Bauer Nexus ADV

[GoalForFun 176]

About Me

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 150 lbs

Shoots: Left

I've been playing hockey since I was 7 with roller and started ice when I was 11. I've played as high as midget AAA but was a career AA player at best, along with high school varsity hockey in New Jersey. I've used many sticks throughout my time on the ice. To give you an idea of what I have to compare the Nexus ADV to, I've used:

• Nike Bauer Vapor XXX Lite
• TPS Response R8
• RBK 7K SicKick
• Easton Synergy SL
• Easton Stealth CNT
• Easton Stealth S19
• CCM pro stock with XX-stiff blade
• TRUE A6.0 SBP (pro stock)
• Warrior QR Edge
• Bauer APX2
• Bauer Vapor ADV (both retail and pro stock)
• Bauer Nexus 1NXL
• Bauer Nexus 2NPro
• Bauer 1X Lite
• Bauer Pro Custom 2NPro + Vapor 1X Lite blade

Stick specs: 70 flex, P28

Blade/Receiving Passes - 8.5/10

Not sure how the hole in the blade affects this, but I felt that receiving hard passes with this stick was much easier than with most of the other blades that I've used. The puck doesn't stick to the blade like with the True A6.0 SBP, but it doesn't ricochet off like is often possible with the 1X Lite's blade.  I rated it an 8.5 because somehow I felt that making good passes with this stick was harder, probably because of how the blade flexes differently from a conventional solid blade does.  The release point to get the pass to go where you want is definitely different.  I haven't dialed it in quite yet.

Shaft/Flex – 10/10

Not sure how much the "ER Spine" shaft actually helps but I felt that it made loading the stick for shots faster than you would expect from a Nexus line (but not quite as quickly as a Vapor's low kick does).  I didn't really notice the difference in ergonomics in my hand so I consider that a positive as that's one less thing I'm being conscious about when playing with a stick that's oddly shaped.  I do appreciate that the shape doesn't go all the way up the shaft like you would find in the Surgeon line from STX so your top-hand still gets to grip a traditional shaft shape.

Stickhandling – 9.5/10

Stickhandling with this blade and shaft combination is much better than with my 2NPro (the shaft is really a non-factor, though, so it's all about the blade.)  The blade does have a somewhat dampened feel but you're still able to get a good read on where the puck is on the blade with your head up.  I didn't rate it a 10/10 because I just like the 1X Lite blade a tad bit more.

Shooting – 10/10

Like mentioned about, the release of this stick is not quite as fast as a low-kick stick but it's definitely faster than a traditional mid-kick stick.  Honestly, I can't feel the blade doing it's "slingshot" work but I definitely notice it happening in real time when I take shots, especially when I compare the stick to a retail 2NPro or even my pro-customs.

Weight and Balance – 10/10

I'll basically paste what I wrote about the 2NPro, in that this stick isn't Bauer's lightest offering nor its heaviest.  I think this stick is very nicely balanced, however, without being too blade or too shaft heavy.  It definitely has a better center of gravity than the 2NPro does, though, so that earns it extra points.  And it's even lighter than a 1X Lite which is another bonus.

Durability – 10/10*

Considering that there's a hole in the blade, this stick has held up pretty damn well. Granted, my mens' league is respectful enough to not have lumberjacks every game so YMMV, but I've definitely jammed the stick into boards and skates during friendly battles and nothing has broken so far.

Intangibles

I like the graphics well enough, though if I were to rate all the ADV graphics it would have to be Vapor > Supreme > Nexus.  I really like the green, though, gives it pop.

Conclusion – 9.5/10

Bottom line: a Nexus that plays like a Vapor, basically what I tried to make with my pro-customs but done much better.  I liked the stick so much that I bought a second one (so I am that guy who brings $700 worth of carbon fiber to mens' league).  I don't think I've liked a stick this much since the Vapor XXX Lite, and so long as I have these to use I probably won't be buying any new sticks.  I highly recommend trying it out if you have a buddy that will let you borrow it or if you have the means to purchase one for yourself.