Bauer 5000 Hockey Helmet: This thing has wings!
Written: Apr 17 '04 (Updated Oct 05 '05)
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Pros: Good lightweight protection
Cons: some adjustment and durability issues
The Bottom Line: The 5000 isn't the helmet for my head, but if it fits you better than its peers, I would recommend it.
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| puckmugger's Full Review: Bauer 5000 Ice Hockey Helmet |
There are only a couple hockey helmets on the market that offer better levels of protection than the Bauer 5000. These are Nike’s Quest, with inflatable air bladders and Mission’s Carbon Fiber Carbster. Nike discontinued the Quest after Mario Lemieux was the only person to buy one (99% of hockey players I personally surveyed thought it looked like something George Jetson might have worn to play hockey). Mission’s Carbster costs a great deal more than the Bauer 5000. So just where does this leave the Bauer 5000 among its peers?
About the 5000
Bauer’s 5000 is their top of the line helmet. Like most hockey helmets, it utilizes an ABS plastic shell that is adjustable. CCM and Bauer both introduced helmets that could be adjusted without tools in 2002. CCM had since gone away from this design, but the 5000 still utilizes a no tool adjustment feature.
To change the size of the 5000, there are a pair of black plastic “wings” that flip up on either side of the helmet. Once these tabs are open, the helmet can be opened or closed giving a custom fit in length and a slight increase or decrease in width. The best method to adjust a helmet is to open it all the way, put it on and close it until it is comfortable.
The padding in the Bauer 5000 is a material called EPP. While it looks cheap - much like black Styrofoam - EPP is the lightest, most impact absorbent material currently being used in hockey helmets. EPP offers superior concussion protection to traditional Vinyl Nitrate liners and dual density foam liners.
The EPP is the inner layer of the padding. Atop that, there is a vinyl covered softer foam padding that adds comfort to the fit of the 5000. Bauer claims that this material has memory properties that will allow it to conform to the shape of the player’s head. Also, this portion of the liner is applied with an antibacterial application to inhibit odor, mold and mildew.
The 5000 features removable earpieces and loop style, sling chinstraps – a loop around each ear attaches the chin strap, rather than a single point strap connecting directly to the helmet. This makes changing the strap easier when it breaks.
The Bauer 5000 also has unique shell sizes for all three helmet sizes – Small, Medium and Large. Some competitor models utilize a single shell size and vary the thickness of the padding to accommodate various head sizes.
My thoughts on the 5000
The Bauer 5000 is a bit narrower than the CCM 1052 and the Itech 100 which are its closest competitors. I find it to be the least comfortable, not entirely because it is narrow, but because of the vinyl covered foam which I felt was a little uncomfortable.
CCM dropped the no tool adjustment feature because it made their helmet a little wider. Cosmetics have always played a role in helmet selection (the truth is out, you forwards are just as vain as we goalies are). The Bauer 5000 still uses the adjustable tabs and this does make the 5000 a shade wider than the 4000 which uses screws for adjustments.
Further the adjustment wings are prone to breakage. Note that the NHL players on TV wearing Bauer 5000 helmets have a white metal part instead of plastic wings. Bauer is very good about providing replacement parts free of charge on this issue, but the truth is that you almost never need to readjust you helmet. Head swelling is only a noticeable issue for players scoring more than 5 goals in a single game.
So the adjustable feature has two negative effects on the helmet. It is less likely to pass the mirror test than the Itech 100 and CCM 1052. The Bauer 5000 is prone to breakage.
Bauer’s helmets are also very difficult to adjust regardless of the use of no tool or regular systems. The ratchet system is very tight and takes a Herculean effort to move. When selling helmets to people it was sometimes very difficult to get the helmet open. Further, it was often impossible to close the helmet to proper size on their head without fear of causing them a neck injury. Lastly, because they are so difficult to move, they often close slightly askew.
Now that all of the complaints are out of the way, this is still a helmet that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. All of the complaints I have about this helmet involve fit and adjustment. Fit is a very subjective thing. I don’t find the 5000 to be comfortable, but that doesn’t mean that someone else won’t like it better than the Itech 100 that I chose as my forward helmet.
The adjustment issues, while annoying, are a one-time deal for adults. Unless you expect your head to substantially change size, you will only need to adjust the helmet one time. Even the rather fragile tabs are only prone to breakage when you have to adjust the helmet, so this is not a major issue.
For kids who do still have growing heads, I would be somewhat more hesitant to recommend this helmet from purely the adjustment issue.
As far as protection and durability, as mentioned in the first paragraph there are only two helmets that will exceed the 5000 in either of those areas. Both are getting hard to find and generally cost more money.
Final Recommendations
CCM and Itech certainly have some advantages over the 5000, but they aren’t significant enough to be the sole decision maker. Safety in all three models is very comparable with no helmet having an edge over the others.
As with skates, helmets need to fit properly in order to work. A loose fitting helmet will not only be uncomfortable, but dangerous. Comfort is almost as much of an issue as safety with helmets. If you are more comfortable in the Bauer 5000 than the CCM 1052 or Itech 100, I would recommend that you buy one.
© Scott Noble – Unauthorized use prohibited
A few of my other reviews that you might find helpful:
Hockey Mask and Cage Buying Guide
Fitting and Selecting Hockey Protective Gear
Itech HC100 Helmet
Itech FX 50 Facial Protection
Recommended:
Yes
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