By: Greg Ogard
Concussions are very prevalent in the game today. It is important to educate yourself and be aware of the risks you take by playing without adequate protection. Bauer, in collaboration with Cascade Helmet Technologies, has come out with a new helmet to help reduce the danger of head injuries while you play. Through the use of brand new technology they have managed to produce a helmet proven to help reduce the force from both kinds of impacts to the head for hockey players. The Bauer Re-Akt helmet is the best helmet available for young players on the market today.
Comparison of the new Bauer Re-Akt (Right) and the Bauer 4500 (Left)
Whenever new gear, especially outer gear is released, the majority of players skip over the new features of a product and immediately critique its looks. Typically as newer models are released with safety moved to the forefront of importance, style is sacrificed by the manufacturers for functionality. Too often the newest, safest gear is passed up for older, more stylish gear because of player’s obsession with being the best looking on the ice following the old adage, “Look good, feel good, play good.” However, Bauer has created a best of both worlds product with the new Re-Akt helmet. Finally there is a top end helmet with the best available safety crafted in the image of the timeless Bauer 4500 that is still widely considered the best looking helmet despite being released nearly 30 years ago. The new helmet passes the “mirror test” that many of the younger players today refer to with the subtle pro style look that youth players crave. They managed to create a sleek and low profile helmet, some of the biggest complaints that young players had with the recent Bauer models, while still improving the safety features giving players a great product without the compromise of choosing looks or safety.
The revolutionary suspension system is proven to reduce rotational impacts
Using state-of-the-art materials and partnering with Cascade Helmet Technologies, Bauer designed a revolutionary suspension system that allows the helmet to move independently from the liner, decreasing rotational impact forces transferred to the brain. This new protection system has shown to be extremely effective at preventing head injuries resulting from whiplash or blindside hits that have become more and more common in today’s game. They also implemented a new foam padding system that better dissipates extreme impacts to the head to reduce the chances of the players brain jarring from a big hit. This is an improvement over the standard EPP foam, and has been shown to stay soft over a longer period of time and repeated impacts than the older foams. The combination of these two new technologies offers unprecedented protection to help prevent concussions. Even at the highest levels of the game, equipment managers are realizing the value of the new helmet. For the University of Denver men’s ice hockey team, any player who previously has suffered a concussion is required to wear the new helmet while the others are allowed the option to choose between the Re-Akt and the 4500. The university is not the only place that has adopted this strategy either, many teams across the NHL, AHL, and the NCAA have also implemented similar mandates to ensure their players safety as well.
Unfortunately, the innovative technology does come at a high price. Most retail stores carry the helmet for roughly $200 online. It is difficult to find an equal comparison on the market today; their competitors simply do not have a helmet that offers the protection, let alone the looks, of the Re-Akt. However, the top-of-the-line helmets offered by Reebok and Easton are in the $150-$160 range. While ice hockey can be a very expensive sports and families should look to cut costs where they can, head safety should be of utmost importance. While a broken wrist or torn ligaments will heal with time, concussions have lasting effects on players’ lives and there is no reason to leave any player at risk for suffering a life altering injury.
The new safety technologies, combined with the improved style are enough to override the cost charged for the helmet. For your money, as well as your safety, there is not a better helmet on the market today than the Re-Akt.
Hockey Monthly 