althoma1

Correction - Stupid HP Bloatware! Glad to hear the video guy was able to fill the space though.

Yes.

Thanks. I didn't see that one, but was very happy to win the stick! Did you win all new CCM gear in your contest or you guessed one product and won that?

I was lucky enough to win a new Mako II with the E28 curve E28 and Warrior Smyth curves When I was taking pictures last night I did notice a sloppy area on the lower shaft (it'd be on the tenon if it was a tapered blade) - if I push on those areas I can case the small flakes of composite material and paint to move slightly, but it's very solid underneath so I believe it's just cosmetic. I just hope it's not a weak point and I don't end up breaking the stick there after a few hard shots as I don't think a stick that I won will have a warranty:

If you know you're going to buy for sure then just be honest with your LHS and tell them you're not sure if you need size 7 or 7.5 and won't be positive until after they're baked. Then ask if you can have the 7's baked and if they fit well buy them. If the 7s are still too small then go with the 7.5s. From other peoples posts it sounds like some shops are letting people bake these skates before making a final decision.

Won Hockey Supremacy's dream stick contest on Facebook. A new Mako II 100 Flex with the E28 curve.

Once you receive your replacement pair from Easton, I'm definitely interested in hearing your thoughts on how the Makos compare to the Kors. Since you've already baked the Makos I'm sure you have some initial thoughts. You already mentioned that the Shift 2s are wider and deeper, but beyond fit I'm interested in knowing the differences in heat response and of course performance. The Mako (and MLX before them) and Kor skates are both based on speed skating technology, have long bake times and are highly malleable. When I first read about the MLX skates they seemed to me to be very similar to Kors in concept, but with more adjustability and a flexible tendon guard. The Makos are an evolution of the MLX skate and still share some similarities with the Kor skates. I noticed that in the video where Dave Cruikshank is talking about the Journey to the Mako skate there's an old picture of him where he's wearing Kor Shift 1 skates (47/48 second mark): He does talk about how the skates on the market at the time didn't allow him to do what he wanted and that's why he started work on the MLX skate. So obviously the MLX skates are different than Kors, but on paper certainly share some similarities. What I'd really like to know is if the Makos are more or less responsive to heat than the Kors, if they perform better and if so how much better? I know it's impossible to say they're 25.7% better, but some general comments like they're a little more response or allow for much better feel and edge work ect. would be greatly appreciated.

If you're near a Tron store your best bet is to drive there and try them on - if not, I'd call or email hockeytron and ask about sizing vs. other skate models that you'd be able to try on (they may not be able to compare them to xr2 inlines, but they may be able to compare them to ice skates friends or family members may have that you can try on). If they fit you and you can figure out your size it seems like a great deal spec wise for the price and your needs. They look similar to the old CCM Vector line, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll fit/size the same. I think a lot of people haven't tried them because it's easy enough to order socks, a jersey, a bag ect. online without trying them on, but doing that with skates is far from ideal. Fit is always important, but skates are the most critical piece of equipment to have sized properly. If they're a great price, but don't fit properly then it's not such a great deal as you'll end up having to replace them with something else if you want to skate without pain, blisters ect. If they fit you well and you can figure out your size that's certainly a nice price.

I believe the Mission AC series is based off a Bauer Supreme last. You might be able to find a pair of One100s at the higher end of your price range.

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?/topic/62450-easton-e28-you-tube-video-promo/?p=949509

The Luxe definitely had a wider backroll than the Supreme gloves - it was more akin to the Vapor in the Bauer line (I thought the Luxe was even slightly wider in the backroll area than the Vapor gloves). The Luxe was a low volume tapered glove, but I found it to be a little wider in the back roll than I prefer. The Covert gloves felt similar to the Luxe, but are slightly narrower in the backroll and like the Luxe they open up in the cuff area. That's only from trying them on once though. They're definitely worth trying on in the store to see if you like the fit. I did see the show it off thread where you discussed the Koncept gloves. They do sound like a good fit and I might use them for roller or ball hockey, but I'm not sure about ice. I know they have plastic inserts and dual layer foams, but I prefer the bone system and the tri-lam foams that the Projekts have for ice on a regular basis (I did break out the old One90s for Winterfest, but that was because the palms are already beat up on those and I knew I'd be trying sticks with tape. My Projekt gloves have only been used with Tacki Mac and Oggie grips and I didn't want to befoul them with tape). I suffered a broken right ring finger in an ice tournament after taking a hard slap shot off the hand and since then I've taken comfort in the fact that the Projekt gloves use the bone system with tri-lam foams throughout the entire backroll and all the fingers. I did ask Gary (Vulcan7905) about the 2012 Projekts at Winterfest as he owns a pair that he won at SummerJam and he told me the cuff was tight at first, but breaks in well after use so I may consider a pair of those if I can find my size when they're being cleared out. I do wish the bone system was used on the entire backroll and all the fingers of the Covert, but it's better to have it down the middle of the glove than not at all and they'll still be one of the more protective gloves on the market.

Yes, it does look like the Koncept and Projekt lines are going to be discontinued with the exception of the Projekt girdle (and the Covert Pants are tweaked Projekts with a new name). That means the current protective and gloves only lasted one year. I'm definitely sad to see most of the Projekt protective go - the 2012 Elbows are my favourite elbow pads of all time, I also really like my 2010 Projekt shins and the 2010 Projekt gloves are some of the best I've worn (the 2012 cuff was a bit too closed for me when only trying them on, but probably breaks in a bit after use). Now, the new Dynasty Shins felt and looked nice when I tried them on at Winterfest (although I'd need a larger size) and will definitely garner consideration when it's time for new shins. The elbow pads there were mediums and I'd probably need a large so I'll withhold judgement on those - they looked nice and had a deep pocket for the elbow so the arm should lock in well, but were two piece pads instead of three like the Projekts and it'd be hard to beat the mobility of the current Projekt elbows. I'll certainly try them on in my size when it's time for new elbows, but I'll also be tempted to pick up another pair of 2012 Projekts when they go on clearance. I didn't try on the shoulders since they were mediums and there's no way I'd squeeze into them, but they did look to be low profile and you could see some similarities between the new shoulders and the Projekts (which felt very mobile and comfortable when I tried them on). The Polygiene is definitely a nice improvement to the liners if it inhibits the growth of bacteria as well as the catalogue suggests. I was also pleased to see the grip type liner on the AX1 protective. I also think grip should be added to the shins of the long Nutt Hutt under pants - perhaps that can be added for the next revision. As JR mentioned earlier, the Covert gloves are more closely related to the Luxe than the Projekt - they're basically a tweaked Luxe with the Smart+ palm from the Projekt. The backroll did feel slightly more tapered, but they aren't as snug as the Projekt gloves. I do prefer the cuff of the new Covert to the 2012 Projekt gloves, but still prefer the 2010 Projekts overall (based on simply trying on the Coverts...my opinion might change if I used them). That's just personal preference though - the Coverts definitely looked and felt like a very nice glove. I'm very happy to see the Projekt Girdle isn't being discontinued. I love that Girdle and already have one backup in my closet. I thought I might have to stock pile a few more, but it looks like I can hold off for now (of course if I see a good deal on one that's my size I'll snap it up). The focus on fit with the new protective is definitely positive and I could see the intermediate sizes working out well for tall thin people in general - teens are mentioned, but slim women and men will likely also appreciate the size options. I can see why it would make sense for them to reduce the number of protective lines and eliminate the different lies on sticks. Everyone has their own personal preferences and it's nice to be able to accomidate as many as possible, but from a cost perspective it definitely makes more sense to focus on less options and put products out there that will have mass appeal even though they might not meet every specific preference. Of course from a stick perspective most personal preferences can be met via the customizer (which has the most options I've ever seen at the general consumer level for any product in the hockey industry). I'm certainly very happy the DT1 contruction with a Smyth curve is available via the customizer. The AX1 socks remind me of the Tactics hockey socks I currently wear, but with different colours. That's a positive thing as I'm very happy with the Tactics socks so it's nice to have another option when it comes to cut resistant socks. Now the Tactics website isn't up (it has said "coming soon" for months) and there hasn't been an update to their Facebook page in quite a while so I'm thinking they either went belly up or perhaps Warrior bought them out and it wasn't widely publicized (if it was mentioned here I didn't notice that thread).

I had the pleasure of testing out a new Mako with the E28 curve at Winterfest. The stick felt very light and well balanced and I noticed significantly more pop on my wrist and snap shots than I did when I tried the original Mako. I was also pleasantly surprised by the curve itself - it's definitely not as open as an Ovechkin pro and I actually had pretty decent control with it. It's definitely more open than the Warrior Smyth I'm used to, but it's still a nice curve. The Mako gloves also felt really nice based on only trying them on.

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've been using an S30 to ref and have no complaints.

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.