The 9 Best Softball Safety Masks

For most fastpitch infielders and pitchers, the Rip-It Defense is a sensible first mask. Its steel cage is shaped for a female face and sits far enough out to clear glasses or sport sunglasses. A gap in the back strap lets a ponytail or braid slip through. The foam pads come off to wash, and Rip-It sells spare pads and chin cups. The all-steel frame is on the heavy side, which younger players feel by the late innings.

Players who field into bright sun or stadium lights get a useful extra with the Rip-It Defense Pro: a dark matte coating inside the cage that stops the bars from flashing glare. The light frame stays comfortable through a long tournament day. Sweat-wicking foam lines the brow and chin, and the rear strap slides over braids. Rip-It says it wrote its own impact standard, but it hasn't published the test, so the claim can't be checked.

Infielders who keep losing pop-ups in the bars should look at the Rawlings Hi-Viz. Rawlings says its larger window gives about 20 percent more view than a classic mask, and its stainless steel wire carries a small shell over the spots that take the hardest hits. The chin and forehead pads adjust, and a split strap holds it on without squeezing a ponytail. It comes in ten colors. That added shell makes it heavier than a plain wire cage.

Coaches stocking a team bag, or parents buying a first mask, can start with the Champion Sports Steel. It's a classic open cage of tempered steel on an adjustable harness, with a ponytail opening and a liner that pulls out for washing. Champion sizes it by head measurement rather than face length, so check a hat size before ordering. Bright colors make it simple to match a uniform. The look is plain, and the steel gives it some heft.

Weight is the reason to pick the Champion Sports Magnesium. Its molded magnesium frame is about 30 percent lighter than Champion's steel masks, which helps a young pitcher who wears it all game. The narrow shape hugs the face, the liner pulls out to wash, and the harness has a ponytail opening. Sitting close also leaves less space in front of the cheekbones, and lab work found that space matters. No published impact test covers magnesium yet.

Families who want metal protection on a small budget can start with the Dinictis Fielder's Mask. It's a hand-welded carbon steel cage with an absorbent lining, a chin cup and a triangle of elastic straps that works around ponytails and twists. The open front keeps the view wide. Dinictis is a small seller with no website of its own, no published warranty and no stated weight, so there's little support to lean on if a strap or weld fails.

Older players who want a familiar glove brand on their face can choose the Mizuno Fielder's Mask. The steel frame is light for metal, and thick black padding lines a harness with several straps that adjust around the head. The size sold is large to extra large, which suits high school, college and adult heads but can slide on a small face. Mizuno shares very little about materials, sizing or replacement parts.

Young infielders with smaller faces are who the Defender Wire Mask is built for, though an adult size is sold too. Heavy steel wire curves around the face with an open front, and three straps adjust so it doesn't wobble on a sprint to the bag. A damp cloth cleans it after games. Defender is a small company that publishes little beyond its own sales page, and the solid steel feels sturdy rather than light.

Slow-pitch pitchers stand close to some huge swings, and the Worth Legit guards the whole head instead of just the face. It's a vented hard-shell helmet with an aluminum cage and a padded chin cup, and a dial at the back snugs the fit. Slo-Pitch Central, a softball retailer, ranked it second among pitching helmets for its coverage and clear view. It can sit badly on small heads or over glasses, and the padding needs a short break-in.