Abstract: A helmet shell, particularly a face mask for ice-hockey goal tenders, has an impact-absorbing padding adapted to the individual shape of the wearer's head. A padding blank is first cut from a sheet of thermoplastic material of suitable hardness and the blank is heated to a temperature at which it softens so as to become easily shaped. The blank is then placed in the helmet shell and the shell is placed on the head of the intended wearer and pressed down against the head with a force sufficient for the blank to be brought to the shape of the head and of the helmet shell. This force is maintained until the blank cools to a temperature at which the material retains its shape, whereafter the padding is affixed to the helmet shell with the aid of fasteners applied to the helmet shell and/or the padding.