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shoot_the_goalie

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Posts posted by shoot_the_goalie

  1. Posted · Report reply

    A side question for Sparx owners.  How many of you actually travel with a Sparx on the road (via airplane)?  And if you do, do you use the soft case or the hard case?  As a personal consumer, I imagine it's way easier to travel with a couple sets of sharpened backup steel than lugging the machine around.  (I do have an ES100 - which I imagine is not nearly as portable as the newer gen machines)

  3. Posted · Report reply

    22 hours ago, Hills said:

    I have the Total Custom version, and it is so much better than the retail version it is ridiculous. I go from long hair to short hair all the time and it is comfortable regardless where the retail helmet I get pressure points if I have longer hair in certain spots.

    The SuperTacksX is the most comfortable retail helmet I have ever worn, and the Total Custom brings it to a completely new level where it is better than my custom goalie masks where I had to send in my head mold into a shop. My only complaint is that I don't have more because when I ever match colours I get disappointed in the other helmet.

    I assume even though helmet is custom molded, there are still adjustments one can make fore/aft, yes?  I ask cause sometimes my hair is shorter/longer and sometimes I like my helmet snug and other times a touch looser than snug.

     

  4. Posted · Report reply

    I have a Super Tacks X retail helmet that I got heavily discounted (more than 50% off) and I love it.  Pretty happy with it thus far.  However, I was in the LHS the other day and they had the Total Custom versions on display, and I was intrigued, so I tried the display model on and it felt even better than the retail version.  Similar to the retail version, but with a much more snug and conformed fit (so I assume a custom model would feel even better).  Then I saw the price....$580, not including tax and shipping (I guess they ship it to you directly once made).  Also takes 8-12 weeks.  The display custom did feel noticeably better, but not sure it felt $400 better.

    My question is that for those who have the Total Custom version.  Is it that much better than the retail version to justify the price?  If it was a game-changer, I could possibly consider it, but for what I personally felt with the display model, not sure the worth is there.  Thoughts?

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Tips: 1) use a convection oven if you can.  Traditional ovens - the heat source is too uneven.  2) whatever is your goal temp, when the oven reaches that temp, TURN OFF the oven, then put the skate in.  3) Place skate (one at a time) in oven on a baking sheet lined with a dish towel.  4) only bake with cloth laces - never waxed for obvious reasons.  5) for my convection oven, since the fan is in the back, I always put the skate in blade side closest to the oven door.  6) do one skate a time and don't try to rush both skates.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    2 minutes ago, noupf said:

    Curious what your go to adhesive would be in this scenario?  Do you have one that works well for glove patching, like you said, that will help keep the edges from rolling or peeling.  Thanks !

    I use Loctite gel superglue.  It works pretty well and adheres very well to typical glove palm materials.  You do have to be careful not to use too much or you run the risk of making the fabric stiff.  I find the gel easier to control in that respect.  Works for me, but I am sure there's another type of adhesive that works much better out there. (i.e. fabric glue, etc)

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Not OP, but I would say the thickness is similar to the thickness of the original palm material.  The material is pretty durable (it's really meant to repair technical clothing).  It's not as soft as hockey palm material, and yes, I would recommend adding a little more adhesive so the edges don't curl/roll.

    The other option, vs using these that I've done in the past, is to take old gloves, cut out their palm material, and use to patch with adhesive.  Not as neat looking, but does the trick.

  14. Posted · Edited by shoot_the_goalie · Report reply

    What's the continued point?  I thought the general consensus was that 1) hand sharpening by a skilled sharpener will be a better quality sharpening than a Sparx, and 2) the Sparx advantage is the convenience, speed, and consistency at the sacrifice of quality.

    These two things can coexist...and one is not better than the other depending on your circumstances and needs.

     

    • Like 2

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Don't get obsessed with power.  Of course you don't want to shoot muffins, but speed of release and accuracy will beat power every time.  So get a stick that feels good in your hands (Jr. vs. Int shaft), and then go with a stick length that allows you to do everything well equally if you play all positions.  In general, that would mean cutting it to about chin height on skates.  And as far as flex, I find that the feel when giving/catching passes is a good barometer for what flex you should use, not the half your weight thing (which is still a decent starting point though).  Play "catch" with a hard passer - if your can feel you stick flexing when you catch a hard pass - probably too low in flex.  If you're stick feels like a piece of metal when catching a hard pass and there's no give at all, go a lower flex.

    • Like 1

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Again, focus on fit.  If you've been using Supremes all your life, you might not even fit into a Vapor to begin with.  I personally can fit into a retail Supreme, but can't get my foot into a retail Vapor unless the Vapor is a wide EE model.  Same with CCM.  I can wear retail Tacks, but can't get my foot into a retail Jetspeed. (though from my understanding, Jetspeeds have gotten roomier in later models).  So my suggestion, as others said as well, is go to the store, try on different brands, models, and see what fits you best.  Don't even go into the store thinking you have to get one brand over another.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    7 minutes ago, walkerdb7 said:

    I get that, but comments like that bug me too. I am not a pro and don't much care what they use. Most of them avoid change anyway because they comfortable with a certain product. Has 0 to do with what works best for me.

    I also feel like Bauer employs legit engineers to design the skates, test them, and makes sure there are distinctions with both lines. Looking at sticks as an example, I got to mess with a few different models. I notice a difference shooting with a Vapor and a Nexus stick. I also think a top price point stick is noticeably better performing than a mid price point one.

    Can I score a goal with all of them? Yes, absolutely. But, when I am going to go use my hard earned dinero on a stick, I feel like a high end nexus performs better for me. That makes the game more fun for me

    I don't know what to tell you....  Are you asking if Vapors make you more agile, and Machs make you faster, etc.?  Is a mid-kick for slap shots (and defensemen), whereas a low-kick is for snappers (forwards)?  IMHO that's all marketing, cause good shooters can rip slappers with low-kick sticks, and fast skaters can be super agile in Machs and vice versa.  If you're asking for something that suits you best, then that's a different question.  Sure, there's all personal preference and I understand that.  I prefer mid-kick sticks, cause that's what I'm used to, but I can shoot just as well with a low-kick.  But if you think by buying Vapors over Machs you're going to be more agile but lose speed (with fit being equal), then you're falling for the marketing jargon.  Like I said before, the biggest difference in the product lines for skates is fit.  Go with the one that fits you best, not which one promises more of certain skill attribute.

  21. Posted · Report reply

    As some said, the benefit of the Sparx is consistency and convenience.  I used to sharpen FBV on a Blackstone prior to owning a Sparx, and I loved it.  Nothing bad to say about it and it definitely produced better/cleaner edges. Blackstone makes a great machine.  BUT, you have to know what you're doing, it takes more time, and yet there were occasions where I would still mess up and have to re-do everything.  Eventually, loading a skate, hitting a button, and walking away and getting a 9 out of 10 was much more worth it to me than spending more time fidgeting with settings, checking marks, etc for a 10 out of 10 sharpen.

    Not surprisingly, pro EQMs use both.  Sparx to establish the hollow and then a conventional sharpener to get a final finish.

    • Like 3

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Reviving this thread, now that I've had time to use an AS-V Pro for a bit. (so sort of answering my own question for the forum).  I find the AS-V Pro is very comfortable to hold and I really like the new shape for stickhandling.  However, I find the kickpoint not nearly as smooth as the previous AS lines, so it doesn't feel as effortless to get good shots off.  Gotta really work to get power vs. previous gen.  It could just be that I'm so used to traditional square shafts, but the kickpoint is definitely different.  Feels a bit like the old Supremes.  I did find I could shoot pretty accurate with it though.  Also noticed that the curve (P88) is slightly different than previous gen.

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Picked up myself a pair of the FT6 Pro pants, and while not game changing from the FT4 Pro pants I was coming from, I do like the small little changes they made in the interior padding.  I also feel like the FT6 Pro is a bit more streamlined in fit, which I like.  Not that the FT4 Pros were sloppy, just the FT6 Pros feel like a more "tailored" fit.  As far as the AER-TEC; nope, found no difference in cooling between the two models.

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