Does cage color impact optics?

[Maupin Fan]

Is there a difference optically between a white, black, chrome or gunmetal colored cage?

 

[Gunnar Stahl 30]

yea, alot of cages now come with the inside white

 

[Maupin Fan]

yea, alot of cages now come with the inside white

So is white optically superior compared to other colors?

 

[Gunnar Stahl 30]

So is white optically superior compared to other colors?

it blends in better with the ice

 

[wildebeest]

The thinking is that you can lose sight of the puck with a black cage and that the white and chrome cages make it easier to see the puck as you're handling. All that really matters is that you keep your cage straps as loose as possible so the PHEW kids don't call you a duster.

 

[Ani simov mal]

All that really matters is that you keep your cage straps as loose as possible so the PHEW kids don't call you a duster.

Hey, you wana' fight?

 

[CanadaBacon]

The thinking is that you can lose sight of the puck with a black cage and that the white and chrome cages make it easier to see the puck as you're handling. All that really matters is that you keep your cage straps as loose as possible so the PHEW kids don't call you a duster.

Thats not very good advice

 

[Jarick]

I'm sure that was a joke.

I use the 9500 cage and the skinny bars and chrome/grey finish are invisible on the ice IMO. Black cages are impossible for me to use. Haven't used white in 15 years.

 

[Gino 14]

I've used black and chrome and prefer the chrome, it just seemed easier to see through.

 

[pfloyd75]

I have a black cage on my skater helmet and a chrome cage on my goalie mask. I honestly don't notice either of them while playing. Doesn't really make a difference to me.

 

[BLKHKhockey]

I don't see how it would matter, I mean there are still bars there. On the other hand, I could see how black can be distracting.

 

[cptjeff]

Thats not very good advice

Even though it was a joke, it was actually really, really bad advice. It may look cool, but if you wear your cage flapping about it will kill your vision. The motion will distract your brain and make you focus on your cage. The white will make it harder to see the cage so there's less of an impact from that, but you'll still be noticing the cage and not the play.

However, if you wear your cage properly, it stays in the same place in relation to your eyes, so your brain will just look right past it and you'll have no problems.

Also, black absorbs light and is less likely to stand out to your brain in relation to a play, chrome blends in to the surroundings, and white disguises itself in relation to the ice. All have theories behind them, and I don't know if anyone's done any testing. I do know that some arenas have done testing for netting and have found that it's easier for an audience to look past a black net then it is for a white one.

But really, it doesn't matter if your brain can just look past it. And your best bet for that is wearing the damn thing properly.

For the record, I wear a black cage and don't notice any change in vision from when I'm screwing around after a shift at the rink without a helmet at all.

 

[Ozolinsh_27]

I've used black and chrome and prefer the chrome, it just seemed easier to see through.

I agree, I found that using a black cage was distracting -- especially in a scramble moment or when looking in your feet for the puck. Made the move to chrome and its been great for me, I don't even notice the bars anymore.

 

[noobman]

I found that I could track the puck much better when I switched from a black cage to a grey cage.

 

[wildebeest]

Thats not very good advice

 

[takumi111]

I found that I could track the puck much better when I switched from a black cage to a grey cage.

they should develop pucks that emit light trails like you used to see during hockey games on Fox Sports

 

[Hockeyfan68]

they should develop pucks that emit light trails like you used to see during hockey games on Fox Sports

Fox Trax .... that was so terrible. You could not tell if a puck was over the line on an off side call because it was glowing or if it crosses the goal line etc.

It sucked.

As for cages .... I never could get used to one so I never wore one. I wear a visor now since optically they are super duper awesome.

 

[Jarick]

I tried a few visors and all of them fogged up on me so I couldn't see anything at all Some of the cheaper ones distorted everything so my peripheral vision was way off. I guess everything has its ups and downs, I'm just lucky I can use the cage just fine.

 

[CaptBrannigan]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned how well the inevitable rust color contrasts so well with the ice.

I've always used the flat gray, never had a problem with it.

 

[Crosbyfan]

I actually prefer black. Since it does not blend in somehow my brain can keep track of ignoring it, whereas I get a headache with white.

But that's just me.

 

[cptjeff]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned how well the inevitable rust color contrasts so well with the ice.

I've always used the flat gray, never had a problem with it.

Protip: somehow, get your equipment dry. SD bag, take it out and leave a box fan trained on it... Whatever. It'll last longer, be more comfortable to wear, and it won't foster as many bacteria or as much smell.

Oh, and your cages won't rust.