Hockey nets are used to keep the puck in the park when playing hockey. They typically come in a mesh shape with small holes along the sides so that air can flow through and keep the ice cool.
When you think of hockey, you don’t typically think about mesh nets, but if you’re an athlete, you’ll know exactly what I mean. They’re uncomfortable, hot, and distracting when playing hockey.
If you’re not used to wearing one, it can feel a little strange at first. Once you get adjusted to the feel of the material, however, you’ll wonder why you didn’t wear one sooner.
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The Advantages Of A Mesh Net
There are several advantages to a mesh net:
- Comfort – When you’re not used to wearing one, it can feel a little strange at first. Once you get adjusted to the feel of the material, however, you’ll wonder why you didn’t wear one sooner.
- Protection – Traditional hockey nets are made of a solid mesh material for the most part. This provides excellent protection from getting hit with a puck and flying sticks.
- Lightweight – Traditional hockey nets are quite a bit lighter than other types of protective gear. This makes them ideal for active play. Because they’re typically made of mesh, they’re also extremely light-weight. This allows you to move around easily while playing hockey.
- Dry – Traditional hockey nets are designed to allow air to flow through the mesh when laid on the ground. This gives you an advantage in terms of keeping your ice cool. Because they’re not as tight as other types of protection, they can also be used in very humid conditions without fear of sweat getting trapped.
- Breathable – There are certain mesh nets that are made with larger holes than others in order to allow for better ventilation. When you need a breathable material, you can typically find one that’ll work well for your needs.
- Water Repellent – Certain mesh nets are designed with a water repellent coating on them in order to make ice skating on wet surfaces easier. This ensures that water won’t become trapped between the ice and the surface you’re on.
- Thermal Insulation – Some mesh nets are made with a tighter weave than others in order to provide added insulation from the cold. This allows for better regulation of the temperature inside the ice rink.
- More Flexible – Certain types of mesh nets are designed to be more flexible than others so that they can conform to the shape of the puck or ball they’re protecting. This makes it easier to block shots and make plays while keeping the item secure.
- Protective/Insulating – Certain mesh nets are designed to provide excellent protection and insulation for a skater or team. This is because they’re typically very thick and have the ability to keep the heat in or out as needed.
The Disadvantages Of A Traditional Net
While there are several advantages to a mesh net, there are also some disadvantages to keeping tradition:
- Cumbersome – When you’re hauling around a cumbersome net, it can be difficult to move around quickly while playing hockey. This isn’t a problem if you want to sit back and watch the game, but if you’re out on the ice, it’ll be much more cumbersome than other types of protective gear.
- Noise – Many people complain that the noise that a traditional hockey net makes is distracting. When you’re trying to play, score, or maintain concentration while skating, the sound of the ball sliding around the rink can be very distracting.
- Hot – When you’re not used to wearing one, it can be difficult to transition from standard apparel to ice hockey apparel. Because of the large number of holes in a traditional net, it allows for far too much air flow and thus, makes the wearer hot.
- Limited Vision – When you’re not used to wearing a traditional hockey net, it can be difficult to see the puck clearly without straining your eyes. This makes it more difficult to direct plays, pass, or shoot accurately while playing hockey.
- Fragile – Once you drop a traditional hockey net on the ground, it’s nearly impossible to repair. This is caused by the large amount of material that makes up the net and by the fact that the mesh needs to be held together with metal rails that also serve as springs when laid on the ground. This makes it extremely fragile and almost impossible to travel with or store at home without fear of damage.
- Limited Movement – Like the other disadvantages listed here, this one also relates to the fact that a traditional hockey net limits your movement. Not only do they keep you from moving around easily while playing, but they also keep you from stretching or bending your limbs while in the act of throwing a throw, hitting a wall, or jumping into a play.
- No Ventilation – Many people also complain about the lack of air flow in traditional hockey nets. The large number of holes allows for much less air movement than a net with smaller holes. This means that the ice will stay cold for much longer. If you’re not used to wearing one and live in a region where it gets cold, this could be a major issue.
- More Expensive To Maintain – It’s quite common for people to forget about the maintenance costs that come with a traditional hockey net. These are the costs associated with cleaning, repairing, and replacing the equipment once it gets old or damaged.
- Doesn’t Fit In With Other Apparel – Because they’re not mesh, traditional hockey nets don’t always work well with other types of athletic apparel. If you want to play sports such as soccer or golf, it’s best to look for a net that’s designed for sport-specific use.
- Less Versatile – If you decide that you want to use your hockey net for something other than hockey, you have to purchase a new one. This can be a major issue if you decide that you want to use the net for football or volleyball because most of the equipment sold for those sports doesn’t fit well with a hockey net.
- Larger Storage And Hauling To Nth Degree – It’s quite common for people to keep their hockey gear in storage because they don’t want to travel with all of the cumbersome gear when playing away games. This is why most people use storage sheds and secondary bedrooms in their homes for hockey gear. It takes a lot of room and it’s quite difficult to transport everything in a vehicle.
Why Are Mesh Nets Better Than Traditional Ones?
There are a few reasons why mesh nets are better than traditional ones: