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God, I wish this thread would just die out.

They use football headforns. There tests are not at all relatable to present hockey helmet testing methods. Not to mention a helmet does ZERO to reduce/prevent concussions

@Leif to answer your question yes I do have scientific data to support this. I am on the CSA board that conducts the saftey tests for helmets. I got in involved because I am also on the board of Stopconcussions a not for profit with Ketih and Wayne Primeau. Also was the first brain donor for the Canadian Brain bank similar to the one in Boston. Although not a medical Dr I have had 13 concussions documented and almost died from my last major one playing Football in 1985 for the Slough Silverbacks of the Budweiser league in the UK. I feel these experiences and board positions give me an adequate amount of understanding of how helmets work as well as what can and cannot prevent a concussion. Example: 4 years ago one of my players wearing a top helmet was hit with a shoulder and not even the hard cap in the side of the head as she turned to go up the ice. She was knocked out. She didnt skate again till October and didnt return to play till November and this was in April. Another time Jennifer Botteril was playing shinny as I was the equipment manager and Raffi Torres was out there with some buddies. Jen turned up ice and ran into him all by accident bit she was out for 2 months. Helmets do not prevent concussions. Period.

Which are what and how have they been validated to give usable results? I don't think that there is a lot a helmet can do against concussions (and that is just my opinion as someone who isn't an expert but a lot of the data presented seems to lean that way), but since forces are delivered in many ways, I can't say zero. There may be a debate out there for and against this testing protocol, but I want to hear the arguments with data to back up assertions.

Hello Mod Squad Hockey! My Name is Mike I work At STEP . I am just opening up this forum to give anyone a chance to openly ask questions About STEP Products and to get responses directly from us here at STEP! if you have any question feel free to ask me here or send me a PM I look forward to answering any questions you have! Thanks, Mike

You can collect data on whatever you are measuring. Sensors can collect force delivered to a spot, the direction of the force can be measured. That data would be valid. The interpretation of how that data would translate into something as complex as concussion prevention is something different. That is why when you read the news the headline is usually some big leap of logic suggesting that science has found the answer or something ridiculous and when you read the story the scientist merely says, "We have data that could suggest blah blah blah but more studies are needed." People collect valid data all the time and misinterpret the results.

oldtrainerguy28: Thank you for the response, you clearly have an informd viewpoint. Are the CSA test methodologies for hockey helmets online?

@jeffg that very well may be, I'm not sure. I saw some marketing materials for the DX stick, and without saying too much it looked like the blade was a differentiating point between it and the QX as opposed to a new shaft geometry. So T8 DX may be the real deal - but again I don't know for sure. @.am I never used the DT2, but from what I remember that was a Dagger Taper stick (so low kick). Therefore the Covert line would be the closest -- they had refinements of the Dagger Taper technology up until this year's model, the QREdge, which has a new taper geometry called the Edge Taper. Still an ultra low kick stick. But the previous generation Covert stick (the QRL) may be more of a modern update to the DT2. The Alpha line is more of a low-mid kickpoint. The Saber, Quick Strike, etc. terms are essentially marketing jargon to refer to features -- i.e. Sabre is in reference to the Sabre Taper shaft geometry in the lower portion of the shaft, which is a shape that is supposed to result in less twisting of the lower shaft for more accurate shots. QuickStrike is just marketing trying to reinforce that there is still a quick release....don't focus too much on those types of terms, just if the stick is Covert (very low kick) or Alpha (mid-low kick).

A helmet will protect you from concussion due to a puck, or even a stick, hitting your helmet. I’ve had a slap shot bounce off my helmet, and barely noticed it. Without the helmet I would have sustained a nasty head wound and possibly brain damage. I’ve also gone into the boards, and my helmet has protected my head from concussion. What you perhaps mean is that a major cause of concussion is due to the deceleration associated with the head coming to a sudden stop, as seen often in contact hockey, but rarely in the hockey I participate in. I am sure we can agree that a helmet will not prevent concussion in such circumstances, but I don’t think you have scientific data to prove that a helmet cannot mitigate concussion ie reduce the severity. And neither do I, but I suspect it can reduce the deceleration, and absorb some of the shock waves from the impact. I suspect brain damage can result from shock waves moving through the brain. For my part I know from experience that the Reakt 200 is more protective than the 4500. Maybe not always, but enough to know that I won’t wear a 4500 again. Don’t Bauer argue with the VT results, and say that they perform their own rigorous testing? Sadly, a lot of this thread is “I think that” rather than “Studies show that ... “. You’d think governments would sponsor such testing on public health grounds.

Probably 1/2". But I'd go with 3/8" to get that bite.

Hi Sniper9, At this stage we don`t have a new holder design in the works, There could be something in the future, but at the moment we are putting all of our energy in blade design and manufacturing. So that we can continue to offer the best blades on the market 😉 Thanks,

No amount of incredulity is going to disprove data that are presented with a rigorously described procedure. If you’re unsure what the data mean then show a critique of the tests based on a thorough reading of the paper.

Any plans for different holder designs in the future?

Profile - 9'/10' Steel – Tydan 280 Hollow – 1/2 About Me – I started skating when i was 7, switched to goalie when i was 13 and only skated in goalie skates for the next 30 years even when i was coaching, decided to start playing out as well as goal 4 years and invested in player skates. I try to use my player skates as much as i can when coaching now (even though i coach goalies) to get more used to them. I wanted to try profiling because i felt that i had better grip when accelerating with my goalie skates vs player skates. Review - This is a brand new set of Tydan steel that I've been trying the last few games I've played. I would say that I like this profile better than my stock LS2 9' profile. Mobility and stability seem to be better as my base feels better with this steel, verdict still out on acceleration and speed, but overall the Tydans feel great and are an worthwhile upgrade over the LS2's. Acceleration - ? Mobility - 4 Stability – 4 Speed – ?

Intresting that while pointing out one (potential) shortcoming in their test methodology claims are bring made that while may sound common sense are likewise backed up by no data (or at least no data presented).

The biggest error in the testing is still the method in which they are obtaining data. Measuring impact and rotational effects oh Helmets with different shapes using a form with uniform shape just isn’t a good method, unless something has changed since I last looked at it. This is why standardized testing methods exist. Keep your re-akt, so long as it’s tbe helmet that best fits your head

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.