho helmets have shells that will outlast their foam. This might sound like a negative, but you should replace your helmet every few years regardless of use and condition. The foam tends to harden and concussion protection is substantially reduced after 2 to 3 years.

I have been using my 570 for about a year now and it has no cracks or chips in it. I really cannot comment on my paint since I custom airbrushed it after purchasing it. However, a couple friends who also use the Koho 570 still have a good finish and shine on their helmets after a year or two.

The only real negative about the 570 is the fact that Koho doesn’t offer it with a cat’s-eye cage. This doesn’t mean that you cannot get one, in fact Koho will gladly sell you one for it. The problem is that you end up paying about $30 extra for the cat’s-eye. I tried playing for about a week with the standard cage on mine. It always takes a bit of time to get used to a new helmet, but I found that the standard cage lined up perfectly to block my vision. The cat’s-eye cage offers a nice view and was well worth the extra money for me. Even with this extra $30, the Koho was still well under the cost of the 8000 from Itech.

This is a helmet that I would wholeheartedly recommend to any level of recreation goalie. It is literally impossible to spend too much money on your head protection. This is a helmet that is going to offer you a substantial level of protection in a comfortable and affordable package.

Check my profile for a picture of my custom painted Koho 570 helmet.

© Scott Noble – Unauthorized use prohibited

My other Goalie Helmet reviews:
Itech 8000
CCM GF6 Pro
Itech 4000/4100

Recommended: Yes