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althoma1

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Everything posted by althoma1

  1. I have no experience with the MLX skates so I didn't know that, but to clarify, do you mean 8 minutes per skate? I can't imagine you'd turn or flip the skates if unless you're using a traditional oven as opposed to a skate oven (even then with a convection oven I wouldn't think there'd be a need to flip/turn them). If it's only 8 minutes per skate that's certainly far less extreme than putting both skates in for 16 minutes.
  2. This IW blog has some interesting information on the Mako skate: http://blog.icewarehouse.com/ It suggests that the Mako will have a limited release in early 2013. It also notes that the skate will use an "Extendon guard" which seems similar to what was on the MLX skate and the flexible tendon guard on the NXG skate. The reference to 16 minutes of baking time is surprising. I skate in KORs which are baked 10-12 minutes, but most skates are baked for 5 minutes or less. 16 minutes has to be a new all time high. A lot of other interesting information is mentioned regarding the skate build and technology. It's a good read. One thing that isn't mentioned is the available sizes. I know the MLX was only available in full sizes and one width, but I expect Easton will offer both standard and wide widths as well as half sizes. I'll definitely be curious to try these on when I get the chance. They're certainly intriguing.
  3. Yes, I've seen them on ebay and I can't justify paying what they're going for so I just stick with my plain navy or black shells for now. If I ever see one like that for a bargain price I'd grab it though.
  4. Beautiful pants. I think I'm a permanent girdle user now, but I'd love to grab a shell with that colour scheme.
  5. That's what I feared based on trying them on in the store. They felt amazing in the fingers and backroll, but the cuff felt restrictive. The elbow pads were not a factor for me though (had on large 2012 projekt elbows with 14" projekt gloves), but perhaps that's just due to differn forearm lengths/hand sizes. I had no overlap with the new Projekt gloves and the new elbow pads. I do have a bit of overlap with the old Projekt gloves and both the new and old Projekt elbows, but that cuff is more open so it's not a problem. Hopefully the cuffs break in nicely for you or you get accustomed to the feel.
  6. Yeah, I tried the new Projekt gloves on again the other day and compared them head to head with the old Projekt gloves. The backroll on the new ones felt more streamlined (doesn't stick out as much) and the palm feels really nice. The backroll and fingers felt like they were already broken in, but the thumb did feel slightly stiff. The biggest difference is the cuff - the old gloves opened up at the cuff, but these new Projekts are very tight in the cuff area. Flexing forward isn't a problem or moving side to side, but when flexing up and back (like you would for a backhand shot, move or pass) the cuff feels tight. I did try them on with the new Projekt elbows and put one of the new gloves on one hand and the old model on the other - there was a slight overlap with the old gloves and the slash guards of the elbows, but this wasn't a problem since the cuff opened up. With the same size new Projekts (14") there was no overlap with the slash guards of the elbows (but virtually no gap either) - so the cuffs are tighter and also a bit shorter (maybe 1.5 to 2 inches). I know my old One90s have a tighter cuff too, but they're quite flexible as well. Perhaps that's just because they've seen a lot of use and are very broken in. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the cuff after you've used them in game situations Optimus. The colour scheme is definitely very nice.
  7. I can't believe you didn't just jump on them for $15. That's a steal as is, but hey, if he was willing to sell them for $10 then good for you. Great deal.
  8. Congrats - run the audio/music, watch some hockey in between and get paid. Sounds like a good gig and like you said, your foot is in the door.
  9. Yes, the fit sounds ideal and and the skate looks good, but I'd definitely rather have a Sprung setup than an all 80 flat chassis. A conversion could of course be done, but that's of course there's more time and money involved there.
  10. For those considering the Tron socks, I recieved mine yesterday and used a pair in a pick up game. I also own RBK Edge retail socks, Nike Swift socks and Kamazu socks. The Tron socks are shorter, thinner and lighter than both the Kamazu and RBK socks. They're similar in length to the Nike Swift socks, but the material feels thinner than the Swift socks and the swift socks open up more around the thighs. I noticed they updated the description on the Tron site to say that the socks will fit someone up to 6'1". That's pretty accurate - I'm 6'2" and they're just barely long enough for me and they're definitely much tighter than both the Kamazu and RBK socks. They're almost as tight as the Nike Swift socks around the shin guards (but not quite) and are tighter than any of the socks, including the Nike Swift socks, around the thighs. I'm fine with them being tight around the shins, but I wish the thigh opening at the top was a little bigger or that the elastic stretched a little more. However, after playing for a bit I didn't really notice the tightness around the thighs so perhaps they broke in a little. They feel slicker/thinner than the other socks which made me think they may be more prone to cuts, however; there were no cuts or tears in the pair I used last night. If you want something really light, that doesn't hold water, breathes well and you don't mind a tight fit then these seem to be a good buy. However; if you're a taller/bigger guy and feel that the retail Edge socks are about as tight as you'd want to go then you may want to look elsewhere.
  11. I'm happy the hear that. When I was lucky enough to be drawn for the Wings tickets tonight in the Warrior draw, but told Keith I was leaving yesterday he first offered me a stick, but didn't have any RH sticks left (and he couldn't part with the Gionta Widow I was demoing). I then chose the Projekts over the Warrior Franchises he had available. I know there's a lot of love for Franchises based on what I've read here and I also know the MSRP is higher on Franchise gloves, but I like a tighter fit so based on that preference chose the Projekts. I know you have a lot of experience with a lot of products at the rep level and definitely respect your opionion. I know some will think I'm crazy for going with Projekts over Franchise gloves - the fact that you are impressed with them makes me feel less crazy :). Of course, I feel fortunate to have won anything - I would've enjoyed the event either way (I did all the other years and I didn't win anything those years), but the gloves were a very nice bonus. I also liked the Luxe gloves - they're definitely much looser than the Projekts, but not as loose as the Franchise glove. They felt very comfortable and like they'd need no break in time at all. I'd post pictures of the Projekts I won, but they're exactly the same as the ones Buzz posted so that would be a little redundant.
  12. Thanks...I'll definitely be looking at silent auctions at any event I attend from now on. That's a fantastic deal - the gloves look like new. Congrats.
  13. Where exactly in London was this? At the souvenier shop at the John Labatt centre? I just want to know so I can take a look at whatever store it was the next time I'm in London visiting family.
  14. Kor Shift 1 - size 8.5D Time used: 4+ years (2 pairs - one for just over 2 years and one for 2 years) Reviewer: 6'2" 210lbs, beer league forward Fit They felt tight in the forefoot area before baking, but fit perfectly after baking. With my first pair I felt I wasn't getting enough forward flex after the first bake so I rebaked them and leaned forward more when standing and squatting (as part of the process outlined in the KOR thread) and that worked like a charm. I have never experienced any pain or discomfort in the Shift 1's after baking. They fit so well that if they come untied during a game I usually don't notice until someone else points it out - that definitely wasn't the case in previous skates. Due to the great fit with zero negative space, I believe the perform better for me than traditional skates and are at the same time very comfortable. 10/10 Blade/Holder - The ability to experiment with the pitch is a great bonus. The steel is also hard and keeps an edge well. I've used the Pitch 3 holders on all my ice skates in the past 4 years and the only drawback has been on a couple of them it's been difficult to adjust the pitch (the screws dont' want to pop all the way back into place on some settings) and a breeze with others. I've also experienced burnt heels a few times when sharpeners haven't been patient enough to take their time with the harder Mission steel, but that isn't the blade's fault. 9/10 Weight - These aren't the lightest skates out there, but they aren't the heaviest either. At approximately 800 grams I'm happy with the weight especially when combined with the great fit 8/10 Protection - I've taken a few shots off the skate and most of the time I don't feel it, but I did feel a sting a few times and was left with a bit of soreness and bruising once. I haven't broken any bones in my feet while wearing these or missed any time due to foot injuries. The same can't be said of team mates who were hit with similar shots and were wearing other skates. 9.5/10 Durability - The first pair I had were used exclusively for over 2 years. After about a year in the first pair the tendon guards started to seperate from the boot and they had also lost all their stiffness. I managed to fix the small tears in the tendon guards with crazy glue a couple times - I'm sure a cobbler would've done a better job, but my crazy glue fix did last a few months each time and the tear didn't get any bigger. In the same time, the skate did get quite a few cuts in the shiney silver area and also started to chip where the toe cap meets the carbon sole. After close to two years the carbon and toe cap were really seperating - I could tug on the toe cap and a good 3mm of space would be apparent. The carbon part of the boot was still stiff, but the uppers were pretty soft and the skates were looking pretty beat up. At this point I retired the original Shift 1's and moved on to my second pair. Shortly after moving to my second pair I picked up a pair for Shift 2's and have been alternating between those two so the second pair hasn't seen as much use as the first. However, even though the second pair isn't as well used the seperation at the toe cap has already started and the tendon guards, while still attached, have lost all their stiffness. 7/10 Intangibles: I really like the built in fully moldable insoles - it makes the possibility of replacing the holders slim, but I have no need or intention of doing that (I'm stocked up on Pitch 3 holders and blades in my size). Conclusion - These fit great, perform well for me, and were a great bargain (especially the additional pairs I picked up after the first one). I obviously like them or I wouldn't have bought multiple pears of Shift 1's as well as Shift 2's. I'd recommend them if you can still find a pair in your size, but you may have to have the tendon guards repaired or reinforced at some point and it's likely the toe cap will seperate eventually. The toe cap seperation did take about 2 years of skating 2 or 3 times a week to happen for me so for the price you may be able to find these for it's still a great deal if you can get a couple years out of them. Overall 8.5/10
  15. Nike V10 Shoulder Pads Time used: 1 year Reviewer: 6'2", 210lbs, 43" chest, non-contact beer league forward Fit The size large fit very comfortably and the pads had great mobility. 9/10 Protection The protection around the ribs was lacking as the middle of the pads was quite narrow. This isn't a shot blockers pad. The rest of the protection was more than enough for beer league, but I didn't test them out under full contact conditions. 7/10 Weight Light weight for a second tier pad although not as light as some recent offerings. 8/10 Durability They held up well for a year with the exception of some of the stitching coming out of one of the shoulder caps. 9/10 Intangibles There was no grip print, but they didn't move around alot. There were no vents like in the modern Bauer pads, but the cut was slim in both the front and back so they didn't get too hot. Conclusion These are very mobile, light pads that I'd recommend for a non-contact player who wants something on for incidental contact, but doesn't want anything bulky. I wouldn't recommend these for shot blockers or those who want a lot of rib protection. Overall 8/10
  16. BAUER ONE90 SHIN GUARDS Time used: 2 years Reviewer: 6'2" 210lbs, beer league forward Fit I picked these up from a fellow member after one of the knee caps cracked on my Nike V14 pads. The One90s were definitely more comfortable when I first put them on, but even when done up tightly they moved around a little which didn't happen with the V14s. I had to use tape to make them fit more securely. It's a narrow fitting pad compared to other top end pads like RBK/Jofa and the very bottom indents - I wore them under the tongue. The size I wore was 15", but that left a gap between the top of my boot and the skate - this isn't a problem with the pads themselves, but I should've been using 16" pads for more complete protection. 8/10 Protection I was hit a couple times in the gap just above the skate and just under the calf protector, but that was my own fault for wearing one size smaller than I should have. I didn't have any non-size related issues with the protection, but I definitely don't block a lot of shots. 9/10 Weight For a high end pad with a good amount of protection it's pretty light. 9/10 Durability The outside of the pads did scuff and the graphics wore off in some places, but that was purely cosmetic. I did hear of people having knee cap issues with these pads and that happened to me with the Nike V14s that I believe used the same caps, but it didn't happen with One90 pads. Some of the stitching in the middle of the removable liner came out, but I did wash the linters once or twice a week for about 2 years so they were pretty durable. 8/10 Intangibles I like the removeable liner and the grip print on the pads. The removable liner combined with airing the pads out and/or running them through the Shock Doctor blower bag I have helped keep germs and stink away. Conclusion These are good, light weight, comfortable pads. The knee caps may not last for everyone and the strapping system could be even more secure, but overall I was satisfied with the pads for the time I used them. The only reason I stopped using them was due to a sizing error on my part - I really needed 16" pads. Overall 8/10
  17. It's too bad Warrior didn't come to the MSH Summer Jam. As it was, it was an amazing event, but it would've been great to be able to try that Gionta curve head to head vs. the Smyth curve I'm using in my main sticks/shafts now. It seems the lie is the same as the Smyth (which is my preferred lie), but the curve definitely doesn't look to be as deep and it starts more toward the toe. At this point I can roll the dice and just buy a stick or blade with the curve and hope I like it or hope someone I play with gets one and is kind enough to let me handle the puck with it for a few minutes and fire off a couple wrist shots. I would've also loved to try the Projekt gloves as I currently have Bauer One90s and like the tight fit. Eventually the One90s will need to be replaced and it'll likely be with another tight fitting glove. I had the opportunity to demo the X60 and RBK 10K at the event (as well as try on the One95) and am thankful for that, but being able to compare the latest tight fitting Warrior glove at the same time would've been ideal. Oh well, for now I'll just follow JRs long term review closely and try them on in store once they're released.
  18. How did you get your hands (no pun intented) on those Projekts? I saw them in the Holiday catalogue which lead me to believe they wouldn't be out for several more months.
  19. Great effort all around against the Pens this afternoon. Trotter and Desharnais had a hell of a game and were impressive call ups. I saw Trotter play in the AHL vs. the Marlies when he was first signed and he was one of the players that stood out (another was Mitchell who was playing for the Marlies at the time and is now on the Leafs full time). It's taken him some time to crack the lineup, but he didn't look out of place at all - the between the legs backhand pass he made to Desharnais just after he tipped the puck off the post was phenomenal. Hopefully the team effort carries over into tomorrow's game.
  20. Well, I think the intent there was to not run up the score further. I don't think you would've appreciated them continuing to push for goals, pulling michigan moves, putting the toe of their blade on the puck or over celebrating goals when they were already up by 5 late in the game either. At the same time I can see how the team playing keep away would come off as disrepectful. I can definitely see how that situation would've been frustrating. Perhaps saying to them at a faceoff or after a game that while you appreciated them trying to not run up the score or trying show boat moves, you'd all rather just play out the game than have them play keep away if they're up.
  21. I also skated on 3/4 and 7/8 before going to the 90/75 FBV. It initially felt a little strange, but I got used to it after a session or two and really appreciated the extra glide while having better grip. I tried the 90/50 FBV for the first time at a pickup game on Monday night and love that cut. I felt more comfortable on that right away and it will now be sticking with that cut going forward. I'd recommend trying both the 90/75 and 90/50 cut for a few skates before deciding if its right for you or you want to stick with a regular hollow. I now prefer the FBV and my new favourite cut is 90/50, but I could still skate comfortably with the 90/75 cut.
  22. If you're going to drop that amount of money on skates (the X60s are a new model so I'm assuming you're going to be spending quite a bit) then it may be worth it to plan a trip around it...maybe plan a family vacation for a week/weekend somewhere that happens to have a good hockey shop in the general area. With that said, if that's out of the question I think your on the right track with your estimate of 9. I've worn an 8.5 Mission before and have tried on a friends NBH One90 skates and while they were a bit narrow for me the length of them was correct (from trying them on and standing on the foot beds) - they were 7.5. So it seems to me that from a length only perspective you need to go one size down when going from Mission to Bauer...but the overall fit of the skates is likely different and sizing can vary by model. If you're going to order online then just order from a site where it's easy to exchange sizes if you guess wrong.
  23. The pass to MacDonald was one of the best passes I've seen in a while and the spin move before that wasn't too shabby either. It's too bad for the Blues they lost the game, but it certainly wasn't Perron's fault. He played very well especially since they mentioned he was battling the flu and was questionable for tonights game.
  24. oldtrainerguy, Is there a possibility the FBV could be available at the Sport Check location on Eglinton East near Warden Ave in Scarborough in the future? My friend had his skates sharpened there on Saturday and I noticed that they use a Blackstone machine...I know the store isn't that old so assume it's a fairly new machine. That's the closest Foranzi group store to me so I was hoping that perhaps they'd have the ability to sharpen that way in the future. For now I'll drive up to Markham.
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