Gray Nicolls Ultimate 360 Cricket Helmet - Navy (2023)

My son needed a new helmet and was keen to have one with rear/stem protection. Until now, most brands achieved this by adding a separate clip/strap-on stem guard, some of which are a bit clumsy and all of which add to the cost of the helmet - sometimes significantly (I'm looking at you, Masuri - £45 for the stem guard?!). With their 2020 "360" models, Gray-Nicolls have done something obvious in hindsight and added two extra loops to the metal grille structure that extend backwards and cover the vulnerable area behind the ears. It doesn't seem to have affected the price of the helmet a great deal and there is no separate piece to mislay. I'm sure other manufacturers will follow suit. The helmet itself is attractive, with ventilation holes and neatly-applied fabric covering. The only thing to be careful with is choice of sizing. This helmet is foam-lined and adjustment for head circumference is done by fitting one of three different thicknesses of foam pad to the forehead area. My son fell right at the top of the stated size range for a medium helmet but found that size too small and we had to swap it for a large. If you are on the cusp of two sizes then I would recommend trying them both before purchasing if at all possible.