Bauer 5100 Helmet woes, HECC Date...?

[CharlieTheCat 0]

Getting back into playing again after a long hiatus. I bought a new helmet - Bauer 5100 based on reviews that it fits bigger heads well, and that proved to be true, i like the style and the fit.

However, I bought this helmet last week (Jan '13) from an online retailer (no one within a few hours drive had any xl's to try on or buy) and the helmet I received was manufactured in late 2008. The date on the back says 2009 and the HECC exp. date is Jan 2014. I play drop in hockey etc. Should I return the helmet? It seems pretty ridiculous that they would send me a helmet for a new price that has less than a year of certification on it, even if the cert doesn't mean anything for me. Perhaps I should call them and ask for a partial refund or for them to pay to return it?

That is not to mention that the helmet was covered in dust, came in a smashed and broken helmet box, and some of the foam is misplaced inside - more of a frustrating nuisance than anything since it still fits well and will work fine.

Lastly, and I'm sure someone else has noticed this, the ear pieces are fixed in place, but allow the rear of the helmet to slide backward to fit larger heads. The problem with this is that it assumes that as heads get bigger, ears will stay in the same place and not move proportionally with head size. It assumes wrongly that the distance between the eye and ear are the same regardless of head size. Needless to say, the ear guards pinch my ears where the flare ends. I'm assuming everyone just takes these off, or are they required if I start to play again in a real league? Are there other ear guards that will work?

[AIREAYE 248]

The white HECC sticker with red/blue lettering and the 2014 date is mandatory in USA sanctioned hockey. Helmets don't 'expire' per se like food will, but that date is the formal (not practical) length of time that the certification lasts for. The red and blue CSA sticker is mandatory in Canada and shows the date in which the helmet was certified on with no end date. The small white CE sticker is for Europe. If the helmet is new, then there is no reason to return the helmet in your case unless it is damaged or missing one of those stickers; you're good. It's not ridiculous because helmets, like any non-perishable manufactured goods, will sit on shelves until they are sold.

Click on the second link in this google search for more info (it's a pdf file) : https://www.google.ca/search?q=csa+helmet+certification&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=fflb

If you play in a mens league, you just need your respective nation's sticker, and a strong argument can be made that unless you are actually missing those sticker(s), no ref will care about any date as long as what you are wearing resembles a certified helmet. Oh and I assume your league will mandate ear guards.

[raganblink 82]

Every league is different - I'm presuming he is a beer leaguer due to the "long hiatus" aspect in his post.

USA hockey states that for mens league, he only needs a helmet that was once certified by HECC - that doesn't mean that it still has to be according to the white sticker.

However, if they are under 18, most leagues enforce a full certification of helmets - from ear guards to chin strap, to j-clips to currently certified, it just depends where you play.

[forbs02 20]

Your helmet will be fine. As far as ear guards go, I don't know any adult league that actually requires them. I would just take them out. However if you are worried about getting hit you could try to bend the earguards out so they don't poke you. Or put some tape on the ends so they are softer.

[CharlieTheCat 0]

Thanks for the responses - yes, long hiatus means about 15 years. I'm 37 and last played in a men's league a while ago, now living in Colorado.

I like the helmet - certainly fits better than my old helmets of yesteryear...the ear guards aren't that bad, i was just frustrated at the lack of simple design engineering.

AIREAYE, thanks for the info on the various stickers.

[wrangler 157]

I got the 5100XL because it fit my wide head, and I liked it better than the 4500, the only other helmet that fit. Other helmets that fit me have come out since, like the E700 and the RE-AKT, where a L will do the job.

If you're not happy with the helmet they sent, and I wouldn't be, if I paid regular price, you can still check around for a better fitting product. As a consumer, I would consider either the fit, if unsatisfactory, or the condition of the product, adequate reasons to return it.

As to condition, while you can't normally expect to get a helmet fresh from the factory, I'd consider four years well outside the normal range of age that I would expect to receive, when placing an order. Add on the dust and smashed box, and it sounds like they finally managed to sell something that's been buried for a while. The helmet won't turn into a pumpkin when the certification expires, but the components will deteriorate over time, and part of what you're paying for is the life of the product and the certification. I'm not sure what you mean by misplaced foam, this may be a manufacturing defect, but if it's from glue losing its adhesion, you're likely already seeing a result of age. If I were willing to keep the helmet, I would be so only if I could negotiate a price adjustment that would satisfy me.

[CharlieTheCat 0]

Wrangler -

Thanks for the input. 4 years seems to long to me too. The misplaced foam is a piece (middle side) that was glued in wrong. It is supposed to fit the s-shaped curve of the foam piece that wraps around the forehead, but it doesn't match it - someone glued it in wrong, though not so much as to screw it up. In addition, the little piece of foam that extends down along the temple must have had something sitting on it since it bends awkwardly inward and jams into my temple, not a deal breaker but annoying. I've got a book on it now to try to bend it back. I believe the helmet was buried and they were glad to see it go, as you say.

In terms of fit, I like it a lot - fits nice and deep over my massive head and is a good width to fit snugly but not headache inducing or too loose.

I'm going to give the company a call and try and negotiate a price adjustment. If I were playing in a league that required a valid HECC date, there is no way i'd be keeping this or paying full price for it.

[wrangler 157]

Considering the age, I'd wonder if the foam came unglued, and was reglued inexpertly. Remember that the foam is primarily for impact absorption in a critical area, so its quality and fit is important. Also remember that a slight discomfort in the feel of a helmet can turn into an extremely annoying hot spot over the length of a game. Make your decision before you try to fix anything, because you can affect your warranty, as well as your right to return the product.

I would not be inclined to extend the benefit of the doubt to any aspect of this helmet that wasn't right, as the retailer has certainly shown that it has no right to your trust.

In your place, I'd be annoyed enough to insist on the retailer arranging for return shipping at its expense, and if it took me a bit longer to get back on the ice, that's the way it goes. I believe that one of the newer designs will fit you better, though I understand there's a major inconvenience involved. However, you're the only one in a position to know and weigh the value of the various considerations to you.