Cosmic

Height - 6'2" Weight - 215 lbs Pad size - Large Forearm (at widest point)- 12.75 inches Bicep (at biggest) - 14.25 inches Length of arm from inner elbow to inner wrist- 11.5 inches Level of play:Beer Leaguer Location: Indonesia (and thus distance to nearest LHS that stocks my size, where I can try things on, is about 10,000 miles +. Special thanks to all the guys here who helped me sort out the details of proper sizes to buy, as most of my gear has been dialed in pretty nicely. As described in various posts of mine, I am overseas, far from an LHS, and thus I have to rely on reviews and sizing estimates to order my gear prior to having it shipped out here. And once I have it, shipping back creates an expense that is prohibitory. Fit - 3/10 According to the CCM sizing chart posted at IW, size Large (biggest size manufactured in this item) is to fit 5'9+. This has not been my experience. I think that a more accurate sizing chart would read: 6'0-, as in "Think twice about trying these on if you are over 6'0, or at least try on in the store. I list my measurements above for reference. The elbow and forearm straps are just too tight, and uncomfortable. The bicep strap gives me plenty of room. Granted, I have large forearms and small biceps. Also, the length of these pads is short. I wear 15 inch Vapor APXs, and can fit an entire Shock Doctor Wrist guard between the elbow and the glove, without anything bumping onto anything else. This is not due to short cuffs on the APX's, but rather, short forearms on the CCM CLs. Protection: For beer league, 9/10; for full body, 6/10 There is very little slash protection, as the forearms not only do not come down very fat, but they also do not give much of a comprehensive wrap. This is fine in beer league, where the hooking and slashing is pretty much non existent, but I would not feel protected at all wearing these in a chippy league/ game. Sure, I have seen pics of pros wearing these, but I suspect they have been modified from retail to give more coverage. These are good for protecting the elbows from falls, I will give credit in this regard. Weight - 10/10 In addition to being crazy short, and crazy non comprehensive wrapping, these are indeed crazy light. In defense of the product, I did know going in that they were short (and thus ordered the Shock Doctor wrist guards to bridge gap between elbows and gloves), and did not give the best slash protection. I opted for lightness and moisture repellant materials, and I got what I ordered. So, 10/10 here. Durability - 3/10 After about 8 ice sessions and 8 inline sessions, the elbow strap is coming undone. In reading some reviews on HockeyMonkey regarding the CCM Crazy Strong (which seems to use same mechanism and material where I had my problems), this seems like a rather common problem. I detail my experience on a thread on MSH (with pic) here: http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php/topic/64699-how-to-repair-ccm-cl-elbow-pad-material-that-is-falling-apart/ Kudos to CCM/ Reebok for sending replacment pads. They say they fixed the shredding neoprene issue with the latest batch. Intangibles I love the concept of the U Foam. As a guy who sweats alot and seems to have a ridiculously heavy bag even though I try to buy all the lightest gear, I appreciate CCM's dedication to this concept, technology and material. Conclusion If you're 6'0 and under, sweat alot and play in beer league, then these pads will rock it, assuming that you do not strain the elbow strap and they hold up for you. However, if you are a bigger guy, and/or playing in full contact/ chippy conditions, I would advise against using these. Overall score - Not really fair to tally up, because of all of the "asterisks" in this case- the damage incurred on the pads, sizing and fit issues, and the different variables considered in who these pads would be appropriate for (beer league vs. full contact). For a smaller guy in beer league, these are perfect (say a 9.5/10), for a bigger guy in full body, these would seem just inappropriate (4.5/10). So, in this case, one score does not really do the product justice. And I do look forward to CCM/ Reebok's future offerings in this line, or whatever elbow they release that furthers the U+ Foam technology, as this is IMO the best material on the market right now in terms of protection/ lightness/ comfort/ moisture repellant properties. (Honorable mention: Vent Armour Foam)

This is helpful, thanks. When these go on clearance and I can get another 20 or 25% or whatever the deal of the day is, I am picking these up for sure. In the meantime, keeping my fingers crossed that a conversion goes well.

Can you please refer me to the "how to punch out the toecap" tutorial?

I am considering a pair of Makos. Anyone who is a semi expert on the skate, will you please comment on my post? http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php/topic/64666-easton-mako-feet/

Is that a layer of of black tape that you put over white tape? I use a Sharpie to darken the top of my white tape, but it is not pretty and looks kind of messy.

Is that Red Bank, New Jersey, Exit 109 off the Garden State Parkway?

CCM CL shoulder pads with TotalOne bellyguard. Special thanks to IW Team-Chase for sending me the belly guard:

When I was determining my equipment, the one aspect of the CCM CL Shoulder Pad that I did not like was that it does not come down very far. Everything else (protection, lightness, lack of moisture absorption), I liked, so I am now using these pads. I asked the good people at IceWarehouse, if they could find me a spare bellyguard, and throw it in (thank you IW Team-Chase!!). To attach the bellyguard, I just put 2 pieces of velcro on top of the U Foam at the bottom of the chest plate, and here we are. Let's see if it holds. I skate Sunday/Tuesday (but not tonite), so we will know in a month or so if it is holding up:

No jerseys yet, will be getting fitted for the team I play for and ought to have them in the next couple of months. We are red and black, and thus the gear will all match (since I am an MSH'er, I must match, right? HAHA) Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I was always wondering why there is no video highlight reel thread for MSH'ers. I do not have any clips yet (every time my wife films, she catches me exhausted or just plan blundering), but I will within a few months.

Helmet: Bauer Re-AKT w/ Titanium Cage Shoulder: CCM Crazy Light Elbow: CCM Crazy Light Gloves: Bauer Vapor APX Pants: CCM Crazy Light Shin: Bauer Supreme NXG Skates: Bauer Supreme One.9 LE Stick: Bauer TotalOne Tapered Shaft (102 Flex), Warrior Dynasty AX1 Blade Patterns (Kopitar for Offense, Zetterberg for Defense) Bag: Bauer Wheelie Jersey: Awaiting my old school jerseys (Rangers Messier and Graves); and new jerseys pending for the teams I will be playing on; borrowing jerseys in the meantime

Taxes ... mortgages ... banksters ... politrixians ... "Give me liberty, or give me death." - Patrick Henry

Interesting. I tried on a pair of 8.5 Reebok 20Ks today and they were TIGHT. I am guessing I would be 9.5 in Reebok 20K, as I did actually fit my foot into the skate (with a HARD press of my toe against the toe wall), but nothing in this region, in my size. So, according to these estimations, I think I would be 9.0D. Just out of curiosity, why are you looking at the 2nd tier RBZ? Is it strictly a cost/ benefit thing, or do you think that the 2nd tier has some features that are advantageous to your style?

I just called CCM-RBK (good thing Skype calls are inexpensive). The woman that I spoke with tells me that people are generally fitting 0.5 sizes smaller in RBZ, than they fit in Bauer Vapor. She said that she was a size 6.0 Vapor and 5.5 in RBZ. I am a 10.0 EE in Vapor. So, according to her results, then I would seem to be a 9.5 in RBZ, or even a 9.0. She also said that RBZ will only have 2 widths: D and EE (no DD), and that people who fit EE in Vapor can fit D in RBZ. Of course, she recommended trying them on at the LHS (always sound advice); I wish that I had an LHS.

So I have been gathering equipment via online shopping, and accumulating it at a friend's house in the area that I used to live (Los Angeles Beach community). I met my wife in that area, and her step son lives there. My wife and I now live in SE Asia. My wife's kid was scheduled to come out and visit us this summer (for what it's worth, he is a nice kid and we get along well, as he is also interested cosmic matters (the ET coverup, spaceships, time travel, metaphysics, electromagnetic fields, etc.). He had happily agreed to haul my gear with him on the plane, about 6 weeks or so when I asked him. For the past 6 weeks or so, I went ahead and had delivered to my friend's house, everything that I will need, except skates (need to figure a way to get fitted still). I had everything shipped to my friend's house for her to pack, and just hand off to him the day before he was scheduled to step on the plane. So earlier this week, I wake up to my wife yelling at her ex- through Skype. She was in the living room, I was sleeping in the bedroom behind a closed door, so I awoke to the sound of unintelligible fury. When she walked into our bedroom, she sadly said, "(My son)'s Dad won't let my son come out here, he says he has to take a college prep math class during summer school so he can get into college." The kid is in 7th grade, and in the top 5% of his class. We will see, it will all work itself out, just less than ideal, moreso for my wife than me (I will get my stuff out here come hell or high water).

I did not ask. The guy was really nice on the phone, and happy to answer all questions and expand upon all types of things; he would have talked all day if I did not thank him and end the call.

Just got off the phone a couple hours ago with CCM. Here is the 411: * July 19 2013: CCM RBZ Ice Hockey Skates launch * Spring 2014: CCM RBZ Inline Hockey Skates launch - no plans for CCM RBZ Shafts nor replacement blades; just the RBZ 2 OPS --- --- --- EDIT/ UPDATE: just called CCM again last night to inquire about CCM CL shaft/blade 2 piece combo: Cosmic: "Will CCM be releasing the CL shaft/ balde 2 piece option?" CCM guy: "No, CCM is moving forward with just the RBZ." Cosmic: "So, will there be RBZ shafts and blades then?" (to which the previous response was "No," by a different guy, one week ago). CCM guy: "The RBZ shaft/ blade combo is not presently available." So I responded, "I know, but what about in the future, will you be making the RBZ blade/ shaft combo?" CCM guy: "It is not available now, I cannot comment on whether it will be out in the future." The way it sounded, there may be a lid on the future release of the RBZ 2 piece. I realize this is pure speculation, after having lived a life full of my asking questions to "people in the know" who were made uncomfortable by my questions (because they were hiding something, or advised not to release intel on future plans). So, it just sounds like there is at least a chance for the RBZ 2 piece.

Will the RBZ skate be made in Canada, or in China? I heard that the CCM CL skates were being made in Canada, while the rest of the skates were being made on the other side.