Wood vs. Inno

[Kobe 0]

I've been using wood blades for years but I got some extra cash lying around and was thinking about venturing into the composite blade territory again after the disaster with my synthesis blade. It turned me off to ever trying a composite blade again but I thought i'd give it a go anyways.

I just wanted some opinions from the guys who have used both wood blades/sticks and inno blades/ops's. Nothing compares to wood but how much of a difference is there between the two? Is the inno that much better than the other comp. blades out there? If it's anywhere remotely close to the synthesis then i'm definately staying away. Thanks in advance.

[LegoDoom 0]

IMO, Inno is the best composite blade made. It's noticeably harder than a wood blade and will take some time getting used to. But, it has great feel for a composite. Another blade you may want to try is the Bauer Wave-Bridge.

[dgaronzik 1]

Have to agree with Lego, I had used just about every kind of composite blade till I tried Inno and they were by far the best for feel. That being said, when I got my custom wood blades from Legend they almost had too much feel. Took me a game to get used to it. The big difference other then feel between wood and composite is that composite doesnt give as much as a wood blade does. Makes a big difference.

[ryno 0]

In my experience the Inno's have been the closest thing to wood as far as comp blades go. Best feel out of any comp I've used although I never really had much problem taking passes etc with any composites. I do like a very stiff blade and they definitley meet that requirment for me. Also any Inno I've used has been a tank, currently I'm still using a Schneider that I got from Jay probably about 6-8 weeks ago, he used it lightly before me and it's still going strong with no visible sign of damage.

Ryan

[dgaronzik 1]

Also any Inno I've used has been a tank, currently I'm still using a Schneider that I got from Jay probably about 6-8 weeks ago, he used it lightly before me and it's still going strong with no visible sign of damage.

I have to agree on the tank comment, Ive never broken an Innovative blade. One of my buddies broke one and I was shocked.

[Chris_H 0]

I`ve broken one, and the others about to go. One broke at the hossel adn the otehr is like split apart at the toe, like the two piece of fiberlass can be opened and I can see the foam inside. I tried contact cement and eppoxy but it won`t stay shut.

[JGraz15 53]

Nothing beats wood in terms of feel. The Inno's probably are as close as you get though. One problem I have with Inno is that they are noticeably heavier than other composite blades and wood blades. They are tanks, but juts something to keep in mind. I just got a 2004 TPS X1 in a Tkachuk curve and after a couple times on the ice like it alot. The feel isn't quite as good as Inno's, but it ways next to nothing and seems pretty durable

[bulletproof_funk 0]

If you can wait for the Bauer XV tapered blades, they may be worth a try if they're anything like the Wavebridge blades. Even though Inno made Bauer's blades, but I prefer their specs over Inno's. I found the Wavebridge blade on the TFG to have better feel than Inno blades IMO. And if you've been using Mission's wood blades, you may or may not like the extra weight of the Inno blades have in comparison. Also, the Wavebridge blade is very durable.

[Timber 0]

I've used both Innovative and Synthesis composite blades. While the Innovative felt more solid and responsive than the Synthesis, it was noticeably heavier (also heavier than tapered short hosel woods). Neither of these blades have that nice tactile response of a wood blade. I recently received some tapered short hosel blades from legend to use in a Flyweight; I like these blades at least as much as the T-Flex or other woods that I have shaved to fit.

[LegoDoom 0]

Inno blades vary in weight, depending on what pattern you get. Most of my Murray's weigh in around 154 grams. That's not heavy at all, especially for a standard blade that's semi-short hoseled.

[ambro 0]

I`ve broken one, and the others about to go. One broke at the hossel adn the otehr is like split apart at the toe, like the two piece of fiberlass can be opened and I can see the foam inside. I tried contact cement and eppoxy but it won`t stay shut.

My Murray blade I have in my Novius right now has been split at the toe for around 3-4 months now and is still going. So don't expect yours to break quite yet.

[43%burnt 0]

the innos i've used have been some of the best blades, in terms of feel, that i've used. i even think they are better than the pro easton z-carbs that i have. the durability of the innos is the best part. i have a nash that i've been using for almost two years now and its held up very well. only recently has the toe got shredded and cracked. even with that and some of the inner foam missing, the blade still retains its stiffness.

[Chadd 916]

No composite blade will feel as good as a wood blade but the Inno are the best composite blades out there.

[Timber 0]

Most of my Murray's weigh in around 154 grams.

Interesting to know that not all the Inno blades are as heavy as mine. My standard semi-short hosel retail Mogilny weighs 171 grams, whereas my shaved/cropped Sherwood 950's weigh around 155 grams. Mission's wood Ether's weigh around 165 grams as do the the wood R2's. By comparison, the Synthesis composite came in at 140 grams and the R2 composite at 129 grams. All with no tape.

[Kobe 0]

I knew that the Innos were a little heavier than most comp. blades but heavier than wood? The only reason I want to switch to composite is because of the weight issue with wood. I'm looking at the federov curve as well so that'll probably rank in the higher end of the weight scale for the inno blades since it's quite long.

[Timber 0]

I have one of Dgaronzik's Inno Federov clones from Legend and that blade is smaller than my retail Mogilny. In shaving/cropping several different wood blades, I've seen them range from 149 grams to 177 grams in their final short/tapered form (all the same hosel length and tenon dimensions). The lightest blades I've tried are the Sherwood 950's. I'm sure a good portion of Inno's extra weight is in the hosel which is longer than a typical tapered/short hosel blade.

[bulletproof_funk 0]

I knew that the Innos were a little heavier than most comp. blades but heavier than wood?  The only reason I want to switch to composite is because of the weight issue with wood.  I'm looking at the federov curve as well so that'll probably rank in the higher end of the weight scale for the inno blades since it's quite long.

In my case of the Inno Kovalev tapered blade, I don't believe the numbers were a good indicator of the very apparent sensation of heaviness or density of the blade when compared to Mission's or even TPS's tapered wood blades. Even when taking into account the longer hosel, the blade still felt heavy to me, most notably increased effort during stickhandling. Maybe it's because I use whippier shafts than others (Easton 85 and TPS whip) that my shafts felt very bouncy with the Inno blade than with others. Even a similar pattern in the Hybrid Synthesis Drury did not feel so heavy to me.

I'm certainly not disputing what others have experienced with their Inno blade, yet I cannot deny what I have personally experienced either. One thing we seem to agree on at least is that Inno blades are to a varying degree heavier than some composite tapered blades. How much you'll notice or care will depend on you, your shaft, and other factors. Still, my two cents is just that.

[thejackal 46]

I personally love the balance of my pro hull, granted, i use it with a typhoon and the blade is pretty thin because of the rocker and the shaved toe but I still think it compares favorably to most of the composite blades out there for performance and durability. Weight wise it's not shabby either. I think your kovy is an exception to the rule since their hosel is longer and they are heavier than normal innos.

[MNdgame 0]

Also any Inno I've used has been a tank, currently I'm still using a Schneider that I got from Jay probably about 6-8 weeks ago, he used it lightly before me and it's still going strong with no visible sign of damage.

I have to agree on the tank comment, Ive never broken an Innovative blade. One of my buddies broke one and I was shocked.

The blades on the 1100 IMO arent that durable, I've broken 2 of them one was under warrenty though (and the other was the replacement). They do have very good feel, but I think the blades in the True1 have way better feel then the inno replacements.

[SB39 2]

I've found, playing mostly roller, that an Inno blade, with the shiny finish scraped off with a quarter and 2 layers of tape to have the feel of a top wood blade, though I'm still drooling to try some Legend blades, and near the release of an OPS. The two layers of tape compact from laying, but still cushion the puck and give you feel.

But, I'm using a TPS rubber which I'm not crazy about, and the best shaft I've sed with my Inno blade (I've used 4 with the same blade...) was an old GU Vic 9050 X-Weave 100 shaft; anyone know where to find another one?

[SB39 2]

I know what you guys were talking about with the Inno blade being a bit heavier, but I prefer my shafts to be over 305 grams, so I still end up with a blade lite stick. Also, I think the Inno blades, at least my beloved Mogilny, have the optimal thickness; thin enough to feel the puck, but not so thin so as to flex more or feel flimsy.

[dgaronzik 1]

I knew that the Innos were a little heavier than most comp. blades but heavier than wood?  The only reason I want to switch to composite is because of the weight issue with wood.  I'm looking at the federov curve as well so that'll probably rank in the higher end of the weight scale for the inno blades since it's quite long.

I weighed a tapered Inno federov on the same scale as I measured my legend blades. The Fed was 135 grams and my legend blades were 150 grams. 135g is pretty damn light. I used a digital postal scale in our mail room at work.

[Kobe 0]

Damn that is light. You have one to sell? :D

[dgaronzik 1]

Damn that is light. You have one to sell? :D

Ask timber, he said he was selling the one I sold him. Im holding the rest of mine for right now.

[Kobe 0]

Oh i meant the comp. inno federov blade. I'm looking to try out composite.