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BACKGROUND Four-roll gloves are classic - both in terms of ft and look - and I always thought that the coolest model was by Easton. I’ll have to admit - I wanted to look like an NHLer (that’s why forums like this exist, isn’t it?!), and it seemed like everyone wore these gloves. (Kudos to Easton’s pro and marketing departments for making that impression!) In particular, Easton has had good representation on my home team, the Edmonton Oilers, particularly during the 2006 Stanley Cup run: Hemsky, Horcoff, Stoll, Torres, Staios. (And some of them rocked white fingers on their gloves, too!) Look at all the Easton gloves! Shawn Horcoff, who was a beast in 2005-2006, scored a triple-OT winner in his sweet Easton gloves. I’ve been dreaming up custom Easton gloves as far back as 2011 when Pro Stock Hockey Gear announced a program called “The Works”. Unfortunately, that option closed before I was in a position to place an order (Easton closed their Canadian factory), so I thought that my dream glove would never materialize. (The PSHG would taunt me for my missed opportunity with photo galleries for the Works, the Synergy 800, and the EQ50.) One of the many mock-ups I made on PSHG’s customizers. But news of custom Easton gloves renewed my interest, so when I was in British Columbia this year, I had to stop at The Hockey Shop in Surrey. Once I slipped my hand into the new 2015 Pro+ glove, I was hooked. And after chatting with the internet-famous Jesse and talking gear with him, my mind was made up. This is the glove that set me on my path towards this custom order. SPECS Model: Pro+ Fit: Narrow Size: 14” -1/2" cuff Foam: EVA dual density PE insert: 1.5 mm Thumb: flex Palm: Pittard digital 0.85 mm Overlay: Pittard digital 0.85 mm Gusset: Poly knit black (stretch) Palm fit: standard Finger length: standard Gusset height: -1/4" Cuff length: -1/2" Embroidery: CHRISLE9 Pinky side: LET’S DO THIS! Easton Pro+ glove, front and side. Easton Pro+ glove, back. FIT My first impression was very positive when I slipped on the narrow version of the Pro+ gloves. It was my preferred fit: narrow without being tight. For years, Easton’s finger length would be too short or too long for me, but this version of the glove had finger lengths that fit me perfectly. Nice! Easton Pro+ glove, 14”, narrow fit. I am very fortunate that I was able to try the glove in person and make personalized tweaks. The Hockey Shop had the four variations of the Pro+ glove: standard, narrow, wide, and short. Pro+ glove in wide (orange), short (baby blue), standard (gray), narrow (gold). The order form illustrated the fit options: Cuff length, finger length, palm fit, gusset height. I opted to decrease the gusset height by 1/4". That eliminates excess material. This feature is on another pro glove that I own, and I knew that I liked the more responsive feel in my fingers. Seems to be a popular option nowadays, especially for those who are repalming their gloves. Finger gussets, -1/4" height. Short cuffs look cool. Easy as that! Options were to go +1/2" or -1/2". I’m not concerned about slashes to my wrist, so no need to be like Zach Parise. Cuff, -1/4". Palm fit could go +1/4" or -1/4". Finger length could go +1/4" or -1/4". I went standard for both of these options. Again, it was nice to try on the glove in person and decide whether or not I wanted to change these options. PROTECTION Since I don’t play in a competitive league, I did not maximize the protection options. Standard features were good enough for me. Easton describes the “EVA dual density” option as “lightweight + comfortable”. The other main option was “EPP”: “lightweight + protective”. These two options are chosen pretty equally, so it came down to personal preference. The PE insert comes as 1.5 mm (standard), which works out to be ~60 g, or 2.0 mm, which is 80 g. It’s possible to order without the PE inserts, too. The hockey glove thumb is designed around an important feature: preventing hyperextension (i.e. pulling it back too far). That’s why gloves usually brag about their “lock thumb”. Flexing the thumb, on the other hand, is a specific feature that requires extra parts for flexing and preventing hyperextension. I’m not sure that I involve my thumb as much as I think I do, but I like the idea of flexing the thumb when I want to, so that’s why I chose that option. Flex thumb, unflexed. Flex thumb, flexed. WEIGHT A single glove weighed 380 g (or 13.4 oz) on the scale I used. There’s a good heft to them. For the sake of comparison, Total Hockey’s website lists the weights for other comparable four-roll 14” gloves: the Bauer Nexus 1000 is 326 g (11.5 oz) and the Warrior Dynasty AX1 is 300 g (10.6 oz). DURABILITY The glove shell is made with “ProLite Tex”, which Easton describes as a “lightweight and durable knit fabric shell”. (There was not an option for a synthetic leather, which would have been nice for the white sections.) It holds up well enough, presumably, as these gloves are the same ones as pro orders. The palms are Pittard digital palms. It’s a popular pro option because it’s thin and grippy. It’s marketed as a performance product, so users need to be aware that it may wear out more quickly than other materials. For the overlay, which goes across the palmar creases of the palm, I chose to go with the digital material. Digital palm with digital overlay. For all of the talk about feel, this palm feels thicker than I expected! It’s listed as 0.85 mm on the form. Maybe I need to break in the palms a bit more to get a better assessment of it. Maybe I could’ve gone without the overlay. Other options from Easton included Ax Suede white (0.75 mm, found on their retail 2015 Synergy glove), Velukid brown (0.8 mm, a microsuede material that they call “Tactik” on their retail 2015 Stealth glove), Apco beige (0.8 mm, a “very soft beige microsuede material with lots of usage in the NHL but not the most durable”), Apco grey (1.0 mm), Nash beige (1.0 mm), and Nash sure grip. I believe that the retail Pro 10 glove has grey Nash with a Nash sure grip overlay. The gussets (the space between the palm and the foam padding) are black stretch poly knit. Many people opt for mesh gussets for improved ventilation, but I get the sense that mesh gets chewed up pretty fast. I think that the poly knit will do just fine, and, in fact, it’s a common option on pro and high-end retail gloves. The gussets usually match the palm material, but Easton doesn’t do digital gussets because of durability issues. Black stretch poly knit gussets, -1/4" height. One option intrigued me: a hybrid gusset! It starts with either a poly knit or mesh gusset at the base of the fingers, but the fingertips are covered with the palm material. You actually see it on the retail Pro 10 glove, and it’s also seen on other retail gloves. (Look for it!) I ultimately didn’t go for it because I’ll want to repalm my gloves eventually and don’t want them to be unnecessarily complicated for the repair job. Retail Easton Pro 10 glove, with hybrid gussets. Look closely between the fingers next time... (Photo credit: Total Hockey) Speaking of repalming, when it happens, I’m going with Pat Rivest at Custom Pro Repair. He used to work for Warrior before the Montreal factory closed down, so now he’s opened up a shop. He was their main pro glove person, so he’s as good as you can get for getting a factory-level job. Check out his work on his Facebook page or the Sports 2K thread. COLORS Honestly, being able to have custom colors was the tipping point for making the order. My favorite team glove is the Washington Capitals, such as the Warrior Luxe and the CCM CL, and so I put them into Edmonton Oilers colors with a few tweaks. Some design elements include a white cuff roll (like Jacks 97), white side block (like with the Lighting (classic) and the Devils), bright cuff+flare cuff that contrasts with the back rolls (like Eagle PPF in “design 7” or Jurinko’s Warrior gloves), and outline logo (something that I really liked from classic Eagle gloves). The outline logo is the same thing that I did on my goalie equipment, so there’s that continuity with my custom gear! Contrasting colors to make a statement! One small change that I’d consider is adjusting the binding at different locations. Check out the binding on the retro Calgary gloves: yellow with red cuff, but red with red backrolls. EMBROIDERY There’s the standard embroidery on the cuff and an additional spot on the pinky side padding. “Let’s do this!” is a personal slogan that I’ve added to other custom gear, like my catcher and my mask. There’s an option to add a team logo, and Easton accepted my personal “rice man” logo! CHRISLE9. LET’S DO THIS! “Rice man” logo. ORDERING It feels like the current go-to person for custom hockey gloves is Jesse from The Hockey Shop. He’s done a lot of custom work, especially with Eagle, so his reputation preceded him when I stopped in the store. His industry knowledge, coupled with a personable attitude and professional work ethic, made for an easy process. He answered emails in a timely manner, and he always looked for answers to anything he didn’t know. He was clear to outline what he could and couldn’t deliver, and I appreciated the honesty. I’d be happy to recommend him and direct people to his services. After all the details were in, Easton created a mock-up that required my approval. Once done, the order was in! The factory is in China, and took about three weeks for production and 1 week to ship to me in Canada. Very smooth transaction. Easton’s mockup. CONCLUSION I’m very happy that the option for a custom Easton glove is available to the public, and they’ve delivered very well on making the glove to my specifications. I can’t wait to hit the ice with them! I plan to provide an update about on-ice performance once the season starts up. The ordering process was great with Jesse from The Hockey Shop. A look at his track record reflects his commitment to customer service, and I recommend him for custom work.

Player Profile 6'0 185 lbs Play regularly 3+times a week Defenseman Right handed shot Played 4 years of College Hockey I currently work in Hockey Retail. Item History Size 15. Black glove with white font. Purchased this item two years ago. Product I am coming from: Multiple pairs of Bauer 4 Rolls and Eagle X95 Tuffek FIT The Easton Synergy EQ Pro had an amazing first impression. Typically when buying gloves I always run into the same problem of some type of unwanted stiffness especially in the forehand that takes multiple games to break in. The fit was perfect and did not have any bulky feeling that I experienced with other traditional 4-roll gloves. There seems to be a great distribution of space in this glove. My hand never feels suffocated smushed or have any pressure points of any kind. Once you break this glove in you will love it even more mark my words. Overall Fit. Rating:10/10 Protection This glove has plastic inserts that still hold up very well after two years. I have taken more then my fair share of slashes to the hand and have barely felt a thing. The cuff does seem to have a little bit of extra length to it which has saved my wrists on more then on occasion. My only hesitation would be I have not been able to wear these gloves in a high level game so I am not positive that it will hold up in a higher level game such as college. Overall Protection Rating: 9/10 Weight This is by far the lightest traditional 4-Roll I have ever come across. During games I barely feel like it is on. The all nylon shell definitely comes in handy and at no point has it felt like it has gotten heavier during games due to absorbing sweat. Overall Weight Rating: 10/10 Durability This unfortunately are where like most Easton products the gloves come up a little bit short. The nylon shell does happen to get a few cosmetic splits. I currently have one on my left gloves thumb. The hole started small about a year ago and has since expanded to be significantly bigger. Again nothing more then cosmetic, has not effected the overall protection of the glove in the least. The palm performance is phenomenal. Coming from a ball hockey background as a child I grew very comfortable to playing without gloves so I really like that aspect. Unfortunately like any glove over time the glove does begin to get holes. For me they started about 4 months into having them. The holes started to pop up between my fingers. Currently I have two small sized holes on my right hand. Very important to keep the palm is dry as possible. I remember playing in a few tournaments and found the feel of the glove to get a little worse when not having significant time to air out my gloves. Overall Durability Rating: 8/10 Intangibles The look of this glove is simple and classic which I love. The palm performance is phenomenal and provides excellent feel. As I said above once you break it in it often feels like I am not wearing a glove at all. The fit of this glove is key in my opinion. This glove does NOT feel bulky at all and the weight is fantastic which were two qualities other gloves I had in the past were lacking. Overall Intangible Rating: 9/10 Conclusion Depending on where you look this glove is on a couple of clearance section. The senior glove will run you anywhere from $60.00-$90.00 which is a huge steal for this glove. Although the glove does have minor durability issues the performance will more then put your mind at ease. The mobility and fit are spot on. I have already purchased two more pairs because obviously this particular model is not being made anymore. Easton Synergy EQ Pro Senior Glove Overall Rating: 46/50

After some committed time on the ice with my Easton Mako skates, I'm glad to say that they are working just as well as I had hoped them to. Allow me to expand on my thoughts and experience with them! It is commonplace for hockey players to be creatures of habit that do not welcome change when it comes to the equipment they wear. We've all seen the guys wearing the same shoulder pads and shin guards they had when they were younger, and how people stick with the same brands that they wore growing up unless an endorsement deal sways them. I've come to the conclusion that being a creature of habit can be to a fault though, if you deny yourself something that could potentially allow you a higher level of performance. In my case, I had worn Bauer skates all my life, with the Supreme line fitting my foot very well and performing just as well (I am transitioning from Bauer TotalONE NXG skates). However, when the Mako was announced, it had features that seemed to suit me very well, as it was designed for increased mobility and foot support, while not following the "Super stiff for super performance" mentality. The boot isn't noticeably as stiff as other high end skates, but it is stiff in the right areas when it comes to skating mechanics. That, coupled with the fact that it fits your foot like a running shoe makes it an extremely capable skate only limited by the foot and connected body that inhabits it. There wasn't much of an adjustment period for me with the skates since they were so comfortable, and the more aggressive pitch of the blade was more welcomed than a hinderance. My skating is much more explosive with less effort, and I can turn much sharper and smoother. Backwards skating is an area I didn't expect to see so much improvement though, as quickly transitioning to fast backward skating and matching speed of oncoming skaters was instantly apparent. In my earlier sessions with them I felt like I wasn't moving as quickly, but it was an illusion because it takes less overall effort to get to speed with the Makos. The extra mobility is a tangible benefit to my skating stride, and my ability to corner and change direction has definitely improved. I'm in a place where my skating technique will most likely not change or get better, so the skates ability to extend my toes further at the end of each stride really makes a difference with me. I think with the high quality equipment that is being made by all of the companies in the game, players are really doing themselves a disservice by falling too deep in their habits and not wanting to try new concepts from different brands. Fit I would have never got the skates had they not fit my feet so beautifully. Baking only made things better, and while my fit with my stock NXGs was good, the Mako in comparison felt more like a truly custom skate. I had a little bit of rubbing irritation on the outer area above my left ankle early on, but that is no longer there. I really can't give enough praise about the fit. Blade/Holder I have to admit that with previous Easton skates, I felt like the look of the Razor Bladz was a major detractor. However, they got it right with the CXN holder. On the ice the performance was fine and didn't really stick out to me in any way. The more aggressive pitch on the steel wasn't an issue, although when sharpening them it took a bit more effort to get the edge on them. The steel feels harder than other skates I sharpened, and it holds an edge very well. I only got one nick in them so far, and it was from stepping on a stick I believe. Weight/Protection Going from a really light skate like the NXGs to the Mako, the weight addition is noticed, but only in hand. Once they are on your feet, they are a part of you, and I equate this with comparing a super light stick to another one that is heavier, but feels lighter due to a better overall balance. While also comparing the Mako to the NXG, which doesn't feature a super rigid outer material like the Bauers, I thought it would be a less protective skate, but so far I have been hit with sticks and pucks and haven't felt anything out of the ordinary. Durability Compared to previous Easton skates, the Makos look extremely well made and put together in a fashion that doesn't seem as prone to breaking down. The stitching around the ankle area doesn't look like it's ready to unravel before use (A problem I had with my Bauers), and once they are in your hand you can see that they are a real deal skate. Extending from my thoughts on protection, I've taken abuse in games, be it from sticks or pucks, and they have held up fine, with expected scuffing on the toe cap. Naturally, with extended use I will have a better gauge on the durability. Intangibles Not a whole lot to say other than they perform as marketed and as expected. People have commented on them based on the looks, and they are definitely flashier than what I've used, but they are a good attention getter and are worthy of the praise I give them when people ask me about them. Conclusion Easton has delivered a skate that is not only worthy to stand beside other companies' top level skates, but also a skate that has achieved this while not simply trying to replicate what the bigger brands are offering.

Easton Mako 2012 model, no grip Flex: 85 Curve: Getzlaf Height: 5'-9" Weight: 200 Postition: D/C B level Adult Hockey player with 20 years experience Time-frame of use: 3 months Aesthetics: I was pleased with the white appearance and subtle graphics. The white paint does chip easily though, revealing the black carbon below. N/A Weight and Balance: My previous two sticks were Warrior Dynasty and a Totalone LE. I found the Mako felt noticeably heavier than both. Not so much as to be bothersome, but noticeable nonetheless. 8.5/10 Blade: I really enjoy the Getzlaf curve and the blade has good feel. I don't find it too hard, and don't have an issues recieving passes with it. It has been durable, and remained consistent after 40+ games. 10/10 Shaft/Flex: Coming from a 77 flex Totalone I was suprised by the sticks flex. This stick feels far whippier than the Totalone, and really took some getting used to. I eventually cut the stick down an additional two inches. For reference this puts the butt end of the stick at the bottom of my chin *without* skates on. I ended up enjoying the shorter stick, however if I couldn't have adjusted it would have been a deal breaker. Even so, if I was to purchase another I would move up to a higher flex rating. I may end up cutting it down further and trying a wood plug. The shaft is nice and responsive though, providing great feel and feedback. 8.5/10 Stickhandling and Passing: Passing is accurate and predictable. However the increased flex can cause the puck to pass under the blade when reaching far for an errant puck. 9/10 Shooting: Snap shots are crisp, accurate, and hard. Compared to the Totalone and Dynasty, slapshots and clappers are not as strong. The puck also releases lower than the Dynasty, which had a similar curve. 9/10 Durability: After 40+ games the stick is holding up great. Cosmetic chips to the paint, nothing else to note. For reference, my Totalone broke after a year(slapshot to the shaft), however the Dynasty broke(just above the blade) after 6 weeks of use. I haven't found the stick to be deteriorating in anyway. Flex and feel remain the same. 10/10 Conclusion: I really enjoy this stick, but wish I had purchased a stiffer flex. I will probably try something different next, but recommend it to anyone in the market. 9/10

My Stats ​6 feet tall. Between 210 and 190 pounds during the use of the skates. Intermediate skater, not incredibly powerful. Like a stiff skate to make up for inadequacies in my skating. Past skate models. In order of use: Easton RS size 9 Easton Stealth S17 size 9 (1 year) Supreme One95’s size 9.5D (1.5 years) Vapor X30 size 10 (lasted about 4 months) Fit The Easton Stealth line was my ideal fit after getting serious heel lift in my Supreme’s. This was a result of both having a skate that was a half size too big, and weight loss. The RS continued down the line of previous Stealth skates--in my opinion--on the heel width. I have never had any problems with my heels lifting at all. The forefoot was also wide enough to accommodate my forefoot. The shape of my foot is similar to that of a duck--skinny nearly the ankle and heel, and widens at the forefoot. Easton is the closest thing to an ideal fit I've been able to find, and the RS continued the tradition. Where the fit of the RS differs from the Easton S17 is inside the skate. Just looking at the skate, you can tell that it has a bulkier, boxier look than the S17. The skate has increased padding inside the skate, making the overall fit a bit soft around the foot. This does not affect the performance at all, just makes it feel a bit different that the all carbon S17. 9/10 Average depth, wide forefoot, average ankle. Would have preferred thinner ankle Performance It took a little time for my to adjust to the RS from the S17. I had been in the old Stealth's long enough to break them in significantly--so stepping out on the ice in the fresh out of the box RS, I was taken off guard a bit. They were very stiff, just as the S17s were the first time I wore them. Within a few laps around the zone, I was perfectly fine. There were only a few noticeable changes between the two models. You can see on the outside of the skate a sort of “fan” like design. I believe this is to allow for more forward flex. That is the only real difference between the two Stealth models that affected the performance for me. I lace the RS skates all the way to the top, while I skipped the top eyelet on the S17s--to achieve more forward flex. I’ve had this issue with all skates, so I wouldn’t really call it a knock on the RS’s, but during all of my skates the tongue manages to torque and move to the outside of the skate. I spend a lot of time on my inside edges, obviously, but it is a bit more concerning with this skate because of the effects it’s having on the liner of the boot. More on that in the durability section. 8/10 Plenty stiff, exactly what I expected coming from the S17 boots. Holder Same holder as the S17s, I have been on the stock Easton steel since day one of the S17s as well--something many recommended to replace with solid steel as opposed to the parabolic steel on there by default. No real changes. 8/10 I’m used to the RBII’s at this point. Also what I expected when changing models. Weight These are slightly heavier than my S17s--judging by holding them in my hands. On the ice I did not notice any sort of difference. It’s most likely a result of the extra padding on the RS skates. 8/10 Average weight. Nothing to write home about. Protection I have only blocked one shot in these skates, on the inside of the arch. Everyone knows those hurt (why did I turn my foot that way!?) and it was no different in these skates. Average protection, you will still feel stingers in these. 7/10 Average again. Knocked down a point because of the extra padding not providing any protection. Durability I purchased these skates by means of eBay. As a result, I did not receive any warranty receipt. I have two distinct issues with the durability involving this skate. First, the system that holds the steel to the holder (with the bolts) had a stripped bolt on the outside of the front right skate. If torqued the bolt would start free spinning.I decided that it would hold (as it was still holding as long as I didn’t twist it anymore) long enough for me to get some replacements. I skated on them twice, after a bake, and the bolt came out. I was able to steal a bolt from my S17s to fix the issue (still need to get a replacement one for those skates). I have not had an issue with the holder since then. The other issue is on the inside of the skate. The tongues on this skate, as I mentioned earlier, turn outwards when I skate. This is causing the liner of both boots on the inside quarter to tear and fray. This was the same issue that user JSK81 reported on his skates that Easton warrantied for. It’s not affecting performance at this time, but is a bit concerning. I believe this is a result of the tongues turning in combination of the hard plastic edges on the tongue itself. 7/10 Durability issues noted. Not affecting performance yet, but could in the future. Aesthetics In my opinion, the aesthetics is the biggest knock on this skate. The gray is a sort of dingy-green-brown-grey that really looks horrible in person. The black and yellow accents are fantastic, and a great look to go for (read: RS Stick) but for some reason they went a different direction with the skate. If you have a look at the 85S skates that just recently came out, you’ll be able to see what could have been. The Razor Bladez holders have always been a weak point of the Easton skates, in the looks department. They’ve improved the holder situation with the release of the Mako skate and the new CXN holder. 4/10 Nothing good looking about this skate save for the tendon guard. Conclusion Overwhelming Average in most aspects. This is not a far departure from the Stealth S17s. A bit more padding for comfort while skating (and not protection), a lower cut boot, beefed up tongue for lace bit, and a changeup of aesthetics is about the gist of the changes. I have appreciated using them, though I am not stocking up on pairs for the future. I even considered going back to my S17’s because the performance was so similar and I much preferred the look of my old skates. Not a real game changer in the skate market, but if the Stealth line is your preferred fit, then they will work just fine. And they should be seeing a price drop soon. 7.2/10

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?/files/file/149-2013-easton-hockey-catalogue/ We covered the majority of this in the Vegas Show thread, so this is primarily a copy/paste job from that thread, however, added the R800 to the helmet section as we were told to hold off on details until Dec 1. Sticks - The Mako 2 replaces the Mako; starting off with shaft; it's lighter than its predecessor, and it's slightly concaved with texture. Also, using uni-directional fibers which make it stronger and lighter, and smoother. Blade has been lightened as well, and the ribs are actually shifted a bit upward increasing the area where puck meets blade. As mentioned, the Scott Bjudstad/Kreps E28 is the new pattern for 2013 - 12mm 1/2" lie 5 open toe curve. Available in stores in February, but however, may be January. The M5 is the latest revision of the ST concept; it is now the same weight as the 2011 Mako; also built to the CHL/European stronger-built spec. Another story Easton is trying to tell, especially with the Hall and E28 patterns is lie - open curves and beveled toe rockers have a secondary lie on the toe which transitions into the main lie as the best way to shoot with those patterns is to pull the puck back by turning it downward then loading the shaft. Skates - there has been some details of the Mako skate released so far; as previously stated, it's the ready-for-primetime version of the MLX concept. We sat down with Neil Wensley and Dave Cruikshank to discuss it. Fit profile is the same. The base of the skate is still one piece however the plastic is molded (together with the carbon in manufacturing) around the toebox and the toecap. You see two "windows" of the carbon on top of the toecap. The whole toecap is widened as well and much more ergonomic. The tongue is attached, and extends into the toecap to the point where it curves down, eliminating negative space in there and giving comfort. The asymmetrical pattern of the boot is still present, as well as rolled edges on top for comfort. The tongue is felt with a lace-bite guard. The tendon guard is flexible of course, and can be removed (however, it's got stronger loctite on it) We both tried on the boot - I was in an 11D (I probably could drop down to 10.5 with baking), and Chadd was in a 9.5 (but needed an EE.) For me, the skate felt comfortable, however, the skate is built with a higher arch and so I had pressure there. It would most likely flatten out with a bake. The CXN holder is also new - the steel follows the radius the MLX skate had, which was smooth and a 9'. The rear tower is raised slightly and coupled with the boot pitch, allows for an extremely aggressive stance. Mako is a standalone skate for 2013. RS skate remains unchanged, however, a running change for the material on the inside top eyelets for prevent abrasion. The RS family also gains 4 siblings in the 85S, 75S, 65S and 55S. Helmets - The new helmet for 2013 is the R800, which is based on the Riddell 360 football helmet, which was designed with concussion reduction in mind. When we saw the helmet in October, it was still being tweaked. It shares the same hexagonal liner that is in the 360 for energy dispersal, along with an air pump to blow up the bladders for a better fit. The liner that covers that is removable, moisture-resistant and anti-microbial - just pull it off and throw it in the wash. The profile of the helmet is the same as the S9/S17, however, the shell material is different than a standard hockey helmet. The R800 has much more padding thickness than a standard helmet as well - the sample size was a M and I couldn't put it on, but then again, it was still being refined at the time and was told it would be a bit thinner (but still will be thicker than standard.) The adjustment mechanism will be on top of the helmet, but once again, the sample didn't have that at the time. There will be a call-out to Riddell on the back of the helmet, in form of a bumper, just like on its football counterpart. The helmet will retail for $299.99 and will be available in the summer. The E700 and down stay unchanged. Gloves - New Mako gloves - the glove picture that was floating out there is an early revision of the concept, and while the concept is the same, aesthetically it's a bit different. The concept is called Fast Fingers - instead of having the breaks in the fingers on top of the glove, the breaks are actually wider and UNDER the finger. What this does is eliminate gaps in protection and actually follows the natural motion of the finger. Best way to look at it is to stick your hand out and look at the palm lines on your index finger. When you bend your finger, it compresses. Same concept. So, there's no backrolls on the face of the glove; it has one backroll on top and the four "fingers" seem to slide in and out of it, like a pocket. Like the RS before, some colorways look weird and some don't. Protective - Shoulder pads are extremely interesting - it is a vest-style shoulder pad with a front entry; as in the chest place (which is ergonomic covering sternum and heart) comes apart and you put the pads on like a jacket. Once that is secure, the two straps that would normally be the conventional strapping method on shoulder pads, are attached to the spine pad and pulls the entire bottom of the shoulder pad together. The concept carries throughout the line, however NHL-spec shoulder caps on the Mako. Elbows are a three-piece pad, with the elbow being two pieces. The cap of the elbow is pushed slightly back as well. The shin pad has a newly-designed knee as well - the break is lower so when it bends, you don't get that feeling as if the pad is sliding off, as it feels more secure on top. Also, the shin face is floating which helps with dispersion. The pants are extremely mobile; it has a 2-way belt system which sits on the hips - instead of having a belt that comes across your stomach, it actually stops at the ends. You pull each strap like a parachute chute and it holds it in place. Fully vented and different grade nylons in certain areas. RS line has new shoulder caps on them. I apologize for the scan; I upgraded my Mac and the software I used before doesn't really play all that well with it. Have to figure out the best settings for it.

Easton Synergy EQ Pro equipment bag Blue Dimensions: 30in. x 15in. x 20in. Intro This bag is purely for Ice, I have a separate backpack style bag for roller hockey. I can never fit my pads in a backpack style bag, so I have always had different bags for each. I am not a fan of bags with external skate pockets; I prefer to have everything inside the main compartment. From past experience I have found that this style of bag is usually more durable. Hence why I now opt for the pro style bag. I have been using this bag since Dec 2011. Durability: This bag is made from a heavy duty laminated tarpaulin. To the touch, this material feels extremely durable, and this has proved to be the case. There are no scuffs, cuts or any signs of wear and tear both on the exterior and interior. The bag is in use generally two or three times a week, and on occasion more. Normally I would expect to see some damage whether it be from accidental damage in the locker room, or getting stuffed in and out of vehicles. The seams and zips feel extremely secure, and there is no sign of any damage there. 10/10 Performance: This bag has a massive main compartment. I can easily fit all of my pads with ease. There is plenty of room left over for my undergarments and uniforms, with additional room to spare. The straps/handles are very thick, which makes it comfortable to carry. it would be nice to have them a little longer so I could use two straps over one shoulder, but that’s a minor quibble, as I’m happy to sling a single handle over my shoulder. The air vents are a nice addition. They are not something that you find on every pro style bag. I do not leave my kit in my bag for very long before and after each use, so I cannot properly say if this works really well. I guess I’ll find out on some of the longer road trips coming up. However, my main concern would be that the air vents would be a weak point in the construction, but this concern has thus far been misplaced, and has proved not to be a drawback at all. A feature of this back that I am not happy about are the internal skate pockets. They are located at the ends of the bag. The pocket is in the form of a very shallow nylon opening. This particular design may work for someone with small skates, but my size 11s will not stay in there as the pocket is too shallow. I therefore just have to put my skates in the main compartment, and the skate pockets are used for tape and a water bottle. 8/10 Value: This bag was cheap when I bought it, and the price appears to be getting lower all the time. I’m extremely happy for the performance, so in my eyes this is fantastic value for the price. 10/10 Overall: Aside from the skate pockets, there is nothing much I would change about this bag. When you add in the great price point, I think it is a real bargain, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. 9/10

Product: Easton EQ5 Ht: 5'10" Wt: 200 lbs Foot Size: Size 11 nike sneakers, 10.5 dress shoe, size 8 skate Foot Type: narrow heal, mid-high Arch, E width forefoot (bauer) Level and Use: A league Men's league, 3-4 pick ups per week Previous Skates:Graf 705's, Easton s17's, Bauer x60, multiple Tacks skates Fit: fit of the skate has been the fit since my 705's. only problem area was my navicular bone on my right foot due to calcium build up from a chipped bone. After baking them twice and with JR's advice of putting a wad of tape over my navicular bone to puch the area out a little more during the secong bake they fit great now. The Heel lock on this skate is great my heel does not move, toe box fit close to perfect a little pressure on my right pinky toe but nothing major no redness after skating. 9/10 Blade/Holder: I was skepticle of RBII as they seemed a lot more flexible than the Custom+, LS2 and Cobra holders I have previously used. After a couple skates I got used to the holder and hasn't been a problem for me, only thing i question is the soft scalloped steel on the stock blade, Step or nanoglide would fix that problem. 9/10 Weight/Protection: These are probably the weightest skates I have ever used, seem lighter than the s17's I had with LS2's on them and definitely lighter than my x60's not even going to mention the tanks called 705's. Protection on these is the same as s17's overall good, but feel a lot in these then I did the x60's but still very good in the protection area. 9/10 Durability: Easton skates and durability, the question everyone always asks. Overall for what I paid for these skates the Durability is much better than what I experienced in the s17's, after 8 months of skating in these I still have all my eyelets and no fabric is glued on with these skates it all stitched. They have some nice scratches and dings over them but thats what you get when you play. They held up already 2 months longer than my s17's and I couldn't be happier with them. The problem durability wise with these skates are the cheap rivets I lost 4 rivets last week in one pickup and i do hang my skates upside down and air them out, never had any concern rivets on any other skate. Edited: 5/3/2012: 3 more rivets ripped out last night during a pickup. Skate is still good, but not a fan of the rivets. 8/10 Skate Build: This is a structurally sound boot, fixed a lot of the problems from the durability standpoint listed above but still has some flaws. The tongue on these skates are great no lace bite at all and I tuck my shin guards. boot is Stiff but has nice forward flex and it is pretty aggressively cut as it is a low cut boot. 9/10 Conclusion: Overall this a very solid boot, for the price you won't find a better skate I will say that. OVERALL: 9/10