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JR Boucicaut

Bauer RE-AKT Helmet Initial Thoughts/Teardown

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And the Year Of The Helmet (or The Year Of The Revolving Helmet on JR's Head) continues with contestant #2; the Bauer RE-AKT.

As noted in our Catalogue Review, the RE-AKT is taking a different approach to protection; the main feature in the helmet is the Suspend-Tech liner, which is designed to move independently from the helmet, in order to help with controlling rotational forces during impact.

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Initial thoughts -

The RE-AKT helmet has a simple latch in the back that flips up.

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Once helmet is open, adjust it, then close the latch.

The Occipital Lock is now on version 3.0; it is now a single adjustment.

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Interior -

As you can see, a combination of Vertex foam (proprietary foam that according to Bauer, handles impact better than EPP), PoronXRD and the Suspend-Tech liner.

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Now, the helmet is a bit more streamlined because the adjustment system has been moved to the top rear of the helmet. In its place is a big slab of PoronXRD padding;

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...and if you flip it over, you will see how the shell is held together.

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The temple pieces are actually really neat - similar to Easton's system. No more fishing for anchors.

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This is how it attaches to the earguard...

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...and this is how it attaches to the Suspend-Tech liner.

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The Suspend-Tech liner connects in three spots; the temples, the rear bolts and the front bolts.

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The helmet is a Medium, which according to their chart, is 7 to 7 1/2 hat size. I had always worn a Bauer L helmet to this point, so keep that in mind.

The helmet feels very nice on the head; it is a different feel than the Easton E700's "plush" feel. It is a lighter helmet than almost all; the weight gains come from the removal of bulky parts and the different materials. No pinching anywhere on my head; I've worn the helmet the entire time I typed out the review.

There is a small con and a maybe, which I will find out soon enough. The con is helmet stickers, notably, numbers. Due to the placement of the Occipital Lock lever, it will go right in between the helmet numbers in a standard configuration. A suggestion is to place the numbers like the NJ Devils do - on top.

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The "maybe" is sweat management; I shave my head and that is a big deal with me and helmets. Since the Suspend-Tech liner is smooth, my concern is that it won't absorb sweat. However, I won't know until I start sweating in it; if the ventilation is great, it may not be a problem. Stay tuned.

Don't mind the visor; it is not a retail item and not a part of the review. It is Bauer's pro version of the Oakley Straight Small.

I'd like to thank CJ Ficek, who is the Category Manager for Helmets and Facial for the opportunity to review this helmet; CJ and I met in October and had a great conversation about helmets and the evolution of the product.

Questions? CJ will be viewing this thread so if there are any questions that are beyond my realm, I'm positive he will relay the info to me.

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Excellent job JR.

I'd like to thank CJ Ficek, who is the Category Manager for Helmets and Facial for the opportunity to review this helmet; CJ and I met in October and had a great conversation about helmets and the evolution of the product.

Wow that is a name from the past. Fantastic former UNH Wildcat.

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How does it compare in terms of weight to the E700?

Just weighed them on my old-school slide gram scale:

Easton E700 = 355g

Bauer RE-AKT = 484g

Mission NME EPP = 502g

Excellent job JR.

Wow that is a name from the past. Fantastic former UNH Wildcat.

Yep, that would be him.

JR, from what I understand after doing some quick research, Vertex is also a brand name material, similar to Curv. http://www.vertexfoam.com/

Do you know how exactly it differs from EPP in terms of composition? Is it simply a higher grade EPP?

I believe you are wrong about that site; in the catalogue, Curv has a registered mark next to its name. Vertex does not, therefore, not a brand name.

They were tight-lipped on it in October; they described it as being more advanced than EPP. This is from the presser;

The BAUER RE-AKT helmet features BAUER’s proprietary Vertex foam, a light-weight multi-impact foam with increased impact management properties compared to traditional EPP foams found in other hockey helmets.

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wow... imagine the e700 paired with a Ti cage?

Keep us posted on the ventilation... these 33 deg C and 80% humidity nights arent helping in a stuffy old rink.

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That right there...absolute helmet porn.

Also, JR...you tilt your visor up like that when you play? (cue the avalanche of visor tilter bashing in 3...2...1...)

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That right there...absolute helmet porn.

Also, JR...you tilt your visor up like that when you play? (cue the avalanche of visor tilter bashing in 3...2...1...)

gotta be able to see right? lol

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Sizing Question...Did I understand you may have to go down a size from previous Bauer model's? I have always worn a Medium in Bauer, but according to that 7-71/2 medium sizing I would certainly need a small?

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That right there...absolute helmet porn.

Also, JR...you tilt your visor up like that when you play? (cue the avalanche of visor tilter bashing in 3...2...1...)

I tilt, but not that bad. The visor isn't completely tightened as I took it on and off a few times.

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What's the width like? I've always worn a 4500 because it fits my narrow head well. Is this similar or wider? Thanks!

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Sizing Question...Did I understand you may have to go down a size from previous Bauer model's? I have always worn a Medium in Bauer, but according to that 7-71/2 medium sizing I would certainly need a small?

Here is the sizing for the RE-AKT:

Small: 6 1/2 - 7 1/8 / 20.5-22.5" / 52 - 57 cm

Medium: 7 - 7 1/2 / 22-23.5" / 56 - 60 cm

Large: 7 1/2 - 8 / 23-25.5" / 59.5 - 64 cm

What's the width like? I've always worn a 4500 because it fits my narrow head well. Is this similar or wider? Thanks!

I haven't worn a 4500 in quite some time but I wouldn't call this helmet narrow, nor would I call it extremely wide. Having the Poron pads on the sides (softer than VN) makes it feel different than other helmets.

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Deeper. 5000/5500/7500 has always been a shallow-fitting helmet.

I like hearing that from you. Thought I read somewhere that someone complained that it sat kind of high on their heads, similar to a 4500...

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Thanks for the teardown. I have been looking forward to seeing this helmet in detail. Now I just need to see it in person!

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I like hearing that from you. Thought I read somewhere that someone complained that it sat kind of high on their heads, similar to a 4500...

Then again, I wouldn't call it a deep helmet. Compared to a 5000, it is though.

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Totally missed that, 11:30 game last night.

Something intresting I noticed, Stamkos wore the re-akt helmet at the All-star game and is now back to the 4500.

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I wear a Bauer 8000 because it is the most comfortable helmet on my head. Is the Re-Akt as comfortable as 8000? Also when is helmet going to be available? Thank you

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