Shoulder pads...

[stevo 0]

How do you heat mold shoulder pads? Skate oven?

I think the heat from your body molds them???

[stevo 0]

How do you get shoulder pads that are long? I'm 6'2 and find that my shoulder pads are just to short.

During my search for shoulder pads I found that the Bauer 8000 Defender's are very long. You might wanna try those on.

[hip check 0]

Not exactly.

The NHL mandated soft-cap elbow pads...Jofa took their existing models and made a soft-cap version. When I worked the NSH training camp, a few guys had Bauer old-school style donut elbow pads and a couple of guys had Vapor 6s.

Thanks for correcting me. I knew the soft cap was in, and Jofa was in line with an acceptable model. ;)

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Is that 99% figure true? I heard it right from a CCM rep. that something like 49% of NHL players use Jofa protective equipment.

The number was 99% of NHL players use at least one piece of Jofa equipment.

[Cavs019 710]

I tried on the easton ultra lite, I still felt like robocop. Wasn't to crazy about them.

[kosydar 0]

I think I may opt for the Sher-Wood 5030s.

[Cavs019 710]

you will also be opting for a hospital bed if you play anything other than beer league.

[wristshot19 0]

you will also be opting for a hospital bed if you play anything other than beer league.

The 5030s may not be the high tech pad that all the young boys and girls scream for, but they are still good pads. I actually bought 5030s because I like a pad that has a lot of mobility, is lightweight, has a low profile and doesn't cost a ton of money. I also like the classic feel of the 5030s since they are almost the exact same type of pad that I used when I was growing up.

If your body is used to the abuse of hockey (like mine is) then you probably never need anything more than a pair of 5030 shoulder pads.

Lastly, a lot of pros still wear classic style shoulder pads with minimal protection and I would hardly call the NHL a "beer league".

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Exactly.

[BGM 0]

But NHL players are a little bigger than yourself---their bodies can take blows. I play in men's A leagues with Easton Air's and still managed to separate my shoulder on a mid-ice collision check (it is no checking league but it still occurs). And I'm 6'3". I think there is a balance between mobililty and protection.

[jay 1]

Common sense tells us that wearing less protectice shoulder pads or even no shoulder pads will only increase our chances of getting hurt. It's up to us to factor in where and how we play and then decide how much or how little risk we're willing to take when choosing equipment. Myself, I tend to err on the side of overprotection due simply to the fact that I'd like to minimize the expense of having another surgery and hospital stay. That said, shoulder pads are one area I feel like I can sacrifice some protection due to the fact that I play no-check and most contact is coincedental and of the type where any shoulder pad may not really be able to protect me from a serious injury. With elbow pads on the other hand, I try and go very protective. Due to my agressive nature, I end up on the ice/floor a lot.

[BGM 0]

Agreed. I'm assuming most of people on here are kids who play contact. I just hate to see kids watch NHL players and say "NHL players wear the skimpy pads" and think it must be ok. I could probably go with a lighter pad but I don't trust other players, sticks, shots or lack of control sometimes and it's not worth an injury when my income is from a 9-5 and am not going to make it to the NHL anytime soon.

[Chadd 916]

Younger NHL players are wearing bigger pads than the old-timers because that's what they've grown up using.

[stevo 0]

Some of the older guys look like they aren't even wearing shoulder pads.

[kosydar 0]

Wasn't it Rob Ray who had his shoulder pad caps sewn to his jersey? Anyway, 5030s would be a step up from what I'm wearing right now in terms of protection. I play aggresively in a pretty physical league, but I don't ever get hurt from checks. I'm 6'0" 170 so I'm not huge, but pretty big. I think a lot of people put on huge pads and think that they'll always be protected from everything, which isn't the case. I've worn the bigger, top of the line $100+ shoulder pads, but I've gone back to my old Coopers. I think a lot of it is knowing how to take a check, which I've learned. I might have learned it the hard way many years ago, but I still learned it.

[Cavs019 710]

believe me I wish I could wear something that small. I absolutely hate wearing shoulder pads altogether but the leagues I play in are extremely physical and I happen to be someone who has the puck A LOT, therefore I'm always a target to be laid out. I still haven't found a pad that I absolutely love, only ones that just "get the job done." The bauer classics look very interesting however.

[stevo 0]

Ok, I went to 4 different hockey stores today and tried on just about every shoulder pad on the market! I must say, for overall fit, comfort, protection, and mobility the Nike V12's seem to suit me best. But I did try on some Jofa 9500's and I like those a lot too. So now I'm just debating between the two. What are prices like in the US for these two models? I know what the prices are online but what about locally?

[Cavs019 710]

My LHS has the v12 for around 110 US, and the 9500 for about 85. The 8500 (same exact pad) can be had for much less though.

[stevo 0]

Does anyone know how well the Jofa 9500's handle moisture? Doesn't seem as sophisticated as the higher end models.

[BGM 0]

Cavs019--please let me know the name and location of your LHS where the V-12's are $110. Everywhere online they are at least $125. Thanks.

[kosydar 0]

Heres a good pair http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...3686093459&rd=1

But if you're interested in the 9500s, check these, out. They're essentially the same pad, but for less than half the price. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=3686822320

[stevo 0]

Now those are some sweet Coopers!

[Cavs019 710]

the 7500 is a mid level pad, not the same as the 9500 although i do like it more, its thinner. The 8500 is the same as the 9500.

[LetsGoWings13 0]

i rember watching a wings game and the anouncer said that shanahan still wore the same classic style shoulder pads that he used in bantam.

[Cavs019 710]

that would be true.