Cosmic

That's good news. I am starting to develop Mako bumps again in my Mako 2s. In the Mako 1s, the chafing came on the first skate. Now, the bumps have returned about 85-90 sessions in, same place, a bit different of a presentation though.

I thought that I read maybe in the 2015 Catalogue Review section that this is the end of the Mako series.

Helmet: CCM Resistance with white Resistance 300 cage Pants: Warrior Dynasty Girdle Shell: Warrior Dynasty Girdle Shell Shins: Reebok 20k Elbow: CCM Crazy Light Gloves: Bauer Vapor Matrix Pro Cup: Diamond MMA Skates: Easton Mako 2 w/ Skate Fenders Stick: 100 flex Bauer 1X shaft with BASE Malkin BC71 pro curve (Supernatural); ButtEndz Twirl grip Bag: GRIT Sumo GT2 Goalie Base layer: X Bionic Evo Energy Accumulator (check Sierra Trading post for up to 75% off- would never pay retail for these things, but they are nice)

The red carbon fiber patch (tape or whatever it is?) is what makes the skate look good. I never liked the old material that VH was using for custom colors, but that red material looks awesome.

I had a look at the Easton Synergy HSG girdle at HM when I was stateside over the summer. Easton's heavier than the Warrior Dynasty girdle (according to online retailers, not really noticeable in person), and seems less protective in the hip and kidney protection. The only thing I liked better about Easton's girdle is the thigh guard strap for custom fit. I was not really feeling the Easton girdle so I did not bother trying it on- the material seems like it is destined to rip quickly (could be wrong, just looked cheap), and I like to feel more armoured up than this would provide. Bought the Dynasty girdle instead, and am very pleased with the purchase (Dynasty is so light and ultra protective where the hard foam guards are).

Does anyone have a release date for the STX Surgeon 300 Shoulder and Elbow pads? I had heard September, just curious if there is a hard date of when we can expect to see these in stores, if they will even be in stores? I could not find any STX 500 Protective gear in Los Angeles/ Orange County area this summer. HM told me they were online only items, and TH has these looking like online only as well.

Mako M7 skate looks identical to Mako 2 and 8 also, moldwise- I think the difference is more fiberglass in the composite, so it is slighly heavier. Aside from that tho, at $400, and hopefully with it going on clearance soon since I heard that Easton is launching new lines of skates, this could be a potentially great deal in 6-9 months.

I was completely speculating about SkateFenders 2.0. I do not have a clue as to their future plans; I am just keeping an eye out to see if they improve on the design.

I wear the SkateFenders Full Pro, with my Makos. I play wing too, and as I closed in on a forecheck and veered away from the D man, he fired a light saucer pass off the tendon guard bolt that left me with a knot that looked like a second ankle next to my real ankle, for a month or two. I took a light saucer pass off the middle of my instep too (earlier, on a different day), and it did not feel nice, but no damage was sustained. So, SkateFenders have been worn since the pass off the bolt. I do not love the Fenders- they seem to feel clunky compared to how I think the ShotBlockers would feel, but they are less expensive and more thorough in coverage than the ShotBlockers, so I am just sticking with them until maybe SkateFenders 2.0 launch. I seem to always be taking saucer passes off the insides of my feet/ legs. The most recent one left a softball sized bruise on my inner calf that last about 10 days. No big deal, I did not even feel that one, just noticed it after and I know what play it had to have happened on. Point is, the feet are rather important for us to be able to get around, and it would seem that one would be inclined to want to protect them.

Same here- I am bulging through the casing for about 4 eyelets around the middle, no problems though.

Previously used: Oggie Ergo, Tacki Mac Ribbed Wrapped Command Weight Barely weighs anything. Some weight up top would not bother me, to make my stick a little less blade heavy. This is not the responsibility of the grip though. Regardless, weight is a non-factor. n/a or 10/10 Balance Again, due to weight not being a factor, balance is not impacted. n/a or 10/10 Grip There are also different size and shaped bumps on the grip, which seem to allow the hand to lock onto the shaft with this grip. I like alot of grip for my top hand, so that I do not need to waste energy squeezing the stick too hard when forechecking. 10/10 Feel Because the wrap is so thin, I have a newfound feel on my stick that I had not previously experienced with the Oggie Ergo (I did not like how soft the rubber was, and how much flex was coming out of it) and Tacki-Mac Ribbed Wrapped Command (very thick, dulls the feel). I just got back into playing after a 17 year layoff, so this is a welcomed, newfound, and appreciated experience. The knob is extremely, thin, like the Tacki Mac Kane. This can cause some durability issues with my gloves, but no big deal, I can just get them re-palmed if necessary, and is a sacrifice I am willing to make, in order to get the stick feel and control that this feature allows for. 10/10 Durability You will notice in the pics that I leave a bit of space between the knob and the top of the shaft itself. This is due to my having ripped through my first grip, because my hand was inadvertently pulling on the grip, wrapping it over the shaft. The top of the shaft then tore through the grip, rendering it pretty well useless. I had to tape it up to hold it together, by which time the point of the grip was null and void. As I was dealing with this issue, Rob emailed me and asked how I liked my grips (I did not initiate this exchange of dialogue, well done Rob), and I told him what happened. He sent me a replacement free of charge. So, Customer service 10/10. Durability score pending. It is possible that I simply did not install the grip properly, or maybe I did, who knows? Regardless, I am giving the grip a bit of space at the top so that when the my palm pulls the knob toward the top of the shaft, it has room to move up, without getting pulled over, and sawed by the top of my shaft. Even with this space, however, the knob is still getting pulled up. I think that if these grips were somehow engineered like golf club grips, so that the rubber formed a wall at the top, preventing the knob from getting pulled, then this problem would be solved. Or, I can superglue the top of the grip, and see if it holds. It is worth nothing that these grips do not lock onto the shaft, in the way that my Tacki Mac ribbed wrapped commands did. The Tack Macs, once on the stick, seem cemented on (which I like). The ButtEndz do not really lock on, but they do not slide around either. There just seemed to be a bit of variability at the topf of the grip, where the knob is. pending/10 Overall I'm happy with it. I do not see any way to improve upon this design, and this is my grip of choice and I expect to use this grip for a long time coming.

APX2s are no where close to most protective IMO. Most comprehensive (shell wrapping around the shin/ calf/ lower leg, as opposed to just covering the shin bone itself) coverage will be Bauer Nexus, Reebok 20K or CCM Tacks. It is hard to say which will give you the best head on protection, without standing in front of a slap shot machine.

Does anyone have any info on the M7, besides what is in the catalogue and listed at the online retailers? I may try a pair, as I am sitting about a size too big in my Mako 2s. I seem to get around the ice ok, and the skates feel good on my feet, I am just curious if I can get better agility, and do not wanna drop another $800 on Mako 2s. The only other skate besides Makos that I might be interested in are the VHs. FWIW, I think the M7 looks great, my favorite looking skate on the market right now. Not that this should matter, of course; I have been wearing Makos for the comfort and performance. Aesthetically speaking, I certainly did not love the orange in the original, and I sure I like how my Mako 2s look a bit beter, but these M7s look perfect IMO. Quality-wise, I have not seen many skates that have the little ventilation holes in the bottom of the skate, at this price point ($400). Nor do I see many one piece boots (monococque or whatever it's called) on the market, at any price point, aside from Mako and VH.

Background: I am not a goalie. Initially, I wanted a durable wheeled bag. I had a Bauer premium wheelie, but it began getting shredded, so I went with the 36 inch GRIT HT5 Tower. I liked that tower, but my gear barely squeezed in, as I am a size XL in everything, so I thought I'd try this goalie tower. Durability: This bag is definitely not cut from the same cloth as the Mammoth bags. I am not sure of the material, some sort of nylon I believe. Immediately afterI had purchased this tower, it came around the world with me, from stateside to overseas, exactly onto the other side of the globe. The material was noticeably scuffed up after my flight, presumably from the baggage handlers throwing it from the belly of the planes onto the tarmac, and wherever else they toss the luggage around. I ought to have had this bag wrapped in cellophane, but I just forgot. So, hard to blame the bag, I suppose, for my forgetfulness, coupled with the baggage handlers' sticking to their MO. Aside from the scuffs from this voyage, no signs of damage after about 55-60 uses. The wheels seem heavy duty, zipper is holding up ok, and the inside is all good. 9/10 Performance: This bag has a HUGE main compartment. I can easily fit all of my gear inside. There is plenty of room left over for my undergarments, uniforms, water bottles, etc., with additional room to spare. The shelves are ideal. When I get dressed and undressed, it is like having a closet in front of me. The huge air vents are also beneficial. When my gear is in the tower, after I have played and am watching a game, I have no concern of the "funk" building up, because I know that there is max ventilation. The bag is heavy, but the only people that ought to be using it (aside from goalies, who I do not speak for or on behalf of), are guys wearing all XL gear, who ought to be bigger and stronger anyway. The bag requires a proper thrust to get it into the SUV, but once I am wheeling it, it moves effortlessly. One complaint about performance. The internal sleeves inside the main flap, do not zip closed. So, after a trip to the rink, with the bag having been laid flat in the back of the SUV, alot of my accessories "escape" the sleeves, and get mixed in with the main compartment. This is annoying. 9.5/10 Value: This bag was not cheap, but it is the only heavy duty wheeled bag, and it has a nice ventilation feature for those days when I am stuck at the rink, with nowhere to properly air my gear. If one is on a budget, then this is not the bag for you. However, if money is not a concern, then this bag is one of a kind. 9/10 Overall: Aside from adding zippers to the internal sleeves, and using a bit more durable material for the canvas, there is not much I that I would change about this bag. It is a very pricey bag, but it is also one of a kind. 27.5/30.0 = 91.7

Stick Details: Warrior QR ProFlex: 100Curve: W88 Zetterberg (RH) About Me:Height: 6'2Weight: 220lbsShoots: RHPlaying: 3 times a week- Defense and Wing (stick in use for 5 months)Highest level of play: Beer LeagueRecent sticks: Bauer Totalone Tapered shafts and Easton Mako II shafts (both with Warrior Dynasty AXt1 blades) Aesthetics: To each their own. I find this all black/ mostly black trend that we are in the midst of, to be a bit boring myself; but I also found the older, busy Warrior style (ie- Dolomite) obnoxious, and thus much prefer this more refined, classy style. I want a yellow stick with blue accents, to match my team uni, but I understand that this is a future custom project that I will need to undertake. Blade 9.5/10 I tape every part of the blade that comes in contact with ice and puck, for durability purposes. This blade has a nice pass dampening effect, but also allows pucks to jump off of it when shooting. The blade is rather stiff, especially compared to the Warrior Dynasty AXT1 blade. With the Dynasty blades, I found that they got a bit floppy at the toe, after the same time of use. With this blade, it is still as stiff as it was when I first bought it. Being a bigger player, I prefer a stiff blade (that is what Easton claims the research shows, and I tend to agree, personally in my experience). It is hard for me to comment on puck feel, as I am still new to the game, and have never used a stick that people say has great puck feel, so I would not know what to look for/ feel. Shaft/Flex 9.5/10 I find that the flex seems true. This features Dagger Taper, designed to get shots off quickly. All it takes is a gentle flick of my wrists, from anywhere inside the blue line, and I am whizzing shots on goal. Granted, these are not the hardest shots, as they may be if I really leaned in with proper technique. I like to just put the puck on net first, fast, and foremost, and then ask questions later. This is admittedly not the purest of hockey styles, but it works- sometimes my shots go in, often they cause rebounds, and never has anyone scored against us, within 1 minute of my having fired a puck on the other net. My passing is another story. Stickhandling/receiving passes 9/10 The blade feels soft when catching passes, definitely not pingy. I do need to look down often when stickhandling. I am not sure if this is due to lack of good puck feel/ lack of feedback as to where the puck is, or if my lack of experience and poor hands/ stickhandling is getting in the way. Shooting 10/10 This thing is a cannon. In warmups, when I unleash the big clapper, the puck jumps at the goalie. I generally shoot more wristers in games, and the puck comes off fast and quick. With the TotalOne tapered, I felt that my wrist shot experienced horrible lag. I mean, with the QR Pro, the time it takes for me, from time that I decide to initiate a wrist shot, to the puck either hitting the goalie or finding its way to the back of the net, is about equal to the time it took with the T1 from the initiation of the shoot, to just simply get the puck off of the blade face. Of course, distance matters. I am picturing a shot from just beyond the offensive zone face off circle dots, but still inside the face off circles themselves. Weight and balance 9/10 Light and well balanced. Not as light as the EK15, but perhaps better balanced, so that the 56 gram differential in weight does not feel like 56g. Durability 10/10 I am pretty hard on my sticks, in the general/ natural flow of the warm up/ game (but I am otherwise gentle on the stick). Hard on stick: I like to take big slapshots in warm ups (just to warm up). I also am known for slapping guys' stick blades rather hard when they have the pucks on their blades. I also have taken alot of hard shots to the blade, in trying to help out my goalie. Easy on stick: I do NOT tap my stick, ever (I never call for passes as I prefer to just chase rebounds and do not like to give away my location, and I think it is unsportsmanlike to call for passes when the other team has the puck). As mentioned, I tape the entire blade, and am generous in wax application. So, this may be adding to the shelf life. After about 60 hockey sessions,, the stick has sustained nearly zero damage. Subtle nicks and scrapes, but nothing structural. It is rather impressive. Intangibles N/A This is a great stick, at a great value. This is a true OPS at a $200 price point, and it is as light as many competitors' top of the line sticks, with some durability features thrown in. I cannot really find anything not to like, about the stick itself. The only complaint I have, is that my preferred curve is not available. The W88 suits most of my needs (height, rocker, depth, spot where the curve is, lie), except that it has a slightly open face. Anyone who has been paying any attention to my posts, knows that I struggle to keep the puck down, and thus prefer the closed face. Previously, I used the Kovalchuk retail, which was perfect for "my shooting technique" (or lack thereof), but flawed in just about every other way (too short, no rocker, and the curve was a bit too close to the heel). When I shoot, I just flick my wrists, and do not roll them. When I try to roll them, I find that I take so much off of my shot, so it is a Catch 22. With a closed face, I need not roll my wrists, and can pick my spots with pretty good success. So, despite the fact that I find every attribute of this stick rather ideal, I will be switching over to BASE, to give the Malkin 71 Pro Stock curve a shot, which looks to be rather closed at the face, and similar enough to everything that I have enjoyed about the W88, that I am optimistic that I will enjoy it. So, if you are hard on your sticks in actual hockey movements, in game (and warmups), and skip all the extra curricular razing and tapping of the stick, and can find your pattern, then this is a rather nice stick at the one below top of the line price point. I have never actually used a $260 top of the line stick, so I would not know what it feels like, or is supposed to feel like. This is a pretty nice stick regardless. Conclusion (57/60 = 95%) Warrior makes quality sticks, and this is no exception. The Dagger taper is no joke- shots come off fast and hard. I just wish they would bring back the Gionta curve, or at least some sort of closed toe curve, with a rocker and everything else like the W88; and then Warrior would definitely have me hooked, as I appreciate the value that they offer of a true OPS at this price point (which no other major retailer offers, except TRUE, I believe).

-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 know it's about fit and head shape, but I and everyone I know who has ever tried on the Warrior helmets have found them to be so uncomfortable and pinchy up top/ in the top back. We all have pretty standard'ish heads too (I think, anyway, as we all fit fine in Missions and Bauers and Reebok/ CCM). Not sure who the head model is for Warrior, but whoever it is may have a bit oddly shaped noggin. I know Keith is on here and a contributing member- not knockin your company bud- love the gloves and sticks (and wear pro stock Franchises- don't love them but they are definitely well made) and will likely grab the Dynasty girdle (or MX3 maybe, we will see), but I think that may be the reason that the helmets are not exactly flying off the shelves (well, until now with the VT report).

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.