Rawlings | MACH HI-VIZ Fastpitch Softball Batting Helmet | Face Guard Attached

The brandThis review is “not” about which helmet to select. There are enough theories out there for the reader to pursue and place their decision into practice. I will comment though that my selection of this brand of helmet was partly in recognition of the publicly known fact that Rawlings is the official helmet of Major League Baseball. Rawlings is one (1) of the most diverse manufacturers of baseball equipment. This also is the official helmet for Women’s Fast Pitch league.Safety compliant?My understanding is that Rawlings’ Mach line of helmets is compliant with those defined safety standards set by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). That tells me that certain standards are met surrounding protection of the wearer. The reader is encouraged to do their own independent research.LooksIt plays a role. I think this helmet enhances the professional looks of its wearer.VisibilityIt’s all about visibility, being able to see the pitcher, the delivery, and the pitch. Visibility is dramatically increased without surrendering safety. Is this revolutionary? No. However, it is evolutionary.ColorI think the color visually appealing, and it is a color that I thought would portray how I feel when at the plate, for me, calm. I am not intimated by the person on the mound, bring it on. I also prefer a mat finish.FitAs expected, perfect. Stable. Encompassing, without overwhelming.VentilationI think it adequate.Chin strap included?Yes, snap on.Weight of helmet/chin strapTwo (2) poundsAnti-slipYesJaw area padding?Yes, 1½” thickPadding in helmetYes, varied, about (1”) thick.UseSoftball use only.ValuePrice is always a concern, however, when considering all this offers, in terms of visibility, comfort, and protection, this provides strong value for me.CE certifiedYes, which is for European Union compliance.Country of origin?Made in ChinaI hope my thoughts added a bit of information.

Rawlings is one of the best known manufacturers of baseball products. The company goes back to the 1800's. They make well made reliable products that are high quality. You can trust their products and this includes this helmet that protects your noggin. The shell is rigid with perfect padding to help absorb impact. There is a cage in front that has excellent visibility while offering solid perfection. There are open spaces in the helmet to help with airflow, overheating in the summer. This fit my 5'10" inch good size melon perfectly. I love the matte green finish, it is stylish and sophisticated. I honestly couldn't find anything I did not like about this helmet including the price, so 5 stars.

The sizing is slightly smaller than their other helmets and so I sized up to a senior helmet for a 10 year old girl. The helmet is just slightly to big and so my advice is to by the youth size until age 12 and then at age 12 size it up to senior. The look of the helmet is great and the face guard is fantastic. The interior protection is nice but if the helmet is sized a bit too big the padding will land directly on the ears causing discomfort and folding them over. The interior foam is upgraded from there other helmets, but I'd call it a slight upgrade with some graphics. The chin strap is kind of annoying as it is stiff, although nice, the standard nylon chin strap is better as it lays nice and where you want it. Overall I am happy with the appearance and finish of the helmet but am a little disappointed in the chinstrap. 4 Stars.

Reading the other reviews about getting a senior size for a 10-11 year old, I figured I would go that route for our daughter and ordered the senior size. It's larger that I expected, even being maybe slightly big on my own head. I don't suspect I just have a family of small headed people. If you have a younger daughter and are looking for a helmet, get the junior size for a better fit. I'm rating it 5 stars because the quality of the helmet is definitely there. The padding is great, the face guard is sturdy and the finish on it is fantastic. Just be aware that a senior size will fit an adult perfectly fine so if you're looking for something smaller for a younger person, please go the junior route to start so you don't have to deal with returning a product for a different size.

This helmet is nice. It’s well made and durable. It’s too large for my 6 year old, but fit my 14 year old well. There is plenty of space in front. The helmet looks like the listing pictures.