Bauer Vapor 1X Stick Reviewed
Overview:
Based on the amount of questions we’ve been getting from customers in store lately, the Bauer Vapor 1X is already a hot seller. The stick looks great and Bauer Vapor sticks have always performed really well. So what makes this stick different than last year’s Bauer APX2 or any other high end composite stick?
Bauer describes the Vapor 1X as the "ideal stick for the crafty player that excels in puck handling and quick release shots". Normally we see a statement like this and chalk it up to typical industry jargon…but the description is bang on.
Early on ice feedback includes one of our testers calling it the best puck feel in a composite blade, and everybody agrees that it might be the best low kick release on the market. That’s pretty heavy praise to start with so let’s take a closer look at what makes it tick.
1New Aggressive Taper:
(QRT) Quick Release Technology is Bauer’s new aggressive taper design. Optimized to load and recoil energy in the lower part of the shaft allowing a player to get their shot off as fast as possible. By lowering the taper even further than the Vapor Apx2, the 1X is ideal for quick motion snap or slap shots.
2New Blade Profile:
This very smart new design sees an expanded throat on the blade profile. This helps reduce the amount of blade deflection (the twisting or opening of the blade while shooting), improving blade control and delivering increased shooting accuracy.
3Aero-Sense 2 Blade:
A new dual density foam core construction that Bauer is calling Aero-Sense 2 gives the blade it’s light and crisp feel. This combination foam is lightweight, improving the overall balance of the stick.
The puck sticks to blade mind-blowingly well when stickhandling and effectively reduces puck bounce on hard passes. One of our testers couldn’t explain it but swears the puck just sticks to the blade like a magnet.
The blade also retains strong torsional stability for that quick release that the Vapor APX and APX2 are known for.
Some familiar technical features:
Micro Feel 2 Shaft
Subtly rounded corners and double concave shaft walls. Gives a nice tapered feel for players that don’t want a traditional square box shaped shaft.
Monocomp
This is Bauer’s single molding process designed to remove excess material like overlapping layers, resin and foam waste. In summary – improving the balance of the stick and reducing the overall weight.
TeXtreme
A new silver Textreme is featured exclusively on the Vapor 1X. Exclusive to Bauer in hockey, Textreme is an ultra lightweight carbon fiber that is 20% lighter than conventional carbon.
eLASTech
Bauer’s proprietary resin system with carbon nanotube reinforcements. Designed to increase durability by reducing the spread of micro-fractures caused by slashes and puck impacts.
Feel like making your mind numb? …do a little research on carbon nanotubes:
Pricing, Patterns & Flexes:
Summary:
| SIZE | FINISH | FLEX | AVAILABLE PATTERNS | LINK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior | Smooth | 102, 95, 87, 77 | P92, P88, PM9, P14, P106, P91A, P92 Lie 5, P02, P28 | More Info |
| Senior | Grip | 102, 95, 87, 77 | P92, P88, PM9, P14, P106, P91A, P92 Lie 5, P02, P28 | More Info |
| Intermediate | Smooth | 67, 60 | P92, P88, PM9, P14, P106, P91A, P92 Lie 5, P02, P28 | More Info |
| Intermediate | Grip | 67, 60 | P92, P88, PM9, P14, P106, P91A, P92 Lie 5, P02, P28 | More Info |
| Junior | Smooth | 50, 45 | P92, P88, PM9, P14 | More Info |
| Junior | Grip | 50, 45 | P92, P88, PM9, P14 | More Info |
Final Thoughts
The Vapor 1X is a pretty slick stick. If you’re a fan of Vapor sticks and you can afford the price tag, you’ll absolutely love this stick. For those that haven’t tried a higher end Bauer stick in a while or are just looking for a quick release/low kick stick this would be a great stick to put in your hands. Stay tuned for our upcoming blogs where we’ll be reviewing the rest of the 2015 Vapor stick line up, including our Source for Sports Exclusive models – X-Shift, X-Velocity and X-Select. Unfortunately, as per Bauer’s distribution policy, the Bauer Vapor 1X is only available for in store pick up
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