proth0303

I'm certainly biased given that I live in Houston but if Dallas can support a team than I can't imagine Houston not being able to do the same, if not better, because of its size and diversity. Would it be as big as Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, etc? Probably not but if Columbus, OH can support a team at a fraction of Houston's population than... well... you get my point. Houston also seems to be becoming more of a "sports" city given the recent success and popularity of it's existing pro teams (Astros, Rockets, Texans). I moved to Houston from Chicago a little over 6 years ago and was shocked to find several different ice rinks (I play hockey at 4 of them) with good hockey programs for all ages and skill levels. Cheers! :)

I'm actually liking the subtle design changes from VH to True. Not a big fan of the VH holder but that's easily resolved with a Tuuk holder instead.

LOL!!!

Height - 6'0" Weight - 185 lbs Pant size - Large Level/Frequency of play: Novice/D League/Drop-Ins (3-4 times per week) Fit: I've been using these pants for approximately 4 months and in the LHS and before a skate they fit just fine. I had tried on a comparable Bauer Vapor pant but felt the CCM offered a little more protection. The issue I ran into was about 20-30 minutes into a skate I found myself having to cinch the belt down tighter to keep them up. I don't know if it is the weight once they get drenched in sweat/water or that the pad behind the belt slides a little or if the belt is actually loosening up? In the end I found that I prefer to use suspenders with these pants as the belt wasn't enough to hold them in place. Even though I'm not overly tall, I do use the 1" extension to get the pants to sit at the top of my shin guards. 7/10 Protection: Overall protection from the pants is quite good. I've taken puck shots, hips to the boards, kicks from children, etc, and barely notice a thing; however, it only took one fall on my tailbone to bring me to tears. Upon closer inspection the tailbone protection seems a bit light. I've since had to resort to external measures to add more tailbone protection (insert a figure skating pad in my compression shorts). 7/10 Weight: The best part of these pants is they are light and once I started using suspenders I barely notice them. It's impressive just how light they are but offer great protection (less the tailbone area). 10/10 Durability: They are in pretty good shape after four months but I did have one of the suspender buttons fall off. Some of the stitching and velcro is start to show some wear but nothing major at this point. I am really disappointed with the suspender button though as the pants are only 4 months old and I don't feel like I was putting a lot of stress on the buttons. 7/10 Intangibles: While I was hoping to not wear suspenders, I found that using the suspenders was a blessing in disguise. I really like wearing the suspenders over my shoulder pads to keep them in place and I like wearing the belt on the pants relatively loose because it isn't required to hold the pants up. The result is a very comfortable package and I never have to make any in-game adjustments. 10/10 Conclusion: These are a nice pant but I'm disappointed in the tailbone protection and the lack of durability related to the suspender button. 41/50

I'm a 6'0", 185 lbs, 41 year old newbie with a 32"-34" waist (depending on time of year as mom's cooking at Thanksgiving/Christmas is too hard to pass up) and a delicate rear end. Within the first few weeks of learning to skate/play hockey, I fell on my tailbone hard enough to darn near bring me to tears. I immediately started to research alternatives to provide more protection in this area and found a number of options for padded jock shorts. I wanted an all-in-one short that had the additional padding as well as the jock/cup and velcro for holding socks up. There were plenty of padded shorts for football, snow sports and figure skating, but none of them had the all-in-one solution I wanted for hockey. At $85, the Bauer alternative wasn't cheap but it was a brand that I trusted and I knew a serious tailbone injury would cost a lot more so I went ahead and made the purchase. Fit: Given my dimensions listed above and the Bauer sizing guidelines, I purchased a large. While the fit does work, they definitely feel a lot snugger than the Shock Doctor compression shorts/jock that I normally use. I made the mistake of looking in the mirror with these on and they are certainly doing me no favors. I considered to return for a larger size but figured they would stretch a little over time and/or I would get used to it. Another fit note is they use an internal jock/cup setup which does a great job of keeping the cup and family jewels secure but it is a little tricky making sure you slide your legs through the internal straps. Not a big deal but it is a little nuance that takes a little getting used to. It is also worth noting the added padding is very low profile so it easily fits underneath hockey pants. Protection: This is where the shorts were a big disappointment. The day I got the shorts I went to a drop-in that night and luck would have it, I fell on my tailbone. While there might have been a marginal improvement in protection that may have prevented me from bruising/breaking my tailbone, there wasn't enough cushioning to keep me from wanting to cry from the pain. At $85 and the whole "absorb more than 90% of all impact energies" (pulled from Ice Warehouse's description) I was expecting a lot more. Weight: The material of the shorts is very lightweight and breathable. Durability: I only used these shorts once because of the lack of tailbone protection/cushioning; however, they do feel extremely well made. The padding is secured very well and even the velcro sock tabs feel very durable. It is a well made product which I would expect from Bauer. Intangibles: I really spent a lot of time searching for a suitable alternative to protect my tailbone and am somewhat disappointed on the current state of hockey options. In searching this site and others, several people had additional padding sewn in or made do with a non-hockey alternative. I spent some time at one of the largest LHS comparing numerous pant options and my hockey pants were on par with even the high end options. Maybe my rear end is more delicate than others? ;) Conclusion: While the shorts are indeed a high quality product, they didn't come close to offering the protection that I wanted/need. I have since started using a $15 figure skating pad that I slide in the back of my compression shorts (no issues with sliding out of place). I have fallen countless times on this simple pad and it has provided more than enough cushion. When my current compression shorts wear out I may start to use these shorts again but will be planning on using the figure skating pad. Final Rating: 5/10

I'm a 6'0", 185 lbs, 40 year old newbie, with a chiseled stomach (chiseled in the shape of a beer keg). I went to my LHS for complete outfitting with gear and they had the Shock Doctor Core Comp Performance Grip hockey shirt on the rack. I knew I wanted something between my protective gear and my skin but had no idea how much of a PITA it might be trying to keep the elbow pads from slipping down. While the grip material and the Sleeve Lock design seemed a little gimmicky, I decided to give it a shot and spent the $50 on an adult large. Fit: The shirt is indeed a compression fit which highlights every chiseled feature of my beer belly. I normally wear a large size shirt and while the Shock Doctor shirt feels quite snug, it fits as it should given the length of the arms and torso. One thing I really like is the collar is large around the neck which makes it so I hardly notice I have the undershirt on (unlike a shirt that is a little tighter in the neck area). Protection: This doesn't necessarily apply in terms of impact protection; however, I have had zero issues with any sort of rubbing/chafing of pads and pants. Weight: The material of the shirt is very lightweight and doesn't hold much sweat. Durability: Even though I'm a newbie, I've been playing 3-4 times per week for the past 3 months (I wash the shirt after every session) and it still looks like new! I was concerned that the Sleeve Lock would stretch out after time but this has not been the case. Intangibles: The most impressive feature of the shirt is the Sleeve Lock. It does a fantastic job of keeping the elbow pads in place and I'm extremely happy with the durability of this feature. Conclusion: While not the most flattering shirt I've ever worn in my life, it is by far the most functional. The Sleeve Lock really is a great feature and I can't imagine ever playing without it! Final Rating: 10/10

Clearly you weren't riding in a Corvair! ;)

I recently bought a stick from Discount Hockey and it literally came in a bag. No box, no cardboard protection, no bubble wrap... just a shipping bag like you would get when ordering a shirt or something soft in. The stick didn't have any damage.

I'm an "advanced age" hockey newbie with extra sensitive smell. My first weekend skating in full gear, I experienced the stomach turning stench of a hockey locker room. Knowing that I was initially going to be drying/storing my gear inside my home, I knew I had to figure something out so the "boss" wouldn't demand that I find another hobby. ;) Upon doing a little research I stumbled upon the Rocket Sport Dryer which seemed to have mostly good reviews, not just from individual consumers, but also several trusted hockey sources. While it doesn't claim to prevent the stench, it should prolong the stench in between equipment cleaning. The dryer is basically a clothes rack, with a plastic shroud to cover, and a forced air heater. After a hockey session, you simply hang your gear on the rack, cover it with the shroud, and turn on the heater and in about 60-90 minutes your gear should be dry. AT $140 USD it wasn't cheap, but I trusted that Rocket's "unique and innovate product" was what I needed. Assembly: The assembly of the unit took about 5 minutes. It's very lightweight and very simple as all you do is insert the 3 legs into the base of the heater and screw the vertical poles/rack together. The shroud is easy to drape over and zip up. I can see how attractive and easy this would be to those wanting to bring it on a trip to dry gear in a hotel room. It even comes with its own carrying pouch. Capacity: There is just enough room to put one full set of gear inside, less helmet and skates. I wish there was enough room to put my skates in there with the rest of the gear, as I've used the dryer for my skates (when I'm in between same day sessions), and it makes it so much nicer to put on dry skates! Effectiveness (Drying): Several of the reviewers I found stated that the gear is completely dry after 60 minutes. Hmm... I have not had this success as I tried it at 60 and 90 and neither was 100% dry at the end. Most of the gear was dry, but the insides of the gloves remained damp. I currently set it at 90 minutes and let the last bit of the gloves to air dry. Effectiveness (Stench): My gear is only 3 months old and I've been washing it once per month. With the exception of the gloves, my equipment does not smell at all and I attribute this to religiously using the Rocket Sports Dryer immediately when I get home from a hockey event. The glove smell will likely be resolved by me washing them more often. Durability: This is where it starts to go downhill for me. I've had the unit for ~3 months and it has developed a significant rearward lean to it. The lean comes from the rear leg connection starting to sag under the weight. I only dry one set of gear (not that heavy) and balance the weight the best I can. If I wasn't careful I could easily see this tipping over. Other than the lean, the unit performs flawlessly. Intangibles: In hindsight, I really don't think there is much, if anything, that makes it "unique and innovative" when compared to other portable dryers (see Dr. Dry at $65 on Amazon). There's product called Tidalpool on Amazon for $80 that looks to be identical to the Rocket Sport Dryer but in a different color. Conclusion: If I had to do it over again, I would buy the Dr. Dry version as at less than half the cost of the Rocket Sport Dryer, it has an intermediate towel rack that would allow for more gear to hang. Final Rating: 5/10 (while it performs fairly well, I lowered the rating as I don't see it as a good value compared to other portable dryers)

I'm a 40 year old hockey newbie, 6' 0", 185 lbs, with very wimpy upper body muscles (hence the desire for a wheeled bag). As part of my outfitting for the sport, I was faced with the decision of how to carry all this stuff. I initially bought a Bauer S14 Premium carry bag but quickly realized that I wanted something with wheels and more organization. Upon my first gaze of a GRIT hockey tower, I immediately fell in love! Given that I'm a Blackhawks fan, I quickly ordered a GRIT HTSE 36" hockey tower in Chicago colors. Fit: I debated between a 33" and a 36" tower and am glad I went with the 36". Despite how roomy it looks in the videos and pictures, there's just enough room to fit everything, and nothing else. My only complaint is trying to fit shoulder pads, shin guards, and pants in the bottom compartment is somewhat like playing Tetris. Unlike a carry bag with a long compartment, the bottom compartment of the GRIT is limited in width and height so I have to make sure my should pads are positioned properly and my pants are folded to get everything to fit. Fitting gloves and elbow pads in the middle compartment is also a little awkward but manageable. Protection: With the deliberate organization, several pouches, and stick pockets, there is very little opportunity for any damage to gear. This is unlike a bag with a large single pocket where everything can hit each other during transit. Even the stick pockets prevent accidental damage because they are securely attached to the bag vs. being loosely carried by hand. While this may not be a big deal, all the scratches/damage to my gear has come from being on the ice and not from transport. Weight: The bag itself definitely weighs more than the carry bag I started out with but given the added wheels and support structure (required to make it into a "locker"), the extra weight is fairly minimal. I am a little concerned that the materials are a balance of light weight and durability and hope that the composite bracing can withstand the long term abuse. Durability: I've been using this bag for ~3 months (3-4 times per week) and it still looks like new. The zipper on the front pocket can be a little tricky but it hasn't failed me yet. Due to the tight squeeze of my truck in the garage, I typically throw the bag over the side of the truck bed which does put added strain on skid rails on the back of the bag, but no issues yet. Intangibles: The #1 best feature is it serves as a locker and takes up very little floor space (half as much as a typical bag) in the locker room. The whole "locker" feel really makes a big difference both at the rink and at home. At the rink it just makes everything easier and at home, it's well ventilated and makes gear storage easy. I thought I wanted a dedicated locker area in my house but with this bag (and my Rocket Dryer) I don't need much else. Conclusion: This is a great bag! I only wish there was a better designed area to store the shoulder pads, shin guards, and pants. Not sure how this could be accomplished but certainly is the one area where a simple bag wins. Final Rating: 9/10

As you may have read in my review of the Shock Doctor Gel Max mouthguard, I'm a handsome, 40 year old male, 6' 0", 185 lbs, with good teeth. I play in a novice/no-check league but still use a mouthguard for peace of mind. Having put aside a mouthguard that I struggled to breath and talk in, I was on a search for something better. I read great things from this site regarding the SISU brand of guards. I contacted SISU directly and they pointed me in the direction of the 1.6 Aero Guard (1.6 indicates the thickness of the material in mm). They also offer a Max Guard which is slightly thicker at 2.4 mm but the SISU rep suggested I would be fine with the thinner guard because I am wearing a full cage and shouldn't be taking direct hits to the mouth. Fit: The guard comes completely flat. In order to shape it you need to get some really hot water and let it soften. I tried hot water from the faucet as I found it to be, per the instructions, "hot to the touch, but not boiling", but it simply wasn't hot enough. I ended up boiling water, removing the water from the heat and placing the guard in it. Once the material was soft it then became a balancing act of fitting the guard to my mouth as the material started to cool. It was quite challenging and I bet it took me 10 tries, but in the end, the fit is phenomenal! The guard slides onto my teeth and can only be removed when I physically remove it with my fingers (can't spit it out). Protection: Much like my other mouthguard experience, I have not taken any direct shots to test the protection which is largely due to my helmet cage. I did take a pretty good shot when I hit my head on the boards, but the helmet took the brunt of the blow and my teeth were never in danger. Weight: Probably doesn't apply, but the guard is barely noticeable when in place due to it being only 1.6 mm thick. Durability: While the other mouthguard I tried was very soft (gel feel), the SISU is a hard plastic. I've been using this for almost 3 months now and you can see where my teeth are digging into the plastic, but I have a long way to go before needing replacement. Intangibles: I really like the guard because it almost feels like its not there. Breathing and taking a drink of water is not a problem. Speaking is only marginally affected and I'm not sure how it could get any better with any other mouthguard. Conclusion: I love this product and doubt I would ever try anything else! I'm very curious to see just how long the guard will last but when the time comes, I expect I will be replacing it with another SISU. Just a reminder that I'm using this guard behind a helmet cage so I can't comment for those that are more likely to take a direct shot to the mouth. Final Rating: 9/10 (the only reason it's not a perfect 10 is the fitting is tricky)

Male, 40 years old, 6' 0", 185 lbs, very handsome, good teeth. I started my skating/hockey journey ~3 months ago and picked up this mouthguard at my LHS as part of my complete outfitting. I play in a novice/no-check league but remembered the pain and suffering I went through as a child with braces so I wasn't going to risk damaging my teeth. Given that the LHS had a wall full of Shock Doctor mouthguards (no other brands), I assumed that if they stocked it than it must be good. Fit: The guard comes roughly shaped already and is custom fit by boiling the guard in water to soften the gel. It took me 3 times to really get the fit I wanted but in the end, it was extremely comfortable. While the fit was comfortable, I noticed it was restrictive in that my breathing was affected and I could barely talk. Protection: Fortunately, I haven't taken any hard falls or elbows to the face to test the protection but I am quite confident it would do an admirable job. Note that I do wear a full cage but use the mouthguard anyway for peace of mind as I anticipate many hard falls as I learn this sport. Weight: Probably doesn't apply, but it does feel bulky in my mouth. Durability: I only used this guard twice before putting it aside for reasons I'll mention later... Intangibles: Here's what I really don't like about this product... It's really hard to breath and this gets magnified when you are huffing and puffing up and down the ice. Also, it is impossible to speak with it in so all communication has to be done via visual cues because I sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher with the guard in. Heck, even getting a drink of water was difficult. Conclusion: I can see how this would be a good mouthguard for a sport that you can take it in and out every 10 seconds but for me and hockey.. well... I've already moved onto another mouthguard... Final Rating: 3/10 (the whole hard to breathe thing really put a damper on this one for me)

For what it's worth, I found this digression and disagreement to be very respectful. In the end, is anyone actually saying something other than that in order to improve you need to get out there and train your muscle strength and muscle memory/coordination? Cheers! :)

Awesome!!! Sounds like all the stuff I'm going through... and I'm hooked! :)

Congrats on taking the leap into adult hockey! I only started this hockey journey a few months ago but finally feel like I'm getting through the "teething" period with my skates (I also bought Vapors but the X700 version). I started off with arch pain as well which sounds to be quite a common issue. I have low arches and tried the original insole, the Bauer Speed Plates, and ended up with Superfeet yellow. The heel lift in the Superfeet was just enough to take a lot of the pressure off of my arch. This still left me with pain which I learned was caused by a bone called an accessory navicular. I had the skates punched out and this pain is no longer present. I was still struggling with a throbbing pain after about 15 minutes of skating. I even experienced lace bit which was clearly caused by me tightening the laces way too tight and ended up with a big lump on the front of my ankle. I tried various lace tightness, lacing methods, and lace types. In the end I think what helped the most was finding the right lacing method (for me it was wax laces, over/under lacing method, snug over the foot/really tight at 3rd and 4th holes/fairly tight in the ankle) AND getting my feet/ankles used to skating by skating a LOT! Do you feel any arch pressure/pain when you lace up the skates? If so, looking at different insoles might be a good place to start... Do you get any blisters? In only a few months, I've managed to skate/play hockey at 5 different ice rinks as I'm doing whatever I can to condition my body to the sport. Like any sport, there's a steep learning curve both physically and mentally so get out there as often as you can. :)