Jarick

CHRISTIAN TORCH TAPERED COMPOSITE BLADE Curve: #1 (Modano) Shaft: Easton Synergy II, Warrior Dolomite, TPS XN10 R2 Time Used: 6 months Stickhandling/Receiving Passes This blade reminds me of a slightly softer Synergy II blade. As I already find the Synergy blade on the softer side, this one seems even easier to catch passes with. It has good feedback in terms of stickhandling feel, but not excellent, as I find stiffer and thinner blades are a little easier for stickhandling. 8/10 Shooting Overall this blade produced good shots, nothing terribly hard, but it didn't torque or twist at all. Again, I think it is due to the softer feel of the blade. I believe the shaft is a bigger factor in shooting though. 8/10 Weight/Balance The blade has a longer tenon and is slightly thicker than your average blade, so it does seem a bit heavy. I actually cut at least half an inch off the tenon with no problems except to reduce weight. Not really a problem while playing, but not as light as newer blades. 7/10 Durability I used this blade for quite a while before it broke, and it retained most of its stiffness and never cracked or chipped. Eventually, the blade snapped at the joint between the tenon and hosel on a slap shot. I did have a second blade that snapped at the same spot on the very first shot, but that was likely a defective blade. Furthermore, I did speak with Harrow about the problem and they said they were aware of it and fixed it on their newer models, which seem quite a bit beefier and a bit heavier. 9/10 Price New, these blades are cheaper than most manufacturers, while offering very good performance and durability. 10/10 Intangibles Looked really nice with the black blade and silver logo. The tenon is just a hair slimmer than other brands, so need to use a bit of tape. Conclusions These blades are a great bargain if you're not incredibly picky about feel. Overall 8.5/10

Sport-Mate Gorilla Laces Introduction For quite a while, I bounced between waxed and unwaxed laces. I had a problem with lace bite with waxed laces, but unwaxed came untied frequently. After going through two pairs of waxed laces in a week due to them coming untied and getting the ends chopped off, I picked these up. I have 7.5 skates and skip the top eyelet so I went with the 96" white un-waxed models. Features Gorilla laces are semi-flat non-stretchy laces that seem to be made out of a nylon material, with sharper flattened edges on either side. This means they won't stretch and don't need to be re-tied, and they stay tied better than waxed. They also have metal tips to prevent them from coming frayed. 10/10 Durability Hands down the most durable laces I've used. One pair lasted me about six months, which I replaced as it was getting pretty beat up. There were a couple nicks in the laces and there weren't any issues with them ripping, but I replaced anyway. The metal tips got squished but still worked great. 10/10 Price These are the same price as any other lace, but last longer and hold better. 10/10 Intangibles They look strange coming from "regular" laces as they are smaller and have the outlined contrasting colors. The edges are sharp and you need to take that into consideration when pulling tight, or you might slice yourself open. Conclusion These are fantastic laces if you've got any problems with durability or coming untied. They look a little strange, but they do the job and are priced very well. Overall 10/10

SUPER FEET GREY INSOLES Reviewer Stats: 5'8", 175 lbs Time Used: 1.5 years Skates: Bauer Vapor XIX 8D, Vapor XXV 7.5EE Background When I purchased my Vapor XIX's, I was sized incorrectly, giving me a boot that was too narrow but too long, squeezing my forefoot and toes but giving too much room in the heel. I also replaced the original insole with a Dr Scholl's "sport" gel insole because the original was sliding around when putting the skate on. As a result, the volume was too small and I was getting quite a bit of arch pain and cramps and decreased feel for my edges. I tried these Superfeet before replacing the skate to see if they would fix my problems. I ended up getting a new skate that fit properly and moved these to the new skate with no problems. Fit I was stuck between two sizes and went with the larger ones. I trimmed these to the original insoles and slid them in. They fit perfectly. It seems to take up as much, or just a bit less, volume than the original insoles, but your feet grip better, they don't slide around, and it raises your heel/arch a bit. 10/10 Comfort These are definitely more comfortable than stock insoles. The texture seems to feel better on your feet than stock, and there's a lot more support than the Dr Scholl's, meaning less arch pain after a long skate. 10/10 Performance One of the big advantages to these insoles is that they seem to allow you to feel your edges quite a bit more. Other insoles dampen the feel of the blade, but with these I feel like my foot is closer to the ice. I've been using them so long I can't imagine skating without them. 10/10 Price They are a lot more expensive than regular insoles, but cheaper than custom orthontics. 7/10 Conclusion Hands down the best insoles that you can buy without getting into custom orthotics. They help with arch support but don't get your hopes up if you think that these will completely solve the problem. I'd recommend these if you're having problems with overpronating or need new insoles. Overall Rating 9/10

But are they around anymore? Im not talking about durability/performance, Im talking about design. They went back to the long hosel. The standard blades look like they are. The short hosel blades seemed like a good idea, but with standard shafts being so short already, they probably didn't work well for most folks.

EASTON SYNEGY II / ELITE BLADE Curve: Iginla (Elite), Drury (II) Shaft: Easton Synergy II, Warrior Dolomite, TPS XN10 R2 Time Used: 6 months I have used both the Synergy II and Synergy Elite blades, which are supposed to be nearly the same. This review covers both as well as a bit of a comparison between the two. Weight & Balance This blade is quite light, especially due to the slightly shorter hosel on the Synergy Elite and the very short hosel on the Synergy II (the only real difference between the two). I'm sure lighter blades exist, but I'd imagine it would throw off the balance, especially with a shorter blade like the Iginla. 10/10 Stick Handling & Receiving Passes This blade is a bit on the soft side, which makes it easy to catch passes. Especially with the Iginla curve, it knocks down passes off the mark easily. It has good feel and feedback for the puck so there were no problems stick handling. 10/10 Shooting Shooting was fine with this blade. It seemed quite stiff when laying into a shot even though it seemed a bit soft for stick handling. 9/10 Durability I found the Synergy Elite blade got a bit soft after using it about a dozen times, which is quicker than the average composite. The real problem with these blades are heel wear, as they crack and chip very easily and that leads to it softening up even more. After a couple months, it could be flexed quite a bit by hand and made a lot of cracking noises. 4/10 Price These blades new are more expensive than other manufacturers, even though the durability is lower. You're paying for performance. 7/10 Intangibles Matches up great with the Synergy II shaft in terms of looks, but looks out of place on other shafts. As I said above, the older Synergy blades had extremely short hosels and the newer ones are a bit shorter than average, so take that into account when purchasing. Conclusions These blades are expensive but have great feel. If you can handle the higher price coupled with replacing them frequently, they are a good choice. For most recreational players they will probably want something more durable. Overall 8/10

MISSION INTAKE HELMET Cage/shield: Bauer 8500 and 9500 cages, Oakley shield Time Used: 3 years Fit The Intake fits my head perfectly. I must have a wider head as I couldn't fit into any of the cheap Bauer helmets that seemed so narrow. I was a size large for most other manufacturers but a medium in the Intake. The EPP pads have been comfortable, much more so than the old yellow foam helmets were. I always remembered as a kid HATING helmets because they squeezed my head and were so uncomfortable, but this is like wearing nothing on your head at all. 10/10 Protection I haven't taken too many spills with my helmet, although I did get slew footed and hit the back of my head on the ice. I got some whiplash, but the helmet stayed on and no concussion. The occipital lock is a life saver and I will never buy a helmet without it. 10/10 Weight When I first got the helmet, I used it without a visor or cage. Never noticed it on my head. It's much lighter than the helmets I worse as a kid. Can't ask for anything lighter. 10/10 Durability The outside of the helmet and the pads have held up great. But the screws are another story. When I attached a cage for the first time, the inserts fell out of place and I had to rip out the foam in the front to get them back in. After a year, the cage started getting rusty and when I went to install a new cage, the screws had rusted themselves onto the helmet. It took several hours to get the screws and inserts out, and now the helmet is mangled up pretty good. I think rust-proof screws would make a lot more sense, as well as a better screw retention mechanism (springs or clips). 7/10 Price For what this helmet offers, top of the line EPP protection, occipital lock, and ventilation, it is a bargain. It is priced lower than comparable helmets. 10/10 Intangibles I've heard this helmet offers more cooling on the ice with the vents. While it's cooler than any helmet I've used as a kid, it's still pretty hot on the bench and I do take it off between shifts later in the game. The EPP padding doesn't soak up sweat like the old style foam, so you will need to have a towel or something to keep it from running in your eyes. Other than that, I don't notice it's on, which is a great thing for protective equipment. It doesn't look bad, but newer helmets seem to look better. Conclusion This is a fantastic helmet for the money with great protective features. Just be sure to check the screws and replace them frequently. Overall - 9.5/10

I don't know about the short ST blades, but the red ones had pretty good feel and were incredibly durable.

BAUER VAPOR XXV Size: 7.5EE Reviewer: 5'8" 175 Foot: Slightly wide at ball of foot, slightly narrow at heel, medium arch Time Used: 1.5 years Introduction My first skate as an adult was a Vapor VI that fit well but broke down quickly, both in the boot stiffness and outsole. I upgraded to the Vapor XIX in size 8D, but was sized incorrectly, and after a year I sold those to get these skates in a smaller and wider size. Fit Before purchasing, I tried on nearly every skate out there in as many sizes as I could, and the Vapor series skates in EE were by far the best fit for my feet. I had these skates fitted with thin dress socks both with baking and an air bladder system. As a result, they fit great, and I can still play even with the laces loose or coming untied. The newer Vapors have a bit wider toe box and more padding above the ankle to lock the heel in. Between the proper size and these refinements, I found my edges much easier, my foot didn't roll around anymore, and my skating improved quite a bit. 10/10 Blade/Holder My old Vapors had slightly longer runners, so at first I noticed I didn't get quite as much glide, but I could make sharper turns. The steel is very good, and with a bit of a touch-up using a Miraclestone, I can go several weeks between sharpenings. I've been using the LS2 holder for a while now, and I like the feel. They aren't too stiff or soft, fairly springy, and they place me a bit on my toes, which I prefer over standard holders. 10/10 Weight These skates are very light in weight compared to cheaper models and close enough to high end skates for me. They do not absorb moisture enough to get any heavier throughout a game. It's possible to have lighter skates, but not necessary. 10/10 Protection These skates have taken a number of pucks off them and protection is great from the sides. Anything on the tongue isn't nearly as protective, so those will sting a lot more. 8/10 Durability The skates have held up very well, without any problems with stitching or cracking. The liner has also held up very well. My previous XIX's had a problem with the tendon guard wearing through the liner and rubbing against my foot, but I've taken care while putting them on and taking them off and there seems to be more padding in that area, so no problems so far. Holders and boot have quite a few puck marks, but no real damage. 9/10 Price These skates were pretty average in terms of price compared to other manufacturers. 8/10 Intangibles I immediately replaced the liners with Superfeet to get better feel for the ice. I typically skip the top eyelet when lacing up for a bit more forward flex. The tongues don't have much give in them so you can't flop them. Conclusion This is a great skate for someone who does not need ultra high end stiffness and weight. Just be sure to be properly fitted because they won't break in much at all. Overall 9/10

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)

Does anyone know what kind of palming options he has? I was planning on a premium palm from FIBM (MSH2 again or maybe Nash) but I also amd considering a cuff shortening and if he can do both that'd be a better route for sure. Does he do mail ins? Just leather or clarino. The clarino feels amazing, leather is pretty thick, but I'm not picky.

There's some cool pictures of work HockeyRepair.com has done for pro's here. I might have to see about a cuff shortening when I take my gloves in for a re-palm next week.

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.

Wonder if he's being courted for endorsement then?

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.