Different holders: Pros and cons

[Petey21 1]

I've been curious to find out by those who might know, is there any difference between different holders, apart from the obvious looks and weight? Do some holders fit certain types of players/skaters better than others?

If anyone can list the pros and cons between these holders, it'd be pretty interesting to read:

Tuuk (any model, Lightspeed, Custom+ etc)

Prolite/E-Blade (CCM)

ICM (older model but still popular among pros)

SLM (similar to ICM, found on older CCM skates)

Perfecta (those Gretzky used)

T-Blades

Razor Bladz (Easton)

Cobra (Graf)

There might be more out there, these are just the ones I could think of for now (although I used to have a pair of skates as a kid with holders called Kovopol, if anyone has heard of that brand). Apart from that some might only fit certain brands of skates, would these different holders affect the skating? Or is it mostly the looks that make certain players use a non-brand-standard holder on their skates (such as Modano's ICM holders on his Rbk skates)?

[Neo5370 132]

There will be varying degrees of stiffness and durability.

Also maybe pitch but that can easily be altered.

Ummm.......perhaps quality of steel that goes w/ each holder.

Aaand, availability. For example, I'd give ICM's a try if I could find them (and if I had the moneys <_< )

I should note that I have found some ICM's floating around on ebay once in a while as well as older skates w/ them mounted, and maybe one or two online retailers that claim to have them (they look like dated sites).

Just saying they're not as easy to find as Tuuks.

[Chadd 916]

I should note that I have found some ICM's floating around on ebay once in a while as well as older skates w/ them mounted, and maybe one or two online retailers that claim to have them (they look like dated sites).

Just saying they're not as easy to find as Tuuks.

Last time I checked, a couple of my wholesalers still had ICMs listed. We just don't stock them because of the lack of demand.

[ktang 34]

I have had problems with breaking off the ProLite 3 holders' front struts. To me, this is a soft holder.

I have had problems with cracking the front portion of Tuuk holders (once cracked both in the same game). To me, this is a solid holder. It's more work to tighten or swap the steel or inspect attachment bolts, because the bolts are inside.

I currently have the E-RPL holder. The steel I have is scalloped at the top. Each holder's middle portion, where the steel is held in the groove, is chipped out where the steel sits in the groove. But only that one contact point. Perhaps if I used non-scalloped steel the forces would be more evenly distributed and I wouldn't have this problem. To me, this is a very stiff holder and very light.

I have heard that the Graf Cobra holders are tanks, but everybody I know who has them has clicking blades from the screws' working loose. One guy brings a screwdriver to the bench to tighten his screws between shifts. Maybe the screws are easily stripped?

And, I'm old enough that I used metal-tube holders until I was 13.

[rrajz 0]

it would be cool with the Kor ( Shift 1 ) w/ ICM holder

[hunter4oz 0]

i thought the holder was called ICM and not ICL?

correct me if im wrong though

[jason@ewh 0]

Heard about this site from a member... I Joined.. It's way cool... I have tried the ICM but they came with carbon steel... I actually had them in black. I don't remember if they made them in stainless but I also did not like the profile of the set up... The good thing about them was that the steel is molded into the shell. no worries about the shell breaking down..they were very responsive.. Still to this day I think the best shell to stick with is the tuuk+..... the sheel may break down over time which will create the steel to lean to a side but you then can still just change the shell or you could take it to the next level and align the blade to prevent it from happening again.

[Petey21 1]

i thought the holder was called ICM and not ICL?

correct me if im wrong though

Sorry, my bad, it's ICM. I guess I got it mixed up with ICL which is (or at least was) a computer brand. :P

I guess I was also forgot to ask if these different models fit different types of players, like if a big defenseman, a powerforward and a small finesse player would typically benefit from different types of holders? Like if they distribute the energy to the skates in different ways?

[mack 44]

ICMs all the way. Stiffer than anything else I used.

[JBP 18]

Graf Pto 2000 (not the 3000) Can't replace the steel, but as bomb proof as you'll find and pretty close to the ICM's. Unfortunately, rather heavy but the are stainless as well.

[JBP 18]

Sorry, PRO 2000 not PTO 2000

[kovalchuk71 212]

What makes a holder stiffer or not? Do normas ones bend or something?

[twiztidwrista10 3]

Also missions PITCH, thats wut im useing.

[A_Steeves12 0]

i hated my easton holders(razor bladez) the steel always bent and never held an edge. ive used custom+'s in the past with no problems i like them, now use the LS2 i love them after 1+ month of use. i would like to get solid steel thought because i hear the pref. steel breaks easy.

[asdfa 0]

What makes a holder stiffer or not? Do normas ones bend or something?

yes, they bend a little bit. i didn't think it was possible until i switch from the mission driveshaft holder to the lightspeed. it's hard to quantify but the lightspeeds "give" in turns