Our guide to hockey visor and cage installation and care walks you through the basics of hardware, attaching, removing, and cleaning your helmet’s face covering. A properly outfitted hockey helmet is the most critical protective equipment you or your child will wear. The majority of leagues require players to have a visor (also called a face shield) or a cage attached to the helmet. Since hockey visors and cages expire just like hockey helmets, you’ll likely use a few throughout your career on the ice. That’s why knowing how to attach a visor or cage to your helmet—and how to remove it—is so important. Luckily, these pieces are remarkably easy to install and manage.

Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about hockey visors and cages:

Note: This guide doesn’t cover goalie gear. See our goalie mask guide for more information about a goalie’s head and face protection.

How to Install a Hockey Visor

Whatever hockey visor you buy should include the hardware instructions in the box. Most modern attachment designs feature clips or screws, so as long as you have a power drill or screwdriver at home, you can install a visor easily. Here are the steps you need to follow to attach a visor to a hockey helmet:

• 1. Remove screws
• 2. Fit your visor to the helmet. If your face shield has a clip system, you need to fit the brackets to the designated spots where the screws were, as you’ll be clipping your visor into the brackets and not screwing it directly onto the helmet.
• 3. Loosely screw on the visor or align clips to the brackets. Adjust forward or backward to attain a proper fit.
• 4. Once you have the proper fit, tighten the screws to secure your visor in place. If you have a bracket system, clip your visor into the brackets.

You’ll know the visor is attached correctly when it fits securely to the helmet and doesn’t move or shake. There should be a small gap between the visor and your face to allow air to flow and prevent any impacts from reaching your face.

Do Bauer Visors Fit CCM Helmets and Vice Versa?

Not all hockey visors fit all helmets, although some are compatible across brands. Some CCM visors will fit certain Bauer helmets and vice versa, and some Warrior visors are also interchangeable with CCM and Bauer. Carefully read the product description to see if your visor is compatible with your helmet.

How To Put a Cage on a Hockey Helmet

Putting a cage on your hockey helmet is also a relatively easy DIY job. A cage attaches to your helmet with screws at the top, clips on the sides, and J-clips near the jaw. Some newer helmets feature a snap system in addition to screws, so double-check that your cage is compatible with your helmet. The appropriate hardware and instructions will come with each cage.

Because there are several types of cages in different designs, your best bet is to follow the installation instructions for that particular cage or find a video detailing how to attach the brand and model cage onto a helmet. As long as you have a Phillips- or flat-head screwdriver, you should be good to go. You’ll know the job is done when the hockey cage is securely attached to the helmet, doesn’t shift, and maintains space between the player’s face and the bars.

Just like visors, not all cages will fit all helmets. For example, most CCM cages can fit on Bauer helmets, but there are exceptions. Check your helmet and cage specifications before making a purchase.

Other Installation Resources

Plenty of videos exist online demonstrating how to attach a visor or cage to a hockey helmet. There’s a good chance you’ll find a video that shows you how to install your particular visor on your helmet, especially if your shield is a major brand like Bauer, CCM, or Warrior. Pure Hockey has videos on how to install the Bauer Concept III and the CCM FV1 face shields on our YouTube channel.

How to Remove a Hockey Visor or Cage

Removing the visor from your hockey helmet is as simple as unclipping it from the brackets or unscrewing it from the temple or center screws. All you need is a power drill or screwdriver to get the job done.

How to Clean a Hockey Visor or Cage

Cleaning hockey visors and cages is fairly simple, but you’ll want to follow the right protocol to prevent wearing out your gear. A hockey cage is the easiest to clean since you don’t need a specific product. You can clean a hockey cage using a cloth, water, and mild detergent. Simply dampen a cloth with soapy water and use it to wipe down the cage. You can also use equipment-safe disinfectant sprays for added sanitation.

Cleaning a hockey visor is also easy, but choose a cleanser and cloth carefully. We recommend using products specifically designed for hockey visors. These detergents come with specific instructions that take the guesswork out of your maintenance. You can also use mild soaps to wash a visor. Some players swear by diluted Dawn dish soap or baby shampoo for their visor care. Avoid all cleaners that contain harsh chemicals—including alcohol wipes, window cleaner or any ammonia product, and sunglasses cleaners—as they may damage the protective coating on your visor. Only wipe your visor with a fine microfiber cloth or something similar to the cloth used to clean eyeglasses; anything rougher may scratch your visor.

Pro tip: keep your helmet in a hockey gear bag when you're not on the ice. These cases shield helmets and face coverings from getting dirty or scratched in transport.

How to Defog Your Hockey Visor

Fogging is a persistent issue with hockey visors. The last thing you need is to be swiping at the inside of your visor to see the flow of the game. The proper tools make it easy to defog a visor or prevent fog in the first place.

Fogging is caused by poor air circulation in the visor. Many larger visors—those over four inches in length—feature vents to prevent fogging, but models that don’t feature vents will need an anti-fog product. These solutions prevent water from condensing on a given surface.

Most players spray the inside and outside of the visor with an anti-fog product before the game and experience little to no fogging after application. If you’re in a pinch, household products may also work—applying baby shampoo, Dawn dish soap, and even furniture polish may help your visor resist fogging.

That’s everything you need to know about installing and maintaining hockey visors and cages. Check out our hockey helmet buying and fitting guides if you have other questions regarding your noggin’s protection. Or, visit your local Pure Hockey store for personalized advice from a member of our team.