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preference preference preference. There are some traditional girdles out there that you still step into and are just fully elastic/stretchy, Warrior makes one and some Tacklas can still be found, I think True might have one too. CCM has a hybrid where you step in but have adjustable thighs that have not only height adjustment but have a strap that goes around the thigh. Then Bauer has a whole wrap style where the girdle opens up fully like a butterfly and you just wrap it around your body. Some people like the traditional style and some like the wrap style, once you decide what you like you can go from there. Most girdles will offer more mobility and lighter weight compared to traditional pants but may have less padding in certain areas. Also, girdles are great because you can mix and match shells and collect shells that will match any team you're on lol, all girdle shells will fit all girdles, they simply slide on like shorts and secure with some combination of velcro closure and/or a belt, no need to actually attach to the girdle. Personally I could never get into the full wrap style, I tried a couple of Bauers and they never felt good and I didn't like how I had to put the on (I started with old grey Coopers then a black Cooper, then a Tackla, then a couple of Eastons... there was no wrap stuff back then lol), the Bauer ones (MX3 era) never felt very protective to me. I then had a 9K for a while and loved it until I started wearing a CCM Super Tacks which is perfect for me, it has great adjustability but retains most of the traditional feel, also it's super protective and pretty lightweight. The Jetspeed seems like a simplified version with less adjustments so I guess that would be my recommendation for something you can probably easily find at retail (it probably fits like the Super Tacks... small, so I would def try one on if possible).

*SOLD* Selling a pair of 13" CCM HG12's I picked up a couple of months ago to wear while I waited for another pair to get re-palmed. Black 13" with standard thumbs, shot blockers and palms in excellent condition with no rips or anything. Shot blockers can be easily removed with a seam ripper or X-Acto. Cuffs have small #4's on them and palms have small #2 on them (guessing this was the player's second pair). Overall they're in awesome condition, I just don't need an all black pair. Shot blockers are not in exact same spots on each glove and cuff sits higher on right one, I didn't notice at all once I put them on and played and after comparing 3 other pairs I found nothing is exactly the same on any of them lol, this one was just more noticeable. Asking $100 + shipping in US (should be $15-$20 anywhere in US shipped Priority, willing to ship to Canada at buyer's expense). Untitled by Jon Schusteritsch, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Schusteritsch, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Schusteritsch, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Schusteritsch, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Schusteritsch, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Schusteritsch, on Flickr

Just got my HG12's back from ITR and I'm psyched.... I went with goat palm with Kovi style digi overlays and airknit mesh gussets (my old gussets were worn through on a few fingers so since I had to replace them anyways I figured I'd go with something different). They feel awesome, can't wait to try them out tomorrow night. Untitled by Jon Schusteritsch, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Schusteritsch, on Flickr

Not bad! I enjoyed it, esp the part about the face protection... never would've imagined someone using a football cage or lacrosse helmet 😂 My one gripe... how can you talk about T-Blades and not mention how they sound?! Also not have a clip of how they sound... that's a big miss 🤣

The CCM Pro I have has a thick waistband, feels like more fabric than elastic to be honest, and now that I compare with the Warrior it was way too big for me around the waist. The Warrior has really nice elastic and fits me really well and even feels like it keeps the cup in place better as a result where as the CCM let the cup kind of float away from the body when I hunched down/squatted. here's a couple photos side by side, first showing the basic shape/size of the cup part (the CCM has more fabric over the hard internal piece but they're the same size, and also mine is 2-3 years old so it's worn a bit), and also a closeup of the elastic bands side by side. Untitled by Jon Schusteritsch, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Schusteritsch, on Flickr

It's weird, I actually have a Profile III and it's listed as "Titanium" but I think that's just the color description. I picked it up last year and didn't realize the shape was so different than the Profile II and I hate it lol, never worn it because I can't stand the look (it's closer to the Reakt shape than the Profile II) and it fits slightly different than the Profile II that I'm so used to.

Thought I'd bring this back to the top as I just received a Warrior Alpha Pro jock (because I was curious and couldn't resist lol). I found a seller in the US on ebay, I watched the item and he sent me an offer a day later for $15 less than his asking price so I jumped on it. I got it today and haven't worn it yet but first impressions are the cup is the same shape/size as the CCM Pro but it's not as beefy. The inner hard material is flexible if I really squeeze it where as the CCM Pro barely budges, also the top "flaps" where the waistband attaches is thinner and more flexible. I'm not too concerned as the CCM is literally built like a tank and I have no worries about how protective the Warrior is but thought I'd mention it. I got the Warrio in S/M since they have 2 sizes, I'm about a 31" waist and this appears it'll be nice and snug (the CCM I have is so stretched out it barely has any elastic which is odd since it was always big/loose on me), I got the one with the garter straps attached so the snug waist will help keep things up. I'll test it out on Sunday night and report back.

I would go to a store with your helmet and see what size cage works best for your face since they all run a but different. You can proib just hold it up to your helmet and place on your chin without actually attaching it to check the size. Personally a large Bauer works for me, CCM med is too small and CCM large too big... just be like Goldilocks and find what works best lol (oh and for reference my helmets are size small, helmet size and cage size have nothing to do with one another).

That looks like the stuff he used. His has the red backing so my guess is his was 3M automotive doublesided adhesive tape (or plain 3M doublesided heavy duty tape), it's flexible and can withstand cold temps.

There's usually not much difference year to year. They change the model #'s and some graphics usually and some descriptions of materials, but honestly if you can get the older model on sale that's your best bet usually. At your experience level chances are you won't notice any of the differences when actually using the skates... you'd probably have to jump up 2 levels in the skate lineup to feel a real difference since they usually get stiffer and lighter and have different ankle foams as they get more expensive. As far as pricing on the yet to be released models, you'll just have to wait since they don't really announce that stuff too far in advance.

They've done a great job with marketing and pricing which is why I'm guessing so many teams just seem to defer to them at this point. Like I said, I'm hoping to sway any of my teams to 5ivehole for next time we need jerseys, hopefully I can convince them.

I've been on way too many teams that use Mens League Sweaters and can honestly say I hate them. While they might look great, their sizing is out of whack, the body is good but sleeves will only fit if you don't wear elbow pads and have toothpick thin arms. One team I sized up on the body so I don't have to wrestle the sleeves over my elbow pads as much and now the body just swims on me, can't win lol. I also have a couple Tron jerseys from another team and they are not the greatest either, less quality that MLS but cheaper, good bargain choice I guess. The jerseys that MSH had for Summerfest last year were really nice, 5ivehole sports I think they were called, really nice quality and fit. I'm trying to convince some of my teams to go with them next time they need jerseys.

Gotcha. I was just comparing level to level (2nd from entry level to 2nd from entry level) which I thought made sense but it seems Bauer doesn't always make sense to me lol, it seems harder and harder to understand all the nomenclature and lineage year after year.

Looks like the X3 will be the new entry level and X4 one step up which would be the "new" X3.7. Looks like they added some Curv composite and a different set of steel (Pulse SS vs LS1, I have no idea what the difference is as I'm a CCM guy). The X4 does appear to be slotted in at the same level as the X3.7 was so I'd guess that's the newer version.

I know some of the Nexus stuff was also labelled as "Pro Series", the gloves and shoulder pads looked almost identical to Nexus but the shoulders were all black (and all white before that I think). Maybe they have a shun guard under "pro series" too? I know the elbow pads were only sold in Europe and pro stock only over here (the elbows were more of a Supreme design that was beefed up). Might be worth a search if you really liked that style.

One other thing to realize... not all helmets are the same shape. I love my Tacks 910 and wore V08's and 4500's before that, all are made for oval shaped heads. I tried a Resistance/710 and one of the Bauer IMS models but they were too round and never felt good on my head. So finding the right shape is a big help... with that said, the Tacks 910 is extremely comfortable and has basic adjustability but there are some Bauer models which offer the traditional front/back adjustment as well as a side to side adjustment (I had to get one of those for my son since he had a big old round head and everything else hurt lol, I just checked and its a Reakt 150 so that might be worth a look).

yea, as Monty said, pretty easy. I've used a seam ripper and x-acto but the x-acto is actually the easier of the two since you're usually going in a tighter area and can just slice the stitch from the top with the x-acto. Just kind of spread the rolls apart where the shot blocker is sewn in and examine before you start cutting, you can usually tell pretty easily what to cut and just go little by little (the outside attachment is usually easier since it's not hidden as much).

This was going around yesterday: Kaprisov's cut tongues. I mean, I guess it would increase mobility a little bit just seems kind of pointless to me.

Probably all comes down to the rink and league's insurance policies. My league plays in about 10-12 rinks so when one rink makes a stink about something the league has to notify all of the teams (usually something more like beer in the locker room/parking lots but a couple years ago it was about helmet straps and needing them to be buckled, also they tried the "no tilting visors up" thing one time which lasted for about 3 weeks).

A teammate of mine had one a seasopn or two ago, wore it for maybe 3 games then went back to a normal cage. He didn't like the way it looked and didn't feel like he got any benefit out of it. I also just saw another in the wild the other night and yea, it's def ugly and stands out.

All we're missing now is a Virginia Tech Stick Flex study using incomplete half assed methods 🤣

I think it all depends on the league and what rules they follow. Our league here is a modified USA Hockey rules, so we don't follow all of their rules, as far as helmets and cages you just have to have a helmet with face protection of some sort, could he a half shield tilted up, or a full cage, just as long as whatever straps are present are snapped in. I've never seen anyone check a helmet certification in my 43 years of life, pretty sure as long as it's a name brand from the past 30 years no one will think twice (I see a few old HT2's still but I'm sure if anyone tried using a Gretzky Jofa one they would stop them).

Oh wow, I had a slide board thing back in the 90's when it was an "as seen on TV" product for like $50... looks like they've come a ways lol, would actually love one like that now. That other one looks amazing but a bit pricey for me. I have nothing of value to add but am curious to see if anyone else has experience with them too.

I've got a teammate who wears one, I think it might be a goalie one that's modified but not sure: and also played against a guy with one of the old college style ones that have no chin cup (you see some interesting old gear in the over 40 divisions lol): edit: I see he actually does have a chin cup of some sort,I've played with other guys who had a similar cage with no chin cup just a chin strap) I've also seen a couple other variations of the college style one over the years but don't have any pics of them I can easily find.

good luck. They're not only hard to find but when they do pop up they're expensive. I would create a favorite search on sidelineswap and that way you can get notified if one pops up, other than that maybe just keep checking ebay. If you join the gear exchange on here there's a gear wanted section, otherwise sports2k has a gear wanted area but I've found many of those members are younger so not sure how great the response would be for an item that's older than most of those members lol.