birky

I have the Vapor 3x shin guards and they are fantastic. I typically don't like Bauer protective but they hit a home run with those. And I'm a bigger guy.

Anybody gotten an early look at True's new T27 curve (supposedly a P14 variant/clone)?

You can still get the P106 via Bauer custom sticks, but the whole point of PSHS is getting a great stick with the specs you want for <$200. I'd love to see him do the P106, the Kessel pro curve, maybe Crosby's pro curve, a few others. There are a million P92 and P28 derivatives, and I understand why, but I'd love to see some other options.

Probably because he can barely handle the current volume without expanding. And, just speculating here, the selling point for his product is curves you can't get anywhere else. So I guess I can understand why he keeps the retail curves in the customizer only. Although I'd like to see him preserve some more of the older retail curves that we've lost, like the P106 or the P89.

Most of the blades are roughly the same length (~30cm) as the P92 or P88. In my garage right now I have the McDavid, Barkov, and P38, as well as a retail PP88 (from Sherwood, which has a weird version of the P88). The Barkov is about 1cm longer than the PP88 and P38. Maybe .5cm longer than the McDavid. The Backstrom I had (which broke) was probably about as long as the Barkov. So just a touch longer than the retail P88.

Here's a couple shots of the Barkov. It's been a long time since I've seen a Darby in person, but there is definitely some loft at the heel on the Barkov, and overall pretty straight through the first 2/3rds of the blade, then a small hook at the end. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the huge rocker, which you can see in the 2nd pic. I've also included shots of the McDavid, Pro Malkin, and Backstrom curves. https://imgur.com/a/BBOW4FE

The Mackinnon is a Warrior Gionta/P14 (Bauer)/P30 type. It has a big hook at the toe. I don't think it's much like the P88 in that regard, but it has a similar lie.

Pro Malkin doesn't have much loft, probably even less than the retail P88. And it's not really a toe curve, but a toe kink. If you're looking for something with more loft, I'm not sure it's a great choice. At least, that's what I was looking for and it didn't work for me because I don't shoot off the toe. I shoot closer to the middle of the blade, so I need some loft earlier in the curve (probably a result of long time PM9 usage)

I've tried the Malkin, McDavid, Barkov, Hossa, Panarin (supposedly a P19 clone but plays just like a P92), P38, and Backstrom curves. Please don't tell my wife. I've talked with Geppetto a number of times about trying to find something like a loftier P88. The Backstom has been the closest in my opinion. The MacDavid is sort of similar to what you're looking for as well, except that it's a 4 lie and that has been a very difficult adjustment for me (it's based off an old Iginla Jr curve). But it shoots nicely. I'm just trying the Barkov right now, which has a bit of loft at the heel like the Darby and a little bit of hook at the toe, but overall is actually a fairly straight curve. I dunno, I feel like I've exhausted all of his options for someone who is not a toe curve shooter, so I might just give up and stick with the P88 as the trade off with the P92 or P90TM is better shooting for worse passing, which isn't worth it to me.

I think the P19 would have been a candidate, but it's not offered at retail anymore. Otherwise you are sorta out of luck here. I'm a long time PM9 and P88 user and there's just nothing out there at retail that matches this description. The closest I have come to finding a loftier P88 is the Pro Backstrom curve from Pro Stock Hockey Sticks. It's closer to a P88 than P92, but it begins to open up in the mid-heel and has a nice, gradual curve. The downsides are that the blade is longer than the P88, has a shaved down toe similar to a P28, and has less overall height than the P88. I really do wish someone, anyone, would come up with exactly what you're looking for - the flat rocker and slightly lower lie of the P88, but with a little more loft.

P71 blade is pretty long, P14 blade is pretty short. In terms of surface area of the blade, the P14 is the smallest that I'm aware of. Having not used either and just going on what I've read, I don't think these are all that similar. Prostockhockeysticks offers both the Nylander curve and the Spezza curve (the Spezza curve is similar to the Nylander curve but with more blade height and even more toe). Somewhat related, though - True is introducing their version of the retail P14 curve for their 2023 True Catalyst stick line. They are calling it the T27. Could be something worth trying since it would be far easier to find than pro stock Nylander curves.

Do believe it's a modified P14, but don't know if CCM offers something similar for their pro stock sticks. Hockeystickman has some of Nylander's pro stock Sherwood TMPs for sale right now if you'd just prefer those. They are pretty good sticks.

Warrior appears to be promoting a new 60-day warranty for at least some of their 2023 sticks. Does anyone know if this applies to all of their sticks, or just certain lines/models? It's tough to tell from the catalog. At the very least, it looks like the LX2 Pro and Novium Pro will carry the 60-day warranty.

I believe Sherwood was ahead of the game in making sub 400g sticks. The True Touch T120 was a 395g mid-kick stick in 2014. As far as the "custom" brands go, Pro Stock Hockey Sticks is king. The guy that runs it is very nice and has always been happy to answer questions for me. He has a warranty program (I've used it) and the product itself is very good. I've tried 6 or 7 of his curves so far in various builds. Both the red line sticks ($160 usd) and the third line sticks ($110) are solid. They probably aren't quite as good as a $300+ stick, but they're close enough that the price difference should be a consideration. And he offers curve options you can't get anywhere else. I'd like to see him offer some more variance in curves - the vast majority of his curves are P92 or P28 variants, so for someone like me who prefers a PM9 or a P88, there are far fewer options. And the custom order process is waaaay too long.

Sounds like the LX2 stick line will be released in March, and Warrior will continue making the W01, W02, and W05 curves available on the top two price points (LX2 Pro & LX2). Which is nice for folks who like those curves and can't find them anymore.

Instead of stepping into it like traditional pants (and some girdles, like the Warrior), it wraps around (like a jacket vs a hoodie). They usually give the snuggest, most form fitting fit.

I have the Tacks girdle, too. I just snipped the little diaper that attaches the legs to the rear, and boom! Wraparound girdle.

Haven't tried the LX Pro, but the Pro Stock Alpha DX sticks I had were fantastic.

I saw the new Sherwood girdle and it looks nice but I don't think it's a true wraparound style, which stinks.

D in 2015 Vapors and I'm in regular ASVs now. Tapered ASVs felt pretty close, too, but were a little narrow in the forefoot. Tossed in some superfeet, baked twice and wrapped with shrink wrap, and they fit great. I do think CCM redesigned the Tacks fit with the ASV line.

I was a Vapor D width guy. I have high arches and high instep but regular width feet (between C and D). I recently tried the Cat 9s and found they killed my feet because they're not designed for people with high arches/instep. So I went and got scanned - fit 2 in Bauer, regular in CCM, but down from 9 to 8.5. I tried on almost every skate and I wound up in some regular width AS-V Tacks (tapered were just a tad tight in the forefoot). They are extremely comfortable and snug for me, excellent heel lock. CCM redesigned the AS-V Tacks line to be less voluminous, with the flexible tendon guard from the 100Ks, and this new GameDay fit tech on the ASV Pro and ASV skates that is supposed to provide a better wrap of the foot out of the box. I was afraid of how stiff they were going to be and potentially less forward flex, but that was not an issue at all when I skated on them. I'm really happy with them so far, I'd definitely recommend folks consider them when trying on new skates (the AS-Vs are roughly as stiff as the FT4 Pros). Might be the solution for you, too.

True says minimum 4 hours, ideally 24.

I had an old pair of Easton shin pads finally give out. Replaced with the new Vapor 3X ones. I love them. They aren't "slim" like some lines have gone, they should fit any leg shape. What they do have is less depth - the knee cap and shin guard protrude less from the leg. But they are insanely comfortable and the knee cap sort of floats separately from the shin guard, which provides great mobility. I've taken a couple of slap shots to the shin already and the protection is fine for beer league. Can't recommend them enough.

They look really good with the XS holder. Just picked up a new set of XS holders with Step steel to slap on my Trues.

I have a pro stock P90T and I don't think it's a carbon copy of the retail version. For one, it definitely has a higher lie. But I don't think the blade shape is completely the same, either (I posted a pick on the previous page).