DarkStar50

The idiot parade continues............

Bauer already has. PM9: Hossa, St. Louis, Malkin, .....

By no means am I saying that Bauer has some type of obligation to release any of its line before it hits stores. My point was if you're releasing the rest of your line you may as well put pictures of the skates out there. Even if the skates are truly revolutionary in terms of performance, is there really all that much competitive information that could be gleaned from a catalog picture and description that it would really be detrimental to them? At the end of the day, its neither here nor there, it just seems overkill to me, but I totally respect their right to do whatever they want. I understand your point. I won't say there is anything "truly revolutionary", but there are some features that say "what took so long and why didn't someone else think of that?" (Maybe because no one else but Bauer bothers to even begin to think like that.)I always admire companies that manage to incorporate this type of thinking in their product. The original Mission/Bilt-Rite guys did that with their opening product line in roller hockey in the mid 90s. Remember they were also three former Bauer guys who pushed the envelope with hockey product design thinking in roller hockey equipment. I think that Bauer wants to create some hype, which they have, and they have also invested a ton of time, research, development, testing, and money into the product. So any sizzle they can add to the steak is just basic Marketing 101 with holding back the Vapor skate product.

The Performance Apparel is very well done. Over the course of the Nike run, some people gave too much leverage to the Nike brand as having some huge, huge influence over Bauer. Nike let the people in place, Bauer people, do their jobs over the last 10-12 years. Hockey product was not coming from Oregon. It was coming out of St. Jerome and the designers in that location. That said, the apparel team has furthered the development of their 2009 product line to get even more hockey specific for dynamics and range of motion in apparel. It is a strong line-up that will sell in the marketplace. The competition in the category is not hockey specific so why support UA or RBK when those lines are pretty generically designed in the category. Just some things to think about. As for the Vapor Skate line secrecy, the decision to hold back the visual launch is not just about marketing. There are many valid ideas put into the line that are worth waiting for. No vendor has any obligation to an early release of their product just because we live in an age of instant information. A long time ago when the American auto industry ruled as king, the release of the new car lines was also kept quiet until they hit the showroom. Bauer has taken a cross-over marketing approach to the Vapor line. No harm done. It is wise to remember that for Bauer skate lines, it is not simply about the look of the skate. It is what makes up the guts of the skate that drives performance on ice. Bauer has raised the bar on Vapor for 2009.

Don't get too excited about the E-Pro glove. It is really a dumbed down version of their pro glove. The "nylon shell" is very weak for covering the glove. I was disappointed when I saw the glove. At the same price point as Bauer(Spring 2009) Pro 4 rolls, the Bauer glove is a much better buy.

Regarding the Easton protective line, it's a good thing they know how to make OPS. Woof-woof.

I was so excited to get them, I didn't even notice they were double layer. I asked for single, but MSH2 is so thin, I think it'll be ok. I asked about getting rid of the model and eagle logo on the backroll, but it was too late, the order had already been submitted. Even with those two things, I can't be more happy with them! I believe Eagle prefers the double layer. The palms feel so good that I do not see it as a problem. The gloves are wicked light and feel broken in right out of the factory. PPF model is the way to go for custom Eagle. The Vaughn guys have tightened up production and they did come pretty quickly.

Do us a favor, Lock it. No good will come of this thread.

I guess my "bad taste" has kept me in this business as an equipment buyer for 30 years. :lol:

1. I'm skating in some old tack 952 (2001 or 2000)... but allready try one95 (just in the shop) and 90 (on the ice, quite a fucking good skate I have to admit it if I put the pain apart). 2. definitely! the old supreme lines looks way better. Bulky looking POWWWWWWAAAAAA. The zero space concept make the skate look like a "figure skating" skate <_< Finally the shape of one95 is awful... same for the one90 but at least graphics and outside design don't have this cheap-looking... 3. Maybe. Nevertheless, many years ago, the old black tu'k was synonym of high end skates... and the full black look was awesome (if you remember all the 7 series graf before the cobra holder, all the bauer supreme 3/4/5ooo, air line, ...). BTW black LS holders do exist but don't look very hot I don't know why... 4. As I say all serious players that will really get the most of those skates, will get them for free... The rest of the dumbies like me, who clearly doesn't need such a good skate to go faster, will go in the shop and give 700 dollars. And when you spend so many money, you want everything manufacturing-quality/performance/technique/comfort/look... I'm sorry but with the one 95 you don't get the good looking and the well crafted part at all... it's almost like the made-in-china models are better manufactured than the one made in America :( 5. Who cares?? People like me, just play for fun. They can copy who ever they want, all we want is a skate that has the whole package... but those kind of skate seems to have disappeared Well then I guess you are screwed coming and going. The world has changed and so have hockey skates...................

Vathsdrop, Do you skate in the ONE95 or ONE90? What do you skate in? Just curious............. "Shape is very thin" Do you prefer a bulky looking skate like the Supreme 7000? "Color doesn't match." There is no LS holder made in black. Marketing tests show white is the dominant preferred color for the holder. "Good style on the ice" Is it a runway you skate on or a hockey rink? U+ is using the ribbed look next to the eyelets on the boot that Nike did about 5 years ago. Who is copying who?

Bauer put up a photo of the skates in X-Ray in the catalog! Once again, you cannot see a thing about these skates from the catalog. I saw the skates two weeks ago and I have already forgotten what they look like. I know they look good, are built great, and yes, they will sell if you are a Vapor guy. I guess I will just have to wait until the release date, like the rest of us.

There is no picture of the Vapor X:60 skate in the catalog. I have the catalog and I have seen the skate. I repeat, there is no picture of the Vapor X:60 skate in the catalog. I have seen the X:60 skate built with the XXXX skin. The reason Bauer is building X:60s like this is so the pros can wear the X:60 during the season and then transition immediately to the actual X:60 following the release date. The X:60 will look entirely different than the XXXX. And don't ask me what it looks like because I am not answering.

The Vapor goalie line in Spring 09 will not have a Nike swoosh on it.

Conjecture: con·jec·ture /kənˈdʒɛktʃər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhn-jek-cher] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -tured, -tur·ing. –noun 1. the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for proof. 2. an opinion or theory so formed or expressed; guess; speculation. 3. Obsolete. the interpretation of signs or omens. –verb (used with object) 4. to conclude or suppose from grounds or evidence insufficient to ensure reliability. –verb (used without object) I'll go with 1, 2, and 4.

The X:50 will be a strong price point north of the border. That is part of the potential for whom Bauer is marketing that skate for.

It is called marketing. Apple and so many others do it, too.

I find it ironic that this board of gear whores is even interested in a pre-fab butt end! One of the essential core joys of owning the hockey stick is taping the blade and making your own personalized customized butt end! A pre-fab butt end? Patooey!!

How about Rawlings hockey equipment in general? Oh, and would the Fox glow puck apply here? The glow wasn't a bad thing, especially along the boards, the comet tail on the other hand...... If you needed the glow to follow the puck, do us a favor and don't watch hockey. Of all of Bettman's really bad ideas, that was easily #1. Nothing did more to turn off the traditional hockey fan than that stupid puck. Did the glowing puck get more people to watch hockey? Obviously not. I used to tape the Finals every year. Those years I wouldn't do it.

Cooperalls were not a bust. The girdle still sells strong 25 years later. The long pants were used by all three Canadian major junior leagues for a number of years. The NHL banned the Flyers and Whalers from wearing the long pants. The pants worn by the Flyers were the first time a black silhouette was presented all the way down the leg. No NHL team had black socks at that time. Some NHL goalies did not like the all black leg when looking for the puck. Once the NHL banned the long pants the end was in sight. The NHL banned the long pants to keep a uniform look across the league. The original Cooperalls were offered with short shells back then, too. Hardly a bust.

Anybody mention the ugly sister of the LocJaw, the Bauer Harpoon Latch system on replacement blades? I just had to heat one up in an old Easton shaft! Timing is everything.

Bauer Endure OPS was a bust. CCM 952 woodies with the honeycomb shaft were a bust. CCM Edge skates were a bust. A lot of Mission protective was a bust.

The Little Caesars AAA Bantam team won the 2008 USA Hockey National Championship in April at the Ice House. The team gloves were the same color pattern made by Fury.

These custom Eagle gloves were from Little Caesars team at least 6, 7 years ago. A friend of mine gave them to me to add to my collection. They are all leather including the palm.

That is how my Vapor XXXX glove custom for Team Canada Jrs from last winter's World Championships are built, single layer nash. The stick is right up against your hand for max feel and control.