hunt3rsean

If you're never sure...I always learned the "Hey, if you need anything just let me know." comment tends to work best. You've acknowledged to the customer that you know they are there and you're there to help, but allows them to decide whether they want to ask questions or not.

I don't understand why people do this. It doesn't take very much to figure out how a certain stick is going to flex for you. I suppose it's probably ignorance of the consumer at that point. They don't realize what they are doing to the stick.

I've actually had to do this very recently. The LHS here has two locations. The guy who works where our team normally plays does a great sharpening job and I'm happy with it every time. I went to the alternate location as I'm now playing on a 2nd team there and had them sharpened before a game. While the guy there did a fine enough job....I could tell a difference and I've been trying to compensate for it since. Not that it was a bad job, but it was different and it was bugging me. So I went to where I normally play and had him re-sharpen them for me. I explained it to the guy, gave him my money, and he sharpened to them to what I'm used to. He was happy to help.

I used to work retail as well. It sucked because I easily spent 75% of my day facing shelves because people are too lazy to put things back. It's why I really go out of my way to leave items the way I found them after taking them off a shelf. I also have this almost obessive compulsive thing that doesn't allow me to leave the glove wall out of order if I've been trying some on.

Thanks for the feedback to my question. So relatively true to a 85-flex rating then. Which woudl make sense as they are "simulating" high end sticks. I'm with you. I have come to prefer a 75-flex stick that I cut down. Right now my CCM sticks are probably around a 90. While I can ge them to flex I really have to put a bit of effort into it. I'd like to stick to do more of the work for me. If TRON would put out a 75-flex I'd be all over it. A few guys on my team have been using TRON sticks. I think the Elite model. But, one of them has started to complain about his blade flexing too much. Now, he's a real big boy. I mean...huge. So he puts a ton of force/weight so this could be the cause of the blade breaking down sooner then normal. This is 2nd hand information though as I have yet to use a Tron made stick. Curious if anyone else has noticed this? My other teammate hasn't mentioned this happening to him yet but he hasn't been playing as consistantly with his Tron stick as the other guy.

Each brand has a different flex feel even if they are all rated at 85. Do Tron sticks seem to run stiffer or more flexible in a general sense?

Honestly, if I bought a pair of gloves that had that name I'd leave it on. haha. But yeah, wow, $10 for those gloves? That's unreal. He easily could have sold those for much much more. Congrats on that find!!

5'11" 158 lbs Size: S Background : I play in a no-contact A level adult league. But because I am skinny/light weight and have had shoulder issues I choose to wear shoulder pads while I play. The league is pretty lax on incidental contact and even lets light checking happen. Because I am skinny I've gone through multiple brands of shoulder pads trying to find a more slim fit around the ribs/chest area and having a lower profile shoulder cap. Fit/Comfort : 9.5/10 Even though my height technically calls for a Medium I went with a Small due to my smaller chest size measurement. I felt it was more important to be mobile and have a snugger fit around chest/ribs. The torso portion of the pad fits more anatomical as it hugs the body very well. However, due to the small size there is a lot of unprotected area at the small of my back and at my stomach. I've actually taken an extension piece from a Sherwood shouldpad and attached it to the CCM pads to get some extra abdomen protection. Keep in mind that the U+ 09 does not come with this piece like the U+ Pro does. I had to add something myself. The clavical and shoulder caps provide a very "fitted" feel and give great coverage. These areas seem to hug the body very well. The plastic bicep inserts fit around my arms without any issue. Again, they seem to be form fitted the way they stay against my arm. Overall the pad just feels RIGHT, with nearly everything conforming well to my chest and shoulders. The fit and inner liner are very comfortable and, once strapped down, the pads stay in place. Protection : 9/10 The way the shoulder caps/clavicle guard for around your shoulders and the pad itself to your torso respectively is the main focus that I felt was important. I've been cross checked in the upper spine area and felt little to no pain. The spin protection is very well done on these pads and offers great protection. I've also blocked a few shots in the rib area and did feel that a little bit. Perhaps CCM could’ve put some high density foams in there instead of the mid that’s in now. However, the amount of coverage they provide makes up for this little flaw. As a side note, I would still say that the rib wrap is better than any previous shoulder pad I've used. Shoulder caps are very well done. I've taken some hard falls to the ice and into the boards with no pain. Also have ran into some heavy bodies without any issue. My only problem is the lack of lower front pad extension. Even my low end Sherwood pads had this available so I'm not sure why CCM decided to leave that off these pads. Like I mentioned before I've actually taken the one from my Sherwood pads and attached it to these. Mobility : 10/10 The low profile caps and the way the torso section fits is amazing. Because of this they really improve mobility. You don't feel bulky or that you have a bed pillow straped to your chest. The stretch materials around the sternum and spine, in addition to the bicep guards are definitely appreciated. For a high(er) end shoulder pad these offer great mobility in the torso and arms without sacrificing protection. Weight : 10/10 The weight isn't bad, but there are lighter shoulder pads out there if you're willing to pay for them. However, for someone playing in a rec league level these are just fine. Definitely lighter then the previous Sherwood and Bauer (low end) pads I've owned. They do tend to absorb moisture and that adds some weight probably. Again, in a rec league does it make a difference? Probably not. Durability : 10/10 I've been using these pads since November 2011 while playing 2-3 times a week. They still look new with no rips or snags. All stich work still intact. Great durability so far. Intangibles : 9/10 The liner in these pads leaves a bit to be desired because of how it absorbs moisture. I wear a Reebok quickdry longsleeve shirt underneath but still get the pads wet. Given that the shirt is probably the most moisture wicking so that's part of the problem. Not a huge deal but would be nice if they'd stay a little drier. However, for the price this is a compromise. While other pads have adjustable bicep guards the U+ 09 does not. Instead, their bicep pads are attached to the shoulder via a stretch material, which moves very well with the arm and can completely cover the gap between elbow pad and shoulder pad. I use Bauer Vapor X:40 elbow pads and have no overlap. Part of this is probably because of the size small shoulder pads. Overall : 9.5/10 Perhaps the best shoulder pad I have ever tried on. I really like the low profile, the comfortable fit and range of mobility. If you're looking for a great protecting pad that fits great, but don't want to pay top level price then these are the way to go.

Size - 13" Had since: November, 2011 Games per week: 2-3 Fit - 9/10 --------------- These gloves fit my hand pretty well perfect. I have a low volume hand with average finger/thumb length. The fingers area is narrow and snug fitting while the back-roll/cuff area opens up. The gloves give a very snug fit feeling, but come off easy if need be. I wear these gloves with the internal padding/flap piece tucked in since my hand is so low volume there. My only issue is that the fingers in these gloves are longer then both my Bauer Supreme and East S11 gloves, but it isn't by much. I just find that every other play I have to push my hand forward in the gloves a little bit. Protection - 10/10 ---------------- These gloves are awesome for protection. I've taken slashes to thumbs and back-roll with little to no pain. You can feel the impact but it doesn't hurt. I've also taken shot blocks off the backroll (Rec league) without any pain or tingling sensations. Big plus compared to my mid-level Bauer and Easton gloves. Comfort - 9/10 ---------------- Out of the box these gloves were not very comfortable. They were stiff and the fingers were twisted so it took a break in period to get them to operate/fit correctly. Once they did break in they've become very comfortable. No odd seam points or anything that feels like it's poking. I would have given a 10 had the fingers fit better/shorter, but that's more my unique hand shape at fault then CCM. Weight - 10/10 ---------------- There is a reason they call them Crazy Light. They are just that. Plain and simple the lightest glove I have ever used. Durability - 8/10 ---------------- I've been using these gloves since November 2011. I play 2-3 times a week and have seen no rips or snags on the padding area of the gloves or at the seams. There is no palm damage on my right hand, but noticed some wear starting to happen on my left palm. I am a right handed shooter so that's why my high hand/left hand is showing some use. I also tape the top of my stick using the cord style which is why this is happening. I'm just a little surprised it happened so quickly. I've read other reviews where this has happened. Internally there has been no signs of wearing. Mobility - 9/10 ---------------- These gloves offer great movement while not feeling loose. The cuff area really opens up for me and provides plenty of mobility to stick handle. I don't dangle or have moves even close to a pro, but the gloves do allow for comfortable/unrestricted puck handling. My only complaint is how stiff and unmoving the thumb is. Bauer has a "flex thumb" system which I found to be very cool. It gave the thumb a bit more motion. This probably opens up a small unprotected area which isn't wanted in higher levels of hockey, but never resulted in a problem for my rec league play. Does it really put a negative on the CCM gloves for not having it? No, but it's just a feature I enjoyed. Having all fingers use a 3-joint system is great. I love how much range of motion each finger has. Makes your fingers feel more like normal and gives a better broken in feel. Intangibles - 10/10 ---------------- I think these gloves look good. The color way (black, red, white) looks very clean. Just a good looking glove. Conclusion - 9/10 ---------------- Even with the longer fingers and stiffer thumb I give these gloves a 9/10. For a retail/non-custom glove these are amazing. Light, protective, and very mobile in all aspects. I haven't owned a glove before that I wanted to keep, but now I do. These gloves are durable, protective, lightweight, and look good. I really enjoy wearing and using these gloves. My only gripe is that they do not breath well. I often find my hand sweating and hot when using these gloves. However, they do not retain moisture for very long and up drying out pretty quick. Not a huge issue, but I do find myself taking them off inbetween periods to allow my hands to cool off. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with these gloves.

CCM U+ CL Grip (2011 retail version) Curve: OVI - RH Flex: 85 Previous sticks: Bauer Vapor X:40, Bauer Vapor X:50, CCM U+ 08, CCM U+ CS Height: 5' 11"ft Weight: 155lbs Position: RW/Center Using since November, 2011. Type of shooting: Wrist shots and snap shots. Little to no slap shots. Flex (10/10): ----------- Flex is accurate as far as I can tell. It feels about right compared to the X:40 and X:50 87-flex. For comparison, I feel that the CCM U+ 08 is softer then the CL+ even though both are advertised as 85-flex. I haven't noticed any loss in flex yet. Feel (10/10): ------------ Very much love the feel of this stick. My stick handling has definitely benefited from the increased puck feel over previous sticks I've used. I definitely find myself watching the puck less due to this. The best way to compare the feel of this stick to others is like driving a sports car compared to a family sedan. Just nice, tight, and responsive. Balance (9/10): --------------- Like others have said the stick does feel a small bit blade heavy. The only time I notice this though is if I hold the stick horizontal in one hand. While playing or holding it in both hands I can't really tell. Hasn't effected my play at all. Aesthetics (10/10): ------------------- Simple/classic graphics. Gloss finish which has chipped but no big deal. I like a classy graphics design over a Warrior graphics design so this stick fits the bill. Durability (8/10): ------------------ This was hard to rate for me. The main shaft area of the stick has taken some pretty hard slashes and puck deflections. Especially in lower/tapered portion of the stick. The good part is that there is no lasting damage there. The bad part is that the actual damage is around the heal of the blade as there are some decent chips. I feel this happened a little faster then with my other sticks. I've exerienced no negative aspect to performance due to this chipping. The toe of the blade isn't too bad and I haven't experienced the chipping that others have. Shooting: -------- I didn't want to give this a rating because everyone is going to exprience this performance aspect differently. After coming from the Vapor X:40 and X:50 I had to adjust my shooting technique. Part of this was also coming into a different blade pattern (covered next). Once I learned how the stick wanted to load and where it flexed best my shooting increased in both accuracy and power. I love the feel it gives in the load as I can feel it flex but it doesn't feel weak/soft. It's release feels quick and confident. Blade/Pattern: -------- Going to the OVI curve was a bit of an adjustment. I had previously used the P88 with my Vapors and really liked it. More mid curve with a slightly open face. The OVI being a heal curve with open face made me have to adjust where I put the puck on the blade and how I held my hands when releasing. Now that I'm used to it I love it. Getting shots up high and where I want them is easy, but also didn't lose going 5-hole if necessary. There has been some chipping on the heal of the blade (as mentioned in the durability section) and I feel this happened a little quick for that area. No actual chipping of the toe has happened so that's a plus. The feel of the blade is good and I can feel exactly where the puck is on the blade. Overall: (10/10) -------- Even though I didn't rate each category a 10/10 I'm going to give the overall portion a 10 due to how much I love this stick. The puck feel with shooting, passing, and puck handling is great. I feel that if you're someone who hasn't used a top-end stick yet this would be an excellent starting point due to price point. I'd feel comfortable saying this is a shooters stick as it's handled extremely well in that regard. I play 2-3 times a week and haven't noticed any real loss in flex. Durability has been great and no cracks/fractures on the shaft yet.

Just picked these up yesterday. My Nike/Bauer One55 skates finally bit the dust.

Looks great. Let us know how you like it.

Pretty much what he said. Like I mentioned...this is the highest quality pair of gloves I've ever had. I had Easton S11 and Bauer One35 before this. So it's tough to compare since those are both lower end gloves. I also had the twisting of the pinky finger until they finally broke in. Now it's a non-issue. The fingers are a bit longer then both the S11 and One35 gloves, but they are also more narrow...IMO. The backroll area is more open then the S11 but felt closer to the One35 (and probably the majority of the Supreme line of gloves). My hands are pretty skinny so I always keep that padding/flap on the inside of the glove tucked in. The cuff area is definitely more open then both the S11 and One35 gloves I have. But I love it. Overall, great protection, very comfortable fit, and very light. Only negative, for me, is that they get pretty warm. But part of that is probably because I keep that extra padding/flap tucked in.

They are black. They match our jersey's perfect. haha.

My 2011 CCM CL+ 13" sr. These are the highest end gloves I've ever owned. Won them from a CCM sponsored Facebook contest. Loooove them.

So a few months back CCM did a Facebook contest where you picked one of their pros as a "team" captain and whoever had the most likes they picked a 1st and 2nd place winner from. Well, I won the 2nd place winner and had my choice of equipment up to $1000 retail value. Which...turned out not to be as much money as you'd think......lol Helmet - Bauer 5100 (Very comfortable. Light. Enough padding for adult league) Visor - Oakley straight half sheild (Anti-fog/Anti-scratch works great) Sticks - CCM CL+ and CCM CS+ - 85flex - Ovi curve (The CL+ is my favioret. But the CS+ is also nice. I enjoy using both.) Gloves - CCM CL+ (Most comfortable and light glove I've ever owned. A little on the warm side though.) Shoulder/Chest - CCM U+ 09 (Love the low profile caps. Fits my torso nice and snug. Not heavy.) Elbow - Bauer Vapor X:40 (I have skinny forearms so they fit nice and snug. Good protection for no-contact league.) Pants - CCM U+ 06. . .I think. (Not that heavy. Good movement. Protection for front/side is good. Pretty much none for back.) Shins - Easton S3. (Simple. Effective. Shot blocking hasn't hurt....yet.) Skates - Bauer Supreme One55. (Comfortable. Pretty light. Protection from sticks is good and from puck is decent. Toe box is a little wide for me, but more of a preference issue over actual fit problem.)