Easton Synergy SHins

[srv2miker 0]

Hey guys,

On searching I found that some people had problems with the Easton "Slingtec" plastic shin guard cracking. But the original thread was pretty dated. I was wondering if anyone had any recent experience with these, and if I should be taking the ones I just bought back.

This refers to the higher end Synergy models with the clear plastic guards, as opposed to the lower end ones which featured plain white plastic.

Any experiences?

[drisco487 0]

not sure if this will help much but, 2 kids i play with both have them, the high end ones and they haven't had any problems with them and one of the kids i play with is on our bantam AAA team and the other is for a middle school team, but both, no problems

[flyguy1697 0]

About 3-4 guys I know that have them or had them have all cracked pretty badly. They all sent them back to easton and recieved new pairs and again they cracked. I don't know why they went with the clear plastic it's seeming to break way easier then the white. A few of the kids that had broken them just switched to RBK pads and love them.

[narwhal 0]

I've got the '05 Ultra lite model. I haven't had any problems with them at all playing 1-2 times per week over the past 1.5 years. Most of that has been inline though.

[DarkStar50 680]

I had a few 05 models come back cracked last season. This season none of the 06 models came back as defective with cracks.

[duch 0]

I have a pair of S-9's and haven't had any problems with them at all. They are one of the best shin pads I've ever owned and I love the slim fit as opposed to the wider Jofa/RBK shin pads. They don't look as well padded as a pair of Jofa/RBK shin pads but I have yet to take a shot to them that has hurt me or damaged the pads.

[Slapshot25 0]

Know someone on one of the highschool teams where i live and a kid took a slapshot and a kid standin in front of the net blocked it and the puck stayed in the clear plastic cracked it sooo bad

[NJ35 0]

I'm rocking th S9s and I have had zero cracking problems with them so far.

[srv2miker 0]

Yeah, I think I'll be returning these. Its one thing to have a defect now and then, but this is starting to look like a pattern. Even if 75% of people haven't had problems, I'd bet in the shinpad dept. 95% would be the other companies' average.

[Chadd 916]

Yeah, I think I'll be returning these. Its one thing to have a defect now and then, but this is starting to look like a pattern. Even if 75% of people haven't had problems, I'd bet in the shinpad dept. 95% would be the other companies' average.

It's obviously not scientific but 90% of the broken shin pads that I have seen were Eastons. I'm only counting "new" product and not 5 year old pads. The clear plastic accounts for all of the breakage that I have seen as well as two broken legs.

[Keith 0]

I have a scar on my leg from that stupid clear plastic detonating on an easton sg I was using. I got off relatively lucky imo.

[srv2miker 0]

I went to my LHS and tried on a bunch of other pads. It came down to Bauer 4000s or RBK 4Ks. In the end I chose the 4K's because I thought the fit lite system would be a great way to keep cooler on the ice, and I liked the strapping system better. It didn't hurt that they've got Jofa's reputation behing them either. I thought they were a little over-priced compared to others, but I'm willing to pay extra to give the new style a shot. Thanks everyone for giving me warning about the Eastons.

[Fury of One 6]

I went to my LHS and tried on a bunch of other pads. It came down to Bauer 4000s or RBK 4Ks. In the end I chose the 4K's because I thought the fit lite system would be a great way to keep cooler on the ice, and I liked the strapping system better. It didn't hurt that they've got Jofa's reputation behing them either. I thought they were a little over-priced compared to others, but I'm willing to pay extra to give the new style a shot. Thanks everyone for giving me warning about the Eastons.

I had a pair of the 4Ks and after about1-2 months those fit-lite straps ripped off. I used them for a while without them but eventually I got the Bauer 4000s.

[srv2miker 0]

I went to my LHS and tried on a bunch of other pads. It came down to Bauer 4000s or RBK 4Ks. In the end I chose the 4K's because I thought the fit lite system would be a great way to keep cooler on the ice, and I liked the strapping system better. It didn't hurt that they've got Jofa's reputation behing them either. I thought they were a little over-priced compared to others, but I'm willing to pay extra to give the new style a shot. Thanks everyone for giving me warning about the Eastons.

I had a pair of the 4Ks and after about1-2 months those fit-lite straps ripped off. I used them for a while without them but eventually I got the Bauer 4000s.

Are you trying to drive me insane?

How exactly did they rip off?

[hockeysc23 0]

I purchase the S5 shinguards a month or so ago. I have played around 5+ games in them and have blocked several shots but have not had any cracking or problems with them. The only annoying property is the precipitation that collects under the plastic but I just have to make sure I properly dry them after every use.

Scott

[Fury of One 6]

I went to my LHS and tried on a bunch of other pads. It came down to Bauer 4000s or RBK 4Ks. In the end I chose the 4K's because I thought the fit lite system would be a great way to keep cooler on the ice, and I liked the strapping system better. It didn't hurt that they've got Jofa's reputation behing them either. I thought they were a little over-priced compared to others, but I'm willing to pay extra to give the new style a shot. Thanks everyone for giving me warning about the Eastons.

I had a pair of the 4Ks and after about1-2 months those fit-lite straps ripped off. I used them for a while without them but eventually I got the Bauer 4000s.

Are you trying to drive me insane?

How exactly did they rip off?

Well, not intentionally, but when I took 'em off after a game I noticed the stitching of the straps had ripped apart. I cut the rest of them off and used them for a while without them and they were alright. That was my experience with 'em but if I got RBKs again I'd probably just get the 3Ks since they're more of a basic pad.

[srv2miker 0]

Do you mean the whole strap ripped off, or just the neoprene cover?

[Fury of One 6]

The one side of the whole strap ripped off. The strap is stitched to the pad and that's where it came apart.

[srv2miker 0]

Yeah, I was afraid you were going to say that. Shit.

[Fury of One 6]

It probably happened as a result of taping them and by that I mean that those straps are designed to make it sit off your leg a little bit. I guess when I taped them, maybe too tight I dunno, it caused them to compress more than they should and hence loosened the stitching.

[canuckdude 0]

I just played my first game with new 4K shins - they felt great, not like new equipment. I wore them over underarmour equivalent and they didn't feel any cooler really. Lots of room to tuck skate tongue under shin.

I can't see how the fitlite straps could rip off. I purposely blocked a couple of hard slappers to see how they feel - fine. Maybe the straps ripping off are the removable straps? If they were defective and broke after 1 or 2 months I'd take them back.

Overall I'm impressed.

[DamnLocust 0]

If it's just stitching coming loose I usually just resew it myself by hand. The jock in my itech shorts came loose the second tme I washed it, so I just sewed it back in. No biggie. I did the same with the straps on my shins.

If the actual material of the strap tore, then it may be an issue worth worrying about.