Cosmic

-6'2, 220 lbs -RH shot -Stick: Warrior Dynasty HD Pro- 100 flex, W88 I am reviewing the ProFormance Tape and Wax together, since I have, for the most part, been using them in tandem. I had previously used just the wax, but I have never used just the tape by itself. Here are the products themselves. So, obviously, tape first, then the Base, then the Max Control. Here is the damage, after about 12-15 skate sessions: Durability: Pretty remarkable. I play all over. On one rink and with one team, I am a forward, and I do quite a bit of forechecking, and trying to get shots on the net. On another rink and with another team, I play D, where I am not afraid to put my stick in front of guys winding up for big slap shots. The slapshots have hit this version of the tape, and barely leave any distortion or tear on the tape. Typically, I change the tape out after about 8-10 sessions. For whatever reason though, this tape job is just going on forever. Score: 10/10 Puck Feel/ Performance: Personal preference of course. I find that the wax greatly helps me when I have to fully extend with one hand to catch errant passes or random pucks that are threatening to leave the zone. The puck just sticks to the blade, just it's magnetic. Catching passes has also never been easier. Shooting is great. Not sure about stick handling. I play on horrible ice- it is either too wet, too dry, gravely, diveted, scalloped. I know good ice- pretty much everywhere I pay in the US is fine, but overseas where I presently play, it is just consistently bad. Regardless, I manage to keep the puck where I want it. I am by no means any sort of dangler or slick stickhandler. However, when I have space and need to skate he puck, I manage. I am not sure if this is attributable to the tape/ wax, or if I am just a decent handler now. Also, the wax seems to keep my blade dry, even when the conditions at my rink are puddly. Score: 9.5/10 (I cannot dangle like Kane, so -0.5) Value: The tape and wax is not cheap. I imagine that if I just went with the tape from the Dollar Tape Club, and Blade Butter (which does the job rather well), then I would likely save money. I imagine that I would need to re-tape quite a bit more often, as I was re-taping typically every 2 or 3 skates when I was using Renfrew tape and Blade Butter. You can do the cost analysis, I suppose one may need to factor in blade durability factor as well, which will be impossible to measure. All in all though, I am very satisfied with the product, and appreciate whatever went into researching and developing this, as it is definitely going above and beyond my expectations. Score: 9/10 - this stuff is not cheap. Intangibles: I admittedly use ALOT of wax. I do not notice this making the blade heavy, because it is all I know (to use alot of wax). Total score: 28.5/30/ 2 thumbs up

Profit motive, profit margins, & figuring no one would notice?

What materials did they choose for the Surgeon 500 shoulder pads? Why would this make people hesitate? How is the weight on these (Surgeon 500 shouldies)?

I noticed that too, especially on IG- this grand countdown to 5/15; and then no one hears anything? Epic marketing fail. I am still looking forward to seeing the Surgeon elbows and shoulders though.

When does Vapor 1X protective launch (Interested in maybe grabbing the APX 2 Pro gloves when they go on clearance, if that is going to be soon).

I always thought VH was lighter than Mako/ Mako II. I recall when VH first launched people were saying something like 680 grams (I cannot recall for which size boot, of course this is crucial when comparing skate weights). Funny observation about your feet getting cold. I only skated once in a legit rink with my Mako IIs (the IceHouse in Pasadena), and my feet were freezing. I play in SE Asia in rinks that masquerage as zoos, in open malls for all the spectators and passers-by to see the animals (us), so it gets relentlessly hot. My feet and skates somehow stay relatively dry (may be the 37.5 socks too), but the rest of me, especially my upper body, ends up drenched in sweat (even tho I have 37.5 shirt).

Just bought 3 Warrior Dynasty AXT1 shafts from HM on clearance- $84 - 25% off, free shipping. I do not think that technology has come such a long way, since these shafts were introduced, that I would notice a difference.

I noticed that there was a 27K tapered shaft (as well as a 25K traditional shaft, which I am not interested in) in the ReebokCCM 2014 catalogue, and then this shaft seems to have been removed in the CCM 2015 catalogue. Did this product get ditched? I am interested in trying a RibCor shaft, although I am not aware of one existing at the moment.

First thing I looked at when I saw that Fitlite titanium cage was whether it came in white. I found that when I had the Re-AKT mask, I was always doing things with my eyes and neck angle to be able to see the puck through the bars. Ever since I switched to a white cage (Resistance 300 was the best mask I could find that offered white inner), I am loving how the ice is whited out when I look down for the puck. The Res 300 cage seems about as light as the Re-AKT cage as it has some rather thin bars.

I assume it is same as 8 months ago?

The MX3 girdle (and the 1X shaft/ blade combo) is what I am most interested in. Anyone have a chance to try this on, and can comment?

I am in Mako 2; no bumps or problems whatsoever. When I baked the skates, the toe cap seemed to come apart "a bit" (maybe 1/16 of an inch or something like that) from the rest of the boot, but no functional issues as a result. I am hoping this is just a cosmetic issue and nothing more, but time will tell. I showed it to Jake from Jake's at El Segundo and he said I should be fine. Another guy I know who is an instructor at a rink in LA said it was a defect and I ought to try to exchange. I could not exchange due to inventory and going overseas. Anyway, in Mako 1, I got the Mako bumps pretty bad first time I skated in them, and just used the EZEE Fit Neoprene sleeve and was fine after. Ideally though, I would always prefer not to have anything on my feet aside from skates and socks, so I am glad to have gotten out of the sleeve and the Mako 1s.

What's your height and weight? I am using 100 flex Warrior QR Pro, and feel it is too whippy for me. It was perfect when I first got it, but it has "broken in" a bit and now plays too soft. I am 6'2, 217 lbs. I am interested to grab a Vapor 1X potentially.

Do you have flat feet? Makos and Mako II seem to be made for foot with healthy arch (which I have). I imagine that a flat foot might have problems in that arch area. I love my Mako IIs, can skate all day in them, as I could do with my original Makos (as long as I wore the ankle sleeve for the chafing). I actually felt good too in MX3, even though Supreme seems to traditionally be made for flatter foot.

I am sure Bauer will have a very polished and PR/ obnoxious type answer. That being said, I cannot wait to try the 1X and think I may return to a 2 piece so that I can use the 1X and feel free to put the blade through the ringer without having to worry about losing $260 if I were to buy the 1X and break it.

1) Is the Vapor 1X stick a true one piece (as some of the videos are claiming), or a fused 2 piece (as indicated in the write-up on the IW website for the Vapor 1X stick)? 2) When do Vapor 1X gloves launch?

I wear these. Blocked a ton of shots and never felt a thing. Problem is they just add this bulkiness/ goofiness to the skate. Hard to explain, but I feel like I skate a little differently when they are on. I am aware mentally that on crossovers I have more volume to clear and thus I do not feel as efficient as I am without them. I don't know maybe it's mental- I deal with it because I want my feet to stay healthy. So I have been thinking about trying the shotblockers, which seem more streamlined, but do not want to spend the coin right now.

Is Easton still doing the 30 day Mako skate guarantee? (Found my answer, still going on)

Thanks as always Althoma. I am thinking I will wait on the new line of Warriors then, unless over this break, the Surgeons release and impress me; or perhaps the new Missions feel right. I am still skeptical on the protection of the Missions. When I close out shots from my wing position approaching the D man about to shoot, I like to think that if the slapper hits me in the hand, then I will be good to go. I have that feeling in my Warrior Coverts (based on having slammed things into my hand as hard as I could and not having felt anything), but Bauer APXs that I have since gotten out of, nowhere near as impact resistant or dispersant or whatever the term. So, we will see, I am almost in town to go try some things on.

Has anyone tried on the DS1 gloves? How is the mobility in the backhand?

Better range of motion than any other glove on the market currently? We have spoken before, over the summer when I was last in the US and on the hunt for gloves. That hunt came up null, and I have just been using my Coverts since. I am still on the hunt for a glove that is tight in the fingers and hands, and hyper mobile at the cuff, specifically in the backhand. I need to feel unrestricted when I put my hands at angles to catch bad passes, because I generally have bad hands and my only hope to catch bad passes is to be able to be completely unrestricted. Do you think this glove fits the bill? I know some older models seemed to have this (I think Supreme Totalone something or other), but with what is out there currently, I am just not feeling anything. Do they fit true to size? I mean, whatever size you are in Bauer/ Warrior, are you the same in STX?

Any word on the gloves? I have heard Fall 2014 and November 2014, but am not seeing anything.

Has anyone had a chance to have a look at the Warrior Covert QR Wheel Bag? In July 2014, I visited HockeyMonkey, and I had a look at all of the bags available at the time (this was not yet released). All of the wheel bags were of low quality and did not seem durable (just like the guys who invented the Mammoth bag have observed), except the GRIT Towers. All of the PRO bags seemed fine, but none had the wheels. Is this one going to be "the one" that ends this trend? http://www.icewareho...tml?pcode=WCQWB My recent history with bags is that my Bauer wheel bag (it was premium or whatever the top of the line one was a year and a half ago) is falling apart, so I just use it for storing backup gear. My GRIT HT5 is treating me well after 5 months, but it is too small to travel with and throw all of my needs in for a week of hockey. I am on the brink of getting the GRIT Sumo bag, but would prefer to grab something like this Warrior QR bag, and save a few bucks, IF it looks like I can count on the thing not disintegrating at the baggage pickup when I am overseas at a tourney.

I get home on Dec 22 and will have it in hand then. Not sure when my first ice session will be, may be hard to find ice due to the holiday. I will post a review after a few months, PM'ing you now.

From everything I hear, the QR Pro is preferable to the QR1, so I am going to give it a try this month. That being said, I wish they would offer QR Pro in white.