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I find significant improvements in hockey equipment to be quite infrequent. I stopped playing competitively a dozen years ago and my gear from then was not much worse than what you can get now. Sticks rapidly improved in function and durability the first handful of years when one pieces came out, but the last half a dozen of years there hasn't been much improvement. I've heard helmets have improved, but for no check, I don't really care about that. Stuff is lighter, but often trivially so. Seems most yearly updates are a color change and "upgrade" from SUPER ProTec Foam to ELITE ProTec Foam! So in summary, I don't see much reason to upgrade when you get your gear dialed in. And even playing pretty regularly most stuff should last a few years. I do get excited by certain older gear in good shape. Old Eagle gloves, CCM HT2 helmet that must be paired with a Jofa 381 cage (currently looking for a black one, much harder to find than white), NOS righty senior replacement stick blades in an acceptable curve (seems like they are as rare as hen's teeth these days), game worn or practice jerseys from the '90's, etc.

You know your gear is old when your pants and shoulder pads are branded NikeBauer as mine are. No need to get anything new there. The old Reebok 7K elbows are fine and Nexus 600 shins are good enough. I did get new FT1 skates a year ago after the Supreme NXG died after 5 years. I used to rotate my gloves but now wear the same pair of 2015 CCM 4 rolls every game. As long as the palms are good, why bother switching. As a buyer for the shop, I think that innovation in gear upgrades peaked quite a while ago. So many items were just reskinned after every 2 year product life cycle, that it was just blah. I know the guys on the inside at Bauer and CCM will want to crosscheck me for that comment but I can speak softly and carry a big stick. I do believe that one thing to consider in terms of skate tech/improvements is that as Bauer was blowing up financially and at management levels, a lot of their key leaders in R D & D and skate design were let go. This downsizing in staff and financial resources had to have some impact. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't worry about it. However, I don't see the innovation that was happening 10-12 years ago in skate design by the leader in the category.

I now only get excited for gear by reading through the 188 pages (and counting) of the VH/True skate thread.

We've already read about the story about 10 times now.

Exciting: Finding Eagle/Warrior/MIA/TPS gloves from the mid to late 2000s, or heel curve sticks that aren’t made anymore. Not exciting: The latest iteration of a P92 stick with a new paint job and gimmick taper.

Perhaps, I think I will bring it to the local tailor and she what she might be able to do.

All of my protective is either Jofa or Reebok or CCM derivatives. My shins are Reebok 20K which are about the only shins that I found that my knees fit comfortable in them. My Jofa/Reebok shoulders are one of the two types of XXL shoulder pads that I've found and they're built like a tank. My Jofa ASD7000 elbows look ancient but are built like a tank, as well. I also have a pair of CCM Tacks 7092 and other than some improved materials, look and feel like the Jofa and Jofa/Reebok elbow pads that everyone covets.

I agree, you can only improve some things so much. I'm rocking Tackla Air 9000 pants which look like at 20-30 year old design I can't see myself using anything else.

Right now I'm only looking for vintage stuff. Koho, Jofa, Tackla ... everything I love about 90s hockey gear.

I too had the sound in one skate. It sounded like plastic rubbing, but I didn’t notice it very much on ice. I attributed it to being new holders settling in, as the noise gradually lessened. Try removing the blade completely and reseating it. I know when I changed to Blacksteel from regular Step the noise went away completely. Here’s the vid:

I think bc of how long the skates are in the oven it obviously has some affect on the holders especially if you're not careful and put more weight on it than u should during the heat moulding process. Try a very thin piece of Teflon or scotch tape. As thin as u can go to eliminate the noise. If it weren't for the noise would you notice the movement while skating? If not, then it's likely not causing any issues anyway. Are both holders like this?

Hi Dave. Didn't realize you changed your name on here. There must be 3500+ pro, college, and junior players that are using figure skates to play hockey then...

I guess that thread is pretty polarizing - reading it makes me want to quit hockey/MSH altogether. 🤣

New soakers ALWAYS make you happy! 😁

Got the job, starting after WF.

Nice, I need new elbow pads and would like to get new shins as well and am looking for something lower profile. Looks like this is a really attractive option.