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Player Details Male 5'9” 170 lbs Forward C level Men’s League Playtime - twice a week Product Reviewed Bauer Vapor 1X Pro Size 14” Gloves Owned: Warrior Luxe, Bauer Supreme One70, Eagle X70i. Overview: My Luxe’s are showing some signs of age. I play a lot of back to back nights and even though I unpack all my gear to dry, there are some night where my gloves feel a bit soggy. I figured a second set of gloves wouldn’t be such a bad idea. I’ve tried plenty of different gloves at various MSH events so I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted…more so what I didn’t want. I almost settled for the X900. A friend offered to let me use his pair of 1X Pro’s for the night. I was sold pretty quickly. Initial Thoughts: Honestly, they’re kind of visually boring and the 10 second fit you get in a store doesn’t tell the entire story. It’s a hockey glove so the real question is, how does it play. One thing that’s obvious right from the start was this glove offered an elite/pro level protection. On the design side, there are a few things Bauer could have done differently to score some extra style points. I think the black version should be all black, logo and all. Fit: Tapered - Snug fit in the fingers & backhand; relaxed fit in the cuff. It’s not as snug as the Supreme but not nearly as loose as the Nexus. The 14” is on par with other manufacturers of the same size. All in all, they fit like you’d expect and are sized accordingly. What’s odd about the fit profile of this glove is the Vapor seems to be somewhere between the Nexus and Supreme. Based on other Bauer products one would think the Vapor is one of the ends of the spectrum, not the middle. 9/10 Comfort: It comes down to a few key features; a 37.5 liner with XRD foam padding along the backhand and thumb, a soft Nash palm, 3 piece index finger, breathable gussets and the 3 piece Free-Flex Thumb. Props to Bauer here. The combination of these features make for one of the most comfortable gloves I have tried. One slight annoyance here. The comfort foam padding in the thumb is only attached at one end. It tends to move when you remove the glove, it goes right back to where it should be once you put it back on. No big deal, I just find it annoying. 9/10 Weight: Weighing 317 grams for a 14” it’s not the lightest glove but it’s certainly not the heaviest. For comparison, the standard 14” 1X is 305 grams, the Supreme 14” MX3 is 318 grams and the 14” 1N is 344 grams. 9.5/10 Mobility: I would have gone with 10/10 here but the pro style cuff isn’t as mobile as the Free Flex Cuff on the standard 1X. The Pro Style cuff isn’t restrictive, just not nearly as open as what you get on the standard. The 3D Free-Flex Thumb allows the thumb to bend at two different points, which is a more natural feel when gripping the stick. You get a 3 piece index finger and segmented back roll to allow your hand to properly grip a stick. 9/10 Break-in: Break-in time seemed fairly reasonable. It’s a pretty mobile glove right off the shelf and the Nash palms have a really nice feel right from the start. Like with any glove I’ve ever used, they always feel much better once your hands start to warm up. Playing during the summer in some really warm rinks may have helped speed this up. 9/10 Palm: Pro Ivory Nash with an Ivory Nash overlay. A grip texture has been added to the overlay. Comfort and stick feel is very good. The Nash palm was one of the features that swayed to the 1X Pro. I didn’t really care for the suede palm on the X900, it was OK but it left me feeling disconnected. The suede on the standard 1X felt a little better but I didn’t care for the durability patch they add. The pro nash is clearly the way to go. 9/10 Protection: This aspect of the glove hasn’t really been fully tested. I’ve broken my left hand three separate times, I’m not looking to try for a fourth. The 1X Pro has dual-density foam with plastic inserts in the fingers, backhand, cuff-roll, and cuff. You’re also getting Poron XRD & comfort foam along the backhand as well. I expect pro level protection and it looks as though the 1X Pro will deliver. 10/10 Durability: So far so good. The outer shell is a pro style cable mesh & nylon, I expect it hold up well. Not having used nash palms before, I am curious to see how they wear. The overall construction of the glove appears to be excellent, no loose threads or iffy looking areas inside or out. Durability is more a long term category, so I am rating on the cautious side. 7.5/10 Intangibles: Protection & Comfort are the big ones, it’s really what makes this glove stand out. Though the 37.5 liner and 3D free-flex thumb are worth mentioning, but it would still be a great glove without them. Overall, a nice step up from the 1X, definitely worth the extra $10. Final Score: 9/10 Conclusion: The guys at Bauer put together a really protective glove without sacrificing comfort or mobility. Styling is a bit understated but so is everyone else’s. If you’re looking at a 1X or any glove in that price range, I suggest looking at the 1X Pro.

I noticed you didn't shim the heel. I thought the CCM holder was 1mm taller than the Edge holder. I assume that wasn't an issue during the remount?

I heard pretty recently that at some point in the season BOS & STL had a deal in place that included Shattenkirk & Louis Eriksson. St Louis wanted Boston to take on a ad contract in the deal and things broke down. Same source said both sides regretted not making the deal.

He's now traded picks 1 & 2 from that draft for questionable returns. Larsson and a pick or two or Larsson and a prospect wouldn't have been a bad deal.

I figured that wouldn't be an issue for you (or others here for that matter), just curious about the potential root cause.

Wonder if heating the steel during sharpening is having an affect on how it sits in the holder.

Funny, when I was at Winterfest I said something to the Warrior rep about purchasing Graf. Anyway, can't say I am surprised, reasons already listed.

Bring this one back up. I ended up with a EVH Wolfgang Special Stealth Edition. EVH is now own by Fender. The Specials are built in their Mexico facility and are rather nice. Recently upgraded my amp. After much deliberation I ended up with a Panama Guitars Fuego 15 combo, one of the first to get one. Great sounding amp, very similar in tone to my friends Hiwatt 30 Lead.

My thoughts exactly Stewie. The RBZ's are the only shins I've ever owned that stay in place without tape. Gloves look nice, wonder if they went with mesh gussets, ventilation was my only beef when I demo'd the Tacks and 4 Rolls.

I was able to talk to the CCM rep and use the P29 at SummerJam this past weekend. The P29 is far more aggressive than the P19, it's deeper and more open. I used it for most of the day. I thought the P19 blade had a bigger more forgiving sweet spot, where as with the P29 you had to be right on it. I believe it had more rocker as well. The P29 seems to be a more exact clone of the Sakic/Hall/Draper patterns. I used the 6052 glove as well. I really liked them, only drawback I saw was ventilation, they were a bit warm (FWIW I found this to be an issue with CCM 4 rolls as well). Overall, a nice comfortable glove with great mobility.

Was disappointed the learn the Ultra Tacks stick doesn't offer the P19.

Yeah, sort of leaning towards the strat. Seems like the safe bet in terms of buying blind. The charvel is tempting...I loved those old san dimas necks. That first setup can be a pain, but if you do it right it's much easier to maintain. If you change gauge strings, you need to reset the bridge, and you must block the bridge from bottoming out when you change strings.

I don't believe was inexperience on the part of the shop or the person doing the sharpening. I tried two different hollows, 5/8ths & 3/4 and two different depth channels. The 3/4 with the shallower hollow was a bit better, but still more grip than I am accustom to. I have two sets of steel so I'd like to do an actual side by side test between zchannel and a FBV. Why pay for a zchannel if I am getting just as much glide with a FBV... All that said, if I could drop the grip and keep the glide I would be sold.

After a few months of staking on nothing but zchannels, I'll be switching back to a good old trusty FBV. It's just too much grip for me. The glide was great, and they seemed to hold an edge pretty well but I want a little give every now and then. I don't like feeling locked into the ice all the time. Switching hollows and channel depth didn't really help that. It got a little better, but now enough to make be a believer.

No pics and a question. I'm looking at a strat style with a Floyd Rose. I have four options, a parts build, a Fender HSS Mexican, Charvel So Cal Pro Mod, Jackson SDX (Adrian Smith signature). I'd buying blind, no stores around me have any of these. The Fender would be the safest as I have played many Mexican strats. So, anyone have any first hand experience with any of these?

I'd rather sharpen my skates with a round file and steel wool than a Blademaster Flat Bottom.

I need more time on the 3/4 with the smaller channel. I was trying to adjust to some heel shims which I was fighting, so it's hard to give an accurate asessment. One thing and I don't know if it's the zChannel or the edge holders, but there is a humming sound when you stop at low speeds. If you opt to try it, start small. The grip is insane.

I switched from FBV to zChannel a few weeks ago. The guys at TSR recommended so I figured what the hell. I started off with 5/8th's ROH with a medium channel. I noticed way more bite than my usual FBV, more glide too. I still had more than enough grip and glide even when the blades 'felt' dull to the touch. Hoping to reduce the amount of bite, I went with a 3/4th's ROH and a smaller channel. I am hoping this will reduce the amount of bite, honestly, I didn't notice a difference. For me, first time out on a fresh zChannel is borderline too much bite. I do really like the glide and it doesn't seem to deteriorate over the life of the sharpening. But there is the cost and I do wonder what impact if any it has on the life of ones steel. I might be sold on it...I don't know. I haven't really exhausted all the options yet and I've only been on that second sharpening once.

CCM RBZ Size: 14” Player info: Height: 5’9” Weight: 165bs Position: Forward/Defense Previous equipment – Reebok 14k, Easton ST16, Nike V10 Length of use – 2x a week for 3 months Fit: The RBZ is anatomical low profile fitting pad. The pad offers the right amount of calf wrap without going overboard. CCM’s cross strapping system is a thing of beauty, it totally eliminates the need to tape. The knee cap sits nice and secure in the knee pocket without movement. I wear them over the tongues, without a problem. Though I have yet to try it, I believe they would work equally as well with the tongues out. 14’s fit true to size. 10/10 Protection – CCM’s U Foam offers a good deal of protection without adding bulk or weight. I’ve taken a few good ‘whacks’ to the leg and few hard spills and felt nothing. Padding along the sides of the knee cup could be a bit longer, especially on the outside edge. Easton’s ST16 is the most protective pad I have ever worn, I don’t think the RBZ is quite at that level, but it’s close and it’s lighter and less bulky. 8.5/10 Weight – Definitely one of the lightest pads I have ever worn, lighter than other pads I tried on. The big difference in the weight is that the pad doesn’t absorb a lot sweat and moisture, so it’s weight remains pretty consistent. 8.5/10 Durability – So far no issues,though I have started to wonder how long the Velcro on the pad will last before coming apart. I feel like I am pulling not only on the tab, but the base it fastens too. No signs of wear, but it’s an area I have keyed in on. With that in mind, I am scoring on the conservative side. 7.5/10 Intangibles – For me it has to be the fit and the strapping system. These are two things I wasn’t able to find in another pad, it’s what made the RBZ stand out from its competitors. The strapping system literally has no equal. It’s easily the most effective and comfortable system out there. However, it did come with a hefty price tag. It’s still a solid buy at $139, but one may wonder if the RBZ’s features warrant the bigger price tag. 9/10 Conclusion - Props to CCM here, they put out a solid piece of gear. The key features actually benefit the user every time it’s used. It offers high end protection without adding bulk or weight. It lacks a bit of curb appeal and it may not be the first pad you're drawn to, but if you’re looking for new shin guards you need to give it a serious look. Final score – 8.7

A bit extreme, don't ya think. It's not like you're sending your kids to Harvard off locker room sharpenings.

I got to chat at length with Russ about this project at WF. When we talked about concerns for home sharpening, he had a logical and sensible answer to all of them. Cool to see his idea in action.

Bauer IMS 11.0 Size: Small Player info: Height: 5’9” Weight: 165bs Position: Forward/Defense Previous Helmet: Bauer 7500 Size Medium Length of use – 3/4 months Fit: Helmets always seem to fit me certain areas, but not others. The IMS 11.0 was the first helmet to give me that whole head fit. The Comfort foam layer with PORON front band and the SEVEN tech TPU pods make for a nice comfortable fit. Adjustment system is a bit different than what I am used to, but it’s quick and easy. One thing to note, with most other helmets I wear a medium, I had to drop down to small. 10/10 Protection – The former Cascade M11 (aka Messier Project) with its Patented Seven TechnologyTM impact attenuation liner system, ProFit 2TM system 15 point micro adjustment and solid one piece shell has all the talking points but who really knows. I hope I never find out either. N/A Weight – On par with my previous helmet. In fact, looking at the listed weights is 54 grams heavier than the 7500. I don’t notice it, but I am not blown away by how light it is. 9/10 Durability – No issues so far, things have held up well. However, removing the shield after a few months of use to mount a Bauer titanium cage was a painful experience. Hardware to mount the J-Clips is hard to get to, and almost impossible to hold if it’s rusted. 7/10 Intangibles –The combination of comfort and fit make it a solid choice. But on the down side, it doesn’t breath all that well. If you’re a cage wearer save yourself the trouble and buy the combo. 7/10 Conclusion - I am really happy with it. Would I recommend it to a friend, absolutely…in fact I already have. During WF I told dkmiller to try one on, he did and ended up buying two. Final score – 8.25/10

CCM Tacks Flex: 75 Pattern: P19 Nugent-Hopkins Height: 5’9” Weight: 165bs Position: Forward/Defense Past Sticks: Easton Mako (first gen), Reebok RibCor, Bauer X:60, Miken ZL. Some background: I demo’d the stick at SummerJam 6 in Philly and immediately fell in love with it, so much so that I went out two days later and bought one. I also demo’d the Bauer MX3 and CCM Superfast at SummerJam, and while both were nice I kept going back to the Tacks, something about it just worked. Graphics I prefer simple and understated when it comes to graphics. CCM did a decent job of adding some nice pop to the look while keeping the overall design clean and simple. I especially like the outline logo at the bottom of the shaft. 8/10 Weight, Balance, Overall Feel Bravo CCM… The weight and balance impressed me right off the bat. Anyone can make a light stick, but to make a stick that’s lightweight and also very well balanced now that’s the trick. Something about the way it plays, it just feels natural to me. When I hand this around, people always comment on how light it is and how good it feels. 10/10 Blade The blade has really good puck feel. Until now, I thought the original Mako’s had the best puck feel. The Tacks blade is equal, if not better than that. I found the Mako blades tend to soften up and had a tendency to split at the toe. So far neither of those things happening with this stick. Those hard passes don’t bounce around when they make contact. Nice offering of patterns too. As a diehard Sakic/Hall user, the Nugent-Hopkins looked a little shallow to me and not quite as open. Switching between the two was seamless. 8/10 Shaft/Flex The Tacks is a mid-point kick stick. I have always been a low-kick person, but this stick changed my mind. I have tried others in the past, just never found something I really liked. If you are a low-kick person, don’t totally swear it off. The shaft has some texture to it but it’s covered up with a pretty thick grip coating. I myself would rather not have a grip coating, but so far CCM has yet to offer that option. So it’s grip or nothing (psst CCM texture grip please). The flex seems to true to its rating compared with its competitors. No signs of it softening up or breaking down after three months of use. 8/10 Stick handling, Passing and Shooting This along with the weight and balance is what made me fall in love with this stick. Slappers and wristers leave this stick with substantial pop. I even heard a goalie say “whoa” after I put one up over his shoulder. Really good puck feel, plenty of pop…what more can I say…. 10/10 Durability So far, so good. No real signs of major wear. No splitting or cracking on the blade and both the shaft and blade have not softened up. There is the usual nicks and scuffs, but nothing to be concerned about. Honestly, durability or lack thereof, was my biggest fear when purchasing the stick. CCM doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to sticks. We all remember that infamous night where Ovechkin broke all those sticks. That sort of stuck with me and was even in the back of my mind when I bought it. I knew I loved the performance, but how was it going to hold up… I really need to hand to CCM on this one, everything I expected and so much more. I can’t give it more than an 8/10 at this time. It’s held up well, but it’s somewhat early in its life. 8/10 Overall I really love the stick and can’t say enough about it. Though I would prefer a textured grip and maybe white instead of black but that’s the small stuff. I fully intend to buy another and to continue playing with these sticks. I’ve already recommended it to friends and people I skate with. Overall Score 8.66/10

Put my hands on the 4.5, 5.2 & 6.0 this morning. Very sleek looking sticks. Very light across the entire range. The balance was better in the higher end models, the 4.5 felt a smidge blade heavy, but nothing too drastic. If SJ wasn't next weekend I would have have left with one. The only thing that slightly annoyed me was their pattern chart. I play with a Sakic/Hall, True lists that as a TC3 but look wise it seems closer to the TC2.