I finally switched to a new helmet and after using it for a few months, figured I'd give a review on it.
Old Helmet - Nike/Bauer 5500 Med.
New Helmet - Bauer Re-akt 75 Med.
Fit - This was a major factor for me. Since my Nike/Bauer was getting old, it would move around on my head and I had to readjust it from time to time on the bench. So it was important that the next helmet I got fit properly. The 75 fits perfectly and I really like the padding that they have inside as it cradle's your head without having any pressure points or excess movement. The helmet just feels like it's part of my head and not something that's sitting on top of it. I use a Bauer Hybrid combo face shield and it fits the helmet well. Once I'm snapped in, my helmet feels like a part of me and that was a necessity. 10/10
Protection - I can't say whether or not this is going to protect me appropriately or not, but I will say that the padding in this helmet is 100% better than the 5500. It has a good mix of the high density foams and mid density foams that make it comfortable and give's me the "feeling" of good protection. N/A
Weight - It's not the lightest helmet out there, but I would say it's average. It doesn't feel heavy on my head and the hybrid mask is a bit heavy too so that adds to the entire helmet. That said, once I strap up, the fit of the helmet doesn't make it feel heavy on my head. 8/10
Durability - So far no issues at all. I've adjusted the helmet to where I need it and I haven't had to think about it again. All the moving parts work as they should and the Bauer adjustment wings are easy to use when needed. As of now it's top notch. 10/10
Intangibles - For me the biggest intangible was ventilation. There were good reviews on it, but you just never know until you're out there sweating in it. I couldn't be happier with it. The vents work well and it allows for good airflow. It's heads and tails better than my old 5500 and I can actually feel the wind coming through at times. I never feel hot in this thing even with my hybrid shield. Sweat is also not an issue. The padding actually does a good job of absorbing the sweat instead of just letting it run down your forehead into your eyes. The other intangible is the price. At 119.00 I feel this is the best bang for your buck helmet that you can get if it's the right fit for you. It was also rated one of the better helmets for protection in the Harvard helmet study (take that FWIW). 10/10
Conclusion - I tried on a few different helmets before buying this one such as: Bauer IMS 11.0, Warrior PX+, Krown 360 and the CCM Fitlite 300 and the Bauer just fit the best. It doesn't sit too high on my head, it vents well and feel like a part of my body. For me, I don't think I could have found a better helmet for my head. I didn't try on the Re-Akt 200 because I wasn't about to spend $300 on a helmet, but I still feel like this helmet is right up there with it and again, for the price it's hard to beat.
Overall Score: 38/40 - 95%