Bauer Vapor Hyperlite Catcher & Blocker Review
When replacing a line as popular as the 2X Pro, Bauer had some big shoes to fill; with the new Hyperlite line they took what made the previous generation Vapor gear great and brought it to the next level.
Bauer Vapor Hyperlite Blocker
While the expression a blocker is a blocker runs true, in recent years Bauer has been setting the bar high on how a blocker should perform and the Hyperlite is no exception. With even harder rebounds, more weight savings and a more comfortable palm.
Blocking Board
In recent years, Bauer has been known to have some of the most reactive blockers that can routinely pop pucks up into the stands with ease. For the Hyperlite blocker, Bauer has created a new core called their Rebound Boost Core which is used in conjunction with their tried and true Curv Composite to create a blocker that produces insanely quick rebounds off the face. The new core has allowed them to even further thin out the profile of the blocker board creating an even lighter blocker. Bauer elected to keep the same overall shape as the 2X Pro with the same more gradual curve than that seen on the Supreme blockers.
Side Plate
The Hyperlite blocker uses a Catchlite side wall which is a thin composite material sewn and laced into the face of the blocker. Despite how thin the side wall is, due to the full composite construction, it is extremely stiff and doesn’t flex or bend when hit with pucks while also being ergonomically shaped in order to fit closely to the body without interfering with the chest guard.
Palm and Finger Protection
The palm of the Hyperlite blocker is Bauer’s new Connekt+ which is a combination of a soft nash material with thin pockets of added padding for comfort when holding the stick and a neoprene like material on the sides and backhand of the glove itself. The back of the fingertips have foam added to them to give a bit of extra protection against those shots that take an odd bounce and miss the large Poron lined finger guards. Each finger with the exception of the index finger is individually velcro adjustable allowing goalies to adjust how the larger finger guards sit more precisely. The thumb protector uses a molded guard also lined with Poron for better impact protection along with a thumb pillow to absorb the impact of sidewall shots. A velcro removable pad is located by the index finger that helps to stop pucks from riding up the stick injuring the goalie's hand. The nice thing about the index finger protection on the Hyperlite blocker is that it’s designed in a way that adds protection without making it difficult to hold the stick which is a common problem with designs used by other manufacturers.
Cuff
Another area of the Hyperlite blocker that Bauer tweaked is the cuff. The redundant leather strap that attaches the sidewall to the blocker board is gone as it serves little to no purpose. For goalies worried about wrist protection Bauer has you covered, they added a more structured Aerolite cuff in order to protect the goalies wrist from errant pucks, sticks and whatever else may come their way. The cuff itself is now more flared out and wider with an elastic attachment to the blocker board allowing for an improved range of motion over the 2X Pro
Bauer Vapor Hyperlite Catcher
With a one piece cuff and 60-degree break angle, the Hyperlite catcher keeps the traditional Vapor recipe while making subtle changes and improvements that make it without a doubt one of the most comfortable gloves on the wall.
Palm Protection
One area of the glove Bauer looked to make some changes was in the palm. While the 2X Pro felt fairly thin and light on protection in some areas, the Hyperlite addresses all those issues. A new Catchlite palm adds structure and is built up with Curv Composite for added protection as well as layers of Poron that work to absorb impacts.
Rather than sticking with the same offset single T pocket seen on the 2X Pro, the Hyperlite features a double T which helps keep the glove stay more open and presented to the shooter. Bauer also uses their Catchlite material in the T in order to give it more structure resisting premature breakdown while still allowing for a quick snappy closure.
Internals and Adjustments
Bauer continues to use their Catchgrip material throughout the internals of the glove. Being that it is a textured material it gives goalies a bit of extra grip making the glove feel secure on the hand with no risk of it slipping off mid game. The Hyperlite also has a few tweaks when it comes to strapping and adjustments on the backhand of the glove. A velcro adjustable neoprene-like flap extends from the finger stalls back over the knuckle allowing goalies to get a tighter fit in this region that doesn’t sacrifice the closure due to the elasticity of the material.
Closure and Feel
Between the Hyperlite and the 2X Pro, not much has changed when it comes to the break however, there are a few notable differences when it comes to feel. While the closure on the 2X Pro is more driven by the fingers where due to how much deeper the Hyperlite sits on the hand, it features more of a full hand closure getting the thumb involved allowing the glove to snap closed with ease. The break itself is still the same 60 degree angle seen in previous generation Vapor gloves giving the Hyperlite a full hand “fingers to base of the thumb” style closure that feels natural and comfortable on the hand.
Final Thoughts
All in all, Bauer hit it out of the park with their new Vapor gloves, making subtle tweaks and changing what was needed without losing the feel of the 2X Pro that goalies loved.
Reviewed By: Cedric Hastings
Check out the Bauer Vapor Hyperlite Leg Pad Review
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