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Hi All, Longtime lurker, first time poster...;) This is a fantastic forum and resource for all things hockey equipment related so I thought what better place to ask my question! I'm looking to get my name embroidered onto my Bauer Nexus gloves on the cuff or the side (whatever)...anyone have any recommendations in the Greater Toronto Area (or anywhere else)? Please let me know and thanks in advance!

Hello everyone. I'll preface this by saying I'm 6' 1" and 325lbs with short wide feet. The only pair of skates I've ever owned are an old hand me down pair of Bauer Supreme 7000's I got from my uncle in size 10. They've always been way too big but I've made them work in the past. I decided the other day that I'm going to get into playing in adult leagues to lose weight and for an overall love of the game. I went to my local hockey store and they put me on the Bauer 3D scanner. It said I should be in a pair of Bauer Nexus size 6.5D. I tried them on and they were too small. So the guys manually measured my feet and said I should be in a 7.0EE. So they have me a pair of CCM Jetspeed FT460's to try. They felt okay sitting at the store so I picked them up. I couldn't even walk in these things the next day. The toe box crushes my toes on the sides and cuts into the top of my foot when I'm standing. Also my ankles buckle from side to side while trying to walk or stand on them but I've read that it's probably my weight and I need a higher price point skate with more stiffness. I was thinking that maybe the scanner was right about the Bauer Nexus because of the higher volume in the skate but they only come in a D. Any advice that you all could give me would be much appreciated. This is the first pair of skates I've ever bought. Thank you!

About Me Height: 5’10” Weight: 150 lbs Shoots: Left I've been playing hockey since I was 7 with roller and started ice when I was 11. I've played as high as midget AAA but was a career AA player at best, along with high school varsity hockey in New Jersey. I've used many sticks throughout my time on the ice. To give you an idea of what I have to compare the Nexus to, I've used: Nike Bauer Vapor XXX Lite TPS Response R8 RBK 7K SicKick Easton Synergy SL Easton Stealth CNT CCM pro stock with XX-stiff blade TRUE A6.0 SBP (pro stock) Warrior QR Edge Bauer APX2 Bauer Vapor ADV Bauer Nexus 1NXL Bauer 1X Lite Bauer Pro Custom 2NPro + Vapor 1X Lite blade The Nexus 2NPro was my first retail stick purchase in god knows how long. I was very excited for the stick after falling in love with my 1NXL. Stick specs: 70 flex, P28 Blade/Receiving Passes - 6.5/10 The R-Lite blade is allegedly the most popular spec at the NHL level as it has the crispiness of a stiffer blade but softened feel for receiving hard passes and improving puck feel. My thoughts on this blade are mixed; off the shelf it felt amazing, and though I disagree that a softer blade core helps with puck feel (in my experience a dampened feel hurts because you can't easily feel with your hands where on the blade the puck is) I wasn't initially put off by the extra dampening like I have been with other sticks because I prefer a livelier blade. However, be it the materials or maybe just my stick, the blade went dead very quickly. I'm talking about less than 8 full sessions. It quickly lost that crispy feel that I liked and just became a dampened blade. If this blade retained its pop longer, this score would be close to a 9/10. Shaft/Flex – 9/10 I like the Nexus hybrid shaft shape a lot, but only just slightly behind the traditional boxy shape of the Supreme line. Otherwise, no complaints about the shaft of the stick. I got a 70 flex and it really feels like a 70 flex (strangely enough my Pro Customs were also 70 flex but feel more like an 87). Stickhandling – 7/10 Similar to how the blade quickly died on me, stickhandling was great initially but quickly faded as the blade lost its crisp. Nothing much more to say about that; if the blade stayed crispier longer this would be close to a 9/10. Shooting – 8.5/10 Shooting with this stick has remained very good, even with the blade losing its life early on. Pucks don't laser off the blade like with my 1X Lite or ADV, but they have "weight" behind them. My only complaint comes, once again, thanks to the blade. Initially the puck would release faster but as the blade lost its life pucks started to come off more slowly. Weight and Balance – 9/10 Not Bauer's lightest offering, not its heaviest. I think this stick is very nicely balanced, however, without being too blade or too shaft heavy. But there is definitely a more blade-heavy bias to the stick which is not what I would prefer (for example, TRUE has managed to move their center of gravity on their sticks higher up in the shaft to give the perception of a lighter stick which is very welcome). Durability – 7/10 I'm going to give durability a 7/10. The shaft has held up fine to physical impact with only a small chunk lost near the neck of the blade. Obviously the blade construction is not going to score well here. However, one thing I did notice about the stick itself is that not long after I've used it (say around 15 sessions) I started to notice that the shaft started to develop a very subtle but noticeable (when you stack 2 sticks together) bend/flex to it (in the direction you would expect). This tells me that the carbon is not returning completely to its original shape after shots. Maybe I got a defective unit but that was definitely something I was not expecting from a stick I paid almost $300 for. Intangibles The 2NPro graphics have grown on me, though I personally prefer the look of the 2017 1N. Conclusion – 7.75/10 Bottom line: a very solid stick when its new but doesn't hold up as well as you would hope. Yes, "elite" sticks are technically less durable, but I was hoping to be able to really use the stick at its original characteristics for more than a few months. I had to give up using it earlier than I would have liked because the blade just became unusable to me.

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?/files/file/155-2013-bauer-hockey-catalogue/ Skates - This year, Vapor gets the update; flagship skate is the Vapor APX2. The major changes boot-wise are the lacing system - instead of plastic layered in between materials and then grommeted with metal eyelets, it is a solid pre-cut piece, made of the same plastic that is used in holders. The premise behind it is that it will maximize energy as well as provide stability to the boot. Also, no need to worry about rusting eyelets; there aren't any. The holes are D-shaped, which help maintain flat laces. The tongue is also new for 2013; it is a 3-piece tongue; thicker felt on top, but thinner on the foot for a better fit. The X 100 skate is essentially the same spec as the Vapor APX from last year, and the X 90 replaces the 7.0. Supreme and Nexus remain unchanged for 2013. The other big advance in this category is the Tuuk Lightspeed EDGE holder. The holder height has been bumped up 3mm in both towers for a greater attack angle; you are able to turn tighter because the ability to get lower on your turns has been increased. But what is arguably its greatest feature is the blade attachment mechanism; it employs a trigger which is recessed in the last hole in the holder bridge. Pull the trigger and the runner is released; when you put the steel back in, it snaps back in and locks the trigger. It's a great system for those who keep sets of replacement steel and rotate them; very convenient. Bauer will be telling this story on all of their skate boxes as well as an education on optimal skate hollows; in a collaboration with Blackstone Sports, they will list optimal FBV and ROH hollows for your body weight and ice conditions. The Lightspeed EDGE will be available on all Vapor skates from APX2 to X 60 (which is the 3rd skate in the line, going up from the entry level X 40) as well as aftermarket, in all runner options (Fusion/LS2/LS3.) Sticks - Nothing new now; sticks change in October 2013. Helmets and Facial - RE-AKT remains unchanged for 2013. The IMS 11.0 is what is replacing the Cascade M11 Pro; the biggest advance in the helmet is that they are backing up the Seven technology (more on that later) with PoronXRD in key areas. It still keeps the same adjustment system as the M11 Pro. Another key feature is that the Poron and the foam liner in the helmet will be perforated for airflow; which was my biggest issue when I was using the M11 Pro. MSRP $159, available June 15, made in Liverpool, NY, along with all of the different colorways. The IMS 9.0 is the same shell as the RE-AKT (other than that it now has a spring-loaded occipital lock system instead of the tab that is on the RE-AKT,) however, the internals are different. It has their Vertex foam, but doesn't have the Suspend-Tech liner that is found on the RE-AKT. It has a thin layer of VN on top of the Vertex, so at first glance, if you were to flip the helmet around and look into it, it'd look like a VN helmet. It is essentially what a pro VN RE-AKT would look like, if it existed. One point that has to be made is that every NHLer you saw wearing a RE-AKT was wearing the off-the-shelf version. So, now, they have an option if they like that fit/VN feel and don't want the Suspend-Tech, and so do you. MSRP $139, available April 15. The IMS 7.0 is the M11 helmet, however, with the redesigned Seven Technology. Seven tested really well for high-impact, however, not as good on the low-impact side, as the majority of hockey hits are exactly that. The solution was to soften the coils so that they compress easier. MSRP $119, available June 15, made in Liverpool, NY, along with all of the different colorways. 9900 will still be offered in the line through 2013. Facial remains unchanged, but one product has (finally) been tweaked, and that is the Concept2. It is now known as the Concept3; enhanced vision and airflow; vents have been made bigger, and now it comes with a double-coat of anti-scratch material in addition to anti-fog. Even comes with a helmet bag. Gloves - The big change for gloves is the Supreme line; inspired by what the Rangers do to their gloves, the main feature of the Supreme TotalONE NXG is the addition of PoronXRD to the pad that sits on your hand in the glove. It will be lined, however. This addition makes it 23% more protective than the previous TotalONE glove. Single-layer nash palm with three PU patches in key areas for wear. MSRP $179. Followed by the ONE.8/6/4. Continuing with the whole family thing, the Supreme 4-Roll is now a Nexus - the Nexus 1000 has dual density EPP in the rolls, equating to 15% more protection than the previous 4-roll. 3-piece thumb, nash palm with a black nash overlay, airmesh gussets. MSRP $169. The Nexus 800 is identical to the 4-Roll, so no worries for those who like that style glove. Vapor line remains for 2013. Protective - Supreme, Vapor and Nexus are now three complete families with three distinct fit profiles; Supreme is an anatomical fit, Vapor a tapered and Nexus is a traditional fit, if you will. The new TotalONE pant system is comprised of two parts; the inner girdle still has the mobility and adjustment aspects of a standard wrap girdle, however, has their Vent Armor in the hip and kidney areas. It is fastened to the shell using a patented system that has strong Velcro tabs; one in the back and two on the sides. Now, the outer shell has stretch/wear zones and padding in the kidney and thigh areas, just like what NHL EQMs (and me) have been doing. NXG comes in at $149, only sold in combos, however, the shell will be sold separately if you need to change colors. The ONE.8 version comes in at $119, and will offer a custom program for team sales. Nexus inherits the Supreme pant line from years past - small tweak by adding EPP in the kidney area. Also, the standard pant shell offering has been modified to fit over pants, not girdles. Vapor line remains for 2013. The latest retail trend is for the NHL-spec 1/2" foam shoulder caps to trickle down to retail, which is a good thing. Bauer is taking a different approach to it; what they did was to add two densities of Vent Armor foam (a layer of plastic is sandwiched between to keep the cap shape); the softer foam will be on the top of the cap, and the denser foam will be on the inside of the cap, all the while maintaining the same thickness of previous Bauer shoulder caps. That's the premise behind the NXG shoulder pad, also, the rear of the shoulder pad (areas where a player would get cross-checked) has been improved, trickling down to the ONE.6 pad. New tooling on the elbow pads - there is a groove along the middle of the pad so that it fits closer to the elbow. On the NXG, the part that touches the elbow is PoronXRD, followed by a mid-density foam, then the shell, and then a softer cap on top of the shell. On the shin, PoronXRD in the kneecap as well. These areas are uncovered; the thought is that most players use baselayers nowadays, and since elbow/shin pads fit closer to the body, it won't shift and adds a more comfortable feel. Release date is April 15 on protective.

Foot spec - Wide forefoot, wide heel, small arch Last skate worn - Bauer Supreme TotalONE NXG Size - 10.5D Length of review - since August 2012 The Bauer Nexus line debuted in 2012, replacing the Flexlite (as a third skate for Bauer) line. The direction of the line was to offer a skate that would be more traditional in terms of technology, as well as an emphasis on comfort. The Nexus 1000 line is a standalone fit; the 800 on down fit more like the Flexlite did. Fit/Break-in - The Nexus 1000 is built on an oversize last; a D will actually be a true-to-last EE. The boot is pretty much straight-walled; the forefoot tends to be similar to a Vapor EE (albeit with a roomier toecap) however, the boot has a deeper fit and a relaxed lacing pattern, which ends to a wider heel. The skate fit me decently in this aspect; just a tad bit wider than what I've been using in the past few years. The instep was a little bit higher as well. Skate feels extremely supple inside; harkens back to how mid-90s Supreme skates used to feel, with the tan Clarino and plush padding. I baked them once; had a little bit of issues with the right skate, which was because I was overtightening them while lacing. Once I figured out the optimal lacing, my problems were minimal. The only glaring issue I had (and when I write these things, I try to put it in a global context; what may not work for me may work for you) was the tongue. It's a 52oz felt with a lace-bite guard. It had been years since I skated with a felt tongue, and quite frankly, I prefer a molded one nowadays. There were times in which I was fighting it; they would twist on me while I skated. I went ahead and flopped them, but since I was lacing them up fully, the break was before the metatarsal guard. I got to use them about 5 times after I did, and while it improved it slightly, it wasn't something I was fully able to solve. Break-in process went extremely well; it has been one, if not the quickest skates for me to break-in. 8.5/10 (deducted 1 point due to tongue) Performance - As I stated earlier; the line was geared towards those who prefer a traditional boot and put an emphasis on comfort over performance. You don't get the added perks that the Supreme and Vapor offer in terms of their quarter packages, however, you're not exactly getting a circa 1994 boot here. Not once did I feel limited by the skate in any way. One of my main concerns going in was the stiffness - I had said that in the Initial Thoughts thread as well as the LTR - but that thought was eviscerated once I hit the ice. It was plenty supportive on the foot, as well as giving me a bit of forgiveness in the ankle area, which is always a good thing. Don't get it twisted - this is a pro-level boot. 8.75/10 Blade/Holder - The skate comes with a LS2 holder and LS Fusion steel. Halfway throughout the review, I picked up a Step BlackSteel project to review, which has no bearing on this review, so I'll use my standard LS2 score from previous reviews. 9/10 Weight- The skate was not designed to be the skate for the gram-counters out there, however, it is surprisingly light; much lighter than skates in its class/spec. 8.5/10 Protection - When I do reviews for helmets, I mention I'm not a crash-test dummy. The same concept applies for my skate protection; if I'm by my defensive zone hash mark and it's not because I'm lining up for a faceoff, something wrong has happened. I don't get in front of shots. However, the Nexus 1000 does have a bit of padding to it; the internals consist of high-density foam with additional reinforcements. The outer quarter package is Tech Mesh, which was used on top-end non-Curv Vapors (X 7.0, X:60, XXXX, XXX, XX) so it should stand up to rigorous play. 9/10 Durability - I haven't had any issues with anything on the skate; the boots are well-made, no stitching issues, no major gouges, and the wear properties of the Clarino liner have always been strong. 10/10 Conclusion - All in all, it was a pleasant experience reviewing these skates. They've visually appealing, they perform well, and they fill a void in Bauer's lineup. You still see those guys out there with their older Supremes, Tacks or Grafs, and simply refuse to adapt to the technology-driven boots of today. With these, they can be with the times however still maintain the comfort level they are used to. While I like to be on the bleeding-edge of technology personally, these skates certainly didn't hold me back, and should meet your needs for a workhorse skate. Overall - 53.75/60 = 89% Shout-Outs - Once again, must thank Keith Duffy, who is the Sr. Skate Product Manager at Bauer Hockey, for supplying me with a pair. As with every manufacturer, I've always had an excellent rapport with Bauer and our discussions and feedback I have provided to them has been warmly received. Please address any questions you may have in my Initial Thoughts thread. Also, if you want to track the progress here is the Long-Term Review on the skate. It will still be updated to reflect any change on the product.