Chadd

Maybe I'll drag the camera along Tuesday night and hand it to someone's GF.

CCM 852 Shin Pads Protection These are a lightweight pad, not made for blocking NHL-quality shots. That said, I've never blocked a shot and had it hurt. There are wrap around wings for calf protection, though I wouldn't want to take a slapper off of them. The calf protectors are padded, with no inserts. 6-10 Fit/Comfort Very comfortable, no break in required. I'have a 32 inch inseam and use 15" pads tucked behind the tongue of my skates. All of the padding in them has a fabric liner and the pads themsleves are perforated, allowing air to flow well and for minimum weight. 8-10 Quality/Durability After every game I always remove the pads from my bag and hang them up to dry. I was surprised to find that the seams around the outside were coming apart. I had used my previous pair of shin pads for several years without any signs of problems. The padding used in the removable liner isn't sturdy enough to hold its shape when washed so I have to reshape them by hand when I do actually wash them. The main parts of the pad are still holding up with no issues with the plastic shell or calf wraps. 6-10 Conclusion These pads are good for rec hockey if you can get a deal on them. I would not use them for elite level competition, nor would I pay more than $50 US for them. If you can find them for that price and only want to use them for pickup or house leagues, it's not a bad choice. They would also work well for anyone playing inline, wanting a lightweight pad the breathes well. 6.5-10 *********************************************************** UPDATE Nearly a year and a half after the initial review I am still using these pads. They look like hell and the straps are stretched out but I haven't been able to find a deep, wide fitting pad with a strap style that I like.

Graf 703 Shoulder Pads My specs: 6-1 225 PROTECTION These pads are designed for mobility and comfort while providing some protection from crosschecks, slashes and pucks. Keeping that in mind, I've never been injured while wearing them but I have a nagging shoulder injury that isn't being helped by wearing these pads. The have a nice low profile shoulder cap and an adequate bicep protector. 4-10 Fit/Comfort The pads fit well and break in rather quickly. This is where the pad shines, as it was designed to be a comfortable old-style pad. Laces int eh front help make the size very adjustable. 8-10 Quality/Durability This is probably the most surprising part of the pads to me, the quality stinks. I have taken excellent care of the pads, dried them after every use, taken them out of my bag after every use and they are not holding up well at all. I still wear my four year old Hespeler Classic Lites more than I wear these pads. The laces will not stay knotted, let alone tied through an entire game. The eyelets for the laces rusted out within two months and are just jagged chunks of rusted metal now. The rest of the pads still look almost brand new but the lack of coating on the eyelets and the poor laces provided are major negatives. 4-10 Conclusion I play adult rec hockey and wanted shoulder pads that didn't get in the way. That's what I got in the 703s but I'm still not happy about the runst stains and pointed metal remains of the eyelets on the front of the pads. The 705s are a bit more protective and don't have laces or eyelets, I suggest you try them if you want Graf pads. If you want classic style pads get the Sher-Wood or Hespeler Vintage Series. 5-10

Bauer 5000 Helmet FIT: Adjustable, that makes it easier to get a snug fit. Well designed to fit the shape of my head. Softer padding cushions the hard foam at the pressure points for more comfort. Also very light. 8-10 PROTECTION: Never thought it protected me more than any other helmet. I've also spoken with experts who feel that the hard padding does more harm than good. Of the kids I coached that got concussions this year, all of them were wearing these helmets. May be a coincidence, may not. 6-10 WEIGHT: Fairly light and well balanced, no major complaints here. 8-10 DURABILITY: I've had it for three years and have had a number of problems over that time. The hard foam cracked and I had to melt it back together around the right temple. The soft pads had to be reglued several times and even epoxy doesn't hold them in place very well. Cracks developed in the sides, probably from the pressure of my visor. I only used a visor from time to time and not constantly, so I wasn't impressed with that either. Slightly thicker plastic on the sides would have made a huge difference. 3-10 INTANGIBLES: Nothing to speak of. N/A CONCLUSION: Fairly comfortable, dubious "extra protection" and a number of problems. There were a number of quality/durabillity problems with mine and even while I have had it for a while, I've been using others as well during that time frame. Not sure that I could recommend it, but it's all preference. 6-10

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