Nationals Sports

[echi24 1]

I just got back. picked up a prostock xn10 in a P16 S. it looks like a milder lidstrom curve, i cant wait to use it tonight. they had a rack full of close to 100 xn10s there, and still all the kids ran to buy the yellow and red synergies...

[McCabe24 0]

Anyone who has been and seen the numbers know if I would have any chance of being able to pick up a prostock XN10 from the Hamilton location around this time tomorrow?

[echi24 1]

i know the willowdale location had a swarm of people around the OPS rack. they moved from the synergy rack to the xn10, but there were still a fair amount there when i left, but i left early. someone else confirm about the hamilton location though

[Eazy_b97 1]

I drove by today intending to go in, but they were lined up a fair ways. For the Locals the line was past the bookstore beside it, so about 150 people in line. I'll be in the area tomorrow, I'll check again.

[shnuggs 0]

Was just at the shop at younge and sheppard- not to busy - picked up a pro stock XN10 LH for my bro. All the left handed synergys- and synergy grips were gone - only 4 synergy RH were left. There was about 15 LH and 15RH pro stock Xn10's left. All sticks beside the specials were 20% off. When i went to the store on Highway 7 last night - before the sale started - they seemed to have a bigger stock of sticks and what nots.

Ben

[myst3ry 0]

Went to national today at around 4:45 (sale started at 5pm), had to wait in a huge line-up to get in.. As soon as I got in I gunned it to the skates section and asked for a pair of S500's in 11D, then got a response from the employee, "Oh sorry, we only had one pair of those in stock and that guy over there just bought them".. They had a 10.5 which I tried to cram my foot into, but just couldn't justify buying a skate that didn't fit right.. F'in great, was looking forward to finally trying some Missions out..

And to Chadd, sorry dude they did have a bunch of 10.5 EE's kicking around too, would have picked you up a pair but just read your post I'll check for you again tomorrow, but it's extremely doubtful.. I must have seen around 10 people trying on S500's in the first few minutes of the sale..

I did manage to send the girlfriend in running for a pair of Bauer Gloves for 39.99 on sale from 99.99 which were off the shelves extremely quick.. So I can't say it was a complete waste of time B)

[Eazy_b97 1]

Went to national today at around 4:45 (sale started at 5pm), had to wait in a huge line-up to get in.. As soon as I got in I gunned it to the skates section and asked for a pair of S500's in 11D, then got a response from the employee, "Oh sorry, we only had one pair of those in stock and that guy over there just bought them".. They had a 10.5 which I tried to cram my foot into, but just couldn't justify buying a skate that didn't fit right.. F'in great, was looking forward to finally trying some Missions out..

And to Chadd, sorry dude they did have a bunch of 10.5 EE's kicking around too, would have picked you up a pair but just read your post I'll check for you again tomorrow, but it's extremely doubtful.. I must have seen around 10 people trying on S500's in the first few minutes of the sale..

I did manage to send the girlfriend in running for a pair of Bauer Gloves for 39.99 on sale from 99.99 which were off the shelves extremely quick.. So I can't say it was a complete waste of time B)

What gloves were these?

[golfpuck 0]

I just got back. picked up a prostock xn10 in a P16 S. it looks like a milder lidstrom curve, i cant wait to use it tonight. they had a rack full of close to 100 xn10s there, and still all the kids ran to buy the yellow and red synergies...

same in mississauga, i went kind of late..

1 kid was all upset he had to settle for an xn10, until i told him it was a better stick

even worse, i saw another kid with a vapor xx stickum, at $250 less 20% off

wouldnt even look at the xn10 as his dad was pleading with him to get the xn10

advertising can do wonders

[ponty 0]

Very few NHLers are using the XN10 this year. Its lack of popularity in the sale probably doesnt go far past this.

[Chadd 916]

Very few NHLers are using the XN10 this year. Its lack of popularity in the sale probably doesnt go far past this.

But a ton of guys in the Adrenaline control. Feel was always my main issue with the XN10s. The blades on the old Responses had much better feel (to me) than the newer blades.

[logan 0]

Chadd, I work at Mississauga. I'll check out the S500's for you tomorrow.

Surprisingly, we did not sell much of the s500's today. Most people are not used to the Supplefit feeling after being exposed to the superstiff generation for so long. Sold only about 5 or 6 pairs today. Have about 20 pairs still in stock.

[Chadd 916]

Chadd, I work at Mississauga. I'll check out the S500's for you tomorrow.

Surprisingly, we did not sell much of the s500's today.  Most people are not used to the Supplefit feeling after being exposed to the superstiff generation for so long. Sold only about 5 or 6 pairs today. Have about 20 pairs still in stock.

Thanks, could you check the 11EE as well? That's what I'm in now and I can get by with them again if I have to. I just need to wear thicker socks. The Salming socks are perfect for that.

[iceholes 0]

wish we had these stores near NY./...I would love those xn10's

10.5 EE..damn chadd...

[roadrunner 12]

Were there any good wood blades at a discount. Most noteably the Bauer 6000 standard blades.

Also I'm considering buying an Xn10 mostly for the shaft. I hate OPS. I forgot if you're able to turn it into an R2 easily or if you have to cut higher to a T-Flex height. It would be much cheaper than buying an R2XN10

[A_Steeves12 0]

Were there any good wood blades at a discount. Most noteably the Bauer 6000 standard blades.

Also I'm considering buying an Xn10 mostly for the shaft. I hate OPS. I forgot if you're able to turn it into an R2 easily or if you have to cut higher to a T-Flex height. It would be much cheaper than buying an R2XN10

you are able to turn it in to a shaft with heat, i did it.

[myst3ry 0]

Went to national today at around 4:45 (sale started at 5pm), had to wait in a huge line-up to get in..  As soon as I got in I gunned it to the skates section and asked for a pair of S500's in 11D, then got a response from the employee, "Oh sorry, we only had one pair of those in stock and that guy over there just bought them"..  They had a 10.5 which I tried to cram my foot into, but just couldn't justify buying a skate that didn't fit right..  F'in great, was looking forward to finally trying some Missions out.. 

And to Chadd, sorry dude they did have a bunch of 10.5 EE's kicking around too, would have picked you up a pair but just read your post     I'll check for you again tomorrow, but it's extremely doubtful..  I must have seen around 10 people trying on S500's in the first few minutes of the sale..

I did manage to send the girlfriend in running for a pair of Bauer Gloves for 39.99 on sale from 99.99 which were off the shelves extremely quick..  So I can't say it was a complete waste of time  B)

What gloves were these?

Bauer "SDP" Gloves.. Not XXX/XX's or anything, but still felt pretty good on my hands with a lot of wrist movement so I figured i'd give em a try.. Shown on their flyer http://www.nationalsports.com/pdf/2005_11_03_Big601.pdf

[Eazy_b97 1]

Very few NHLers are using the XN10 this year.  Its lack of popularity in the sale probably doesnt go far past this.

But a ton of guys in the Adrenaline control. Feel was always my main issue with the XN10s. The blades on the old Responses had much better feel (to me) than the newer blades.

Oddly enough, last time I was there they had some RR, Original Responses and even Xn10's with the "original" Response blade. Then some others with the new, weird black blade.

[althoma1 575]

I went last night to the McCowan/401 location in Scarborough at about 8pm. I picked up a wood Quest 1 Lecavalier replacement blade for $12 and an Addidas watch for $49 and looked at everything else, but resisted the temptation to buy anything more. The Lecavalier wood blade is much different than the Lecavalier curve I've seen on the Apollo OPS...the wood blade is a mid curve and the OPS curve is a heel curve. I put the blade in my Apollo shaft and for some reason it wouldn't go in all the way to the notches even though I had heated the shaft thoroughly and pushed hard...I'm guessing the notches were misplaced (and they were only on the thin outside edges of the blade and not the inner wide edge) as I tested the hosel length against the Sherwood Axiom blade I'd removed and even with the notches sticking out about half a cm the Axiom hosel was a slightly longer. Because I pushed it in so hard I'll probably have a hell of a time getting it out later.

They did not have any XN10 sticks in a curve I liked - they had several right handed sticks, but most were slight heel curves and I was looking for a nice mid or mid-toe curve. They had a few Sakic 85 Flex Silver Synergy's and I do like the Sakic curve, but I didn't feel the old Syngergy with no warranty was really worth the $100...I already have a Nike Apollo with a Legwand curve (which I didn't like during my first hour of ice with it, but now it's my favourite stick) I picked up for $89 a little while ago and just bought a Salming G1 a couple weeks ago so I didn't really need the Synergy. I'm also used to about a 100 flex and am a fairly big guy so wasn't so sure about the 85 flex. They did have a Vic Firestorm (I think that's what it was called) for $59 that had a curve that I liked (fairly big mid-curve, but not quite Coffey huge) - it regularily went for $129, but I knew nothing about that stick so didn't buy it. I figured it was a pricepoint stick that wouldn't be nearly as good as my Apollo or G1, but I could be wrong. If anyone knows anything about the stick and it is in fact good I could always go back and try to pick one up today as there may be a few left (although last night there were only about 6 Senior RH that I saw - there were about 20 LH ones though and a few juniors for anyone interested in those).

One of the reasons I went was I was considering buying a pair of Nike V-14 shin pads as I really like the V-14 Elbow pads I picked up last month. They didn't have any V-14 Shins when I went -only about 4 pairs of 17" V-12's for $89. I would've considered the V-12's if they would've had a 16" pair as I realize they are basically the same as the V-14's, but in blue instead of green, but they didn't have that size and $89 for last years model isn't exactly a blow out price - I'm sure I can eventually pick up a pair of V-14's for that price or less without too much trouble. In the meantime my current shin pads are working fine.

I also tried on the Mission S500. I take a 10E dress shoe so the sales person brought me a 9.5EE skate - I felt it had a bit more room than I needed length wise so I had him bring me a 9EE- that was snug all around, but not painful and my toes feathered the toe cap. To me it seemed like the perfect fit. I walked around in them and they felt pretty good, but not as comfortable as my Vector Pro skates...of course my Vector Pros are already broken in and I can fit a pen behind my ankle if I push my foot right to the end in the 8.5 D Vectors which I couldn't do with the 9EE Missions...I probably have Vectors that are a half size too long, but the 8D was really tight in the forefoot area when I tried them on last year and the stores I went to did not have an 8E for me to try...I picked up the 8.5D's because I got a great deal for them and they fit pretty well. Not as well as the 8E Vapor XX I tried on the same day which were super comfortable, just the right length with my feet feathering the end and not too tight width wise, but not loose or sloppy either - I just couldn't get the same deal on the Vapor's and the negative reviews about durability scared me away from those skates. The Mission S500's in a 9EE would probably be just as comfortable as the my Vectors once baked or broken in..there were no pain points when walking around...it just wasn't as comfortable as the Vector - when I put those on now they're super comfortable (although perhaps a touch bigger than they should be for optimal performance - they're not really loose or sloppy though. I now use the Salming socks with them and this has added to the comfort - I really like the Salming socks).

I was tempted to pick up the S500s, but walked away...my Vectors have served me well and are still in very good shape (there are skuffs and scratches and the holder is cut up, but none of the eyelets are damaged, I don't get lacebite, there's plenty of steel left and the boot is still stiff - that's after a little over 12 months of use). I don't know how long the Vectors will last, but when they do wear out I hope I can find the S500s or something of comparable quality for $199 Canadian...maybe it'll be a newer version of the S500 (the new AG skate refered to in other threads) in a couple years. Alternatively I could go back to the store and see if they still have a 9EE in the S500's and store them until the Vectors are shot, but the hope is that the Vectors will last another few years and Nationals (or somewhere else) will have a similar deal on a pair of skates that are even more advanced (the hope is that the skate at that time will be even better because it'll be newer, but I do know that that might not necessarily be the case and even if it is it may not fit my foot properly or available in my size). I like to have a really high performance skate, but the most I've ever paid for skates is $299...I probably don't need a $600 Skate to play pick up and Men's league, but hell if I can get them for half the price or less that's what I'll continue to do - I don't really care if they're the latest model or not.

Oh, I didn't check for the 10.5 EE's as I didn't want to be the 12th guy buying them for Chadd and then have to worry about returning them. The guy that was there at the same time was asking for 11EE's and they didn't have them and the guy wasn't sure if he had a 10EE when I asked him for a half size down (he got confused and thought I meant a half size larger instead of a half size smaller) - I know that they had a 9.5EE and 9EE as I tried both of those on...and continue to question my decision to leave the 9EE's behind...this post is huge so I'm going to stop rambling on now.

[logan 0]

Sure, I"ll check the 11EE too.

A bit off topic, but related to National Sports and the XN10 question...

A couple weeks ago, I had a guy come in to our Proshop with a broken Ric Jackman XN10 he bought at the ACC. I noticed that the break was a clean separation of the blade from the shaft, and that the fuse point was neither low nor tapered. Jackman's XN10 was essentially a standard shaft with a standard blade. Do you mods know if this an anomaly or have they changed the construction of these?

[tokes 0]

I was SOL on a pair of S500's in a 13D or 13EE. Beggars can't be choosers, I guess

[NuggyBuggy 0]

Were there any good wood blades at a discount.  Most noteably the Bauer 6000 standard blades. 

Hockey blades are all 20% off, as is most hockey equipment, but the only real good deals on blades were the Nike Quest 1 wood blades for $12.99, which I have seen being blown out online as well. They felt pretty light, they had some Lecavaliers and quite a fe Hedjuks last night at 7:30 PM, but when I was there (McCowan and 401) today at 9AM they did not have a lot left.

I picked up a pair of S500s. The guy I talked to said they actually hadn't sold as many as they expected, indeed they had all the sizes that I wanted to try on (6.5, 7 and 7.5).

But just while I was there they sold about 3 other pairs of them in about 45 minutes, and the sales guys started speculating that maybe their stock wouldn't last until the weekend after all. People were definitely walking in asking to try them on specifically. The staff expected Friday night to be busy.

[Chadd 916]

Sure, I"ll check the 11EE too.

A bit off topic, but related to National Sports and the XN10 question...

A couple weeks ago, I had a guy come in to our Proshop with a broken Ric Jackman XN10 he bought at the ACC. I noticed that the break was a clean separation of the blade from the shaft, and that the fuse point was neither low nor tapered. Jackman's XN10 was essentially a standard shaft with a standard blade. Do you mods know if this an anomaly or have they changed the construction of these?

I may have a line on some skates guys so please don't go out of your way to get them without contacting me. If someone actually did get them, I will make sure you get paid asap.

I had a couple Jackman "XN10s" and they are obviously something different. I ended up selling one to a buddy and gave him the second one when the toe started to crack on the first one. They haven't died completely yet so no autopsy has been preformed.

[duch 0]

I went to National Sports early this morning to take a gander at those S500's. Tried on a pair but they only have the "D" width. That's no good for me because I know they'll kill my feet. I have a pair of CCM's but I need the E width because the D's are too tight. CCM is a wider skate so I'm S.O.L. on those 500's. Too bad because they are great skates and I'd recommend them to anyone who can pick up a pair. The Nike V-12's though where another matter. Unless you have paddles for feet I wouldn't touch them. Definitely made for people with very wide feet. ;)

[kenneth 5]

hit the hamilton store friday around 9 today, only Response Plus left in RH some p41w pattern whip flex. didn't really bother with the s500 cause i'm still rocking my original pureflys and i don't like the charino liner on the new ones even though the pureflys still turn my socks blue :D

[logan 0]

No luck with your sizes Chadd.