I have been using the
TOP-TEN Avant Guard Training Headgear for a while now and figured it was time for a review.
Ordering & Service:
I bought this headgear through the school where I train. Availability in the USA is limited; the only two distributors I could find were:
www.topten-usa.com (they still have the older model pictured)
www.toptencanada.com (they ship to the US)
The school owner ended up ordering a few to try from the Canadian site (He said they were easier to deal with.), and I purchased one of these “Demo’s” at a discount. List price is $99 to $110.00.
Appearance & Construction:
The headgear itself is a single piece of molded Bayflex, a trademarked formulation of Polyurethane. (
http://www.pu.bayer.com/db/pu/pu_cms.../id/bayflex_en)
The material feels like a semi-soft rubber with a smooth skin. It is difficult to describe, less spongy than the foam in a boxing glove, not nearly as hard as a tire.
The wall thickness of the polyurethane varies from about 1/4" (ear guard bars) to just over 3/4” (front of head & temples). The headgear weighed in at 16.6 oz. on my kitchen scale.
There are two heavy-duty, 3/4" wide, adjustable Velcro straps, one under the chin and one at the back. These straps are set up in an “S” hook fashion so they can be pulled tight and fastened easily with one hand. The fixed side of each strap is also attached with Velcro, so they can be removed for cleaning, repair, or replacement.
Fit:
Unfortunately, the training model, with the cheek protection, is only available in Medium. My head measures 22-1/2” and the Medium fits very well. I would guess there is more adjustment than the chart suggests, or one has the option of getting a competition model, which are available in any size.
The guard does not move very much, if at all, during stand-up training, and is not bad even on the ground provided the straps are tight enough. Inside the helmet there are a few raised areas with extra cushioning, such as the forehead, and these pressure points sometimes create a little minor discomfort if cinched too tight; it’s not bad but takes some getting used to. I only pull it this tight when practicing takedowns, groundwork, etc.
There are plenty of vent holes in the top, keeping things unexpectedly cool. I was also surprised that sweat in the eyes has not been much of a problem even though there is no absorbent material.
Visibility is great, really no worse than without headgear. The guard is molded with a beveled edge around the eye opening to minimize any protrusion that would affect peripheral vision.
Protection:
In fairness, I do not train full contact and I have not worn other headgear as a base for comparison; however, the TOP-TEN headgear makes a huge difference. The sensation of taking a hard hit feels as if the energy is distributed evenly over the entire area of the head more so than just being absorbed by padding. There is still sharpness to the hit, but it dissipates in an instant, with only a small fraction of the “damage” or after effects.
This headgear was highly recommended by the instructor and students of an affiliated school, where they practice with heavy contact more often and have trained pro and amateur fighters. There are also approvals from many combat sports organizations (e.g.
http://www.pankration.homestead.com/...ctstopten.html), so I am confident the protection offered is at least as good as anything else available.
Protection extends around the back of the head and even up over the top, although the padding is thinner up top.
Just as a side note, the low profile of the headgear makes the nose a little more exposed, but thicker padding would reduce the visibility. A plexiglass face shield is also available, but I have never seen nor tried one.
Conclusion:
I am very pleased with my investment in this headgear. The primary features are great protection, low profile, no moving around, and unobstructed vision. As a bonus, it is sanitary, wipes clean, and should last forever.
The only arguable downside is the price, but at least TOP-TEN offers something unique in the molded Bayflex construction for the added cost.
Pros:
Good Protection
Low Profile
Stays Put
Unobstructed Vision
Sanitary
Durable
Cons:
Price
Only available in Size Medium
Some may not like the Bayflex material
(Only available in Black – for the fashion concerned)
