Easton EQ5 skate canceled?

[TBLfan 25]

Easton has had a lot of issues with their skates. In my opinion it's a shame they couldn't get it right soon enough or they could have been a major player, particularly with the Stealth series. The technology was rather advanced but Bauer and now CCM has zipped passed them while Easton is still trying to fix their durability issues.

A similar issue seems to be happening with sticks, actually. Bauer seems to have caught them and put out a comparable, yet more durable product in the X:60 stick(and in my opinion better kick). Here I think the issue is Easton trying too hard to please the retail public with various "innovative" designs over enhancing performance within materials, it's allowed Bauer to catch up... and it's starting to show at the pro level. Obviously Easton's market share there is very large but Bauer and Warrior have chipped at it. I think Bauer is the only one that can sustain that pressure on the Easton stick marketshare because they seem to active in trying to put out a better product instead of trying to blow people away with crazy tapers and such.

[MattKingDelToro 2]

TBLfan- I agree with everything you just said. Starting with the One95, it seems Bauer has essentially caught Easton in terms of stick quality. I, like a lot of people, was really turned off by the elliptical taper of the S17. Personally, I'd like to see Easton focus on the composite materials that make up the stick rather than pursue designs that feel a bit gimmicky. I remember reading somewhere that the reason Mike Green (or any other pro for that matter) couldn't have more CNTs made was because the inputs became too expensive. That being said, the EQ50 stick is going to be a very important product for Easton.

[raganblink 82]

From personal experience Easton is not doing well in the skate department. I've spoken to a few LHS's and a lot of them have seemed to push Easton to the side because of problems dealing with their reps and durability issues with Easton skates. Both myself and my son use Easton skates and neither of us have found anything in the way of durability issues with them and we both love the way they perform on ice. I have a pair of 1300C's in fact that are into their fifth year of service and are still in very decent shape. Regardless, there seems to be less and less in the way of Easton skates on the market recently and other than pickup hockey I see very few guys using Easton anymore. Bauer is by far the most popular with Reebok/CCM and Graf following them.

At high competitive level, every pre-s17 did not hold up at all. Only reason people bought them over bauer/ccm etc imo was because they were so much lighter than the competition.

point in case; we have a pair of s15s in my size that were accidentally left at the shop i work at a few years ago. Okay-good condition. I've been using them over my one95s... which i LOVE, because they are ridiculously light. Its an amazing difference, and that's how they sold their product. They had someone try the bauer on them made the customer lift that skate up, feel it, put it on and they bought it.

Easton IMO is #2 behind bauer inregards to everything besides R&D and sticks. But what's really biting them in the balls is QC and their inability to make a product that lasts for a full season. Forget sticks, those are expected to break every couple months or so. I mean skates, protective, etc. Sooooo many bags, warmups, protective that has a warranty issue with it. Only company that is worse is Warrior in QC. But since Bauer is spending so much money on products that are designed to last, then they are going to imo gain even more of a share over hockey. Currently skate wise they are almost 70-75%, it wouldn't surprise me if they ended up gaining that kind of numbers in the stick and protective departments, too.

[TBLfan 25]

TBLfan- I agree with everything you just said. Starting with the One95, it seems Bauer has essentially caught Easton in terms of stick quality. I, like a lot of people, was really turned off by the elliptical taper of the S17. Personally, I'd like to see Easton focus on the composite materials that make up the stick rather than pursue designs that feel a bit gimmicky. I remember reading somewhere that the reason Mike Green (or any other pro for that matter) couldn't have more CNTs made was because the inputs became too expensive. That being said, the EQ50 stick is going to be a very important product for Easton.

I don't think the EQ50 is going to do anything at the pro level, which is where Easton is loosing their strangle hold. When that marketshare finally comes down, I believe the retail marketshare will follow.

[MattKingDelToro 2]

TBLfan, I'm curious as to why you think Easton will lose pros with the EQ50. I would have thought the S19 would have turned a lot of NHL players off, but a ton of pros use it (or more likely a dressed ST). To me, the EQ50's focus on balance and feel sounds like something the pros would like. And if not, they can use an SE with EQ50 graphics. Of course, you probably have a better sense of this than I do.

[DolomaticDangles 13]

TBLfan, I'm curious as to why you think Easton will lose pros with the EQ50. I would have thought the S19 would have turned a lot of NHL players off, but a ton of pros use it (or more likely a dressed ST) To me, the EQ50's focus on balance and feel sounds like something the pros would like. And if not, they can use an SE with EQ50 graphics. Of course, you probably have a better sense of this than I do.

The S19 did turn a lot of NHL players off, Ive seen a ton of pro stock S17/19s and its very rare that Ive seen an actual S17/19. They're literally 95% all old Eastons or SE16s or STs that are just tweaked to the players specs. Pros can get their sticks balanced and tweaked however they want, and with the balance being the main focus of this stick, I dont think it will make a big impact at the pro-level either.

[TBLfan 25]

TBLfan, I'm curious as to why you think Easton will lose pros with the EQ50. I would have thought the S19 would have turned a lot of NHL players off, but a ton of pros use it (or more likely a dressed ST). To me, the EQ50's focus on balance and feel sounds like something the pros would like. And if not, they can use an SE with EQ50 graphics. Of course, you probably have a better sense of this than I do.

It doesn't seem like something the pros would be too into, adjusting weights around in their stick. It's a change in the way they'd prepare a stick, not something pro athletes seem to care for, change.

Of course they could use old sticks with the new graphics but that's my point, they aren't gaining new users from tech in terms of materials. Easton changes the taper shape or adds weights, Reebok adds speed holes. Bauer is adjusting a stick that pretty much is, on outward appearance, the same stick that people are used to. Bauer is using materials to advance performance, not changing outward design specifics.

Easton's aim seems to be for strictly retail success through clever design/marketing. Bauer's aim seems to be for retail success through pro-level exposure and use the marketing of those young pros using the product. Warrior's is purely marketing... This doesn't seem like an issue now but down the road it might be the same story as skates. Easton is spinning it's wheels and Bauer is advancing the technology in materials, then it becomes a case of catch-up.

I've used every Bauer high-end stick since the Vapor XX. With the exception of the XXXlite, it's been a gradual rise in performance. Even the lackluster XXXX was at least more durable than the XXXlite. The one90 hit a different target user and was rather well liked for it's performance and durability. The one95s and X:60 as a one-two punch are just epically good in comparison of other brands high-end sticks.

I've also used every Easton high-end stick, except the S19, since the 2nd gen Synergy. Since the SL and CNT Stealth Easton has been sitting on a plateau of performance, AT BEST. The SE, SE16 haven't performed any better than the SL, just addressed durability issues. The Stealth line, to be blunt, hit the crapper. Easton needs to do something, maybe then their MM Z-bubbles, original Ultralites, Grip lites, CNT Stealth and 05 Stealths wouldn't be more desired than their current product.

[MattKingDelToro 2]

Glad to hear that someone else out there is frustrated by the gimmicky direction the stick market has gone in. Except, generally, for Bauer. Although I would question whether the Vapor X:60's Intelli-Sense isn't also a gimmick.

I think since the SL and the CNT, Easton's sticks have gotten progressively heavier. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as durability and balance have improved, but it is something I found interesting.

[rinkrat94 1]

Easton has had a lot of issues with their skates. In my opinion it's a shame they couldn't get it right soon enough or they could have been a major player, particularly with the Stealth series. The technology was rather advanced but Bauer and now CCM has zipped passed them while Easton is still trying to fix their durability issues.

A similar issue seems to be happening with sticks, actually. Bauer seems to have caught them and put out a comparable, yet more durable product in the X:60 stick(and in my opinion better kick). Here I think the issue is Easton trying too hard to please the retail public with various "innovative" designs over enhancing performance within materials, it's allowed Bauer to catch up... and it's starting to show at the pro level. Obviously Easton's market share there is very large but Bauer and Warrior have chipped at it. I think Bauer is the only one that can sustain that pressure on the Easton stick marketshare because they seem to active in trying to put out a better product instead of trying to blow people away with crazy tapers and such.

IMO opinion the issues with easton skates have been exaggerated. The feedback from players that I KNOW have worn easton skates (not random people on the internet) has been 95% positive. I have worn Easton skates for the past seven years and I have never had a problem with the durability of an Easton skate. I know Easton has had skates that have had issues, but every skate company has had hits and misses when it comes to skates.

[whizbang 0]

Easton's aim seems to be for strictly retail success through clever design/marketing. Bauer's aim seems to be for retail success through pro-level exposure and use the marketing of those young pros using the product. Warrior's is purely marketing... This doesn't seem like an issue now but down the road it might be the same story as skates. Easton is spinning it's wheels and Bauer is advancing the technology in materials, then it becomes a case of catch-up.

i don't know about this statement. maybe on the retail level warrior is all about mareting, but on the pro level? warrior is the only company that offers full custom options on both sticks and gloves. they offer something like 6 foam packages in the blade (stiff/soft), 3 flex profiles, 2 tapers, 7 different composits, 3 differnt shaft dimensions, a flex scale starting from 65-220, custom curve, and graphics package.... the gloves are basically the same. and you get what you want, how you want, when you want. they're the mcdonalds of hockey equpiment. "have it your way" and thats what pro's want, because like you said "pro's dont like change"

[skyscrape 5]

i don't know about this statement. maybe on the retail level warrior is all about mareting, but on the pro level? warrior is the only company that offers full custom options on both sticks and gloves. they offer something like 6 foam packages in the blade (stiff/soft), 3 flex profiles, 2 tapers, 7 different composits, 3 differnt shaft dimensions, a flex scale starting from 65-220, custom curve, and graphics package.... the gloves are basically the same. and you get what you want, how you want, when you want. they're the mcdonalds of hockey equpiment. "have it your way" and thats what pro's want, because like you said "pro's dont like change"

I do not know first hand, but I am pretty sure Bauer does all of this as well. Briere's stick blade bent like an old neon green mylec street hockey stick! I have seen x"60's with one95 blades in person. Besides the different flex profiles are available to these guys. They may not offer a piece meal menu but I would bet that if that is how you like it, they will build it. As far as comparing Warrior to Mcdonald's from my experience that is true. The warrior sticks I have used have been like a Mcdonald's burger. Looks like a burger, tastes like a burger, but is like 80% filler and not good meat! I spent 180 dollars on a pair of Franchise gloves that started unravelling all over the place! Stitching everywhere was coming apart! When it comes to sticks I have only tried replacement blades and that thing was way to flexible for me! The blade had just too much flex!

I now am using one85's for sticks, sold the warriors to a friend that did not mind the stitching issues, and bought a pair of Bauer X:60 pro gloves! I love em! In Bauer I trust! The sad thing is, I bought the Warrior's because I wanted a glove made in Canada. I thought the quality control would be better. Apparently not.

And it is Burger King that makes it your way.

[whizbang 0]

And it is Burger King that makes it your way.

YIKES! i live in jersey and we LIVE on fast food.... how did i muck that up?!

and NEVER buy warrior retail, its like a happy meal toy... breaks in 3 days. my custom franchis gloves cost me. but i got.... vancouver colorway, wide 13", pro foam protection pack, and my name stiched on the cuff. 2 week delivery because thats what i asked for, and theyve lasted me maybe 2 years? a year and a half? and i play A LOT of hockey.

on a side note i have noticed a lot of guys switching from warrior to bauer. id like to see the numbers on that. savard was one of them.

i just think personaly, the bauer x:60 is the best stick on the market. but i use dolomites, because i can get what i want, for about 40 bucks less. and if a bauer, or a warrior isnt available, i want a tps in my hands. im NOT interested in using ANYTHING else! id sooner play with a northland woodie.

[goaliekilr 0]

Yes, the pro's can have Warrior sticks any way they want them, as long as you want one of the Neon loking ugly paint jobs on it.