How To Take Ear Guards Off Hockey Helmet?
When you think of hockey, you probably don’t think of ear guards. After all, they’re not exactly the first things that come to mind when you think about ice hockey players. However, despite the risks being relatively low (compared to other sports), there is still a risk of hearing loss from playing hockey. That’s why manufacturers have added ear guard slots to many different kinds of hockey helmets. You might be wondering, “How do I take off my hockey helmet without removing the ear guards?” Luckily for you, we have in-depth knowledge about how to remove any piece of protective gear from a hockey helmet! Keep reading to learn more about taking off your ear guards with ease.
How Hearing Protection Works
Hearing protection is not just a simple ear guard that goes over your ears like headphones. Instead, it’s a specialized piece of equipment that fits inside the helmet to protect your ears from the noise created by the ice hockey game. The ear guards are placed inside the helmet so that they explode the sound waves, reducing the deafening noise coming into your ears. Unfortunately, with all this protection, it can be very difficult to remove the ear guards once they’re in your helmet. This is why it’s important to know how to take off ear guards without removing the helmet. There are many different types of hearing protection that can be found inside hockey helmets. The two most common types are bulk ear plugs and molds. Bulk ear plugs are foam or silicone plugs that go in each ear and reduce sound by about 25–35 decibels. Molds are also placed in each ear, but they are customized to each player’s unique ear shape. Molds are able to reduce sound by as much as 35–40 decibels.
The Basics of Taking Off Ear Guards
The first step to removing your ear guards is loosening the chinstrap on your helmet. This will make it easier to remove the ear guards later. While you’re at it, you might as well take off the front strap of the helmet so you have more room to remove the ear guards. Next, find the ear guard slots on your helmet. These are small holes that go inside the helmet and fit the ear guards like puzzle pieces. Once you’ve located the ear guard slots, take one ear guard out at a time and place it inside the helmet. You’ll have to bend the ear guard slightly to fit it through the ear guard slot. Once you’ve placed the ear guard inside the helmet, you’re ready to remove the other one. Repeat this process with the other ear guard and you’re good to go!
Step 1: Loosen the Chinstrap
First things first, you need to loosen the chinstrap. Start by pulling the chinstrap slightly away from the chin, then press down on the buckle to loosen it even more. You’ll want to loosen the chinstrap so it’s loose enough for you to remove the ear guards. You might also want to take off the front strap of the helmet. To do this, find the two tabs on the front of the helmet, then press them inwards and lift the strap off the helmet. After that, you can put the chinstrap and front strap back on your helmet.
Step 2: Remove the Ear Guards
Next, you’ll want to remove the ear guards. For starters, you’ll want to grab hold of the ear guards and tug gently on them. Be careful not to yank them too hard, since you don’t want to damage your helmet. After you’ve given the ear guards a gentle tug, you can use your fingers to try and pry them loose. If you are still having a hard time removing the ear guards from your helmet, there are a few other tricks you can try. You can try bending the ear guard so it’s a bit looser inside your helmet. You can also try pre-bending the ear guard so it can fit easier inside your helmet. Finally, you can try twisting the ear guard as you pull it out. You can do this by grabbing the ear guard, twisting it, and pulling it out.
Step 3: Remove the Front Strap of the Helmet
Finally, once you’ve removed the ear guards, you need to remove the front strap of the helmet. To do this, you’ll want to grab the end of the strap and gently pull it towards you. You’ll also want to grab the chin/mouth piece and pull it towards you as well. Once you’ve done this, the front strap of the helmet should easily slide out of the helmet. After you’ve removed the front strap, you can put it back on, along with the chinstrap, when you’re done taking off the ear guards. That’s all there is to taking off ear guards without removing the helmet!
Final Words
If you want to be able to remove your ear guards without having to take off your hockey helmet, you’ll want to practice these techniques before you put them to use during a real game. It may feel silly at first, but you’ll get the hang of it before you know it. And once you’ve learned how to take off ear guards without removing the helmet, you’ll be able to do it quickly and easily at any time.
