LkptTiger

Eastons are considerably wider than Vapors. You'll definitely notice a difference.

I don't think heel slippage would be due to boot break-down - or at least that isn't a problem that I encountered when any of my numerous pairs of XXs or XXXs went completely soft. If you want to get away from Bauer, try a Graf skate, for sure. I've been nothing but happy with the 735s I have now, but I had durability issues (even more so than with any pair of Vapors I owned) with the multiple pairs of G-35s I tore through beforehand.

Same thing, different regional dialect, I believe. Tier II Junior hockey, me thinks.

Whoa, hold the phone, here... He (David) went from house leagues to Jr. A to The Q? If that is the case: WOW! Regardless - Way to go, buddy. Good luck and try to take care of your knees...lol.

Update: The new Brand New album (The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me) is absolutely amazing. I bought it last Tuesday and haven't stopped listening to it since.

You're making me laugh and giving me a headache at the same time.

If I were you, I would've kept driving down the left side...if he gives you a lane to the outside, try to vary your speed then "out-quick" him when he gaps-up and cut back to the middle once you get behind him. If he tries to cut you off or drive you further away from center, put a little move on him and try to catch him going to wrong way. By coming to the middle, you're making his life MUCH easier, as he doesn't have to decide when/where to get himself positioned infront of you. You have no angle on him. Just some constructive criticism/something to think about. Just for reference, do you remember how that particular 1-1 worked-out for you? Looking at the picture, I can't really tell if he's biting or if he's crossing-over/getting his feet set. If he was biting, you had more than enough room to read it/get by him. Getting set? I think you're best bet then would have been to try using him as a screen (even though it looks like the puck was on-end)

They recycle. Christ, those are probably the hottest skates I have ever seen.

I actually went to EdgeFest a couple years ago just to see the Juliana Theory. They were, by far, the best set of the show. I'm kinda surprised - I always thought they would eventually hit it big - or at least become a little more mainstream than they are now. Great group.

The 'There's a Class For This' video? Yeah, I'm not going to argue against that - not only does it reek of latent homosexuality, but it makes me want to attack the lead-singer's head with a pair of scissors.

Cute Is What We Aim For Buffalo REPRESENT! My personal favorite would be Brand New - while semi-obscure, they really can't be considered "new."

I'm the Retard in the Middle Yeah, the lighting sucks... That was after we won a tournament like, three years ago. I had played with those two guys (my linemates) since I was like, 9, but ended-up jumping to another team after that season - I dealt with a lot of "traitor" shots and things of that nature for awhile after I signed to play elsewhere, but they understood; all in the pursuit of better hockey, you know?

Product: RBK 8k Hockey Pant Reviewer Information Level of Play: Midget Major AAA Position: Center On ice 5-7 times/week Fit: Nice. Very adjustable, thus making the pant very easy to get comfortable in. Fool around with the straps on the pads for a few minutes when you first get them, and soon you have a nearly perfect fit. 9.5/10 Mobility: I had/have a slight issue here: the shell seems to almost narrow near the knee, cutting off some of my movement through the stride. This problem is avoidable by simply unzipping the thigh, which I would have prefered to keep closed, but I suppose I have to do what I have to do to make myself comfortable. 8/10 Protection: Outstanding. Everything is very well covered. The padding itself is not restrictive in any way and is easily adjusted in most areas for maximum comfort/mobility. 10/10 Weight: Somewhere in the middle of the road. I've worn lighter, but I've also worn much heavier. The shell does seem prone to taking-on water-weight, but nothing too dramatic. 8/10 Durability: No problems to speak of. No rips, tears or loose threading. Very well constructed. Intangables: The pants can be a bitch to get on, as the floating thigh pads can sometimes shift and make it almost impossible to get into without actually stopping and moving things around with your hand. Nothing major, but it can become frustrating. The double-strap is a very nice feature, allowing for a more customized fit. I find that the inner strap has kept my jersey from becoming un-tucked as often as with previous pants. 8/10 Conclusion: Terrific pant; one of my favorites to date. I would suggest that anyone in the market give these some serious thought; I'm willing to bet that you will be impressed. 9/10 *edit* - Still wearing them. They're beginning to show their age (and the amount of abuse they've taken), but I'm determined to make them last as long as possible.

Product: Nike Apollo OPS - 87 Flex, PM9 Pattern Subject: 17, 5'11" 155lbs. Initial Observations/Thoughts: After hearing/reading some good reviews on the stick, I jumped on the opportunity to buy a bunch when I found them "Buy one, get one." I can't say I was crazy about the color scheme, but it's not something that I was going to get hung-up on - c'mon, they're hockey sticks. I cut them down to the top of my chest, taped them up and hit the ice... Flex: Initially, this was a major problem for me. I had been using extremely whippy sticks for the last few years, so making the adjustment to the 87 was pretty tough for me. I made some adjustments, and came to like the stiffer flex. Once I was acclimated a little more, I was pretty impressed with the way I could feel the lower part of the shafts kick through just about every shot I took. 8/10 Stickhandling/Feel: Pretty damn good. Comparable to the Inno 1100. The blades are remarkably receptive. I can feel exactly where the puck is on the stick blade, which always makes the sick dangle, or the navigation through traffic, a little easier. 9/10 Shooting: Again, I had some issues with the sticks when I first got them, and seriously thought about giving-up on them all together. But, after a few practices/open hockey sessions, I started to learn the fine art of shooting with a stiffer twig. While it does seem like I have to try to little harder to put a little more "oomph" into each shot then I have with other sticks, I'm now able to consistantly shoot bullets with these. Not quite as awesome as my late XN10s, or even my old True-1s, but still pretty good. 8/10 Weight/Balance: Meh. Decent. A little blade heavy, but, like almost anything else, it's something that is easily adjusted to. Good solid weight. Really not too light, and not too heavy. 8/10 Durability: Coming from the XN10s, I was a little frustrated (first two sticks broke in the first week - both replacements broke three weeks after I got them). I have been pretty pleased with the Apollos. Of the six that I bought, I have four left after a full summer of hockey being on the ice about 10 hours a week. The two I chucked didn't break, but the blades just got a little too soft for my liking. The remaining sticks are holding up extremely well, and they don't seem to be weakening at all. 9.5/10 Intangibles: The shafst has a good feel to them. Not bad at all. Conclusion: Good sticks. Worth $150 each, nevermind two of them for that price. I really like them a lot, and will probably be buying more when these go...9/10.

Product: Graf G-35s w/ T'Blades - size 7.0 R Specs: 5'11"; 150 lbs.; size 10.0 shoe; on ice 4-6 times/week Inroduction: As many of you may know, up until my purchase of these Grafs in mid-November, I had been skating in Vapor XXs for years. I had only really liked the XXs once they broke down and became "soft" so I thought it was time to move on to a nice, "naturally" flexible boot. Fit: Wow. I never thought I would ever find a skate that fit my foot better than the XXs. I was wrong. The G-35s actually lock my foot in place a tad better, and feel like they've been made just for my foot before I even get them on the ice once. 10/10 Protection: OW! I might as well be wearing sneakers. Instead of praying the puck hits me anywhere when I step or drop infront of a shot, I'm now usually praying the puck doesn't hit either of my feet. 3/10 Weight: Not bad. Not bad at all. Only slightly heavier than the XXs. Really nice. Not heavy by any stretch of the immagination. 8/10 Blade/Holder: The T-blades are very, very nice. It did take me quite awhile to get used to them, but once I did there was a very real "WOW" factor. I just feel like there is much better bite than with anything else I have ever tried. The only thing I can really complain about is the lack of feel for the ice; in the rare event that I do lose an edge, it's usually pretty tough for me to feel the slipping until the very last second. With the Lightspeeds on my XXs, it was almost like I could feel the problem before it actually started... 7.5/10 Durablity: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! The composite outsole is a joke. I've had two pairs of these skates (original purchased pair and a warrantee replacement pair) and both of them have had the same problem: the outsole splits. The splitting starts at the inside of the forefoot then moves across the bottom of the boot to the opposite side. It starts out as cosmetic, but it actually eventually effected the performance of the first pair, and will begin doing the same with the current pair. 3/10 Conclusion: If it weren't for the durability issues, this would be one Hell of a pair of skates. They fit great, and the performance is awesome. Unfortunatly, the outsole falls to shit almost immediately :( Overall Grade: 7/10

Reviewer Background: Age: 15 years Height: ~ 5'10" Weight: ~ 155 lbs. Waist: 31" Product: Shock Doctor "Power Hockey" Compression Short Jock Size: Medium Fit: Very comfortable. It took a little bit of adjusting coming from the heavier, more restrictive Itech jock, but once I was used to the Shock Doctor it felt great. Nice, tight fit, in no way cumbersome to the stride. Very well done. 10/10 Protection: My main problem with this jock in the fact that the cup itself is somewhat narrow. I hate to be so graphic, but after slipping into the shorts, it is necessary to "move things around" in order to make sure nothing is left unprotected. Again, this takes some getting used to, but once I adapted the jock felt great. 9/10 (adjustment period) Velcro: Great so far. I've been using the jock for almost a month now and can not foresee any issues with the velcro. My socks do stay in place (I use tape to make sure nothing moves around too much, but I have skated without the "re-enforcement" and did not have any problems). There has been no tearing or stretching of any kind. 10/10 Drying Period: Much better than any other jock I have used. I skate, on average, about four or five times every week, airing my equipment out every night after practice/game. The jock is almost completely dry by the time I leave for school in the morning. 10/10 Availability: Not available in many major stores yet (the guy I asked at Dick's told me he had never heard of it). I bought mine at Great Skate, and have seen it at a few of the rinks in the area (the Pepsi Center, most notably - affiliated with "Front Row Sports"). Retails at about $50. Durability" Well, a few years later, I'm still wearing it. Some of the stitching is pulled, but that's about it. The thing has held-up really, really well. 10/10 Overall: I really like this jock. It's comfortable, light and protective. If you find yourself considering picking one up, I would recommend giving in and throwing down the dough. 9.5/10

User Background Information Age: 16 Height: 5'10" Weight: 150 lbs. Style: Think John Madden with a little more offensive pop Shot Preference: Wrister/Snapper On the ice between four and six times a week Stick Innovative True-1, 300 flex, Fedorov pattern I bought four of these when Peranis first put them on sale back in the Spring. Blade: Stiff yet forgiving. Great feel for the puck and very receptive, but still stiff enough to fire hard, quick, accurate shots. The blades of my three remaining sticks show almost no wear; a few scuffs, but no chips or cracks to be seen (I put a strip of tape along the bottoms of the blades and toes and spread epoxy over them, which may contribute to the longevity of the blades). 10/10 Flex: Coming from the TPS Whip flex, which I loved, I found the 300 flex to be adequate, but not as well suited for me. It took me a few minutes to adapt to the small difference in flex (300 flex seems to be a bit stiffer), and after a few shots I was fine. But, I would still like to see something more along the lines of a 75. 9/10 (Personal) Feel: Incredible. I would say the feel for the puck you get with this stick ranks among the better wood sticks. I can really get a great feel for the puck, from my fingers to my palms. Absolutely amazing. 10/10 Passing: Again, the blade is really great here. I decided to go ahead and try using these sticks without the extra padding of a few strips of Duct Tape which many of you know I like to use. Never found the need for it once I got these sticks. Passes hit and stick. That simple. I can't say I have had any problems playing anything that comes my way. 10/10 Shooting: How did Inno do it? How did they manage to make a stick with such great feel for the puck, yet also give it the ability to be a cannon when need be? Whatever they did, they should never, ever change it. All of my shots with this stick come off the blade with consistancy. I found that my shots seem harder and heavier then they did with any of my other sticks. Accuracy has never been an issue for me, and isn't with this stick, either. It's like the stick does the shooting for me...All I have to do is pick a spot and watch the puck hit it. 10/10 Durability: Not only are these things high-performance pieces of equipment, but they are also tanks. Out of the four that I got in the Spring, three remain. One broken stick over the entire summer is something I would have never thought possible (broke just below my bottom hand taking a wicked slash under which any other stick would have broke). All of the shafts have remained consistantly the same. They aren't getting any softer or weaker. If you would have told me in the Spring that I would be well over a month into the new season with three of these sticks left over, I would have probably laughed at you. But they are very much alive and kicking. 10/10 Weight/Balance: Hold the True-1 by the butt-end with one hand and it feels every bit of the 450 grams indicated on the shaft. But then put two hands on the stick and start fooling around with a puck, and you will realize just how well this stick is balanced. If you are holding it in both hands, you may in fact think you are holding and XN10 or even a Stealth. But it's a True-1...An unbelievably well-balanced Innovative True-1. 10/10 Conclusion: Incredible stick. Best money I have ever spent. My only regret is that I didn't buy them sooner (yes, even when they were $180). OVERALL GRADE: (drumroll please) I resounding 10/10 for all four sticks (Hell, I can't hold the fact that they aren't noodly enough for me against the sticks. They are WAY too good to dock them for personal preference).

Helmet: Bauer 5000 (blue). Bauer Tru-Vision cage. I'll be getting the 8000 combo in a matter of days. Gloves: Bauer Vapor XX (blue). Nice, light and tight. Pants: Graf 700 (blue). A bit heavy, but I find them mobile (padding seems slippery, which helps). Shins: Easton Z-Airs. Not bad. I could probably use another inch on them, but I don't want to be restricted, so I'll stick with the 14". Shoulder Pads: Bauer Vapor 10. Light and "high cut." Very unrestictive yet good protection in the shoulders/biceps. Elbow Pads: Easton Z-Air. Don't like them. Cap is too big, restricts movement to straight arm position. Probably going to get another pair very soon. Skates: Bauer Vapor XX. All of you guys here know how much I love the XXs. I don't think I have to say any more. Sticks: Four retail Innovative True-1s. 300 Flex, Fedorov pattern. Incredible sticks. That's all I can say.