David vs Goliath

[romdj 26]

So this is more of a general question, but when it comes to hockey equipment, and especially top-end, our reflex is to go with the big names: Nike-Adidas-Easton/Bell, Warrior....

But there are the small names: Graf for skates, tackla for protective equipment, Eagle for protective equipment as well...

Basically every Nike-adidas-easton line has to be reviewed, upgraded and remarketed every 2 years....while the smaller names don't renew their line very often...

I just wondered, if you guys had the opportunity to go with full bauer,RBk/CCM or easton or rather with a a mix of top end smaller brand: ie Top-end grafs, jofa (i know they've been bought out but it's for the example) elbow, shoulders and shins, eagle gloves and cascade helmet and base sticks...

which way would you go? I'm really curious about what people like Chadd, JR, fatwabbit will say about this....

Are Bauer that much better for skates and easton for the sticks? (visibility in the nhl) than the brands mentioned above? or is it that they have the budget to sponsor teams and make the decision to think big to sell big?

This I know will always come with: well it's personal preference, but I wondered If the senior guys in here would trade their top-end big brand equipment in favor of the smaller firms that are still out there or that big brands without a doubt have an edge on competitors....

[IPv6Freely 2100]

So are you asking if we had to go to all one brand for everything top to bottom which would it be? In my case, Reebok... 100%. Mostly because I wear RBK skates and thats the most important bit (and their protective is really comfy).

[althoma1 575]

I'll try both big and small brands when I'm searching for new equipment. I love trying new and innovative equipment whether it's from a big or small company - sometimes they fit well and feel great and sometimes they don't (and sometimes I'll be tempted to buy and try them if I think they'll be better than my current gear...then either my old or the new gear will end up in the sell section depending on the results). I'll obviously read about the products here as well to try to determine which ones are the most ventilated, durable, protective ect.

When I'm looking to buy something, I'll do some research, try on as many products as I can and then, in the end, I'll always go with what fits and feels best regardless of the brand or hype. Price does play a factor at times too - if two pieces of equipment are equally comfortable, but there's a big price gap and I'm not 100% sure the more expensive product is worth the difference in price then I'll choose the less expensive product (KOR over Custom TotalOnes, Inno Maniac vs. most other OPS ect.). Durability is also important, but that can only be gauged on products that have been on the market for a while.

So in the order of importance for me when buying equipment would be something like - fit, performance, durability, and price. Brand isn't really a big factor at all, however; if I have a good experience with a line of products I will be more likely to try other products of that line or newer versions of said product.

[Davetronz 109]

If I had to go head-to-toe in top-end retail equipment from a big manufacturer, like OptimusReim, I'd probably have to align with the retail skates that currently fit me best and choose Easton.

If we're looking at custom I'd probably sway over to RBK because of their shins, shoulders, elbows and hope that they could make a custom skate that fit my foot and a bucket that fits my head.

I'll try on EVERYTHING though and go for what fits best. If I see a brand/model that I haven't tried on before I try it on.

I'm not too worried about labels as long as the gear fits, is protective and feels comfortable. Durability definitely comes into play too.

Trying on equipment from the smaller companies is actually something I enjoy. Its kind of like listening to an unsigned band - sometimes you're pleasantly surprised.

If you're a hockey gear enthusiast I think you need to give everything a try to stay on top of technology, fit, etc. Otherwise it's like saying you're a music enthusiast and only listening to the Beatles.

[fatwabbit 93]

Hmmm... Not sure why my name popped up, but here's my two cents.

I'd like to sit at the LHS and really try every brand they have in stock, but unfortunately when the LHS is a 2 hour flight away, then it's not happening very often. Even though I do sometimes get the opportunity to visit the LHS during a work trip, I rarely buy anything as most of the gear is an older model (and grossly overpriced for that matter). I would support them if they were actually more 'local'... But I digress

I'm always on the lookout for something that would enable me to stay cool. Playing in australia doesn't help much, and the indoor inline rink is like a sauna sometimes. I can perspire even after taking a shower, so always looks for something hat can help with that... An example is the crash shorts by g form... I was hoping that they could replace my girdle... But I don't want to rinse injury.

I think what you are asking is whether someone would stick to one brand or not. For me it's based on years and years ($$$) of trial and error. I only started buying actual hockey gear in 2002, and have since tried most if not all the different brand. I've stuck mainly with mission over the years because that's what was available, although I did try many other brands along the way. If you don't include the current pair of skates that I've got, then on skates alone I've tried about 20 plus pairs due a much higher instep... Its not the volume i really need, but the boots never wrap around my foot well enough for me to NOT think about them during the game. Some never made it to the rink, some stuck with me a month or two... The current pair of mission t8 are the longest lasting so far at about 12 months. They fit well, no blisters since day 1. I will go with mission again

When Bauer bought out mission, I did try some of bauer's protective gear... Again the fit wasn't right, but that was mainly due to me wearing knee braces and not wanting to modify the pads. In the last two years I've modified all my pads... Elbows, gloves, shins... And now the warrior line of gear that I've got fits me better than any other brand I've tried... But again because I've customed it to fit. If you asked me to sell everyone I've got now and rebuy again, I might still try something new, except for skates. I'm always game to test new stuff, but the LONG process of getting skates to fit stopped with the T8

Sorr if I haven't answered the question well enough... Let me know and I can re-pen my thoughts.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

If the product is good, then why not?

[DLK 0]

I'll echo what everyone else has said; for me, best fit trumps brand loyalty pretty much every time.

That said, if fit, comfort and technology were theoretically equal (or at least close)...I will absolutely choose a company that best fits my values of an "ideal" company. Smaller (read: independant), better-run, local...these are all certainly things that I would prefer in a company.

I chose to go with Warrior's Projekt line over the Reebok/Jofa protective equipment for exactly this reason. I felt that both provided a reasonable level of joint protection and both fit comfortably, but I would rather spend my money with New Balance than Adidas.

Warrior was founded locally and still has their headquarters 25 miles from me. They're now owned by New Balance...who I'm not exactly fond of, but they do still make a few of their shoes in the US and England, don't do a lot of high-dollar advertising and I think they're a better corporate citizen than most of the big athletic companies. Warrior may never have been able to buy Inno and reach the level of success they have in the hockey market without the sale to New Balance, for that matter...but I digress; that's a subject for a different topic.

[hunt3rsean 44]

I don't care whether the brand is big or small. As long as the equipment fits good and performs in the manner I need....then I will purchase it. I use Bauer skates, elbows, and helmet. I use CCM gloves, shoulders, pants, shins and stick. But, I'd have no issue going to Tackla, Graf, or any other "smaller" equipment brand if they ended up fitting better. I just know that these pieces of equipment fit and have worked the way I need thus far. I have no real loyalty to one brand over the other.

Like JR said...if it works and fits the way you want. Why not?

[Chadd 916]

I don't care about names, I care about the fit of the product. I'm not even using two pieces of gear with the same brand name at this point.

[Davetronz 109]

....If you don't include the current pair of skates that I've got, then on skates alone I've tried about 20 plus pairs due a much higher instep... Its not the volume i really need, but the boots never wrap around my foot well enough for me to NOT think about them during the game. Some never made it to the rink, some stuck with me a month or two... The current pair of mission t8 are the longest lasting so far at about 12 months. They fit well, no blisters since day 1. I will go with mission again....

Sounds like a very similar story for me. If I could solve my skate issues I'd be happy. Nothing retail fits properly - the closest is Easton EQ50, but that's still a fair step away from what I'd call perfect.

I've given up trying to find something better in the meantime or it will drive me completely insane.

[Zorlac 22]

FIT...#1 I wouldn't care if it said MATTEL on it, if it fits great and offers the PROTECTION I need at a reasonable price.... it's a go.

[raganblink 82]

A lot of people who are in that younger age bracket (U25) will use those "Smaller" not "Top5 brands" for strictly style points. For instance, I know many people who wear Eagle gloves and Tackla pants simply because they perceive them to be more stylish. Some have combat sticks because they're all black..

I wear gear that I find comfortable, thats it over anything. Coincidentally, its majority Bauer and Warrior (besides bucket). There are some brands that I will not use (nor mention) due to difficulties I see daily with customers or personal experiences.

I do find it funny though the people who look like walking billboards for a specific company - even though their gear does NOT fit at all. I know a couple people who are walking billboards for Reebok, yet, they constantly complain about something until they make a personal mod to the equipment. Nothing makes me plamface more either when a kid wants "vapor" whatever, yet his body is suited for supreme or another brand. And he ends up with Vapor.

[IPv6Freely 2100]

What drives me crazy is that the hockey director at the local rink only allows bauer and graf to be stocked in their pro shop because "those are the best".

[Davetronz 109]

A few smaller shops around here only sell Bauer protective, and a few of the smaller guys. Those shops don't get my frequent business.

I understand a lot of it is to do with purchase volume and buying power, but if it comes down to "I stock it because I believe it to be the best", that's where I don't agree.

Also, how common is it for rinks to sell equipment or have a pro shop where everyone else is located?

Here, maybe 8 out of 60 rinks have skate sharpening places inside, but none sell anything more than tape, skate guards, and maybe mouthguards and jocks.

I can't think of any rinks around here that sell gear through a pro shop inside.

[IPv6Freely 2100]

Ours does but its mostly kids stuff. Very little adult gear except skates (that are horribly overpriced).

[raganblink 82]

well the reason they're only stocking their protective with bauer is because they're smart... we've stocked full lines of bauer, easton, reebok, ccm and warrior... and bauer sells out so fast, even with it being 50% total gear. If we had the purchasing power Bauer would easily be 65% of our protective stock, and closer to 70% of our skate stock. It sells, amazingly I might add. Is there gear the best per the price point? Only on a couple items IMHO. There are definitely better options in their mid-line and on some top end IMO. But that doesn't matter to people, because it says "Bauer".

[Monty22 835]

I don't care about names, I care about the fit of the product. I'm not even using two pieces of gear with the same brand name at this point.

Sums me up. In answer to the hypothetical question posed, I would go with the mix of "second tier" brands as there would be more choices to pick from. More choice means ther eis a higher liklihood I would find gear that fit well.

[AIREAYE 248]

Plus Bauer pretty much forces you to buy a full lineup of gear and at large volumes too.