Burning Bear

One more thing I forgot to ask, do they come in different sizes? Didn't want something that either constantly slides off me or cuts of my circulation. The Warrior Alpha seems to come in either S/M or L/XL sizes, but the CCM has a Senior size, and... that's it.

I'm kind of in the "figured it'd happen sooner" camp here. Then again, helmets like the Bauer 4500 and CCM HT2 (which was actually axed quite a while back) were around for so long and were so iconic that I figured they would've at least kept the shell and replaced the innards with modern tech. My kingdom for an HT2 with a 910/SuperTacks X system on the inside. Oh and by the way, if you're a fan of the RE-AKT 95 like I am, it looks like that helmet's going the way of the dodo as well. However, I think something similar's replacing it, albeit at a lower price point.

You'll forgive me for resurrecting a thread going on four years old (no idea if it's more frowned upon to resurrect an old thread or create a new jock thread for the 50th time), but I'm currently in the hunt for one of these jocks, as nothing CCM, Bauer, Warrior, Shock Doctor, or anyone else put out at retail has really worked. So, couple questions... 1.) Are foreign sellers on eBay my only choice at this point? Can't seem to find anyone domestically who sells these at a reasonable price, or even at an unreasonable price, for that matter. 2.) I see Warrior produces an Alpha equivalent to the CCM/Reebok pro jock. I'm assuming they're both identical as they look identical. Is this true?

I remain eternally baffled by the sheer number of people who respond to a question on the internet they don't know the answer to.

I'm the chairman of my local Bauer Lovers Committee, and their retail offerings over the last 3-4 years are absolute trash. Forget rereleasing the Easton Synergy. Bauer needs to rerelease the entire APX2 line verbatim. Gloves, sticks, shoulder pads... all of it.

Good riddance, I say. More specifically, to the aesthetically-limiting collars, weird-ass shoulder dimples, and their tawdry, overpriced Indo-authentics. Thanks for coming to the party, Adidas. Leave the wine bottle you brought and piss off.

That's pretty weak, if true. I have a Nexus Team stick that I used a couple times and it's been sitting unused for months because I hate it. Puck feel, in particular, is really mediocre.

Any word on what the grip finish is? It looks to be matte, which is huge turnoff for me personally. Unless they completely crapped the bed on this stick, a yellow grip version would be an automatic buy.

Lame. So, so lame. "bUt AfTeR a WhIlE, yOu WoN't EvEn NoTiCe ThEm DuRr..." Yes, because marketing ghouls for wealthy corporations slap ads all over the place because you WON'T notice them. Right. Gotcha.

Interesting... they look almost identical to the 2S Pros that came before them. I don't mind that at all, though. My 2S Pros are easily the best pair of gloves I've ever owned. No need to fix what isn't broken.

Ah, nuts. I got excited for a second and thought I'd be seeing new player sticks. I'm hoping the new Vapor stick line brings about a swift death to the elliptical taper.

I'm looking to piece together a few setups (more specifically, Detroit and retro Calgary) and I'm a big fan of the fit and material of the CCM 6000 and 8000 series jerseys. According to the CCM website, all 31 NHL teams' colorways are available in the 8000 series. So... where are they? I can't seem to find a single website that even has Detroit's colorways, let alone all 31 teams. Yes, I know Detroit has an awful team, that red is available in other team's sets (Chicago, Calgary, etc.), and that I could always buy from Kobe or AK, but that's not the point. Back in the day, it seemed like CCM's uncrested NHL jerseys were always readily available, even in alternate colors. Why is that no longer the case? Have they pared down their offerings to a finite number of colors and teams now? P.S. - Regarding Calgary retro colors, I know that set is fairly new, though the alternate jersey (now the home jersey) has been in use for at least a few years and I was kind of hoping we'd see something from CCM by now. Hell, even AK beat them to the punch on that one.

Meh... 0/10. Needs more bass and tornado siren. Seriously though, while better protection and airflow make this a good marriage of technology (at least on paper), I'm definitely a bit apprehensive about how this thing will be priced. Those 3D printed Adidas shoes that were mentioned above? You need to secure at least two credit references to buy a pair.

This, for me, is a really big part of it. I realize inflation has a hand in it to some extent, but I remember 15 years ago when gloves like the Vapor XXX were selling at around $129.99 I think? Fast forward to the present day when the 1X Lite retails for $219.99 (not counting the recent markdown on account the 2X line set to hit the market soon). Have gloves really come that far so quickly that they're worth nearly double the price? Not in my eyes, at least. As for things like sticks, they're expensive in general for what they are. I don't mind paying a high price for something that feels good, performs well, and lasts me for a reasonable period of time, but when I shell out top dollar on something like the 1X Lite I bought a few years ago that dies after just a few months playing once or twice a week, I don't feel like I got good value for my money. I normally always shoot for top-of-the-line gear because I like the idea of a product being made as good as it can be, but I haven't felt comfortable paying more than $200 for a stick since. This is to say nothing for those who pay top dollar only to have the stick snap on them and be SOL because the warranty expired just a week beforehand. It's hardly a wonder people load up on pro stock sticks at $100. I'm sure sticks aren't cheap to make and the profit margins are slim even on the higher-end, but I also don't like the idea of pointing the blame at consumers just trying to get their money's worth and people selling pro gear on eBay just hoping to make a little pocket change on the side. I feel bad for retail stores who end up being punished as a result of all this, but maybe it's not a great business model in general? I don't know. Someone feel free to step in and correct me on any of that. Anyway, to get back on topic, rinks are closed, people aren't working, the economy is screwed, a virus is running rampant, and the streets of major US cities are filled with a whole lot of anger and hate. I wish I could say I was spending a lot more time worrying about hockey (among many other things) right now, but the world is a very different place than it was three months ago.

If you're the kind of person who lives in a crowded townhouse development and loudly blasts music on your back porch, subjecting it to everyone nearby quarantined inside their homes, you can gargle a bouquet of dicks. Seriously, when did this become okay?

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I always loved the classic styling and low-profile look of the Bauer 4500. It and its predecessors are right up there with the CCM HT2 in terms of iconic status. I wore a nearly-identical Nike 4 back in high school, but my head turned into an oversized potato at some point during my twenties. I ended up switching to the rather bulbous Bauer 7500 and found a home there for a while, but I hated the comfort foams, which had a nasty habit of both flattening to the thickness of an envelope and falling out. When the RE-AKT 95 came out, I finally found a compromise between fit, comfort, quality, and style. Still kinda wish my head fit in the 4500, though. I was also kind of heartbroken when my hands didn't fit properly into the rather sharp-looking 1X Lite gloves. Way too cramped, especially compared to the XXXX and APX, the latter of which I used for the better part of a decade. Ironically, my hands fit better in the Supreme line now. Honorable mention to the Easton 800 Pro gloves from 2015, which looked really cool with the huge "E in the oval" logo on the cuff, but even the 13" fit like a 18" pair. It had enough room to fit both of my hands inside and probably keep some Werther's Originals in the fingertips.

Huh. Well, that's kind of disappointing. I figured a high-end traditional pant would've been a given, seeing how popular the Supreme One95/Nexus 1000/Nexus 1N have always been, but maybe I'm just speaking for a niche crowd that snaps up the pro stock models on eBay? Still kind of curious to see what they roll out before snapping up 1N's on clearance.

This is quickly turning into one of the worst months of my life. I forced myself to give up on someone I cared deeply for, I'm on FMLA/STD leave from work (which keeps me away from the stress, but the thought of being useless makes me feel like it's a double-edged sword), I'm on antidepressants for the first time in my life, and to top it all off, my car needs over $1,600 worth of work for it to pass inspection. I'm trying very hard to stay positive, stay active, keep playing hockey, and eating well, but my god... I never imagined things spiraling out of control this much.

I REALLY want to like both of these jerseys, but my god... whoever's forcing the Adizero collars needs to be burned at the stake.

As a Flames fan, I'm SUPER-relieved that they went with these. I was a bit surprised at how many people on social media were crying out against seeing these again. Those people are heretics and should be burned at the stake. Also, while I absolutely loathe the new Adidas collars, I think this was as good as they could do here. 100% in favor of seeing their white counterparts as the away jerseys next season. The other added bonus? More chances to snag Flames retro pants and gloves!

I actually really dig the graphics on it. This and last year's 1N are two of Bauer's best-looking sticks in quite a while.

Seconded. Aside from some a few recent minor issues with the quarters near the toe box, my 50Ks are still going strong after over three years. Best pair of skates I've ever owned bar none.

Product catalogs up on MSH by April 2007: 9 Product catalogs up on MSH by April 2017: 1 What is WRONG with you, Big Hockey? Why won't you let me see your glorious spring releases to keep me warm and toasty over the long, cold winter? I'm a privileged, highly avaricious, materialistic member of the consumer culture and I DEMAND to see all of your shiny new toys before all of the filthy plebs do! WHY MUST YOU TEASE ME ARRRGGGGHHHHH (*throws chair across the room*) THIS AFFECTS ME!!!!! (I'm only kidding. I suppose it is kind of a bummer, though. Plus there's what, like, 3 companies now?)

I dabble in bird/nature photography, and I've been without a telephoto lens for the last five months. I decided I'd put in for a rental this weekend to test out a few lenses ahead of time last month. I figured by mid-March it would start to warm up and I wouldn't have to worry about snow or high winds or any of that nonsense, plus I have tomorrow through Sunday off. Well... Really, nature? All those years of recycling and not running the water while brushing my teeth and this is how you repay me? I hope all the polar bears drown and like seven oil tankers explode this year now.