althoma1

I'll definitely try it if I have the chance to do so without shelling out for a top of the line stick (a demo opportunity or if a friend or team mate gets one), but I hope it's significantly less open than an Ovechkin pro curve.

I'd love to try a Kreps curve as I do like toe curves with a 5 lie, however; I hope it isn't too open as I generallly prefer more of a neutral curve. It looks like a pretty nice curve from the pictures I've seen, but you never know if you're going to like a curve until you try it. I have a decent sized stockpile of Warrior Smyth blades and sticks, but those won't last forever and it looks like the Gionta may be disappearing soon as well as a retail curve (and I didn't like it quite as much as the Smyth after using a tapered blade for a few games - it was missing the toe bevel and was more open) so it's always nice seeing new mid-toe or toe curves with a lower lie. From the catalogue pictures it looks like it may even have a slight lower toe bevel. The new Mako gloves and protective look interesting and I'm definitely interested in trying on some Mako skates to see if they fit my feet well. Again, I have a stockpile of what I know fits me well (KORs) that should last me quite some time, but it's nice to have options if they're ever needed. The R800 helmet is also interesting - previously I was pretty sure I'd grab the new Bauer IMS 11.0 when I decide to buy my next helmet as I love the fit of my current M11 and the improved ventilation and addition of poron is appealing, but the R800 is intruiging as well and I'll definitely try it on. Of course $299 is a steep price so I'll probably wait for some reviews and feedback on both helmets before dropping that kind of coin (even then I'd probably wait for a good sale). I wonder what the differences between the R800 and E700 cage are? They look the same and the description is the same...I guess maybe the sizes are a tweaked a little for each helmet. It's really a moot point for me though as I can't see going from a Titanium mask back to a regular one (currently using the itech and would likely switch to a RE-AKT if I ever needed to replace that). Hmmm...not as promising as I thought then. I've tried the Ovi and found it to be waaaay too open. It'd have to be toned down quite a bit for it to be useable for me - not the curve itself as I love a good meat hook, but the amount of loft.

Background: 6’2”, north of 200lbs Adult Recreational player (both ice and roller) Product: 2012 Warrior Projekt Elbow Pads (blue and grey) – Senior Large Previous Pads: Mission Sub Zero, Bauer One90, Nike V14 (all Senior Large), and 2010 Warrior Projekt (white, Senior Medium) Timeframe: Late Spring 2012 - Present Fit Unlike the 2010 Projekts, the 2012 Projekts fit true to size and I was able to go from medium back to my usual large. The elbow slot is both narrower and deeper compared to the 2010 Projekts and this locks your arm in better. They’re very comfortable and lock your arm in very well. The forearm protection does feel a little bulky when you first put them on, but you don’t notice this once you’re playing. The bicep guard opens up to allow the shoulder pad to pad to slide in if so desired. This is carried over from the 2010 model and I think this is a good thing. I find the bicep pad feels more comfortable this way even when you aren’t wearing shoulder pads. 9.5/10 Mobility These pads don’t feel quite as mobile as the 2010 version when you first put them on, but in game situations they’re very mobile. They definitely feel mobile in comparison to all the other top end 2012 pads. There is a little slot cut out at the bottom of the elbow that helps with mobility. The bicep guards are also segmented like they were on the 2012 version, but are beefed up. 10/10 Protection These are much more protective than the 2010 version. The elbow caps are deeper, harder and more protective. The forearm protection is also beefed up. I have taken a hard fall in these and was no worse for wear. 9/10 Weight A very lightweight pad. Slightly heavier than the CCM CL U+ pad, but not much (a medium Projekt is 31g heavier than a medium CCM CL U+ if the measurements on IW are accurate) and are lighter than most high end pads. 9.5/10 Durability After a few months of use the pads still look like new and none of the stitches have come loose (I had a problem with the stitches on the middle strap of the 2010 version). The top elastic pad will likely stretch out at some point, but so far it's still in great shape. Edit 16/07/2013: After a year of use the top elastic has stretched out, but the middle and bottom straps are still holding up well and lock my elbow in pace. The bicep guard is looser with the top strap stretched out, but this really doesn't impact me when I'm playing. I also noticed that the splits in the plastic/rubber material before the forearm have enlarged - especially on the left pad which is on my top arm (I shoot right). They're still holding together, but the splits are significantly larger than on a new pad and are approaching the edge on the left elbow pad. Right now the inner material seems to be preventing it from completely splitting, but it is an area of concern. They're still very functional after a year of using them for both ice and roller hockey several times a week though. 9.5/10 8/10 Intangibles The pads are grey and blue instead of white so stains and dirt don’t easily show up on them. The elbow portion is a little pointy and is quite deep so they aren’t as low profile as the 2010 version. Conclusion These are mobile, comfortable, light, protective and stay in place, but the top elastic strap could've been thicker or made from the same neoprene like material as the middle strap and the splits before the forearm get bigger with use (although this has not affected the fuction so far). I prefer the grey and blue colour to white of the original Projekts. These are the best high end elbow pads I’ve ever owned and I highly recommend them. 9.5/10

Background: 6’2”, north of 200lbs Adult Recreational player (both ice and roller) Product: 2010 Warrior Projekt Elbow Pads (white) – Senior Medium Previous Pads: Mission Sub Zero, Bauer One90, Nike V14 (all Senior Large) Current Pads: 2012 Projekts (blue and grey) – Senior Large Timeframe: Late 2010 – Late Spring 2012 Fit These pads fit larger than most. I’m a large in most elbow pads, but had to use medium with these as the large slid right off my arm while done up if I gave it a good pull in the store. These are the most comfortable elbow pads I’ve ever used – the middle strap is made of a neoprene like material and is very comfortable. The bicep pad flares out and I also found this to be very comfortable. The pad feels secure when you first put it on and it’s dry and for the most part it does stay in place during gameplay, however; a hold or hook can dislodge them once they’re wet with sweat. 8.5/10 Mobility These pads are extremely mobile. You really feel like you’re wearing nothing and have no restrictions at all. 10/10 Protection I found the protection on these to be lacking when it came to taking a hard fall on the elbow. I took one and was left with a large bruise and a tender elbow. Nothing was broken and I could still play on, but I thought the elbow protection should’ve been better for a high end pad. Slash and bicep protection were reasonable, but the elbow should be a priority when it comes to elbow pads. 6/10 Weight Very lightweight for a high end pad. The use of zote foam helped keep the weight down while still providing some level of protection. They aren't quite as light as some newer pads like the CCM U+ CL. 9/10 Durability The stitching was weak on the middle strap and started to come loose after only a few months of use. I had them reinforced and they held up, but that really shouldn’t have been necessary. After a while some small holes did develop on one of the middle straps and the top elastic bicep straps started to stretch out. Having said that, I only stopped using them because of the elbow protection issue – they were still in useable condition when I moved on to the 2012 Projekts. 6.5/10 Intangibles The white colour tended to easily get stained and I once washed them with something black (my mistake) and they got dyed grey (main part) and brown (velcro). Conclusion They’re mobile, comfortable and light pads, but they definitely aren’t the most protective pads out there and the stitching could’ve been better. If you want to sacrifice protection for mobility and grab these on closeout, I’d recommend picking up a size smaller than you’d normally buy in other pads. I think you’d be better off spending a bit more on the 2012 Projekts as the issues I had with these pads have been addressed. 7.5/10

Warrior Projekt Gloves, 2011 model Size: 14" Time used: 2 years Fit: Snug through the back roll and fingers and open up at the cuff for excellent wrist mobility. I prefer this type of fit, but those who like a loose fit should look elsewhere. Due to the protective bone system and the rounded shape of the rolls, the back roll sits a little higher than most gloves and this adds a little bulk. 9.5/10 Weight & Mobility: The cuff is both open and segmented and the wrist guard uses an elastic to allow full mobility when stick handling, passing and shooting. They have three-piece index and middle fingers and two-piece ring and pinky fingers that allow for great finger movement. The thumb flexes forward well, but doesn’t allow you to hyper extend it backwards. They’re light weight nylon gloves with a bit of synthetic leather. You may find lighter gloves, but they won’t be as protective as the Projekts. 9.5/10 Protection: The bone system (a combination of foams, plastics and a pocket of air) is used throughout the entire back roll and all the fingers. Some other gloves in the Warrior line, like the Luxe, also use the bone system, but they only use it through the mid-section of the back roll and fingers instead of the entire back roll and all fingers. The bone system does add a bit of outer volume as mentioned in the fit section, but also offers amazing protection. I’ve never used a more protective glove than the Projekts. 10/10 Durability: After two years of use there’s one minor cut (which happened early on and hasn’t gotten any worse) in the nylon of one glove and a few marks. The palms show a little bit of discolouration, but have no holes at all. With that said, they’ve only been used with Tacki Mac or Oggie grips and have never touched traditional tape. 9.5/10 Palm: They use a Micro Nash palm with reinforced high wear areas (double layers) that Warrior calls the Smart Palm. The Micro Nash felt nice and soft to start, but can stiffen up over time. A lanolin shaving cream treatment every once in a while makes them soft again. I prefer the feel of the stretch palm on the One90 gloves I have, but these palms have been more durable. 9.5/10 Ventilation: The gloves have mesh gussets and use a ventilator liner to help wick moisture, but they don’t have any external vents beyond the gussets. I find my Bauer One90s breathe a little better with their back roll vents, however; the ventilation is still above average when compared to gloves without vents or mesh gussets. They’re perfect for ice, but get a little warm if you use them for roller hockey. 9/10 Aesthetics Some people hate the looks of these gloves, but I like the skeletal look and appreciate the sublimated graphics. 9/10 Overall: These are still my main ice hockey gloves. I love the fit and the protection is fantastic. The new 2012 Projekts have a colour scheme that matched my team better, however; when I tried those on I found the cuff to be quite tight and restrictive. If you can still find the older 2011 model Projekts in stores and they fit you well I highly recommend them. 9.5/10

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.

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.

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.

Beautiful pants. I think I'm a permanent girdle user now, but I'd love to grab a shell with that colour scheme.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

What's the lie on the Gionta curve?

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.

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.

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.

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.