Not really a contribution to this thread as much as a thanks for all of you for the great contributions in experiences and opinions here on this forum. A lot of what I've read as a non-registered and now a registered user has been immensely helpful. I'm looking forward to refreshing some of my older gear this spring well in advance of next season, and the equipment threads have given me a lot to think about. I've generally been a "Bauer guy" when it comes to skates and some protective (I still wear my Supreme 5000 shin guards - the ones with the hinged kneeand my pair of Vapor 10's which replaced a stolen pair of 8's.) For future questions I'll ask in the different forum wings, but I wanted to thank you all in this one for what you've added and helps shorten my learning curve a little bit, at least in terms of research and opinion.