New technologies in hockey: protective

[SolarWind 23]

Search didn't reveal anything so here it goes:

upon researching ref shins or other very thin shins for coaching (got wacked one too many times by aspiring players, so was looking for something just to get by, thin enough to fit under the pants) I stumbled on something new to me: D3O

it a polymer that is very soft until it sustains an impact, at which point it instantly hardens to disperse the energy of the impact.

Apparently it's now used in a lot of protective equipment, but not in hockey. I wonder why? Other then the cost wouldn't it be simply fantastic for pretty much everything where the foam or a thin plastics are used today?

If it's good enough for mountain bike shins shouldn't it be good enough for rec hockey at least?

Thoughts?

[troy 12]

I remember a few discussions about this, using the Google site search real quick I turned these up:

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=36659

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=34874

Seems like it's heavy, not well suited to sweat and not a viable replacement or substitute for current materials.

[SolarWind 23]

I remember a few discussions about this, using the Google site search real quick I turned these up:

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=36659

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=34874

Seems like it's heavy, not well suited to sweat and not a viable replacement or substitute for current materials.

cool - thanks for the info! (as usual google excels at search, the site search didn't return anything)

Seems like a few hockey specific productsbecame available, but in very limited applications.

sounds like there were some issues such as weight & sucking water, but these posts were 3 years old so has anything changed?

[Neal 41]

cool - thanks for the info! (as usual google excels at search, the site search didn't return anything)

Seems like a few hockey specific productsbecame available, but in very limited applications.

sounds like there were some issues such as weight & sucking water, but these posts were 3 years old so has anything changed?

I use the Zoombang wrist guards. They are heavier than most wrist guards, but I've never noticed any issues with water or sweat soaking into the actual polymer. I can't say they do a better job than my Eagle ones, but they are bit more comfortable. And look way cooler ;)

[troy 12]

cool - thanks for the info! (as usual google excels at search, the site search didn't return anything)

Seems like a few hockey specific productsbecame available, but in very limited applications.

sounds like there were some issues such as weight & sucking water, but these posts were 3 years old so has anything changed?

Click the dropdown arrow next to the magnifying glass in the search box and pick Google site search, especially useful when searching for things three characters or less.

[Chadd 916]

Looks like this has been taken care of but on a side note, the guys at zoombang showed a prototype for a foot/ankle guard they were working on at the show in January.