Hottest Product for 2007-2008

[CTHockey 2]

Just wondering what everyone thinks we'll be this upcoming years hottest selling product. As i think about all the new gadgets, apparel, and equipment i noticed two of the big companies have focused on pro style gloves. Bauer introduced the 4 Roll Pro glove and easton is doing their custom pro glove as well. I think these two items will be one of our most popular items this year besides the typical OPS hype that is always around year round. Take a blank OPS put some fancy colors and designs on it and there you go, you have the next hot stick!!

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

Easton has always done their custom glove program, and the 4 Roll glove was out two years ago and nobody bought it.

[CTHockey 2]

I thought the Easton cloth glove was a new program this year! Theres too many teams around our local area with such a wide range of colors that these programs enable us to target each team with the right colors.

[GH_ID 0]

Come on, the industry will for sure offer something more exciting then darn 4 roll gloves that have been out for years. Have a little faith :)

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

I thought the Easton cloth glove was a new program this year! Theres too many teams around our local area with such a wide range of colors that these programs enable us to target each team with the right colors.

Nope. I think they bought Saw Sports about 3 years ago and have been offering it since then.

[CTHockey 2]

Well besides that then theres the usual new skates that will be getting all the hype. The new Easton S15 seems to be a well improved skate from the years past while the Bauer Vapor XXXX has had only modest changes, comestics being the main part. Cant wait to see how the 25 new Mission skates do. Ive never seen a company come out with so many new skates in so few years!

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

You're bashing Mission while praising Easton at the same time? At least Mission's top end skates before last year went on a 2 year cycle...what's this, the 4th composite skate revision in 3.5 years?

Not trying to diss Easton, but way to pick your spots.

[CTHockey 2]

JR your responses are faster then a speeding bullet. As far as Easton's boot is concerned, I see them improving on the original idea they started on. While mission tends to be jumping from one hoop to another. I mean theres a customer for every boot and we definitely sold our fair share of Mission boots. Next year will be a little tougher when our skate wall has 25 differnt missions to choose from. Hopefully my exageration will be noticed :)

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

How exactly do you figure?

They've gone with the same two fits since 2001. The SuppleFit started in late 2001 with the Pure Fly and then carried over into the S500. They felt the need for a traditional boot two years later to compete against Vapor and Vector at pro and retail levels and came out with L7. Then the merger happened and the design team changed, and did not exactly get the SuppleFit down right, but this year's boot is pretty much back on track. I don't understand how you can see that as going from "one hoop to another." The skins looked different but the guts were essentially the same.

Easton, on the other hand, had to fix their problems with their boots. THe first year it was the delamination. Then then found out about the ankles turning inwards after the composite mold, so they flare out the ankles. Now they use different foams to get the skate lighter. All the while, keeping the skates looking exactly the same, confusing customers who have to look for a different model number on the boot.

Now who's jumping hoops?

[CTHockey 2]

I believe they both have. Eastons one piece mold has stayed the same which makes their boot unique i suppose from all the others. The mold has stayed the same while theyve constantly made improvements on everything else about the boot. My only complaint about mission is that they are constantly changing the looks of their boot from one end to the other. Granted the "guts" may be similar but it seems like every year they offer another new skate. Their skates are decent but there not that good to the point of offering so many diffent models. As far as Eastons line up goes, their 1500 is going to be left in the dust this year by the S15. I dont even know why their bothering to keep that skate alive when the S15 is suppose to be the newer more improved version of that skate.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

I believe they both have.

Now you are contradicting yourself. Before, it was just Mission jumping hoops, now you've put Easton in the same basket.

The mold has stayed the same while theyve constantly made improvements on everything else about the boot.

Improvements or fixes?

[Chadd 916]

Funny how Kor got the composite boot right on the first try and Easton still doesn't offer the customization of fit that Kor does.

Mission made a couple mistakes (in my mind) over the last couple years:

1. Most people who are going to buy a Vapor-like skate (L or XP) are just going to buy a Vapor and not another brand.

2. The total redesign of the supplefit line was a bad idea, especially when the S500 was such a fantastic skate.

Mission fixed problem number 2 this year with the 120 AG. They feel they need the XP line as most skaters don't "get" the supplefit concept.

Back on the original topic, I only care about product quality and not what most people get conned into buying. Quite often the most popular product is not the best. My picks:

TPS R8 gloves and their palm

AG120 skates

[Keith 0]

Funny how Kor got the composite boot right on the first try and Easton still doesn't offer the customization of fit that Kor does.

Mission made a couple mistakes (in my mind) over the last couple years:

1. Most people who are going to buy a Vapor-like skate (L or XP) are just going to buy a Vapor and not another brand.

2. The total redesign of the supplefit line was a bad idea, especially when the S500 was such a fantastic skate.

Mission fixed problem number 2 this year with the 120 AG. They feel they need the XP line as most skaters don't "get" the supplefit concept.

Back on the original topic, I only care about product quality and not what most people get conned into buying. Quite often the most popular product is not the best. My picks:

TPS R8 gloves and their palm

AG120 skates

Having skated Kor and Synergy, there is no comparison in terms of fit. While they performed great and I actually like their holders a lot, the Eastons made my ankles bleed horribly. The Kor boots mold pretty much exactly to your feet. The only thing you have to be mindful of are hospots on the top cuff so you don't get the rubbing. It is just a matter of a little care when molding, but on the whole, the skates are well-engineered from the starts and I see no reason why they couldn't run that shift 1 boot for 2 or 3 years as-is. That said, I see about a half dozen ways you can make them better someday, but the improvements wouldn't be flaw corrections like a lot of easton's tweaks have been so much as evolution of the boot layout. It's true abotu mission too... They have always stuck more or less to the same basic boot for 3 or 4 years before switching, They even ran with the same basic amp layout for years. Chadd is right though, far too many people buy on looks and name rather than how it feels and performs for you. My gear right now is like a grab bag of companies b/c I buy what works for me based on criteria I have.

[CTHockey 2]

Myself personally I find that a lot of younger kids like the Mission brand because of the color scheme/price. While the adult sizes tend to be geared towards older adult who are switching from the classic all leather boot and are looking for that soft yet supportive feel. Maybe its just my customers but in the past i dont see Mission skates holding up as well as all the others. Very quick break down of the boot which in the end loses protection and support for the customer. Missions best product in the past few years is the the L7 glove. That glove by far is the most comfortable and softest glove from the start. Customers love the way they feel compared to any other glove on the market!

[Riggo 0]

Regarding the Mission Fuel 120, is it correct to say that the heel will be narrower than the 110? That was my one big beef with the 110 - too wide of a heel.

[Chadd 916]

Regarding the Mission Fuel 120, is it correct to say that the heel will be narrower than the 110? That was my one big beef with the 110 - too wide of a heel.

Yes, the heel width and ankle depth problems have been corrected.

[chippa13 1844]

I've always believed Mission's problem was in the constant renaming of updated, tweaked skate lines. Bauer's Vapor line is probably a far cry from what they were when they first came out but they created name recognition. I think Mission would benefit from doing the same.

[Chadd 916]

I've always believed Mission's problem was in the constant renaming of updated, tweaked skate lines. Bauer's Vapor line is probably a far cry from what they were when they first came out but they created name recognition. I think Mission would benefit from doing the same.

When you don't have a large market share, you have to change things up from time to time in order to try and improve sales. That goes for Easton and Mission.

[BuffaloKing 0]

I had heard that MIA might be doing some retail with their "Inferno" glove and stick line. Infernos are hot, no? :D . But I am interested to see what prices these things would sell at if they ever hit. Anyone else have info on this?

[Louie 28]

Come on, the industry will for sure offer something more exciting then darn 4 roll gloves that have been out for years. Have a little faith :)

Thats what I like to hear.... :D

Anyways possible big hits:

CCM Vector Pro SE

RBK 9K Stick

RBK 9K Skates Kovalev Edition

[JDub 29]

Nike Bauer iD Sticks...

Nike Bauer iD Sticks...

[jimmy 194]

This is really only relevant to goalies, but PRO MASK has come out with a 3-piece composite goal stick that is certain to be a hit with goalies. Composite carbon shaft, aluminum paddle, and composite blade. Glues precisely together and fits solid and firm. First ever goal stick with replaceable parts, kind of like the 2-piece player stick. except 3 pieces. Most goalies break blades. So, now they wil not have to replace the entire stick. Truely innovative. Not too pricey either. Since I've been telling my goalie customers about it, I've already got six to order. Response has been very receptive. Lets see $200 for a composite goal stick thatwhen breaks anywhere you throw it away, or $220 for a goal stick that could last entire career. Sunds nice, doesn't it.

[cammerz12 0]

How exactly do you figure?

They've gone with the same two fits since 2001. The SuppleFit started in late 2001 with the Pure Fly and then carried over into the S500. They felt the need for a traditional boot two years later to compete against Vapor and Vector at pro and retail levels and came out with L7. Then the merger happened and the design team changed, and did not exactly get the SuppleFit down right, but this year's boot is pretty much back on track. I don't understand how you can see that as going from "one hoop to another." The skins looked different but the guts were essentially the same.

Easton, on the other hand, had to fix their problems with their boots. THe first year it was the delamination. Then then found out about the ankles turning inwards after the composite mold, so they flare out the ankles. Now they use different foams to get the skate lighter. All the while, keeping the skates looking exactly the same, confusing customers who have to look for a different model number on the boot.

Now who's jumping hoops?

[kovalchuk71 212]

This is really only relevant to goalies, but PRO MASK has come out with a 3-piece composite goal stick that is certain to be a hit with goalies. Composite carbon shaft, aluminum paddle, and composite blade. Glues precisely together and fits solid and firm. First ever goal stick with replaceable parts, kind of like the 2-piece player stick. except 3 pieces. Most goalies break blades. So, now they wil not have to replace the entire stick. Truely innovative. Not too pricey either. Since I've been telling my goalie customers about it, I've already got six to order. Response has been very receptive. Lets see $200 for a composite goal stick thatwhen breaks anywhere you throw it away, or $220 for a goal stick that could last entire career. Sunds nice, doesn't it.

Took them damn long enough. I was trying to figure out why they didnt do this years ago?

[Eazy_b97 1]

This is really only relevant to goalies, but PRO MASK has come out with a 3-piece composite goal stick that is certain to be a hit with goalies. Composite carbon shaft, aluminum paddle, and composite blade. Glues precisely together and fits solid and firm. First ever goal stick with replaceable parts, kind of like the 2-piece player stick. except 3 pieces. Most goalies break blades. So, now they wil not have to replace the entire stick. Truely innovative. Not too pricey either. Since I've been telling my goalie customers about it, I've already got six to order. Response has been very receptive. Lets see $200 for a composite goal stick thatwhen breaks anywhere you throw it away, or $220 for a goal stick that could last entire career. Sunds nice, doesn't it.

Have they done anything to aid in terms of feel and vibrations? A number of goalies I talk to like the concept of a composite stick, but can't stand the vibrations that come with it. Aluminum doesn't sound like the answer.