buying new pants

[rawls 0]

I'm new to this forum and I'm looking to buy some new pants, so if anyone has valuable insights into brands/models that stand out from the crowd in terms of quality and/or padding, I'd like to hear about them.

I'm a beer leaguer/rec player and I skate 3-4 times a week (more on a good week) year round and I currently use a pair of CCM 652 that I bought from my LHS last year about this time. They're decent pants, I guess, but they've blown out in front already!

While there's no checking, per se, in the leagues and groups I play with, there's plenty of contact. Most of the time, the padding in the 652s has been sufficient, but I'd like more. I had been looking at the more recent CCM 892 model, but then I spotted a pair of Tackla 9000 ACS that look incredible-- but the price tag scares me a bit. Unfortunately I can't try any on without driving at least two+ hours. This might be a more recent Tackla upgrade, since most online merchants show the Air 9000 (the one with the blue lining) and those don't have zippers, which is a must for me. I'm half tempted to just go with the 652s for as long as I can-- I'm not made out of money, and plus with my regular group, the guys who come out in the nice shiny new equipment get laughed off the ice unless (they're six and a half feet tall and played D1 or something)

I had also thought about the Easton Synergy 900, but I have no real experience with Easton products other than OPS.

I've seen a lot of people recommending the RBK 8K pants, and I've looked at the 6K-- my girlfriend bought a pair of those and doesn't like the velcro leg system they have, so I'm kind of leaning away from those.

The one place I found who is selling the Tackla 9000s is asking $169 USD, so if anyone knows of a lower price for the same model, it probably wouldn't take much for me to pull the trigger... but by the same token buying hockey equipment online without being able to actually check it out has really backfired on me a couple times.

thanks

[Chadd 916]

Personally I like my 9000s and the new CCM pants are much better than the models from a few years ago. Zippers are available on the 9000, for about $5 more from most Tackla dealers.

[Jason Harris 31]

Our Protector Lite pants have outstanding protection (and zippers) for much less than the price you stated.

[Chadd 916]

Our Protector Lite pants have outstanding protection (and zippers) for much less than the price you stated.

I love the new ones too.

[yipperzz 28]

169? you can get the air 9000's for ~$130 before shipping at most sites.

[shnuggs 0]

Our Protector Lite pants have outstanding protection (and zippers) for much less than the price you stated.

How much are a pair?

Ben

[rawls 0]

169? you can get the air 9000's for ~$130 before shipping at most sites.

Most of the Tackla 9000s in the $130 range are the Air 9000s-- the ones I saw were from this shop: (moderator, sorry, please delete if posting links to online merchants is prohibited)

http://www.thehockeyshop.com/catalog.php?P...Pants_Player_Sr

this is an example of the $130 range:

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/tackla9000hp.html

I like the look of the newer model better

[rawls 0]

Our Protector Lite pants have outstanding protection (and zippers) for much less than the price you stated.

Is there a place i could see more pictures of the Protector Lite, aside from the standard stock photo? I'm definitely interested in the Salming product, and I've heard good things about it.

[sdh 0]

tackla model numbers have always been out of order. Their NHL pant was always the 5000X (which appears to be called 5000 pro now). The design of that pant hasn't changed in more than 10 years, so maybe the 9000 acs has better materials for weight and dryness.

[mcgyver29 0]

There are four pairs of Salming Protector Lite pants for sale on ebay right now (Feb22).

[shnuggs 0]

True but the guy has 0 Feedbacks-- risky

Ben

[jason37 2]

I love these

[Jason Harris 31]

I'll try to take a few pictures of the Protector Lites from different angles -- hopefully they come out well enough.

[Chadd 916]

169?  you can get the air 9000's for ~$130 before shipping at most sites.

Most of the Tackla 9000s in the $130 range are the Air 9000s-- the ones I saw were from this shop: (moderator, sorry, please delete if posting links to online merchants is prohibited)

http://www.thehockeyshop.com/catalog.php?P...Pants_Player_Sr

this is an example of the $130 range:

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/tackla9000hp.html

I like the look of the newer model better

The hockey shop is in Canada and Tackla has a different distributor and different models in Canada. In fact, I was under the impression that US and Canadian dealers were not supposed to sell across the border. Neither one is new or old, the difference is US or Canadian models.

[Jason Harris 31]

Our Protector Lite pants have outstanding protection (and zippers) for much less than the price you stated.

Is there a place i could see more pictures of the Protector Lite, aside from the standard stock photo? I'm definitely interested in the Salming product, and I've heard good things about it.

Rawls, I don't have the best lighting but I think these came out well enough. Let me know if you need a different angle or higher quality. Also, I didn't have any other pair accessible, so these are my personal pair.

I'll explain why I took the pictures from these angles:

You'll see the spine protector and high hip protectors. There is an abdomenal protector and double belt system. For some reason, some players get uptight that the lining is the blue, but it's anti-bacterial.

A bit hard to see, but there is mesh in front and back for increased airflow.

Not that I've ever done this, but the pants can be unbuttoned to be thrown into the wash.

Another one that's difficult to see. There are interior zippers and four-way mesh (front-to-back and side-to-side) to increase mobility.

If you see the pad on the right beneath the tag, that's the tailbone protector. As you can see, it goes as low as the seat of the crotch.

[Roach 0]

Very nice Salming. How high a model would the Protector Lites be? Are they top of the line? Mid?

[Jason Harris 31]

They're our top of the line, but I think they have a good price. The MSRP is just under $100.

[Hidious 0]

Yeah, those salming pants really look good... ! For my part, i bought a pair of Mission L7 in a boxing day, i love them. Awesome protection and they really look good but they are a little heavy i think. I got used to it...

[Chadd 916]

Yeah, those salming pants really look good... ! For my part, i bought a pair of Mission L7 in a boxing day, i love them. Awesome protection and they really good but they are a little heavy i think. I got used to it...

The L7s are really heavy.

[Hidious 0]

Like really heavy to make me skate slower? First time i've used them they felt heavy 10mins then it never bothered me again. Now i'm wondering about those... <_<

[rawls 0]

Our Protector Lite pants have outstanding protection (and zippers) for much less than the price you stated.

Is there a place i could see more pictures of the Protector Lite, aside from the standard stock photo? I'm definitely interested in the Salming product, and I've heard good things about it.

Rawls, I don't have the best lighting but I think these came out well enough. Let me know if you need a different angle or higher quality. Also, I didn't have any other pair accessible, so these are my personal pair.

I'll explain why I took the pictures from these angles:

You'll see the spine protector and high hip protectors. There is an abdomenal protector and double belt system. For some reason, some players get uptight that the lining is the blue, but it's anti-bacterial.

A bit hard to see, but there is mesh in front and back for increased airflow.

Not that I've ever done this, but the pants can be unbuttoned to be thrown into the wash.

Another one that's difficult to see. There are interior zippers and four-way mesh (front-to-back and side-to-side) to increase mobility.

If you see the pad on the right beneath the tag, that's the tailbone protector. As you can see, it goes as low as the seat of the crotch.

Many thanks to SalmingUSA for the extra effort-- it's really appreciated! I'm definitely leaning toward the Protector Lite at this point. If I went with those I'd be able to justify picking up that Z-Bubble shaft with a Sherwood blade at the LHS that's been on my mind lately, all for the same price as I would have paid for the Tackla 9000 ACS. I guess I have just a few more questions-- I'm wondering about the foam density in the padding that surrounds the hard plastic inserts and the completeness of coverage by that padding. A little background: this past Christmas I took an ill advised foray into buying a pair of Bauer 4000s, in spite of the fact that the year before I had donated my 1986 (junior year of HS) Tacklas to a teammate who had low-end Bauer related hip injuries. I was appalled to see how poor the quality and coverage of the foam in the '05 4000s around the plastic inserts was. I didn't even take the tag off and sold them for a ten dollar loss on eBay. I guess I thought the 4000 was around the same level as my blown out CCM 652s... don't get me wrong, I have the highest regard for BauerNike, I love my VaporXX gloves, my Vapor (thg) shinguards and 4000 helmet, but I guess it goes to show, you get what you pay for. So I guess I'm wondering if you were wearing a pair of Protector Lites and somebody gave you a solid x-check while you were standing in the crease, possibly off balance, and you landed right on your a$$, would the foam density and coverage be a significant step up from the ccm 652s that I'm using now? Not to push the envelope, but how would they stack up to the 04/05 CCM 892? And while I'm really testing peoples' attention spans, how would the fit of the Protector Lite compare with CCM and Tackla products? I've heard it said that Tackla has a sleeker, "European" fit, while someone in an mentioned that he wore them like "clown pants" with suspenders... Maybe not a typical CCM experience, but if there's a "sleek" option and a "clown pants" option, I'd probably lean towards the sleek...

[Jason Harris 31]

They are VERY padded. If there's been the one knock against them from beer league players, it's that the rec playerd feel they don't need so much padding.

(Because of that, next year's model will have thinner padding, which caused one of my reps to ask, "Do you really like next year's pants better?" My response was "No, I don't have a problem with this year's pants because I unzip my legs and it mitigates the affect of the bulk. But I know rec players who wear sweat pants, so they obviously are too bulky for those types of players.")

So if you want protection, I don't believe you will find much better near this price. However, I'd PM Chadd or Jimmy to ask how they compare specifically to the brands you mentioned, since they'd have more knowledge than I do.

And if you don't want as much protection, wait about four to five months..... :D

[Hawkeye 0]

I'm following this thread pretty close since I'm in the market for some new pants. I am using a CCM girdle that is about 10 years old right now and it's starting to fall apart. The only complaint I have about these is that I have gotten a tailbone bruise once from them and I pretty bad hip pointer.

So I am looking to upgrade the padding but not the flexibility and weight.

You mean to tell me that if I call the hockey shop and order some Tackla 951's they will not ship them to me?

I have never seen Salming products in my area (Chicago) but I am not opposed to giving them a try. How is the weight and flexibility in these pants?

[iceholes 0]

I went pant shopping in the fall.. I am picking it up again.. I have been trying to get an 8k

I have a ccm 1152 set I am using now.... love them.....no worn at all I just want a new set so these can be a spare when I nee a dry pair. will consider ccms new ones

I tried the 8k on and liked the feel..

also considered the synergy's for weight

wanted to try the Salming, but tough to buy pants without touching them. Great value and lots of nice features... Probably one of my top choices....

oh yeah... I play in the same type league as you... 2-3-4 x a week, cant tell you how much teh spine and tailbone protection are the most used pads

[rawls 0]

I'm really thinking about buying a pair of the Protector Lites up for auction on eBay right now. Unfortunately the seller has zero feedback, but the seller's store is Salming Canada, which helps with the trust issue. The shipping to the U.S. is kind of steep, tacking on $25 to the buy it now price of $55, but still a really good deal. From the pictures posted by SalmingUSA, it looks like the padding is just what I'm looking for.

If I do decide to buy them, I'll post a review for everyone...