Aditya Shenoy – Page 2 – Street Smart Cricket

It is beyond obvious to say that a helmet is one of the MOST important parts of your cricket kit. It is the only barrier protecting your head from any kind of injury, be it a ball coming at speeds of 130 kmph or a dangerous dive you take to not get run out. The risks of permanent brain damage, skull damage, or even concussions go up exponentially if helmets aren't used. A daunting fact is that not wearing a helmet, or wearing one that isn't up to the mark, has resulted in quite a few fatalities too! What many people don't realize is that apart from the evident reason of protection, a helmet has a bunch of other important uses. Which helmet you wear actually affects the way you play. A helmet that is too heavy causes excessive strain on the player's neck, whereas one that is too light doesn't give the player the psychological relief of being completely protected. A myriad of other factors like the padding on the inner surface, the spacing of the face grills, all contributes to a player's psyche in the game. Clearly, it is absolutely essential to properly study and evaluate your options while buying your helmet. The last thing you would want is to impulsively buy a helmet, find out it has multiple flaws, and worst of all, use it in a game and risk getting injured. That is where I come in to help you. I've sat through multiple hours of careful study and assessing dozens of helmets. After all that, I proudly bring forward the top 6 cricket helmets in India under Rs. 2000 on Amazon. For absolute convenience, I've provided the link to the products right after their description. Just keep reading! 1. Shrey SH 101008 Premium Carbon Steel Cricket Helmet Who said that local, small scale brands can't make top quality products? You don't have to spend thousands of rupees on getting helmets by popular brands when you can instead spend a fraction of the cost and still get the same features. The SH 101008 is as sturdy as a mountain with a carbon steel outer shell and a PolyUrethane inner shell. Keep in mind that carbon steel is the stuff they use to make buildings and bridges! It has additional fabric padding on the inner side of the shell and a mild steel visor to protect your face. Talk about all-round safety! Features: Carbon steel outer shell to minimize damage from head on impactsPU inner shellFabric Padding on the inside for comfortMild steel visor for face protectionChannel ventilation Weighs 1160 g Amazon Star Rating: 4/5 Click here to check the current price of this helmet. 2. Forma Elite Pro Plus Helmet Protech Sports and Safety Pvt Ltd, under the brand name Forma, is a 3-decade old company with a wide range of cricket gear products. They specialize in helmets, and their product engineers pride themselves on the unique 'Impact Absorption Management' techniques that are incorporated in their helmets. A steel shell, as well as an inner shell of plastic, makes the Elite Pro Plus Helmet both durable as well as lightweight, all the while providing optimum protection. Multiple air vents on the sides allow easy ventilation, preventing uneasiness. The sweat-absorbent inner padding allows breathability and acts as a cushion for speedy balls. A steel grill to protect the player's face is designed such that it gives him a clear field of vision. Once you add this helmet to your kit, it's going to stay with you for a long time. Features: Unique 'Impact Absorption Management' designSteel outer shell makes it strong and durablePlastic inner shell makes it lightweight and still provide protectionMultiple air vents for ventilationSweat absorbent inner padding acts as a cushionSteel grill that doesn't obstruct the player's viewface adjustable strap for perfect fit Amazon Star Rating: 5/5 If you're interested, click here to check the current price of this helmet on Amazon. 3. Protos Test-Pro Senior Cricket Helmet The Protos Test Pro Senior really has everything you will ever need in a helmet. The dimensions, design, and look of it actually check all boxes. An aerodynamic front-profile for minimizing air friction while running is probably the smartest innovation in the product. The steel alloy grill gives the full face and jaw protection while providing full visibility. This grill is also equipped with secure, adjustable fastening straps on a rigid structure. This mechanism results in reduced chances of deformation and enhanced protection. Comfort fit liners on the inner shell and forehead liners allow great airflow and prevent sweat build up over the eyes. Extremely lightweight as compared to a lot of other helmets. You should definitely be on the lookout for this one! Features: Aerodynamic front profile for minimum air friction while runningSteel alloy grill gives complete face and jaw protectionVisor also allows maximum field of visionFace grill has fastening straps to reduce chances of deformationComfort fit liners, especially on foreheads, prevent sweat build up above the eyesExtremely lightweight, weighs 783 g Amazon Star Rating: 4/5 Click here to check the current price of this helmet on Amazon. 4. DSC Sheeth Cricket Helmet If you head over to the official website of DSC, they say that "Cricket is all in the head, protect it with DSC Helmets". The Sheeth has a ton of great features that make it very tough to top. The outer shell is made of impact-resistant Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), which will protect your head from any ball coming at any speed. The inner shell is a shock-absorbent, high-density thermocol sponge support that keeps the player safe from sudden jerks and collisions. Breathable air mesh inner lining keeps the forehead clean and dry. An adjustable face guard with a molded ear flap is hardened by power coating for extra protection to the face. An inbuilt air vent permits maximum inflow of air, thereby reducing any chance of twitching or itching. Features: ABS outer shell gives ultimate protectionInner shell made of shock absorbent high density thermocol sponge support to safeguard against sudden jerksAir mesh lining prevents sweating and keeps the forehead dryHardened power coated face guard with molded ear flap Inbuilt air vents for ventilation Amazon Star Rating: 3.5/5 If you're interested, click here to check its current price on Amazon. 5. SS Heritage Cricket Helmet There can't be a cricket equipment list without at least one product by Sareen Sports (SS). Among the myriad of helmets provided by SS, the Heritage might just be the best. A Polypropylene Plastic (PP) outer shell gives it a rock-solid exterior. The inner shell molded foam is reinforced with shock-absorbent sponge foam supports. This gives much-needed impulse impact protection. Inner line vents allow maximum airflow circulation, and a sweat-absorbent fabric lines the entire inner surface, keeping the head dry. A steel wire face grill hardened by power coating has an additional molded earpiece and a chin strap that accommodates any face type. Little needs to be said about the reliability and durability of SS products, a sure shot purchase! Features: PP outer shell gives a super strong exteriorInner shell made of molded foam reinforced with shock absorbent sponge foam supportsInner line vents allow maximum air flow circulationSweat absorbent fabric lining on the inner surface keeps the forehead dry and prevents uneasinessSteel face grill hardened by power coating for greater safetyMolded earpiece and chin strap for adjusting the positionExtremely durable Amazon Star Rating: 3.5/5 Click here to check the current price of this helmet on Amazon. 6. SG Aerotech Cricket Helmet Another recurring, classic brand in any cricket gear list, SG, presents the Aerotech Cricket Helmet which has received only praise since its launch. It has a really interesting material composition. A Nylon high impact-resistant outer shell along with a compacted Polystyrene cum air mesh inner shell gives the shell alone so many features! You've got a strong, hard outer barrier, an ingeniously molded plastic interior with shock-absorbent properties, and a ventilation allowing mesh. The design team has given a lot of priority has to the player's comfort. It is evident from the SIX netted vents for circulation and an anti-sweat fabric to keep the head clean and cool. Apart from a hardened steel wire face grill and a molded earpiece, the helmet also has an additional nape adjuster to get a custom fit. Be on the lookout for these as much as you can, because they keep selling out! Features: Nylon outer shell for taking on high impact collisionsCompact polystyrene cum air mesh inner shell for cushioning as well as air flowSix netted vents for ventilationAnti-sweat fabric to keep your head cool and dry Hardened steel wired grill and molded earpiece for frontal protectionNape adjuster for custom fitting Amazon Star Rating: 5/5 Click here to check its current price of this product on Amazon. Final Thoughts I sincerely hope that the above list quenched your thirst for the perfect helmet. When it comes to personal safety, you mustn't leave a single stone unturned, and I promise you, I haven't. I can bet on the fact that there isn't a single helmet out there in this price range that is even slightly better than the ones given here. Beyond this, it is you who gets to decide the helmet for you, and I'm confident that you will. Until next time, cheers and happy cricketing!