Jarick

Helmet: Mission Intake w/ Bauer 9500 cage Shoulders: Bauer Vapor XXV Elbows: Easton Stealth S9 Gloves: TPS R8 Lite Pants: Bauer Vapor XXV Shins: Bauer One90 Skates: Bauer Vapor XXV Sticks: Dolomite 75 flex nipple grip Robitaille Dolomite 75 flex clear grip shaft w/ Dolomite HD Kovalchuk One90 67 flex shaft w/ Montreal M95 Euro

Anybody tried the Dolomite HD yet? My Dolo cracked after a year of non stop use, and I'm thinking about picking up the new one.

Helmet: Mission Intake w/ Bauer 9500 cage Shoulders: Bauer Vapor XXV Elbows: Easton Stealth S9 Gloves: TPS R8 Lite Pants: Bauer Vapor XXV Shins: Bauer One90 Skates: Bauer Vapor XXV Sticks: Easton Synergy II 70 flex w/ Mission Brunette pro stock blade Warrior Dolomite Grip 340 flex Robitaille Mission Fuel Pyro 65 flex Rafalski Easton S17 85 flex converted to shaft w/ Montreal M95 euro blade (waiting on pro stock Oggie grip)

Two new blades, Christian #1 (Forsberg) woodie that I add 1/2" of toe curve (perfect) Harrow #1 (Forbserg) composite Got both on clearance for $10 each, so of course I had to buy them. Could have got a Drury clone for $10 too but don't like the curve.

It's fantastic. Stays in place, you can breathe and talk really easily, and seems to do its job fine as a mouthguard (no tooth protection but I wear a cage).

Helmet: Mission Intake w/ Bauer 9500 cage Shoulders: Bauer Vapor XXV Elbows: Easton Stealth S9 Gloves: CCM Vector Pro Pants: Bauer Vapor XXV Shins: Bauer One90 Skates: Bauer Vapor XXV Sticks: Easton Synergy II 70 flex w/ Mission Brunette pro stock blade Warrior Dolomite Grip 340 flex Robitaille Mission Fuel Pyro 65 flex Rafalski Two things, I love Bauer protective gear (and would love some XXV elbows when my strap wears away), and I love a gimmick product. Also using the Gravity mouthguard, Tacki Mac grips, Gorilla laces, Shock Doctor bag, and trying Bladetape now.

Got a Bauer 9500 cage (much better than the 8500, thinner bars, nicer look, lighter weight, better fit) and replaced the PF shaft with a regular 85 flex shaft with the Weight curve. Also just picked up a 75 flex Z-Bubble shaft and I'm planning on getting a Montreal M95 blade for pond hockey this winter.

I thought the difference between the XXX and XXXX was wider toe cap and more ankle/heel padding for better lock? I know they fit my feet a lot better.

Good point! I suppose the XXV is about $400 and XXXX is $800 up there, or some big gap like that?

Why even offer the high end skate then? Either the XXXX is too much money or the XXV is too cheap. Seems to me if you get a XXV with a better liner, stiffer boot, and stiffer outsole, that's basically a XXXX.

I wonder how much demand there is for a skate between the XXV and XXXX? It seems to me the benefits are a stiffer boot and outsole and better liner. I could see them offering a custom XXV skate (for those of us who don't need a very stiff boot), but I'm wondering if a lot of players are needing a skate that is between the XXV and XXXX. I could see them dropping a lower end line though, no need to have a $60, $90, $135, and $175 skate. Maybe just $75, $125, and $185 skates.

Well all the Vapors and Supremes looked good so I'm not concerned about that, it's just if my Vapor XXV's fall apart, I'm wondering if the toes will be wide or narrow or if the heels will be wide or narrow or what.

I'm going to guess that it will be an amped up "continuation" of the old Vapor 10s. New numbering makes a lot of sense, as they've used up way too many Roman numerals. How did the old Vapors fit compared to the current ones?

I hope they stay with the Vapor fit, they're the only skates I fit into.

That would be fantastic. A flexible grip with a rubber wall that is slightly thinner than your average one-piece...tape whatever butt end you want. Make 4" and 6" versions...I'd love that.

I see a lot more Oggie's on the shelf at Hockey Giant, if that's any indication. I tried one, didn't like it, sold it, bought another, tried it, thought it was okay, have someone who wants to buy it this weekend but using it again tonight.

Oh the Bauer Endure...that thing was indestructible. I sold one a couple months ago that I had used for over a year and it still looked brand new. Shame that they felt like they were about 30 flex stiffer than they were. I still have my eye out for a 67 flex original Endure PM9 lefty ;)

Helmet: Mission Intake w/ Bauer 8500 cage Shoulders: Itech 255 or Sherwood 5030 Elbows: Easton Stealth S9 Gloves: CCM Vector Pro Pants: Bauer Vapor XXV Shins: Bauer One90 Skates: Bauer Vapor XXV Sticks: Warrior Dolomite NG 340 flex Robitaille Warrior Dolomite PF 300 flex Weight Picked up a new Dolo tonight as 07's were on sale. Sold off my other shafts and blades. For future reference, the 75 flex Dolomite had a sticker with 339 flex written on the inside, so that answers that. Another was listed at 340 flex. My 300 flex prostock was listed at 315 and felt in between the 75 and 85 flex retails. Couldn't read the flex on any of the 85's.

Yeah, I had a newer Mercury Cougar that was great for occasionally hauling stuff around. I'm a drummer, so it was nice to be able to toss five cases in the car, the massive hockey bag holding all the hardware, a cymbal bag, some stuff for the guitarists, AND fit the girlfriend up front. Although I'm seeing Nissan Muranos go for pretty cheap now that everyone's selling off their SUV's. Under $16k with lower mileage...going to have to test drive one.

BMW 330xi - $22,000 Front right axle and ignition - $1500 Front left axle, headlamp fixture, and tail lamp fixture - $1500 Repairing damage from a tree branch falling on the car - $3500 Rebuilding transmission - $2500 Learning to never buy an expensive car as a 20-something - Priceless Anyways, hoping to sell this car and get a little hatchback, Mazda3, Scion tC, something like that. Something low to mid teens.

Found myself a pair of Tackla Pro 5000's in great shape for $30 :D (although it took me an hour to fish a new belt through them). They're a bit small (size 46, I probably need a 48) but don't seem too much shorter than my old pants. But on the plus side, I now have really nice protective gear and shouldn't (hopefully) want anything other than new shafts and blades. Helmet: Mission Intake w/ Bauer 8500 cage Shoulders: Itech 255 or Sherwood 5030 Elbows: Easton Stealth S9 Gloves: CCM Vector Pro Pants: Tackla Pro 5000 Shins: Bauer One90 Skates: Bauer Vapor XXV Sticks: Easton Synergy II 70 flex w/ Warrior Dolomite Weight Warrior Dolomite 300 flex w/ Christian Torch Forsberg TPS XN10 R2 Int flex w/ Easton Synergy Elite Iginla (dryland stick)

It protects your hands better and you get a higher performance palm. I took a slash in my $40 Vapor Apollos and went back to my $140 Vector Pros because it bruised my thumb pretty bad.

Sticks are whittled down to: Shafts Warrior Dolomite 300 flex Polarfibre Easton Synergy II 75 flex Blades Warrior Dolomite Weight Warrior Synergy Elite Iginla Christian Torch #1 (Forsberg) Easton Synergy II Drury Easton Synergy II wood Forsberg Christian Torch wood #1 (Forsberg re-curved to Sakic)

Odd, I wear 14" shins and I'm only 5'8". Roommate wears 14" shins and he's 6'. I know guys on my team taller than me who where 12" and 13" shins that barely reach down to the skates.

Picked up a couple blades, including a Christian composite for $15 at a LHS. My collection is up to: Christian Torch #1 (Forsberg) Christian wood #1 (Forsberg that I opened up at the mid-toe) Easton Synergy Elite Iginla Easton Synergy II Drury Easton Synergy II wood Forsberg (opened up at the mid) Mission L-2 Elias (Forsberg) x2 Mission L-2 Hull (Iginla) x2 Using a Dolo 300 PF shaft and a pair of Mission L-2 75 shafts.