Cosmic

Yea, funny thing (well, not sure if funny is the right word). For the first week or two after I got hit, I did not realize that it was the bolt that got me. I called IW and spoke with Chase, and described to him that I got this huge knot from a soft pass, described the area, and asked essentially "What the heck?" I mean, I had gotten hit by a much harder pass on my instep previously, and that did not leave a mark or anything. It stung, but the adrenaline in the moment just took the pain away and had me thinking more to the effect of, "Uh oh, is this gonna swell up and not let me put my skate on next game?" Anyway, the much harder pass off my boot left no problem whatsoever. So, when I talked to Chase, he asked if it was the bolt that got me. I explained that I was not even aware of this bolt= I mean, I knew there was a screw for the tendon guard, but I never put it together that this could act as a weapon against me. So, I put the boot on, and low and behold, and exact alignment from bolt to where the knot has formed. So yea, had I known that this could be an issue, I probably would have mitigated it and not gone out naked for the last 30 or so skates. There is one skate fender, the little mini one, that sits right on top of this bolt. And then my monster fender covers this area, as well as the rest of my foot, but it is just so uncomfortable and bulky. So, I need to figure out the next step. I hope and assume my ankle will make full recovery. The knot has definitely gotten smaller since 4 weeks ago, not sure if it has gotten smaller in the last week though.

It did not dig in at all. It caused a blunt force trauma which has me looking like I have an ankle, and then a mini-me ankle, almost 4 weeks after the fact. Crazy thing is, it did not even bruise that badly right after. I have seen other guys' feet aftr taking shots to the skate, and they have huge masses of black and blue. My black and blue was minimal, but I got a huge knot between bone and skin. All I am saying is, put something over the bolt- either a Shot blocker, skate fender, shin guard, custom protective extension coming off of a shin, whatever. And if no one does, then we will see more of this. It was a random play. I was forechecking and as I closed in, the puck carrier fired a cross ice pass right off my inner ankle. So, maybe we will not see a ton of pucks hitting this part of the skate, but when we do, the bolt will break bone if the shot or pass is hard. This was not a hard pass, from a guy who is a good skater, but is skinny and a bit weak otherwise. As much as I loathe them, I am wearing my SkateFenders again. Thinking about getting Shot Blockers as these are not ergonomic/ kinesio friendly/ anatomical at all. I got the biggest ones- the Pro Full Plus, and they just get in the way of natural motion. Alot of the energy must have been transferred into the bolt, which acted as a battering ram.

Almost one year in the CL shoulders. I have played on average once per week maybe during that time (maybe 50 skates total), and they are holding up beautifully. I want to sell them though, and grab the RBZs, just for the additional coverage.

Beware the Bolt that holds the tendon guard to the ankle area. I took a soft saucer pass straight to that bolt, inside left skate. At the time, I thought nothing of it and kept playing. It is going on 4 weeks now and I still have a bump there. I thought that the protection there must have been weak as hell, but I called IW and spoke to Chase and he asked if it hit where the bolt was. I put the boot on, and it was a spot-on match. So, I am thinking either Skate Fenders or Shotblockers to make sure that does not happen again. I can imagine that a harder pass or a decently hard shot would have caused some serious damage, because this was not much to speak of, and has me taking too long to heal than I was planning.

Regarding the new curve, when the info is ready to be released, can you tell us if it will be available as a blade?

What is the difference between the Easton Synergy HSX and Easton Synergy 80 gloves? I am guessing the HSX's will have more beefed up protection, right? What about the palms, and the liner? The catalogue says: HSX: 2 piece Ax suede palm with textured abrasion zone Synergy 80: 2 piece Ax suede palm with Digitec textured abrasion zone - What is difference between Digitec vs no Digitec? Also, the Synergy 80 does not say the type of liner. HSX says the liner is "Nanosense" I will be happy to go with the Synergy 80s if they are all the same except for a little less protection and less puck feel (but more durable palm). On the hunt for a reasonably priced, comfortable, protective, mobile pair of tapered gloves. I like my Warrior Covert DT2 Bone Xs for everything except mobility- they lock me in at the wrist at one particular angle- the one when I need to flex my wrists to catch passes in at my skates (I have bad enough hands as it is, this just further complicates the matter). I used to have Vapors but I think they are overpriced (the APX2 line looks good, I just do not like the idea of paying an extra 1/4 price to support all of their excessive marketing). I did not think the Reebok 9Ks were comfortable, so I doubt I will like the 30K/28Ks.

Tendon guards in as well, laces wrapped around the ankle- not feeling this look at all for the Great One.

They will have the same deal at this time next year, for the Mako II ;) I love my Makos as well, but I expect them to last me 5 years, so no sense getting a backup pair when I figure I can hold out for the upgrade, and then just make the ones I am using, my backup.

This is an interesting confirmation. I am especially curious to know what the weight is, when dry, and then when wet. I have a video of me receiving a pass in the slot, taking a few steps toward the goal, and then firing a wrist shot, and my steps are soooooo slooooowwww. By nature, I am not quick footed, and I think that I was fatigued (adrenaline prevents me from really feeling fatigued, but I figure that my performance slows as the game proceeds); I just wonder how many extra gams I was carrying in my skates, and if this was contributing to my apparent tar heeledness on this particular play.

I wear the Bauer yellow Kevlar socks, which come up to my knees, and still got the bumps bad on my first skate. I was prepared for the bumps to be a problem, and if I was to get them, then I was interested to see where they would show up, so I could just pad that area. I got some nice little wounds that still mark the spot (from Dec 2013). Since that time, I have cut MoleSkin for each spot that gets chafed, and then wear a gel sleeve over the moleskin, and no problems. Just the gel sleeve is actually not enough. It has been an extra expense, and 10 minutes of prep prior to each game, but I already had the items (so the expense was already incurred); and the extra 10 minutes of prep are not a big deal to me, as I need the time to narrow my focus into hockey anyway. The Mako IIs have some subtle improvements, but nothing too seemingly huge- a seemingly more durable & responsive tongue, and the liner is claiming better moisture wicking. My Mako liner gets pretty wet after games. It dries quickly too, sure, but I would prefer a dry liner after each game, as I am a sweater, playing in a humid environment. No big deal though, I just dry them out and they are always fine. I wonder though, if that sweat that is accumulating in the liner is giving me that heavy skate feeling in the 3rd period (or if it is just that the skates are indeed a bit heavy, and I am not in the best condition in the world). I wonder if the new and improved liner will wick the sweat out as the skater perspires, thus saving precious grams of weight when the skater is already starting to fatigue. I do not know, but for me, this would possibly justify the extra expense and time, if I were in skates that I liked. I would ask how happy you are with your skates, before considering making the purchase. I wanted to wait for the Makos to get to this price drop and/or for Mako II, but I lacked skates at the time, so I just bought the Makos at $800 (-20% discount). Makos do not size exactly like Bauers. I was a 10.0 EE in Supreme One.9 (and APX2/X100); a friend of mine was also a 10.0 EE in Supreme. We are both 10.5 EE in Easton Mako.

Height - 6'2" Weight - 215 lbs Helmet size - Medium; with Re-AKT Titanium Cage mounted (Size Large) Level of play: Beer Leaguer Location: Indonesia (hot and humid) Background/ reason for purchase- I recently got back into hockey, and purchased the Re-AKT as my helmet when getting geared up. As I was unwrapping and sorting my equipment, cutting all the tags and everything off, I inadvertently peeled the certification stickers off of the Re-AKT helmet. I then learned that I might need these stickers to play in the international tournaments (nothing serious- 35 years old+, Beer league, level C) that my traveling team enters. So, I bought the Inhaler, as it seemed like a pretty good helmet for $100 that I could wear when I travel. Fit - I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Inhaler actually fits my head better than my Re-AKT. This is just a personal head shape issue, so it does not mean that it will fit your head better. When getting geared up, I was not able to try anything on, I just ordered everything blind and hoped that it would all fit. For the most part, everything worked out just fine. I have since gone to a major retailer and tried on everything. Interestingly, the Easton E700, CCM, Reebok, and Warrior helmets all dig into my head in the same place (middle top back). Re-AKT and Inhaler are both comfy, but Inhaler is a perfect match for my head. Additionally, comfortwise, due to the air vents, I rarely feel a need to take off the helmet to air out my head. Last league game, I believe that I kept the helmet on the entire time, even when on the bench. I cannot do this in my Re-AKT, as I tend to get hot and overheat. After the game, the SweatHog was drenched, so it did its job. Score: 10/10 Protection - I play beer league, so for feedback on how this helmet responds to vicious checks, we will need someone else to weigh in. Score: n/a Weight - Not as light as the Easton E700, but as stated, that helmet does not fit me anyway. I think that the helmet weights in a few grams heavier than my Re-AKT, but I cannot feel the difference on my head. Score: 9/10 Durability - As stated by T Roy, the pegs in the sweatband is prone to rippage. I dropped some hot glue between the pegs and the band, and it is back in business. Replacement bands are $4 so no big deal either way. Everything else is holding up well. Score: will revisit in the future, so far we will just say 9.5/10 Intangibles - First time I wore this helmet, I scored 8 goals in a pick up hockey sesh. In 5 league games out here in the IIHL when wearing this helmet, 3 goals (low scoring games, so pretty good). Last pick up hockey sesh, 2 more goals. I never scored much when I wore the Re-AKT, and still when I wear the Re-AKT, I rarely, if ever score. So, superstitions-wise, this helmet is my saving grace. On a more serous note though, value wise, this helmet costs approx. 40% what the Re-AKT costs, and I actually like it better. So, value wise, this helmet really shines. I play in extremely hot and humid conditions, and I literally become a vapor making machine every time I step off the ice. I never feel that my head is ever hot though, when I wear this helmet. My (shaved) head sweats like crazy, and I just use my jersey to dry it off between periods. Score: 10/10 Conclusion - I am pretty glad that I mistakenly peeled the stickers off of the Re-AKT, so that I could discover this helmet. 38.5/40

That's what IW says. I felt as if my Supreme One.9 LE's were lighter and faster than my Makos (but nowhere near as comfortable; Mako feels like a tennis shoe, One.9 LE felt like something from the Spanish Inquisition), even though IW lists Mako as 800g (9D) vs. 850g (also 9D) for the One.9 LE. I will weigh my Makos, curious to see now. I also had to add .5 size in going from Supreme to Mako, which would add a few grams.

Warrior Covert DT2 gloves- mustard/ navy blue

Go to VH and just have Scott trace your foot. The only thing holding me back from having gone the VH route, was my own inaccuracy with the tracing, + an apparently odd foot condition that I have (that Easton Mako & Mission Axiom T10 does not bother, but just about every other skate gives me grief). I did not have time to do trial & error of sending the skates back & forth with Scott to get the toe cap correct, as I am overseas. I knew that Mako would work so just went Mako (which I am happy with, but I would not mind a lighter, more protective skate).

Bauer makes quality gear, but I think that alot of their (perceived) "dominance" is due to their expertise in marketing. If one really looks into each product, then I think that one will find that there are certain things that they do better than anyone else (such as making stiff, super durable skates in their high end offerings, as in Vapor APX/APX 2 and Supreme NXG/MX3 skates). However, in each equipment item, I (and many others) have preference for other brands. Obviously, it is all personal preference, I know, but it seems like other companies have been a bit more innovative recently, and have thus come out with better offerings (like CCM Crazy Light/RBZ U+ Foam for pants/elbows shoulders; Bauer does not offer anything like the Mako skates in terms of comfort). Sure, Bauer is great, and if anyone wanted to give me a $2000 gift card to go shopping in Bauer, then I would gladly take it. However, I would prefer $1000 to go spend at Easton (Mako II skates), $500 to go to CCM/Reebok (RBZ elbows, shoulders; and 20K shins), and another $500 to go spend at Warrior (Covert sticks). http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php/topic/64196-2012-product-of-the-year-award-winners/

Height - 6'2" Weight - 215 lbs Shoulder pad size - Extra Large Level of play: Beer Leaguer Location: Indonesia (hot and humid) Fit (& Mobility)- I like the fit- one piece chest guard with floating sternum, one piece bicep guard (I do not like the 2 piece bicep guards and the multiple level chest protectors). The chest guard is a bit boxy, and not anatomical (RBZ looks like it will be anatomical). I like the shoulders, but they seem like they float up a bit. I do not care if I "look like a football player" or not, my concern is vision when looking over my shoulder to a puck coming toward me from the defense (I play Center usually). It seems like slightly better visibility if the pads were a little lower profile. 8.75/10 Protection - Hard to tell, as I play in beer league, but I feel protected enough. UPDATE- I took a pretty hard hit from behind in a league game a few nights ago. As you can see in the video, the guy loaded up pretty good before throwing his shoulder into my back. (The camera pans away right as the hit comes, because the videographer was tracking the puck, not realizing that the period had ended.) Ironic that this guy is actually a teammate of mine on our traveling team. Anyway, 2 nights later at our traveling team practice, he said he was "frustrated," and could not contain himself. When I bought these pads, I thought I was just getting them for protection against myself (because I am not the best skater ever, and figured I might be prone to take a few spills and would like the protection of my upper body for these occasions), but apparently, these will be protecting me against people who think that they are Chris Chelios, playing on a Detroit Red Wing championship caliber team, and who just cannot fathom being on the wrong end of a 4-0 rout (the score at the time that the hit happened; the game ended at 5-1). So yea, I felt like I got hit by someone with intention to screw me up a bit, but it did not hurt, and I walked away injury free. So, apparently, the U+ Foam works pretty well. So, if you watch from about 33:52 on, I am #23 in red, he is #14 in white (the guy banging his stick for a faceoff, who then carries the puck behind our net for a faceoff). We are wearing light and dark jerseys of the same team, but we (about 15 of us that play for this team) all got split up for this league we are in. I clear the puck right as time expires, and about 1 or 2 seconds later, he explodes into my back. Yea, class act: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiukP3SjCHA Updated protection score: 10/10 Weight - According to the numbers I have seen, these are by far, the lightest high end pants, and equivalent weight to low end/ less padded pants. I sweat buckets, and these do NOT hold any water. Most sweat is wicked away, the tiny bit that remains can just be wiped off with a cloth. Needless to say, this is my first piece of equipment to dry, every time. I just hang them out to let the fresh air offset the sweat that I put onto them. 10/10 Durability - So far, so good. Stitch work I would rate as fair to good. Quite a few clunky areas of thread that I cut off (so that they do not snag and come undone). I suspect that these pads will last longer than I will want them. 9 (projection)/10 Intangibles - Nothing additional to report aside from that already stated. Kinda pricey I suppose, but these are unique pads, one of a kind at the time of their release due to the sweat repellent properties. 9/10 Conclusion - Very satisfied with these pads. I could have bought all Crazy Light gear, but believed that the pants, elbows, and shoulders were the only items in this line that were head and shoulders above the competition. In hindsight, had I seen/known of the hugely improved looking RBZ protective line, then I would have bought the cheapest Mako shouldies, and then waited to splurge (like I did on these), for the RBZ shouldies. These are good enough tho, and I expect to wear them for another couple of years, so I cannot really complain. 46.75/ 50.0

That's pretty much what I heard too from a guy who works at one of the major retailers- same skate just really minor tweaks.

The "risk" of getting Mako bumps is really not that big a deal. If you are one of the people who gets these gashes (asI am), then you just note it, and then realize you need a barrier (gel pad/ neoprene sleeve/ moleskin) between your bump prone area and the skate, and you ought to be fine. It's an extra expense and one extra thing to remember when getting dressed, which can be annoying, but well worth it if you appreciate the comfort and performance of the skate. For me, because of my feet issues, and my inability to find another pair of skates that works, this is a relatively minor inconvenience. These are the gel pads/wraps I use- they wrap around the ankle/ lower calf, and work brilliantly. They cost me $40 from a local hockey retailer, not sure who makes them or what they are called. I turned the right one inside out, left one is as it is supposed to be worn:

Height - 6'2" Weight - 215 lbs Pant size - Extra Large Level of play:Beer Leaguer Location: Indonesia (hot and humid) Fit (& Mobility)- lot of room in the butt and thighs, and the pants come down to the top of my knee. If I were a bigger, fatter guy, then these would still fit me just fine. As it is though, (I have an athletic build), it does not feel like I am swimming in these pants. They are a bit bulky though, and I wonder if my stride would be smoother on crossovers if I were to wear a girdle (or if it would not matter, because my stride is just not smooth as silk, as I would like it to be. 8.75/10 Protection - There is so much padding thrown into these, but no plastic. Highly protective, have taken a few pucks to these, and never feel it. Cannot ask for more for beer league. 10/10 Weight - According to the numbers I have seen, these are by far, the lightest high end pants, and equivalent weight to low end/ less padded pants. I sweat buckets, and these hold water, but I assume they wick away a fair amount of water as well. Tough to really judge, as I do not have any other pants/ recent history to compare to. 9/10 Durability - So far, these have been my best stitched/ highest quality piece of equipment, and I pretty much went all top-of-the-line when I got geared up in Summer 2013, as I want to be comfortable when I play. 10/10 Intangibles - I do not think you can beat this protection/weight/durability combo. 9.5/10 Conclusion - Very satisfied with these pants. I could have bought all Crazy Light gear, but believed that the pants, elbows, and shoulders were the only items in this line that were head and shoulders above the rest. It seems that the shoulders and elbows have gotten huge upgrades in the pending RBZ line release, but I think that CCM got the CL pants right, and thus the RBZ does not look like a huge improvement (unless you need the +1 pant length extension) 47.25/ 50.0

I think it is hard to say that the skates do not fit us right. I mean, what is so odd or unique about the area above our ankle? I get length/width/depth, and the importance of getting the right skate that satisfies these matters (which I feel the Mako does for me). Is there a 4th consideration that needs to be considered when buying skates: area above ankle contour? Maybe, I am not trying to be difficult; this is actually a serious question. Also, what is it about the area above our ankles that can be so unique, that one could say that the skates are not fitting us properly?

I support this (free/discounted skates) ... using my gel ankle sleeves now and no problems, but these will wear- hope my skates are broken in by the time my gel pads give.

I use the Bauer Elite Performance Socks. And yes, I have all kinds of stuff I can use to prevent this from happening again. I got this gel ankle wrap from this local salesperson, that the figure skaters wear- that is best. Moleskin, neoprene sleeves- it all works. I wanted to see though, when I first wore these skates, if I would need to go this route. So, I learned, yes, I need to go this route. I do not think that there is a way to heat mold out of this problem. I mean, sure if someone is an ergonomist, then they may be able to figure it out. I did a pretty damn good job heat molding a hot spot on my instep, if I do say so myself, but I just do not see how to correct this issue with heal molding. I hear that it is a break in issue, and after few months, the issue will go away. So yea, in the meantime, I will just wear my padding, and it will be ok. For me, this issue pales in comparison to the one I was having prior (which completely kept me off this ice), so I just deal with it and it is no big deal. But, if I had skates that I liked, then yea I would try to wait for Mako II. But yea, first time I wore them, I was completely blown away, and knew I wanted them. I really feel like I can skate all day, comfortably, and naturally, after having been unable to skate at all, which is nice.

That big irritated blotch by my ankle- it was on both ankles after my first skate. I felt it forming about 1.5 hours in, but as I was having the greatest hockey occasion of my life to date, I just played through it, and hoped it was nothing. It is, in effect nothing. If I were to play 2 hours per day, 7 days a week after it formed, then sure, I would make a hole in my leg, but I am not a pro, so I was able to take the necessary 3.5 weeks off for this gash to close up.

I have been wearing the CCM CL Shoulders, Elbows and Pants. Love the pants, would not change a thing (does not look like much was changed). But the elbows are short (nice of them to extend them), and the chest protector on the shoulders is not anatomical at all (looks like this was fixed too)

After 1 test run (in my friend's skates at public skating, prior to buying), 1 league game, and 3 drop in sessions, I can say that I absolutely love these skates. They only really "made me a better skater" on the 1st skate, as I think they guy had the perfect sharpening for the ice surface, which I have not yet been able to replicate- I think I will get it next skate though. 2nd skate too, I had the best night of my life, but it was more just me burying shots rather than putting on any sort of skating clinic. Anyway, most skates hurt my feet right when I put them on- nevermind when they are laced up, when I am walking/ skating, etc. These skates, I can wear for 2 hour sessions, and keep on going, for awhile longer. Only issue is the "Mako bumps," but as long as I wear neoprene sleeve and mole skin, I am all set. I actually forget to wear both for my last 2 skates, and no real major issues. There was a major'ish issue with the Mako bumps after the first skate (1 2.25 hour hockey drop in, which required 3.5 weeks to heal), but it was not that bad, just took a long time for the wound to close up. I think the ankles of the skates might be better broken in now, not sure tho- hopefully I will just remember to wear the neoprene/moleskin while this issue sorts itself out. So, I hope that the Mako/ Mako II pending remains true to form, and evolves within their philosophy of the natural movement and the wrap of the eyelets, and whatever else they are doing to provide the running shoe type feel in the skate. (In other words, I hope it does not become like a Supreme or APX and be all stiff and hurt my feet). If you are thinking of going from Supreme into this, then please note 10.0 EE in Supreme One.9 LE = 10.5 in Mako (for me).