2011 Shoulders

[Gr8erade 1]

I realize that the new protective gear is either just arrived at the LHS or will shortly. I thought it might be helpful to give your impression of what you've come across and how it compares to the previous year's stuff as well as how it compares to the rest of the new stuff.

I'm particularly interested in how the shoulder pads stack up. I like high end protection but am not really fond of looking like robocop, so I prefer lower profile shoulders. I just feel better being more mobile. With that being said, I settled on Easton ST16s as a good cross between protection and bulkiness. The EQ50 looks like its cut similarly, though the shoulder caps look bigger (at least in the photos).

Assuming that all of them fit equally well, so just in terms of bulk, what looks to be the least bulky of the 2011 high end shoulder pads?

The 11K? And how much different from the 10K are they cut? What about the 9k?

The EQ50? Are they pretty similar to the ST16?

The TotalOne?

The Warrior Franchises?

Projekts (I've worn these - like the torso protection, but found them to sit very wide on my shoulders with large caps).

Oh, and does anyone know the difference between the Reebok 11k and 9ks? Is it really just the zigtech liner?

[DarkStar50 679]

Can you wait a few more minutes before this stuff is hitting the shelves at retail?

[Gr8erade 1]

Can you wait a few more minutes before this stuff is hitting the shelves at retail?

Yes. That was my first sentence! I know Easton is out already and the the rest are coming this month. I also know that there are guys who have already seen a lot of this stuff and could give their opinion if they were inclined. I don't have the luxury of doing much more than looking at pictures and guessing.

[Gr8erade 1]

Anyone handle anything that they can give their opinion on yet? It seems like Bauer and Reebok should be out now. And Warrior seems to be getting released piecemeal.

I saw a pair of the Warrior Koncepts. I found them to fit just like the Projekts but with less torso protection. Lightweight, but still seemed to fit awfully wide on my shoulders.

[hockeypro8791 0]

bauer usually makes the most protective gear so im going to say the total ones