Vapour X:15, 20 and 40 Sticks

[AIREAYE 248]

I have made a similar post over at HFBoards and haven't gotten much response, so I figured to ask you guys here. I know there is a lot of discussion about the X:60 and such, but what about this year's lower end sticks?

How do they feel? Weight? Stick'um grip?

Appreciate this fellas :)

[Hooah4 12]

They are most likely tuned up versions of the XII, XVI, and XXV vapors from the last line. New paint.

[raygunpk 0]

I think logically it should be:

X15 = XII

X20 = XVI

X40 = XXII

X50 = XXV

But in my LHS, the X40 was priced as the XVI used to be priced. The X15 was lower than the old XII price as well.

[gxc999 7]

I think the x50 might be the 40 from last year but with an improved blade. That's just speculation from someone who used one. Not sure<

[AIREAYE 248]

What's with the new Intelli-Shot System on the X:40 and above? I think thats a main selling point for me

[K9 Unit 1]

there are two flexpoints...one's high in the shaft and ones where they normally would be, when you take a slapshot the shaft uses both flexes coz of where your hand is and when you take wrist/snap shot its just normal

[gxc999 7]

there are two flexpoints...one's high in the shaft and ones where they normally would be, when you take a slapshot the shaft uses both flexes coz of where your hand is and when you take wrist/snap shot its just normal

They can call it whatever they want, but CCM already built a stick that has booming power shots and great wristers with the U+ and made it better with the CL.

[hamstercaster 2]

Sorry to bring this thread back up but I guess it's better than creating a new one on the same subject.

I'm shopping for a stick equivalent to my Bauer XXV and have a few options in line but not sure what option to choose. It seems to be getting increasingly hard to find XXV's around here. I find the XXV to be perfect for me in both price and performance and would like something that performs pretty much the same at that price point. XXV's are now going between $100 and $125 and to me that's hard to beat performance and price wise. So a month later, does anyone know what replaces what or what would be a better choice in my price rane. I'm ready to go up to about $150 as I really can't justify paying $200 plus for a stick to play "pick up" hockey where talent is somewhat limited, including my talent lol. I mostly play D but will play forward from time to time. It's a no slapshot gang unless you have a clear path to the goalie. I consider myself a good passer and have a decent shot actually made better with the XXV's kickpoint compared to my 7K or so it seems anyway.

So what are the equivalents?

Does this still stand:

X15 = XII

X20 = XVI

X40 = XXII

X50 = XXV

or is the X50 replacing the XXXX and then the X40 replacing the XXV as it's been stated in this thread?

What would be the best stick to suit my game?

The XXII at $125

The One75 at $150

The X:40 at $100

the One70 at $80

The X:50 or One85 look like good choices too but there are no prices on the Prohockeylife.com site and since they consider them to be top of the line sticks along with the One95 and the X:60 I figure they will be around $200 and looking at the Bauer site, there are no differences in the specs between the X:40 and the X:50 so I presume that it is a weight issue and that the weight difference between the two shouldn't be all that big with the X:40 being probably about the same weight as the XXV.

Anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated. I have to admit that I'm leaning more towards the X:40 because of it's similarities with the X:50 which is sure to be about twice the price.

Thanks

[AIREAYE 248]

Alright, I dont want to write a paragraph so Ill write in points:

-Your equivalents seem to be correct

-I can't speak for the XXV, but I recently bought my X:40 that I wanted a the start of the thread

X:40:

-Overall: GREAT VALUE at $100

-Weight shouldn't be an issue, not extremely light, but manageable

-Puck feel I think is somewhat lacking, similar to the XXXX and XXV

-With a 77 flex P106, I noticed my shots are much better than my One55

-The X:50 should be around $170-180

-Same with the One85

[hamstercaster 2]

Thanks. I finally decided to head to my LHS yesterday and ended up with a Vapor X:Shift a SMU (I think that's the term). In my hands it felt exactly the same as the X:50. Was the same weight and all. It was lighter than the X:40. Not that much lighter but still. It was $160 and the guy at the LHS told me that it was actually between a X:40 and et X:50 in terms of specs. They had another SMU that was a Vapor X:Shift Velocity. That one was pretty much the same as the X:40 as told by the guy and as compared by me... but I'm not an expert so I may be wrong lol. I'll be trying it out on Friday night

[shifter 0]

Thanks. I finally decided to head to my LHS yesterday and ended up with a Vapor X:Shift a SMU (I think that's the term). In my hands it felt exactly the same as the X:50. Was the same weight and all. It was lighter than the X:40. Not that much lighter but still. It was $160 and the guy at the LHS told me that it was actually between a X:40 and et X:50 in terms of specs. They had another SMU that was a Vapor X:Shift Velocity. That one was pretty much the same as the X:40 as told by the guy and as compared by me... but I'm not an expert so I may be wrong lol. I'll be trying it out on Friday night

Good choice! I've been getting my skates usually at source for sports for over 3 years and this year I was fitted in X:shifts ( between X:40 and X:50 skate) . They do smu for rbk,ccm,and bauer from what I've seen, for bauer SMU's its X:Shifter being the top end then X:velocity being mid end and X:rival being low end for skates and sticks. Same thing with ccm and rbks with different names though. My skates ; X:Shifts are closely more specced towards the X:50 then the 40 though dunno about the sticks. Hows the feel on the stick?

[AIREAYE 248]

Thanks. I finally decided to head to my LHS yesterday and ended up with a Vapor X:Shift a SMU (I think that's the term). In my hands it felt exactly the same as the X:50. Was the same weight and all. It was lighter than the X:40. Not that much lighter but still. It was $160 and the guy at the LHS told me that it was actually between a X:40 and et X:50 in terms of specs. They had another SMU that was a Vapor X:Shift Velocity. That one was pretty much the same as the X:40 as told by the guy and as compared by me... but I'm not an expert so I may be wrong lol. I'll be trying it out on Friday night

Ive seen these at my local SFS, try them and tell us how they are :)

[raygunpk 0]

hamstercaster, I take it you went to the hockey shop.

Vapor X:Shift can be seen here: http://www.thehockeyshop.com/Merchant2/mer...S_Comp_Stick_Sr

I love the colors.

[hamstercaster 2]

To answer the few posts after mine. I got at Marc Sports Source for Sports in Gatineau. They only had one choice of color. I haven't tried it yet. I'm playing tomorrow night and will make sure to give you a short insight on the feel and such and will wait a few games before writing a complete review. As previously stated, in store the X:Shift felt like the X:50 and seemed to have the exact same specs, at least based one what was written on the shaft. Mind you, if you go on Bauer's website, the X:40 has the exact same specs as the X:50 but there's nothing on weight but I believe that the X:40 is heavier than the X:50... at least based on the weight of the X:Shift, X:50 and X:Velocity. One interesting thing the guy told me is that the X:Shift was more like the Bauer X:Pro or something similar to that, that is only sold in Europe. Don't know if there's any truth to that. Anyway, it's a mid-level stick at mid-level pricing or just below. I'll be sure to let you guys know how it feels puck feel and shooting wise. It will definitly be a bit different than my Bauer XXV as the XXV was whippier because I had a 4 inch butt end to it and on that one I only put a couple of inches as the lie is different (Kane P88 as opposed to Malkin PM9)

[hamstercaster 2]

Just a quick head up about the Bauer X:Shift, SMU stick for Source for Sports. I'll do a full review on the stick after a few more hours of play but just incase people were looking at it but hesitatiing

Weight of the stick: 560 grams with a 2 inch butt end

Weight of my previous Rbk 6K: 500 grams with not butt end

Weight of the XXV I had last before the X:Shift: 480 grams with no butt end

So it's pretty much the same weight, give or take a little. One thing I noticed while weighing the sticks is that the Rbk 6k was blade heavy compared to the X:Shift and to an extent, the same applied to the XXV. Keep in mind that it may seem that way because of the butt end on the X:Shift

So last night was my first game. I played terrible and couldn't pass if my life depended on it and passing is usually my best assett. I missed a few pucks I was trying to intercept on the back end and I blame it mostly on changing curve pattern and Lie at the same time. Some say it's better to only change one thing at a time. I actually had the same thing happen when I went from the P38 on my Rbk to the PM9 on the XXV. Shooting was great though, at least for wristers. I was rocketing wristers like there was no tomorrow. Didn't take any slap shots yet as we are not allowed slap shots unless we have a clear shot on the goalie and that basically never happens to me lol. I took many wristers during practice and they were definitly harder than my Rbk 6 and my XXV. The Rbk 6 has a P38 which is basically the same as the the P88 except that the P38 is slightly more open but the lie is a bit different too for the P88 at 5.5 although it's said to be a 6 on Bauer's website. Either way, the stick felt pretty close to a 87. I think that the 2 inch butt end wasn't enough to stiffened or softned the whip. On the few good wristers I took, I clearly felt the stick flex before seeing the puck being launched with power and good accuracy. as for puck feel, can't say much about it as playing D I rarely stick handle as I tend to either clear the puck or pass it as soon as possible to a speeding forward. In the warm up though it felt decent regarding puck feel as I was able to stick handle keeping my head up and rarely losing the puck but since I'm not the greatest stick handler, take it for what it's worth. I mean, I think I have good hands but I usually need to have my head down to stick handle and rely on my peripheral vision to stick handle around sticks or opponents and will only lift my head when someone calls for a pass or when I feel it's time to look for the open man.... One part of my game that needs major adjustment I guess

I just hope that for next game my passing game will be back lol.

Anyway, to me it seems like a pretty good mid point stick that is definitly worth a try at least for the level of play I'm in and the fact that I only play "shinny".

Stay tuned for a comple review in the coming weeks

[AIREAYE 248]

How did you weigh your stick? With what kind of scale?

[hamstercaster 2]

I used a food scale. I noticed while weighing the sticks that I had to bring the blade of the XXV and Rbk 6K closer to the scale for it to stay straight on the scale and that's how I determined that the sticks were probably a bit blade heavy but as I said, the X:Shift as a butt end to it so that may have helped balance things out on the scale somewhat.