Souldriver

Quick question about the nexus skate shape and how they fit. I know for their first year the nexus 1000 had a slight different fit than the nexus 800 and down. With the new lineup do the 8000 skates differ from the 7000 and below skates? How does the new 2014 lineup differ if at all, fit wise to the previous models? Thanks

Ok newer to ice but wanted to try the fbv sharpening. I read through more than half this thread before deciding that I think I'll go with the 100/50 as I enjoy a 9/16th hollow and the ice here is still very hard and luckily most of the rinks I'll be playing on are maintained very well. There were only two places near me that were listed to have it, one I don't trust and another one that was over an hour away so I was delighted to see the local rink had it. I got in there and I see the blademaster sign for whatever their flat sharpening is and I see all blademaster machines. I was dissapointed and just went for a regular roh. Looks like I'll be giving bob the call.

Well Stewie wouldn't this be the place to ask and part of the reason why the MHS leaders go to these things. I know the details are plenty and in depth but with the franchises also getting taken away with it's customization options mostly not being carried over it would be good to know. Ps i know you're joking but I stil want to defend myself.

JR very nice write up and informativebout the butt. I do have questions.though (of course) -when you say it wraps other them being boxy do you mean it has a contour over the top from thumb to pinky instead of being straight across? - is the overall fit, besides what you mentioned, the same as the non-narrow franchise? I hope so as it was the only glove I found that fit my fat wide hand without being long in the fingers. Before I always had to go up to 14" (luxe and covert gloves only fit me in 14 as well) and the fingers would get caught on the stick if I tried to take my bottom hand off and would fold under when I needed to put it back on. If it's not as wide, I'm hoping maybe the 13.5 will fill that gap. - a kovy-esq cuff? Do go on! I'm hoping it's like the kovalchuk on the back of the hand/wrist as the normal franchise cuff really didn't allow you to bend your hand back without it hitting your wrist and stopping. The bottom of the wrist has been fine with me. - when you say padding all over does that mean on the outside of the pinky as well, one gripe about the franchise is that there is no padding on the pinky side . - as a graphic design person why is the warrior cuff logo much smaller than the past warrior gloves? It seems almost too small of the glove. Usually marketing wants the names as large as it can be (look at 70s fenders and Gibson guitar headstones) or is warrior trying to go in a different direction with it's image? - will that "clean build" quality translate to what we see on the shelf? And it kind of brings up another question is this done for weight and how is the glove on that front? - any exact release dates/price point/ customized update times or are we looking at roughly 2-3 months for everything? Thank you.

Yes but will there be an overlap. As in can I see the new dynasty glove prior to the franchise being taken off the customizer. I was a little surprised about that. I know the hossa is popular but I thought the Kovy was as well, but then again that just on here and mshp is a small sample size. I think those custom cuffs would of sold waaaay more of they actually put them on the customized instead of it being on of the many "secret" options. I only found out about the cuffs from here and asking the rep about it. Also once again I'm still waiting for someone who has seen the products to do a writeup on them. I can only tell so much from catalog pictures.

So ill take that as truth then. I love my franchises but i would like to try out the new glove as well as it seems really nice (JR will dynasty gloves be out in stores while the franchises are still available to be customed?) as well but when you find something that fits you perfect, or near perfect, you get fickle with things. Im also not in the market for new gloves right now so its hard to put down $200 for a backup to a glove that has held up great so far. I think the biggest thing they should put in the customizer though is the cuff option. the franchises are such a more open and mobile glove with the Kovy/covert cuff JR please let us know the date when you get it. I could do with less customization options but it was great speaking to the warrior rep and having the tiny details like black assembly thread used, and they even took out the black screened letters and just left the silver outline so the black on the glove and in the letters matched perfect. Geez, i wouldnt be lying if i said i already have been thinking of the next glove and hwo cool itll be bc it was so enjoyable the first time.

Im hoping it stays fat and wide like the normal franchises did. the only glove that truely fit my handshape. looks like the new ones taper in towards the cuff a bit more and it says a contoured backhand, its more pronounced on the AX2s pics. the cuff kind of does look like the kovy but doesnt at the same time. but yeah these look like a space age version of the franchises. i wonder if these will be different enough form the franchises that theyll keep them in the customizer like they did the creepers.

Same, I have some Qs about how the new dynasty gloves will fit bc they seem to have some contour now but I'll wait for the write-up. The gloves do look great though.

To be honest i know many people do whatever but i would stick to whatever setup the chassis or boot is made for, over wise you can feel very off balanced to begin with, or at least thats what my personal experience was with making an old straight chassis into a hi-lo or rockered, just didnt work.

i havnt used the vibe2 in about 8 years so i really cant say and i doubt it was the wheels but once again this was nearly a decade ago. Do not this is one mans experience with it as others did like it and others really didnt like it bc it also had extra weight.

He is saying those companies support inline in a way that they keep innovating and pushing that field. look at the ccm and reebok roller skates. theyre the ice boot but just put a bad chassis on it so they can make a buck or two from the inline crowd. Alkali has made big strives especially in this past model update. chassis, toe spring, skate width, skate materials, the outsole, and im sure a couple of other things have been changed for a better inline experience and to give players what they have been asking for. You mention the lightbulb buyout. Bauer bought mission and instead of putting a steak in it and just putting out the same old stuff they too have upped their skate and the inhaler line is pretty sweet and their vapor inlines (though i view it more as an ice to inline thing) still has its roller progression. the moving chassis idea has been done before and there is a reason why it didnt last for most of us and was fazed out. I have the vibe2 chassis ona skate and one of the problems i had with it was that even though it sunk in on turns there were times it wasnt consistent or i took a turn slightly different and now i was put off balance. Now maybe i dont play during the summer and my weight changes, now there is another variable.

It takes time for them to redo their customizers. Moat are still older models but you get the construction of the current gen stuff. It's best to contact them about it. I'm not sure they knew their custom stuff would be so popular or they could of made the customized a bit more modular and easy to update.

Melody makers are supposed to be beat. Sounds like a good pickup if all checks out. If it's cherry red buy it for me.

I would cross my fingers on the customized being updated on time more than the offerings being added.

If you call warrior they have a limited customized for the luxe, they may have updated it for the dt1s but I'm not sure. It was a much more stripped down (zone 1 is color x, zone 2 is color y) type ordeal but it may be able to get the job done. If you're overwhelmed go to a LHS and ask.about the tapered gloves as it seems you prefer that fit and just try them on. If you're feeling adventurous try the 4 rolls and such as well. I used to be a size 14 and loved the tapereds, but I tried the wider/normal width warrior franchises in 13 and.they got much better. Used to think my glove getting stuck on the stick when I went to go grab a puck was normal but man, these are just so much free-er.

i would go with their Luxe or their newer coverts as i believe they are tapered as well

We have guitarists here? I should hangout in the off discussions more often. I have been doing guitar work on the side for myself for a bit of time now, since I was about 18. Built a couple of my own too, maybe I'll post pics if I remember. I've also had the pleasure of being able to hangout at a friend's shop where I have seen and heard some guitars that would make your headspin. But if any MSH member needs some guitar work done I would be happy to do it and I would give a discount to members. I don't want to say too much as I know the forums may have rules about this, as I'm technically pimping my "business" but good guitar work is hard to find. Also chadd, look up bcr music (i believe that's the name) they're right outside Harrisburg and are a great shop, their work is phenominal as well. Speaking to Greg there will really brighten any musicians day.

I would like to update the review by downgrading the durability to an 8 or so. with about 8 game in from last season and playoffs, i went to put the re-akt cage (ill review that separately once i have enough games with it on) onto my helmet and noticed the suspend tech was looking weird. i touched it and the back arm that connect the middle of it to the back had come loose, i thought at first there was an adhesive that came loose, but then noticed a stitch failed. im wondering now if i should report it to bauer see if its taken care of under warranty, stitch it back myself, or leave it because it sits where it should. either way this is a no stress part of the helmet that shouldnt of failed so early.

It nice seeing manufacturers noting that players usually cut their sticks by having their rated flex 3" in and how warrior does theirs as well.

So after my old helmet started to show its age, and the inside gel pads started to move with the hot summer and the immense sweat i decided to go with something a little newer and hopefully has a bit more ventilation. It was this or the e700 but the easton did not fit my head. previous helmet was the H8000 in large, Im keeping it as a backup as there are no issues and i upgraded for better ventilation. Length of use - 2-3 months Fit - GREAT!... for my head that is. For helmets you really need to fit your headshape for the helmet. not only for comfort but that is the best way to protect your dome! Absolutely zero pressure points anywhere on the helmet and its great feeling around the temples/sides due to the block of PoronXRD padding there. I thought my old helmet was comfy but this is legit pillows on my head. I also usually wear a L and got a Med on this helmet and i ended up adjusting it down a lot. Well fitting, comfy, no bulk. Only issue was my ears hit against the ear guards and its not comfy there are all, my old helmet had a grey foam there and it was great, this just has hard clear rubber and it bores on my ear. 9/10 Protection - Feels sturdy and looks like it can take a hit, but JR put it best "New technologies, new foam, new concept. Unfortunately, there's no way for me to prove/disprove that it does as advertised." N/A Weight - Light! Surprisingly light bc there seems to be a lot packed in, with a half shield i can hardly tell its on. its still noticeably lighter than the e700 but it wont bother you in game. i have to get a cage for the upcoming season and im putting on the matching re-akt titanium cage so im not worried about that 9.5/10 Durability - Nothing as of yet, helmet came a little scratched but that may have been a from handling and isnt a structural concern. all screws and moving parts still move well. 10/10 Edit: 8/10 see bottom post for more info Intangibles - One of the big things for me is the heat management. it did this fine and bye bye stinging eyes of summer and visor full of droplets! the hot spot on my forehead form my other helmet is gone and i couldnt be happier. the new inhaler was announced after i bought this or i would of held up. one issue for me was how the black looks, its not a true black. 80% of the time you wont notice but I have OCD and i just catch it in the light sometimes and it erks me. more on this in the pics below. 9/10 Conclusion - I pull no bars in protecting my dome, i need it for a long time and there are no ways of getting around it. i feel comfortable and protected in this helmet. it amazes me how much lighter it is and yet i feel more secure. Im hoping the day that it gets really put to the test never comes but if it does i feel prepared. it also is a great looking helmet with good ventilation. real streamlined but has classic looks. 9.5/10 Final score - 47/50 = 94/100! Pics - very deep black like in the stadiums and on tv right? well sometimes it also looks like this, and JR feel free to remove this but i found in this pic you can see from afar the helemt has a muddy look to it. it never seems to have a real deep "dip your hand into it" liquid black look to it. it looks like real dark dirty oil after an oil change, not saying it looks dirty but thats the best thing i can compare it to. back of the helmet with my "H" logo waterslided on. looks good IMHO

Lousy pic but it's better than nothing. looks pretty good on the helmet, it seems a little big but i think thats the angle. I really need to pop it off and clean it. one thing i forgot about is the ends are pointy, they will poke you, not draw blood but it will poke.

Oakley Pro Straight Visor VR903 (clear) Helmet used: Bauer 8800 & Re-akt Fit: It fits both helmets perfectly. It doesn't pull the sides of the helmet out where it attaches either, so it does not affect the fit of the helmet. It actually made my 8800 fit better because the sides werent getitng squeezed in by the cage anymore, i hope being forced back to a cage wony cause problems with the re-akt. Spacers are provided and the side slots allow you to position the visor how you like but the instructions say to push it all the way forward. It also stays in the same position well but i have had some movement on hits, nothing major but it does happen here and there. 9.5/10 Protection: Its a straight cut visor so its really for your eyes but it does protect a good part of my nose. it has saved my face though by being out and blocking a stick blade that would of otherwise hit my face. it doesnt however deter asses on the other team from trying to throw their elbow at your chin. you know those ones the refs never catch. 8/10 Optics: There is no distortion or anything. I have worn this visor in both well and poorly lit rinks and there was no problem. a little hard to keep clean for someone with OCD like me but shouldnt be a problem for most. 9/10 Fog: I use the AFR oakley cleaning spray as recommended and havnt had a problem. i will say on the bench heavy breathing does fog up the bottom lip and that does sometimes solidify as water on my visor. but that could be easily wiped away. i usually wait to the end of the game to wipe it as others will use my towel as a sweat rag, or i will smudge something onto the visor and that will drive me more nuts. 8/10 Durability: I take care of my visors and purchased a micro-mesh helmet bag for trucking around. The visor is strong and there are no visible marks or swirls. even the stick i took to it didnt leave a mark. I use a 100% cotton wash cloth and the afr to clean it. i also dont put the cloth in a wash with fabric softener in it bc sometimes chemical reactions occur. i also dont use softener for any of my gear bc it temporarily destroys the wicking abilities most pieces have. 10/10 Intangibles: This visor has helped me keep my head up believe it or not. i no longer have the bars of the cage blocking the puck in my peripherals. i love it just for that alone! 10/10 Conclusion: Pricey but i love it! comes with all the hardware needed to go and its a fairly easy set up. two hands are better than one for mounting and holding things down while youre tightening the screws but its an easy 1 man job. Overall rating: 54.5/60 = 91/100! Great stuff!

I know pros usually have flex tailored to their stick length but... I know st Louie is about as tall as me, so his sticks are pretty short I would think. Maybe that's factoring into flex feel.

Since seeing their retro glove series ive been jonesing for a whalers colors set up

Reebok 9k Pump Roller Skates Size 8.5 E Used roughly 1 year, about 30 games Player Bio: Age: 24 Height: 5' 7" Weight: 250 Play: Semi Competitive 1-2 times a week. Previous Skates: Mission RMx, CCM pf8, Reebok 9ks, Mission AC2. Currently with the AC2s Fit: The fit at first was great and I thought "OK, finally a skate for my foot!" and i bought these bc the LHS told me with my foot size the Reebok E size would be the only boot wide enough for me. I played some games and I got used to it very quick but then i realized my foot was sliding around in the boot while other parts of my foot were cramped in. I then tried to use their lace lock and that helped but only so much. i would leave the bottom barely taught and the top had to be laced up tight, this led to other problems such as not enough forward flex but thats another issue. For an E width boot there is also very little volume for the top of your foot. mine was coming out so much that the top laces had to flex out to fit my foot. The toe box also doesnt get wider for the E width and that does other things to the boot that seem to inhibit it as well. I think half of this is the boots fault and the other half is that after getting my foot sized i was told the reeboks were the only option for me but they clearly were not. they are for a wide and flat/low volume foot, not a wide higher volume one such as mine. 6/10 Wheels/Bearings/Chassis: The wheels that came on the skate were alright labeda millenniums in x-soft. i used them for a game and they were like skating on gummy bears, enough grip but it slowed me down. I immediately saw chunking so i switched to my trusted rink rats. no issues since and i cant blame the wheels bc they werent made for my weight. maybe one day there will be an option for us larger guys to get harder wheels stock. Or better in my option, leave bearings and wheels out of it bc i will be putting on my harder wheels and sweet swiss bearings first thing anyway. The chassis is a disgrace. Heavy, clunky, can take a shot off them but the holes for the wheel axles go out of round and develop burs that i needed to remove. I was told by a trusted source that reebok just made the chassis haphazardly to put on a roller boot and then paid labeda to have their name and a license on it. for a real chassis look at the high end tours, missions and the new apx2r. now those are chassis. Bearings were abec 7s, they are weak especially for the $350 price point of the skate, immediately switched them to my bones swiss bearings. 4/10 Weight/Protection: Weight wasnt an issue but now in the lighter AC2 skate i see how heavy those things were. I even think my old CCMs size 10 were a little lighter. Protection was fine and i never got hit in the foot, ankle or skate and had any pain afterwards. 7/10 Durability: I never had a lace break except on these skates. mentioned above chassis holes needed deburring after a while to get the axle to go through. Screws stripped very easily. though the boot itself does seem to stay decently stiff it only does that around the ankle and the rest of the boot gets soft. the bottom outsole where the chassis bolts on also seems to be very thin and never looked like it was fitted right to a wider boot. 7/10 Intangibles: It took about 3 games to get used to the straight 80s chassis and i ended up really liking that set up because i could accelerate and skate faster than i used to even though it did cut down on some maneuverability. That larger front wheel is something i miss now but the switch is for the better. even with the straight 80s it still wasnt as good as say a tour skate where its all 80s but its recessed in the front to add some maneuverability to it. The pump is ok but it never locked my heel in there. It was more of a push my ankle forward so thats its tighter to the tongue, because of this i only pumped the thing about 2-3 pumps per game to take up the extra space that they put in there. Moving to the AC2 i now see a good heel lock with my heel all the way back and no need for any pump nonsense. the carbon outsole on the bottom is soooo thin that it flexes a lot and doesnt do its job really. a matter of fact my skate bottom flexed so much it rubbed against my second wheel and the wheel wore a hole through it. HUGE no no! but i do wish more skates had a skate lock, but going to waxed laces also helps with that. 6/10 Conclusion: Reebok roller really is lacking, especially for the price they charge. The little to no effort shown to make a roller boot is evident throughout the design and after talking to some industry insiders the whole thing just wreaks of a fast cash in at the cost of the roller market crowd. 30/50 = 6/10 I would say avoid at all costs unless you really, reaaaaaaallly reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaalllllly just want an easy switch, fit wise, for their ice skates, but even then the fit is different and the roller parts are subpar. I moved on to Mission AC2s and couldnt be happier at the moment.