company bias?

[Edge 0]

I won't lie, I have never, and probably will never wear anything Mission. I don't really know why to be honest, but their stuff just doesn't appeal to me.

Been around the way back to NBH....sablock in all skates, but always find my me can be said for sticks with Easton. Protective I'm open to anything really.

[kosydar 0]

I'll never buy a CCM stick. I'll almost always buy anything Nike.

[sabre09923 0]

Mission has been "consistant innovators?" With what? Just curious.

I'm a little late with this one, but:

1)First to use tapered shafts (Flyweight)

2)Supplefit (S-Series)

3)First to use composite outsoles (I think)

4)One of the first to actually use a good vibration dampening blade (Pulse+Fuel+V-Hex lines)

Pretty darn good track record I'd say.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

Actually Easton used tapereds first. Mission was the first with a short hoseled tapered.

Bauer used partial composite outsoles as well.

[G.M. 0]

Easton had tapered in aluminum shafts way back in the mid-90's, along with a tapered wood blade. They were the first company to also have tapered composite blades for many years, until coming out onto the retail market in 2002.

Bauer used a composite outsole on its 5000 model BEFORE Mission was even in the ice skate business.

Easton was the first with a "vibration dampening" blade with Si-Core.

I'm a little late with this one, but:

1)First to use tapered shafts (Flyweight)

2)Supplefit (S-Series)

3)First to use composite outsoles (I think)

4)One of the first to actually use a good vibration dampening blade (Pulse+Fuel+V-Hex lines)

Pretty darn good track record I'd say.

[hockeymom 2]

Wow G.M. it is a rare pleasure to come across someone with depth knowledge. I don't know why I haven't noticed you before, but you certainly have me sitting up and paying attention now...LOL

There are always examples of products that don't get their due of course, as well as smaller brands that don't get the same level of consumer support as a more well-known and possibly even inferior product. Being first is important, but being first in the consumer's mind is paramount.

What we're dealing with, especially in a thread that is exploring bias, is perceptual reality. Consumer's perceptions and the emotional factors that go into brand preference or brand rejection. Not always fair or even necessarily accurate, but human beings tend to be messy creatures aren't they?!

It's a shame that TPS never got their due with the female segment of the business. Kelly Dyer brought beginnings of the female products to us to see back in 1995-96ish, which is when they started testing the product. It took another 3-4 years after that for TPS to come out with the product.

Funny how Mission gets the credit for female products when TPS was absolutely the first with female pants, shoulder pads and gloves, and CCM had "female" fit skates before they did.

Y'know G.M., after I posted that, I thought, yeah, not sure what TPS products are still made in Canada... everything is going off-shore... but didn't bother to change it up. So thanks for updating me.

With Mission... sticks, supple-fit and their women's line immediately come to mind. Although I still cringe at a product actually named "the Betty", I do give them credit for being one of the few to look at the market segment.

[G60 0]

Easton had tapered in aluminum shafts way back in the mid-90's, along with a tapered wood blade. They were the first company to also have tapered composite blades for many years, until coming out onto the retail market in 2002.

mission's flyweight was the first short hosel/tapered stick/shaft and it failed. Easton 'resurrected' the idea a year later with the synthesis and now they're popular again.

t-flex taper is not the same as synthesis/flyweight taper.

Mission has brought many more fresh ideas to inline hockey than ice hockey though.

[G.M. 0]

It failed, IMHO, because the way they went about it was wrong. They basically bashed the OPS idea and it backfired on them. I think had they come to market with a OPS and offered the flyweight as an option, then it could have succeeded.

Also, it goes to show you that having a "name" matters a ton. Busch brought the first OPS to market MANY years ago and it did nothing. Easton comes out with their version and it's the greatest thing since sliced bread...

I will dig up some of my old Easton catalogs. I believe when the T-Flex first came out, it was a short hosel blade. I may even have a TF-2000 (turned out to be Roenick Pro) blade somewhere in my garage.

mission's flyweight was the first short hosel/tapered stick/shaft and it failed. Easton 'resurrected' the idea a year later with the synthesis and now they're popular again.

t-flex taper is not the same as synthesis/flyweight taper.

Mission has brought many more fresh ideas to inline hockey than ice hockey though.

[mack 44]

Hopefully you can drum one of those up because I remember the early pro return T-Flex blades had ungodly long hosels.

[G.M. 0]

i'm not sure if i still have one mack. The T-Flex blade patterns were called TF-1000, TF-2000, TF-3000. All I remember was the 2000 because it was the only heel of the bunch. It is the same as the Synergy RP's that I have found and use.

Hopefully you can drum one of those up because I remember the early pro return T-Flex blades had ungodly long hosels.

[Justin 1933 134]

I will add some of the concepts that we have come up with that has been copied:

Vent holes in gloves

Composite materials on Skates

Composite outsoles (full composite - not combo units with PVC)

Short hosel blades

Foam tongues

Supple Fit

Indy foam pads

Past Vert Eyelets for Roller skates

Three finger gloves (love them or hate them)

EPP Protective gear

I could go on and on...Some ideas work (supple fit), and some do not (VIBE)

Most companies try to innovate and push the envelope...All the brands that just ripped off and duplicated products are gone...Every major company out there has good product. You just need to use the product that works best for you....

[kovalchuk71 212]

I wont buy mia due to complicated issues.

[BK 0]

Most companies try to innovate and push the envelope...

RBK's new stick comes to mind.

Anyways, there isn't really any brand that I wont buy. I am picky, but I really buy what feels good. With sticks, I know what I want and any company who can produce that, I will give them my business. Protective is the same way. I try not to look at brands when I am trying on gear, I just go with what feels good (it's usually never the first thing that catches my eye either). Some companies, I just have to give a second chance. The first time I picked up an XXX lite, I hated it. After a few ice times with a friend's stick (trying out a new pattern) and fell in love. I stopped in my LHS the other day and saw the One90 on the rack. I picked that one up just from the feel alone wanted to purchase one. Now I am begging my wife to let me spend a little Christmas money on one (or 2 lol) whereas a few weeks ago, I would have passed right by it.

[jmiro 55]

i agree the vibe stunk

speaking of ideas that rocked and went away

my favorite was the bauer flak adjustable shin pads. Id still use mine if i could.

[Alias81 0]

Shins and Elbow I go for Jofa/RBK

Shoulder I have Jofa/RBK but its less important to me

Pants I just go and check out the selection at my LHS TBH

Same for Helmet and gloves really.

Skates I've always stuck with Bauer but I think I'm gonna try some thing different this time maybe when I come back home I'll try Kor's or some Salmings if I can find 'em.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

Supple Fit

I could go on and on...Some ideas work (supple fit), and some do not (VIBE)

Most companies try to innovate and push the envelope...All the brands that just ripped off and duplicated products are gone...

LOL funny that you mention that...

[pmr149 0]

I'm not going to lie...I won't buy anything Easton after the incident at their MB a few years back...The memories still haunt me

what was the incident at their mb?

[cobrAA 0]

I hate Nike and RBK. but you know what. i bought flexlite last years and if it wasnt for the cut of boot i would have keep them. and i'm waiting for some mone to buy the 9k!

I hate them why?? Because they only think about cash, they don't care if people still love ccm or bauer, all what they think is marketing,design and big name.

Becaus eof that i lost the best skate lin in all history: the tacks line. and i would say that the supreme are pretty dead. IMO the one90 can't be called a supreme.

the 2 best lines of skate are gone because they were not enought cool! it's a shame.

Anyways, mostly all my protective gear are: supreme 6000, helmet: 8000 glove: XX

only skate( 852) and neck guard( nike) are from another brand.

the easton SL grip got me, i have 3 back-up..

[shotblock 0]

I never use to be but after playing for a fewq years I wont buy certain thingd. I try and stay away from RBK, I dont know enough about then. I will stay away from Jofa and I will stay away from mission. Didn't have a very good experience with mission.

[skates 3]

I will add some of the concepts that we have come up with that has been copied:

Vent holes in gloves

Composite materials on Skates

Composite outsoles (full composite - not combo units with PVC)

Short hosel blades

Foam tongues

Supple Fit

Indy foam pads

Past Vert Eyelets for Roller skates

Three finger gloves (love them or hate them)

EPP Protective gear

I could go on and on...Some ideas work (supple fit), and some do not (VIBE)

Most companies try to innovate and push the envelope...All the brands that just ripped off and duplicated products are gone...Every major company out there has good product. You just need to use the product that works best for you....

I question the accuracy on the skate portion, honestly.

[Chadd 916]

I don't believe that I have a bias, though I do have certain expectations of every manufacturer. I can (and do) separate my personal feelings on business practices or personal relationships from my opinion on the products.

That said, if a manufacturer has been making products that I don't like and they don't change the things that I don't like, chances are I'm not going to like the new product.

Over the last few years as I have gotten to know people at every company, I feel that I have to be more critical of every piece of gear that I try. I don't want my personal relationships to appear to influence my public opinion of a product.

[mack 44]

I have preferences and will give certain companies the benefit of the doubt and check out their stuff first. If it doesn't feel right or sucks outright then I'll move along. With everything changing each year I'll dabble in more recent technologies but find myself going back to the obsolete lines of shafts.

[DarkStar50 679]

As an equipment buyer for the shop, I have no bias for or against any brand. If the product works, is well made, and price equals value, then I have no problem bringing it in to the shop. I have seen brands make great products only to lose focus and incentive to do better since they were on top. This has created the chance for the competition to do better and they have. Personally, some guys may be missing out on a certain piece of equipment that will fit and perform better than what they have just because they have a bias towards a company. I think an open minded approach to all equipment and vendors is the safest route to take.

[chk hrd 164]

I'm only biased towards skates. I have skated in CCM's for many years and now use RBK's. I'll stick to those skates because they fit and feel good so there is no reason to change.

My other gear is a mix and match of CCM and Easton. If it fits well and works then I'll wear it.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

I am with Chadd on this one.