Dangler versus Neck Guard - Goalie This v. That 

I wear both also, seen too many beer leaguers with collarbone injuries that it won’t change my mind

I use both. Had a puck slip under my dangler.

I wear both and highly recommend it to all goalies. I’ve always worn a dangler and I think it’s the more important of the two. IMO it’s crazy to not wear one. It’s just a matter of time until you get hit in the upper throat. A properly installed dangler should have minimum interference and noise but you can also add foam to the edges to further mitigate noise. After taking a shot to the clavicle, I now realize how important a COMBO is as well. Most big name guards are “clavicle protectors” and not true “throat guards”. They usually only have a thin piece of cloth on the throat, possibly cut resistant, but zero impact protection. I wear a former Maltese which is a true combo (clavicle and throat). I got used to the “heat” within 2 games and now feel naked without it. Just like everyone’s first time wearing any piece of goalie gear. I also throw it in the wash after every game with my other underwear. Modern chest protectors are intentionally designed to not protect your throat and clavicle so it has the room to shift upwards and downwards in your chest. They are intended to be worn with a combo. It’s like not wearing knee pads under modern leg pads - stupid. I’m pretty sure the majority of pros wear both, certainty at least a dangler. So the paid vs recreational shouldn’t matter either.

I use both a dangler and neck guard. Both are from bauer

Padded shirt, neck guard and dangler I can't afford a broken collarbone

I always wear both, I don't even notice the noise when I'm focused on the play.

Both. Both saved me on many occasions from sticks and pucks.

I'm totally with you when it comes to wearing both...5 years ago I use to only wear neck guard during practice as I'd face 3-4 times the amount of shot as I would in a game... so game time came and all I had was my dangler.... Clapper from the point expected to cradle it in my gut, puck rose so I shrugged my shoulders it lifted my dangler and bam straight to the throat.... fractured my wind pipe and messed up my vocal cords still to this day... not to mention a week and a half in the ICU and 5 days in a induced coma to allow swelling to go down.... Kids wear all neck protection that is available

I wear nothing but for the last little while I have been thinking about picking something up. I was in a goalie shop today and saw them and now I see this video. I can take a hint I will be picking one up before my next game. I enjoy this channel and appreciate the amount of time that you put into this for everyone to benefit. Keep it up love the content! Relaced my catcher with a floating pocket. The feel is way different will take some getting used to.

I used to wear a dangler in high school. I remember the thinking moving around and hitting me in the throat a lot. Now I have a neck guard. It's protects my collarbone and throat better, but man does it hot especially in warm rinks.

You're the man dude. I love your energy!

Thank you for your videos!! Absolutely love your content

I may be insane, but I played defense for 7 years. I play goalie at the ODR, and that's about it, but I love it! It's fun! Anyways, up until recently, I've been using a player helmet, and a player neck guard. I bought an actual goalie helmet, and a dangler, but I'm keeping the player neck guard.

Great video! Thank you 🙌 I wear a dangler only but I’m most likely going to get a guard too eventually

Ingoal Mag had an interesting article on the dangler that reduces noise and improves vision by drilling a hole at the bottom of the dangler and running the string through the inside of the cage.

Dangler. I have a neck guard sitting on the shelf. Feels like I'm getting strangled by a really weak guy for an hour straight.

I love these videos! I have not played goalie in years and am getting back into playing! These have been great tips, especially on the new equipment today! Thanks!

I played some junior hockey and never got hit in the neck. In my twenties I took a LONG break of about 10 years. When I got back into it, my second time on the ice I took a Slapshot to the neck. I got a padded guard the next day and a week after a Eddie mask with a low chin. Great food for thought video

I’m playing AAA midget hockey, and wear both a neck guard, and a dangler. I agree the At a dangler is annoying, but I also agree that the dangler is completely worth it. Love the vids btw!

You VOGoalie, are super awesome! Please do a video on when to replace your gear, especially leg pads. And oh yeah, just neck guard.

I wear both, after seeing what happened to Lundqvist a few seasons ago I want to minimize the risk as much as possible. Hockey is a casual hobby for me and I'd rather not risk an injury that could be prevented with some protection.

Good job on the video, I so agree with you. I personally wear both.

I rock both. I started in street hockey as a kid and I wore neither. I caught a slapshot to the throat one game and luckily all it did was knock the wind out of me. I immediately got a throat protector after that. When I stepped up to ice hockey I got a dangler too.

Even if you’re not a pro goalie, the equipment is available and accommodating these days, that every goalie should wear both. I was watching highlights of Vasilevsky on Tampa Bay play goalie last night and he took a shot off his helmet, which popped the helmet off his head as he gathered the rebound in his chest. That prompted me to see what equipment is available and here I am. Awesome video and glad your personal experience has continued to protect others!

I wear a dangler, and my trusted John Brown vintage neck guard. Got a few in the throat area over the years. Anybody remember the vintage Itech danglers?

I wear both. Play sedge hockey, so I'm basically sitting on the ice catching pucks with my face

A good mask with a long duck bill chin like Bauers and a comfortable neck gaurd with collar bone protection is really good. Hate danglers. So much noise, interference and extra weight on my head! Ohh and a turtle shirt that's prevents skate cuts is a great idea!!!

During my early pickup hockey days, I preferred the old Chris Osgoode style player helmet/broomball...esque cage (phenomenal for vision) but definitely left my neck heavily exposed. Always had a dangler on there and was never really bothered by the noise. Since I switched over to a regular goalie helmet, I've always had a dangler on the helmet. Never wore a neck guard though because the collar on my C/A protector is raised a bit and I don't have a very long neck. My son is a goalie now and I have him with a Bauer throat guard but no dangler yet. Maybe as he grows a bit more, I'll add one but I noticed at his age, still seems a bit oversized and hindering.

I wear a ccm pro stock neck guard I found online that was used by Corey Crawford

Wayne, your videos are awesome! I use both a neck guard and a dangler, and for anyone who finds their dangler noisy, just put a small piece of the adhesive backed fuzzy Velcro on the base of the chin on your mask and you'll never hear your dangler again. You could maybe share that with everyone on a future video.

I grew up wearing a dangler, all through high school and still to this day. I broke 1 and it was about 6 years ago. I'm telling you, that was the only thing that saved my life. I am convinced a stand alone neck gaurd would have failed me, thats how hard this puck was shot. The dangler exploded into pieces on impact, I knew it was bad when everyone around me just collectively gasped in disbelief. My head was ringing and I was pretty shaken up, and bleeding, a piece of lexon shrapnel cut my neck. The guy who shot it wasn't head hunting, his shot was low, it was tipped in front of me and the puck came up basically at a 90° angle. If I had only a neck guard the puck would have came up and under my mask and hit me right above my Adams apple and that would have been end of story. But because the dangler sealed the gap between my mask and CP, the puck hit all of that and none of me. Long story long, I will not step foot in any net, ice, roller, even street with out a dangler. The noise is distracting at first, but once you take a shot or 2 off it, the noise will start to become a reassurance that your protected, and I personally haven't had any mobility issues with danglers.

Hey Wayne! I began wearing both because in pickup hockey I've been nailed with stick blade tips coming thru on shots and skates while I was down low making saves. I say wear both

I wear both, I tried using just a dangler for a little bit, after getting invited to a junior b pre camp since their goalies weren't going to show until the main camp. After catching a puck right on the edge of my chest protector, my upper chest/collarbone was bruised for over a month. I got very lucky but now I wear both again.

Around this time last year, I was playing pick up in a pretty laid back arena. I was wearing a dangler (I’ve worn one all my life so the noise doesn’t bother me) and this like 6 foot 4 guy comes down and just after the blue like takes a massive clapper and it broke the dangler and just the plastic hitting my collarbone was terrifying. I though it was broken it hurt so bad. So then obviously I replaced it and I had a game the next day, and just the whole mental aspect of getting hurt it awful. You play scared which makes you vulnerable. My leg pads are a tiny but too small for me and then in that game I took a slap shot to the inner thigh. I haven’t strapped up since then, but I hope too soon, with both a neck guard and a dangler. Love your channel, just wanted to share my story for other goalies to know they’re not alone! Keep good up the good work!

Dangler. I don't handle heat well, and have had issues in the past where overheating has led to nausea and fainting while on the ice (even when I've been skating as a player, and not a goalie), so neck guards aren't really an option unless the arena I'm in is *very* cold. That said, if my dangler breaks then I'll absolutely wear a neck guard until I can replace it. Judging from the number of puck marks on my dangler, I've saved myself a mint in trips to the emergency room. If "dangler noise" is an unforgivable irritation, I'd recommend to attach it with some waxed laces. I've found that the wax gives the lace some stiffness, which can keep the dangler from clattering every time you turn your head a little.

I make my son wear a dangler and throat guard. I myself use a long mask and throat guard ( definitely saved my collarbones) great video!

Even when I played indoor soccer, where it has strict zones (goalkeepers can't charge out and be an outfield player, and strikers cannot run into the goal circles to screen the keeper (or gyms have netball markings, too)), I still wore a neck guard, more to protect the side of my neck more than the front. I then wore a neck pillow after the game for about an hour.

The paw throat guard is great! Personally i always wear a really beefed up/modded throat guard. I wear a dangler mailny cuz it looks good. (Wish i had the round model like you tho.) Sound isnt really a problem depending on how u tie it.

Tried dangler once. The noise and hindering your vision when looking down were just too big minuses. Maybe with more use and some adjustement I might have gotten used to it. I've accepted that eventually I'll take one to the throat/neck. I've gotten few but never directly, usually bounced from my chesty or something like that. Once or twice a season I'll get bruised collarbone because I've adjusted my chesty to more cover less protection, neck guard helps only so much. Also who doesn't use either?! I mean I always have had like 10-15cm clear space between my throat and chesty's "neck guard" portion. Or have I've been wearing them wrong all this time? :D Also overheating? Is that a thing? On Ice? I've experience it on roller hockey though(just one of the reasons why I don't like it).

I prefer wearing just a Bauer dangler and turtle neck compression shirt but I don’t hate neck guards,I just feel it gets in the way

I wear both ever since I got a horrible cut to the neck! I never wore either until now. Pucks to the neck never bothered me much, but a near-death experience changed my mind a little bit lol. For me, it's been an adjustment because it can be uncomfortable, but it's not worth it to go without anymore.

I had a puck skip under my dangler and added the neck guard after that. Just recently I had a slapshot split my dangler in half and was glad to have the neck guard backup to help absorb the impact and give me the willingness to finish the game

I wear both the neck guard (Bauer Supreme) and a lexan dangler now. In 20 years of playing I only got the dangler broken twice. The 2 times I played with out a neck guard I ended up getting an injury by a puck to the collarbone area within 2-3 games of not wearing one. I had decided to try playing without the neck guard cuz it was overheating me. Its amazing how many times I get hit in the collar bone area so the neck guard did its job. I play in beer leagues with all skill types.

Do you have any tips/hacks on attaching your dangler to keep it in place

Really new goalie here. Used just a neck guard for a couple skates but decided to also get a dangler after taking a slapshot to the throat. Never looked back.

I personally use both a dangler and a neckguard. Both are CCM.

Maltese combo only with a padded shirt and Passau pro pack. No dangler

I use both. And Im considering also a padded shirt. Never is too much protection for your neck. Considering that proper size of neck guard its unnoticeable playing.

When I played I used both as much as I could. Always had a neckguard, played my first few games without a dangler but that's about it. The only time I didn't have one after that was for two practices after my brother broke the first one with a slapshot.

I used to use just a dangler, but I got a neck guard to go along with it. However after breaking three danglers, I haven't gotten around to getting a new one. Now I was playing outside in below freezing weather which probably led to the dangler being weaker. I'm probably going to get a dangler again, however the neck gaurd I have has been doing well. I've taken a few slaps shots and harder shots in general there and it did what it was supposed to do.

When I start playing couple years ago I tried both but it was impossible for me to rotate my head and breathe so I get rid of neck guard and stay with dangler. Three years ago I get a slap shot that went through dangler and hit my collar bone hard. That was when I switch to neck guard and I'm using Bauer Supreme since than. I saw it to undergarment shirt to stop it rotate under my C&A and it's the best solution for me. It doesn't move around and protect pretty well from pucks.

As a ball hockey goalie, I don't have to worry about skates to the neck. I use to wear a dangler with my old mask, but when i upgraded from a street hockey mask to my Bauer NME 4 it did not come with a dangler and i didn't bother attaching one. However, when i do eventually make the transition to ice hockey I will be investing in a neck guard, i may still hold off on the dangler as I don't have much neck to begin with, lol..

In minor hockey I use to wear a Cooper bucket with an Itech cage with Dangler and Neck guard.(Side Note: I dislocated my jaw taking a puck to the cage wearing this setup.) As I moved up to Junior I lost the Neck Guard but kept the dangler. Then came the Goalie Mask. I put it on but didn't like the way the dangler felt on it. Not the noise, it just kept getting caught in my gear as I was looking over my shoulder. So I lost the dangler as well. There were some close calls and some shots that stung more then I would have liked but I was LUCKY enough not to get seriously injured. Now looking back on it I was just playing with fire. I think when I do step back on the ice this summer I'll invest in one or both.

I wear both. Wearing just a dangler, I got a slapshot on it, that drove it into my collar bone, inside my chest gear, causing a golf ball sized swelling. Now I wear both collar and dangler.

Goalie Gare Bear here (again). I use a Battram neck protector and a dangler. My left collarbone is 3 wins, no losses against those frozen black things--and I'm happy I wear both.

I don’t wear ether but yesterday I picked up a dangeler because I got a puck to the neck

My 8 year old son is a goalie and loves your videos. He also wears both as the safest option.

I've tried all manner of neck protection. Notwithstanding that my regular rink requires *everyone* to wear a cut-resistant neck guard, it's one piece of gear that I feel naked without. I alternate between a padded collar and an undershirt with built-in cut-resistant neck protection. I used to wear a dangler, but haven't since I transitioned from helmet/cage combos. I recognize the benefit of the added protection, but the noise and limited visibility at my feet leave me trying it for a game, then usually removing it. You are correct, though, that we aren't elite athletes being paid to play, so putting the best odds in our favor to be able to go to work the next day warrants as much protection as you can muster. I might give the dangler an extended trial during my summer league and see if I can't figure out a way to dampen the noise. As usual, Wayne provides insight and logic to an audience that might choose superstition over common sense.

Just a dangler. Growing up was advised away from a neck guard by my old goalie coach. He insisted that if a skate did come up high the guard would help push the blade up and towards the arteries. Not sure how true it is but it scared the shit out of me. I have had two danglers break over my career and only a very small number of shots creep under the dangler which typically was from shots that were in close and had a steep upward angle glancing off my chesty first. I have tried some neck guards on in the past but they bring out my claustrophobia like it's their job.

I’ve basically rolled the dice for almost 25 years with just a turtleneck. Only been hit once ever, as a young 17 year old goalie at a camp with a wrister to the side of the neck while two-pad stacking. I play beer league now, and thinking about replacing my old Itech with a Warrior that comes with a dangler, even though I really hate the idea of them.

Dangler and Aegis interceptor neck guard. Didn't like the dangler first few times I wore it but am now used to it. Tried on a few neck guards and settled on the Aegis because of its comfort and not as big and bulky as others, don't even feel it while playing.

i currently dont use either... i used a dangler before but when i got my new warrior chest pro it wasnt meshing well together... i have a short thick neck and my chest pro is a little bulky so even without the dangler my mask rubs the chest pro... but with my style of play i do keep my chin down and that keeps everything out... ive been struck in the chin and in the chest and had it ride up but no penetrations to the throat and i play 3-4 times a week minimum... but it only takes once

Good video and story. I only use a dangler. Unfortunately, I have a short neck, but it is a big neck. My shirt collar size is an 18 1/2 to 19, so for me ot wear a neck guard, I am choking all the time. The dangler I keep low on all sides so there really is coverage for me. As for the noise, you get used to it after a while, so that really isn't and shouldn't be an excuse for anyone.

Wayne i use both also I wanted to ask you a question I bought a Itech NME 7 and a Bauer NME 9 in your opinion which one is better

Dangler, thinking about getting a neck guard as well though

Dangler. I’m on my 2nd one in 4 years of beer league hockey. After a redirected shot broke the first one, I replaced it immediately. I don’t even notice the noise. Haven’t tried a throat guard yet. Might consider it though.

Played in a badly fitted body armour, so neck guard and dangler became very important after I took a puck to the sternum, direct, not through the armour, yeah, somehow it got under there. Since getting my new body armour I've not been wearing the neck guard, but it's summer and I play roller, it gets pretty warm. I think the most important thing is properly fitted kit, will putting the neck guard back on when I got the ice.

I use a padded shirt and a Vaughn 8000 Shirt style neck guard. No dangler. I have taken a few to the collarbone and neck area and have felt protected.

I know I am late to the party, but I don't wear a dangler. Not for any particular reason tbh, I have always had a neck guard and long mask. One thing that was drilled into me from a young age though was to tuck my chin, I don't coach or anything but I hope they are still teaching this for the safety of all goalies.

I started with a dangler. Then switched to a neck guard, because of dangler noise. After that I stopped wearing the neck guard, due to how hot I was getting. Now I'm back to the guard, due to one high shot the fit my shoulder and then helmet. It was close enough to make me reconsider.

As a lacrosse Goalie i wear the dangler ( it's a little different) and it saved me a lot

I started out by playing roller ball hockey and didn't wear neck protection out of ignorance. Two hard painful slappers to the neck, which gave me huge red hickeys (the wife was suspicious!), taught me real quick that I needed at least a dangler. Now that I've just started ice hockey, I am very grateful that I didn't learn that lesson on ice - a broken larynx would not be fun. The noise really doesn't bother me as I'm used to it and I don't really have much trouble seeing below me so the dangler isn't much of a bother. Gonna save up for a collar for the added protection. After watching this video, it seems that it'd be worth the cost!

I tried no dangler and love it but I put it back on and didn’t like it but I still where it.I use a really good neck protector modified on the caller bone 👍

I'm a neck guard wearer. Danglers always get in the way of head movement. I wore nothing for a while but I realized it was a bad idea after getting hit. And I'm still in high school. I just deal with over heating because I'd rather that than a broken collar bone. Although I do want a Sportmask Mage RS with it's tiny chin. I don't learn.

how do you think the protection is for the paw neck guard? I'm using the warrior one and have big bruises on my coller bone area.

I literally tried no dangler today and I’m hooked on it. I used to wear both but I might not go back.

I wear both. Always have worn a dangler but one time the butt end of a stick slipped through and jabbed my neck and a had trouble breathing for a bit. Could’ve been much worse.

I wear a neck guard, been meaning to pick up a padded shirt just haven’t. Chin on my helmet is fairly long. Tried a dangler when I was young, noise didn’t bother me but it would get caught on my shoulders when i turned my head so i dropped it. Might be worth trying it again as an adult, i’ve never broke a collar bone but i’ve taken some shots there and its not fun even with a neck guard.

I do NHL bios and a few weeks ago I did the Pascal Leclaire story. He said he broke a dangler almost weekly in practice. On this topic, my son got called up for a practice with peewee kids (he's ATOM) and in the first 5 minutes, his dangler was smashed with a piece that flew off that could be described best...as a shank. It was a triangle piece with an incredibly sharp point. If you wear a dangler, you should absolutely still wear your neck guard.

Oh yeah. I played with no additional neck protection for a few (adult league) seasons. After (approximately) the third puck to the neck, a fellow goalie finally told me that neck protectors even exist. I haven't actually taken another shot to the neck since, but I still wear the protector now.

started with just a dangler, then I got a neck guard, now I use no dangler but use the neck guard. in my opinion the neck guard is the more important of the two. you should wear both, even though I dont because the dangler restricts movement thanks to how big my chest protector is.

My 12 year old has been wearing both but his Vaughn dangler busted the other day. Wondering if there are more sturdy ones since this is his first season and hes only been practicing for a couple month's

I am also a bit of a lacrosse goalie and we do not were anything but gloves chest protector helmet dangler and cup and one time I got a really bad bruise and for the rest of the game when ever a fast shot came at me I almost moved out of the way

100% use both. The benefits far outweigh any of the minor negatives of either.

Apples versus oranges. They each serve a different purpose. Danglers are to protect the throat area from shots. Neck guards are more for skate cuts. You'd be crazy to expect a neck guard to protect you from a 100mph shot. That's why many wear both.

Like many others who have already commented, I wore both and will wear both again when I make my return to the ice in 2 years or more. the "dangler" which I always called jaws take a lot of speed off the puck and I took a lot of rubber of mine (because I am crazy and use my head to make stops a lot) but even the speed taken off the shot is not enough to prevent injury to your larynx or jaw. If you take a deflection off a stick or even your own equipment that gets under your jaws, without a neck guard, it is going to hurt. The neck guard alone I do not think gives enough protection to a direct shot to the neck and so that alone is not enough. I know a lot of goalies complain about being able to see down because of the jaws but like every other piece of equipment you use, it takes getting used to. None of us were born in the goal crease with a blocker and catcher for hands but with practice some goaltenders (not me) make it seem like that is the way it was. The other aspect of having that neck guard other than preventing injury from pucks is preventing injury from player's skates. I started wearing a neck guard because of what happened to Clint Malarchuk and never looked back. I love my hockey and I also love life and you can't play hockey if you are dead. I have taken a lot of injuries in my life both on and off the ice but as long as my head is attached to my shoulders I keep on playing or at least working toward playing again once my second hip replacement surgery is done. TLDR: WEAR BOTH, IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE SURE.

I'm surprised I don't see more goalies doing this but I lined the upper, interior edge of my dangler with foam (piping insulation) using superglue. Zero noise when it rubs against my mask. Completely silent... Frankly I think they should just manufacture danglers with this feature.

Both obviously. I had a slapshot hit me in the dangler so hard it split in half. I had just bought an extra dangler, so I did a quick swap and put it on. Took another slapshot the same period that cracked it down the middle too.

I'm kinda bass akwards from you. I had one dangler broken when I was in college mid 90s time frame. still have the scar on the side of my neck. wasn't wearing a neck protector, yea that changed the next day. to this day I still wear both, and I only play pick up with my friends now.

I know this is an older vid but use both....honestly once I am playing I dont even notice the dangler noise at all because I am too focused on the game. Use the guard and If your not sure then watch the Clint Malarchuck video and you'll use one real fast. The dangler has prevented many a stick from going across my throat and some puck shots as well.

I have had 2 danglers broken...glad I had them.

I use both. I have used that since I started and it feels weird to not have one of them.

Well... Im using both one protects your upper chest and lower neck and also from skate scratches. Other one is for throat protection, especially from puck

Both are good

Both, because it was what I wore growing up and is what I'm used to

I use both :)

I used to use a just collar until the second time I took a slapshot to the Adam's apple. A fractured larynx sucks, and so do hospital stays. Now I use both. The dangler has saved me so many times from another hospital trip. If you play rec hockey or beer-league hockey, half of the guys can't control their shots. You *WILL* take shots up high, and it just isn't worth it to not have a dangler.

I got an extended mask, and a dangler. Been thinking about a neck guard

Dangler, and I was there for the men's league injury. You better make some saves Tuesday.

I personally only wear a goalie neck guard that is like another chest protector on my neck it is meant to take both pucks and skates. reply if you have any thoughts