Swoosh/RBK logos

[Project_2501 0]

I don't really have a problem with buying Reebok or Nike gear, as I like the feel of the Reebok sticks (6k shaft) but haven't tried on any Nike gear yet, but willing to give some a go.

My dad on the other hand, is 100% against Rbk and Nike, says only the Canadien Companies make good gear.

[jimmy 194]

I get the perception that RBK is more consumer friendly. People HATE Nike for buying out Bauer, but RBK has been welcomed with open arms. Nike is an evil company is most peoples mind.

Also, I think RBK gives it's workers one more bowl of rice a week. :o

[Project_2501 0]

Well, my Rbk baselayer, undershirt, whatever, was made in Costa Rica.

What I think is absolutely Kick-Ass: My TPS stick was Made in Canada. That made me joyous for a bit when i saw that.

[jimmy 194]

The only thing they have really thrown their name on was the jofa protective.

Also Titan/jofa sticks and replacement blades as well as the entire Koho goalie line, including goal sticks.

The RBK goal sticks are NOTHING like the Koho's, they are all new. Personally, I like the Koho's better but the RBK's are not just repainted Koho's. The Premier goal equipment is nothing like any prior retail Koho equipment. All new models.

RBK relabeled the Jofa protective gear only. The composite sticks and helmets and skates were all new. Some of the protective gear was redesigned, shin pads and gloves in particular. Still, not a bad line-up considering the time they were in control after the buyout.

[whbd18 0]

Well, my Rbk baselayer, undershirt, whatever, was made in Costa Rica.

What I think is absolutely Kick-Ass: My TPS stick was Made in Canada. That made me joyous for a bit when i saw that.

On the back of my XN10s it says precision Made in the USA ;)

[DarkStar50 679]

The only thing they have really thrown their name on was the jofa protective.

Also Titan/jofa sticks and replacement blades as well as the entire Koho goalie line, including goal sticks.

The RBK goal sticks are NOTHING like the Koho's, they are all new. Personally, I like the Koho's better but the RBK's are not just repainted Koho's. The Premier goal equipment is nothing like any prior retail Koho equipment. All new models.

RBK relabeled the Jofa protective gear only. The composite sticks and helmets and skates were all new. Some of the protective gear was redesigned, shin pads and gloves in particular. Still, not a bad line-up considering the time they were in control after the buyout.

The RBK Premier goal product was designed by Lefevre, the #1 designer for Koho goal. With the dynamics in the goal product, it was inevitable that new gear was in design and production before RBK signed on the dotted line. The same scenario happened in Jofa protective = Jofa designs with RBK branding. It doesn't take very long for the design department to sub RBK logos onto final production of the line. There is nothing wrong with the RBK lineup. Its just that Reebok had very little to do with new ideas. The existing design teams were in place from THC.

[Project824 0]

Well, my Rbk baselayer, undershirt, whatever, was made in Costa Rica.

What I think is absolutely Kick-Ass: My TPS stick was Made in Canada. That made me joyous for a bit when i saw that.

My Rbk 7K sticks say Made in Canada on it. Not sure if all, or any of them are, as this one's a pro stick. Someone in a retail shop have an answer about the regular ones?

[chilaxin12 2]

I dint join this website to complain, but after reading a few of these responses, I have to throw in my 2 cents. To start, this is MHO not anything I was told or know for fact. I work in the golf business and started playing the game shortly after my college years. As the years have gone by I have seen Nike grow into something I would never have expected to see. A poor, (figuratively speaking), lonely, money hungry company. After buying the top players in the world, I thought Nike must really have something for these guys to switch that easy. I was excited to see Nike's name on Irons and driver's and shorts and shirts. I tried a few of the products and they suck. Im tired already of seeing the company buy there way into markets where they dont belong. Once they entered the hockey arena I lost all respect. Hockey is again IMHO a "mans" game I dont want to see a new kid on the block come into the hockey market and stick fancy logos on other companies equipment and demand respect. Sorry but I have none. I will not buy anything with a Nike logo. Yes Im sure I will be missing out on some good equipment in years to come, but a man has to make a stand for what he believes in. This is what I think is right. You earn your way into the market, not buy it. Just like the kid born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Always had nice stuff, just couldnt skate. G

If your in the golf business, then you don't know too much about golf, Nike golf, their products are as good as TM, Titleist, and Callaway, their forged irons, at least the blades are Miura forged, which happens to be the place that TM has their tour irons forged. The Ignite is one of the hottest selling drivers. Their wedges are as good as anything out there. And they have been out there for what 4 years now making clubs and they have the fastest growing irons on tour. Tom Sites designed Nick Prices clubs, and last time I checked, 13 of tigers 14 clubs were nike...

Sorry about the rant in golf, its what i know lol.

Now about hockey, people should stop worrying about swoosh, or rbk, or nbh, or graf or whatever, people should use what works for them. if my stick said loser, or idiot on it, and it flexed the way I liked, and my skates were figure skates, but I could skate better in them, I would use them, people need to give up worrying about what logo is on it, and worry about what its going to do for them.

[tuzzifan44 0]

I have to disagree, I think Nike is still behind TM, Callaway, Mizuno and Titleist, espicially in the iron department, the pro combos are probally the worst irons I have ever hit, and the slingshots arent much better, and I think the irons tiger hits are straight up mizuno blade copies.I do think they have come along way with their drivers, the ignite and sq are pretty solid, and the wedges arent bad. Just a little rant, I like to talk about golf equipment almost as much as hockey equipment.

[IGO2XS 0]

I dint join this website to complain, but after reading a few of these responses, I have to throw in my 2 cents.  To start, this is MHO not anything I was told or know for fact.  I work in the golf business and started playing the game shortly after my college years.  As the years have gone by I have seen Nike grow into something I would never have expected to see.  A poor, (figuratively speaking), lonely, money hungry company.  After buying the top players in the world, I thought Nike must really have something for these guys to switch that easy.  I was excited to see Nike's name on Irons and driver's and shorts and shirts.  I tried a few of the products and they suck.  Im tired already of seeing the company buy there way into markets where they dont belong.  Once they entered the hockey arena I lost all respect.  Hockey is again IMHO a "mans" game  I dont want to see a new kid on the block come into the hockey market and stick fancy logos on other companies equipment and demand respect.  Sorry but I have none.  I will not buy anything with a Nike logo.  Yes Im sure I will be missing out on some good equipment in years to come, but a man has to make a stand for what he believes in.  This is what I think is right.  You earn your way into the market, not buy it.  Just like the kid born with a silver spoon in his mouth.  Always had nice stuff, just couldnt skate.  G

Then don't buy any RBK products because most of them are rebranded Jofa equipment. You also should stay away from Warrior sticks because those are just Innos with a new paint job. Those companies also bought their way into the market.

I dont use any of them. But what other markets are they trying to buy there way into? No disrespect, but I believe in hockey companies that have earned there way into the market, not bought it. Again this isnt an attack on anyone or any comment, just my opinion. G

[IGO2XS 0]

I will talk all day long about golf, except this is a hockey forum. I used the golf example for a referance.

Chilaxin12: I know more than you may think. Nike Irons arent Miura forged. Many of the pros Nike's are, but retail isnt. I have 300+ members at my home course. There are about 50-60 people that are 9 and below handicappers. None play Nike. Yes, they do have some descent clubs, but that doesnt make a succesful company. Drop Tiger and see where they go. This isnt really debateable because anyone can check the club counts to see who is dominant on the PGA tour. Dont forget, many players are payed to play certain clubs and with a bank roll like Nike, of course they are going to grow. I still think Mizuno has some of the finest forgings available and I dont work for them. But they earned there way.

Tuzzifan: I agree TW grew up with MP-14's like I did. Theres not many better blades that I know of. Yet, for the most part, blades are blades. The forgings are usually what seperates the feel or sound.

I enjoy these types of threads because it gives everyone a voice, good or bad. Will christian ever be back in full force? G

[Chadd 916]

What I think is absolutely Kick-Ass: My TPS stick was Made in Canada. That made me joyous for a bit when i saw that.

I like the fact that it's a hockey company and not part of some global corperate enterprise.

[Chadd 916]

What I think is absolutely Kick-Ass: My TPS stick was Made in Canada. That made me joyous for a bit when i saw that.

I like the fact that it's a hockey company and not part of some global corperate enterprise.

It is now. Up until one month ago, it was a privately owned, poorly run company.

Tell me about it. I had a lot of problems with them for most if the last year until I spoke with the new sales manager around September. Since then, everything has been very good so far.

[jimmy 194]

The RBK Premier goal product was designed by Lefevre, the #1 designer for Koho goal. With the dynamics in the goal product, it was inevitable that new gear was in design and production before RBK signed on the dotted line. The same scenario happened in Jofa protective = Jofa designs with RBK branding. It doesn't take very long for the design department to sub RBK logos onto final production of the line. There is nothing wrong with the RBK lineup. Its just that Reebok had very little to do with new ideas. The existing design teams were in place from THC.

I agree totally. Koho design team involved all the way.. Just tyring to dispell the claims that the RBK goal sticks are just old Koho's 590's repainted. I hear this ALL the time. Not true.

[thunderbirds_are_go 0]

The RBK Premier goal product was designed by Lefevre, the #1 designer for Koho goal. With the dynamics in the goal product, it was inevitable that new gear was in design and production before RBK signed on the dotted line. The same scenario happened in Jofa protective = Jofa designs with RBK branding. It doesn't take very long for the design department to sub RBK logos onto final production of the line. There is nothing wrong with the RBK lineup. Its just that Reebok had very little to do with new ideas. The existing design teams were in place from THC.

I agree totally. Koho design team involved all the way.. Just tyring to dispell the claims that the RBK goal sticks are just old Koho's 590's repainted. I hear this ALL the time. Not true.

I'm not sure if I heard right, but I understood that the Rbk goalie gear was going to be the Koho 600 series. Koho developed and all new. Also the Rbk helmets are listed as Rbk by Jofa, though that could just be marketing rather than pointing to it's origin.

[corry34 0]

I think that what everybody is saying has truth to it. Based on the timeline and when the actual Reebok purchase of THC was official, many projects had already been started and were destined to be branded otherwise. Several projects were also started from scratch late in the cycle to make sure we had a complete launch of RbK product to the market.

What was great for the THC Product Team was that we continued designing all the product as we had done in the past. Being part of Reebok also opened lots of doors for us in terms of materials and technologies. The brands may have changed but the people behind them stayed the same.

Here's an honest question: Do you think RbK has stayed true to the game based on the product released up to this point?

[Fury of One 6]

I think that what everybody is saying has truth to it. Based on the timeline and when the actual Reebok purchase of THC was official, many projects had already been started and were destined to be branded otherwise. Several projects were also started from scratch late in the cycle to make sure we had a complete launch of RbK product to the market.

What was great for the THC Product Team was that we continued designing all the product as we had done in the past. Being part of Reebok also opened lots of doors for us in terms of materials and technologies. The brands may have changed but the people behind them stayed the same.

Here's an honest question: Do you think RbK has stayed true to the game based on the product released up to this point?

I think so. I can vouch for that because I own at least one piece of RBK equipment.

Skates: Awesome. Was going to get a pair of Vector Pros, liked the construction of the boot better on the 8Ks.

Gloves: Awesome. Love the air cooled design and the fit and feel are great. Have a pair of 6Ks for roller and 8Ks for ice.

Shins: Nice. Have a pair of 4Ks. The design is good. Air cooled feature is great. My only complaint is that one of those fit lite straps came off but it's no big deal.

Elbows: great as well. Own a pair of 5Ks. They fit nice. I have one suggestion, can you guys make apir of elbows like the Jofa 9025s? I hate the bicep protector and was wondering why there isn't an option in the RBK line.

Helmet: Again, awesome. Definitely one of the lightest out there and the fit is great. Another question, are you going to offer an RBK helmet in the future that has foam padding similar to the 852?

Keep up the good work. :D

[2-Keys 1]

i really dont like nike taking over bauer, and i didnt like RBK taking over jofa. but jofa was dieing anyways. all they had left was shingaurds that were good. RBK practicly saved jofa. bauer was perfectly fine company. they were going up. not down. notice nike didnt by a little brand, they bought the biggest. i just hope they dont ruin bauer.

[Chadd 916]

  I have one suggestion, can you guys make apir of elbows like the Jofa 9025s? I hate the bicep protector and was wondering why there isn't an option in the RBK line.

9025 is in the Koho catalog with some other remaining Jofa gear if I'm not mistaken. I'd like to see a beefier version of that pad with a little more forearm protection. My 8025s are starting to get worn out.

[Eazy_b97 1]

really dont like nike taking over bauer, and i didnt like RBK taking over jofa. but jofa was dieing anyways. all they had left was shingaurds that were good. RBK practicly saved jofa. bauer was perfectly fine company. they were going up. not down. notice nike didnt by a little brand, they bought the biggest. i just hope they dont ruin bauer.

CCM/THC is likely the second biggest brand in hockey. Jofa is just one of many companies in the THC "Family"

[Chadd 916]

Here's an honest question: Do you think RbK has stayed true to the game based on the product released up to this point?

I think the RBK entry into the market has been much more accepted than was Nike's. Is it a question of generational indifference, better initial product or just Nike catching more flak because they were first?

My belief is that the RBK products were better accepted mostly because they are new versions of existing quality products and not radical departures from pre-merger products. The RBK and CCM products released were improvements over past models. Here is the question I have.

Would the RBK product have been different if they had the time before their intial launch or would they have been happy to follow the same path and launch the products as they are now?

[Project_2501 0]

To me Rbk gear isn't as ugly looking as the Nike gear. The quest helmet is the most gawd-awful helmet I've ever seen.