Bauer Vapor Shoulder Pads: Vapor wasn’t always synonymous with crap
Written: Jul 14 '04 (Updated Jul 14 '04)
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Pros: Adjustable for perfect fit, something kids rarely get
Cons: They stopped making them
The Bottom Line: This was the perfect balance between room to grow and fit, too bad Bauer dropped them
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| puckmugger's Full Review: Bauer Vapor X-Act Jr. Shoulder Pads 1010873 |
So far all of the Bauer “Vapor” gear that I’ve reviewed has garnered a well deserved low rating. It has become the most overpriced junk in the industry. Bauer has simply been cutting corners to make their gear lighter. The quality has suffered immensely as the result. However, if there is one line that I miss from the Vapor segment it is the X-Act protective.
▪ What is X Act?
X Act, creative marketing spin for “exact” is a customizable fit system that Bauer created for some of their protective gear. Let’s face it, youth hockey is a very expensive endeavor. If your child plays on a travel team, you’re already dishing out thousands of dollars annually without having to replace gear regularly.
Bauer come up with an adjustable fit system for their shin pads and shoulder pads that would allow them to last a couple seasons longer than typical. This was the essence of X Act.
▪ Did it work?
In fact the Bauer Vapor gear with X Act was pretty much the opposite of the tripe that has the Vapor stamp on it now. Rather than being designed with blind ambition for Lighter and Faster (with Stronger being stamped alongside as a bald faced lie for good measure), the old Vapor gear really was made to last.
The shin guards were adjustable up to a couple inches which might be enough for a typical kid to go three or four seasons. The shoulder pads were adjustable as well. This wasn’t as simple a task as making shin pads longer, but typically parents could expect at least one extra season from them.
▪ How did the shouder pads work?
Velcro tabs allowed the actual shoulder cups to be moved outward for a range of perhaps two inches. The center chest protector had a large Velcro strip in front and back that allowed the entire piece to expand for growing players.
While I mention that parents might expect a single extra season from the shoulder pads, it is conceivable that many kids played much longer in the Vapor X Act shoulders. Between the adjustable shoulder cups and the chest adjustments, there was a good three or four inches of room for growth shoulder to shoulder.
▪ Protection Level/Comfort
The best thing to me about the adjustable pads is that they encouraged a proper fit. Most parents will shop with a “Junior will grow into it” approach. While I cannot blame them for not wanting to spend another $500+ annually, the question remains, “What happens to junior in the meantime?”
For protective gear to work properly it has to fit properly. For parents to not go broke, they need the peace of mind of room to grow. The Vapor X Act was the perfect solution. The adjustability of these shoulder pads with X Act fit made them safer for the kids and easier for parents.
Further, the pads had to be more comfortable for kids since they fit properly. Instead of going from something that they were swimming in one season to something that barely fit the next, they had the adjustability to make the gear fit.
Bauer did a great job with the entire X Act line. The quality of the gear was as good or better than anything else available for kids. Padding was sufficient with generous ABS shoulders and good back, chest and belly protection.
▪ Why is this in past tense?
Unfortunately Bauer dropped the entire X Act line. Why? I cannot say for certain, but given the quality of their newer items, I suspect that there wasn’t enough planned obsolescence engineered into these. Bauer’s new philosophy of SFL (Suckier, Faster Lighter) seems like a plan to part customers with their money by making sure they need new stuff sooner. It might work very well . . . for CCM.
If you can find a pair in the right size for your kid, by all means buy them. They were the best choice in shoulder pads for growing players when Bauer made them, and they still are today.
Some of my other reviews that you might find helpful:
Fitting and Selecting Hockey Protective Gear
Bauer Vapor XX Skates
Bauer Vapor XX Stick
Jofa Shoulder Pads
Recommended:
Yes
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