Made in China Easton RS sticks--anybody used/seen these?

[gocanada72 3]

I recently purchased an Easton Stealth RS stick from a Canadian sporting good retailer, to replace an RS stick that I am currently using. I thought the stick woudl be identical (seeing as it was same model etc), but it was made in China and the one I bought last year was made in Mexico. The differences I find are as follows:

-China stick is 1" shorter than Mex stick

-China stick does not have concave walls on shaft (Mex does)

-China stick shaft is perfectly smooth (on Mex stick you can see/feel what I believe is the kevlar weave--giving it a slightly bumpy feel).

-China stick you can see a definite join in the eliptical area, and when you tap it, it feels solid in that area. Mex stick has no seam, and feels hollow all the way down to the heel of blade, as it should be.

-There are differences graphically as well (E7 on China stick vs P7 on Mex).

Overall, the China product feels cheap, and I can't help feeling the quality is not up to the Mex product.

I've used Easton sticks pretty much exclusively for past 10 years, and this is first issue I have had of this kind.

Anybody seen or know anything about this?

Thanks!

[Aggie 9]

All my RS sticks are made in Mexico, but my S19's are all made in China except for one. Funny thing is I like the China made S19's more than the RS's I have. Not sure if the curve makes a difference in where they are made, but I use the Drury/Parise curve. I haven't used my one S19 that is made in Mexico, but the graphics are slightly different than the China ones. The black paint is more sparkly and there are other subtle graphics differences.

[Amiroo39 121]

I recently purchased an Easton Stealth RS stick from a Canadian sporting good retailer, to replace an RS stick that I am currently using. I thought the stick woudl be identical (seeing as it was same model etc), but it was made in China and the one I bought last year was made in Mexico. The differences I find are as follows:

-China stick is 1" shorter than Mex stick

-China stick does not have concave walls on shaft (Mex does)

-China stick shaft is perfectly smooth (on Mex stick you can see/feel what I believe is the kevlar weave--giving it a slightly bumpy feel).

-China stick you can see a definite join in the eliptical area, and when you tap it, it feels solid in that area. Mex stick has no seam, and feels hollow all the way down to the heel of blade, as it should be.

-There are differences graphically as well (E7 on China stick vs P7 on Mex).

Overall, the China product feels cheap, and I can't help feeling the quality is not up to the Mex product.

I've used Easton sticks pretty much exclusively for past 10 years, and this is first issue I have had of this kind.

Anybody seen or know anything about this?

Thanks!

I've seen this too! Saw two RS2's side by side at the store awhile ago and noticed a bunch of the differences you listed, specifically the P7 vs E7 and the shaft. I was convinced that they had just mistakenly put a pro stock repaint in the batch of Mexican made RS2's. Good catch. I took a pic too, I'll try and find it and post it.

[AIREAYE 248]

If anyone is going to a Sportchek in Canada, I think some of them have rebuilds/SMUs of the RS or RS2 (don't remember) that have the new curve designations (which is an immediate giveaway that it's a rebuild or something). Check to see if they fit this description. When I saw them, I thought that they felt a little off balance and heavier.

[Mario123 2]

What do you mean by rebuilds?

I have an original RS, and my friend has one he bought from Sportchek. His does seem a tad heavier than mine.

Would the china ones shoot or flex any different than the Mexican one?

This is sorta borderline false advertising by Sportchek don't you think?

His seems like a lower end stick than mine.

[gocanada72 3]

It was purchased from Sportchek. I don't mind if the graphics are a bit different, but to not have kevlar, no concave shaft, and solid part at elliptical taper, just make it too different from the RS I had originally purchased before. I've enquired with easton about it to see what they say, in meantime am going to go shopping today to see if I can find and 'original' RS made in Mex (fortunately, I still have the bill from SC, and they have decent return policy)--stick hasn't been used.

[Mario123 2]

Let us know what you find out. I'm definitely curious.

Do them have the RS skates where you are?

[gocanada72 3]

not sure...only use Bauer skates

[Amiroo39 121]

If anyone is going to a Sportchek in Canada, I think some of them have rebuilds/SMUs of the RS or RS2 (don't remember) that have the new curve designations (which is an immediate giveaway that it's a rebuild or something). Check to see if they fit this description. When I saw them, I thought that they felt a little off balance and heavier.

It was purchased from Sportchek. I don't mind if the graphics are a bit different, but to not have kevlar, no concave shaft, and solid part at elliptical taper, just make it too different from the RS I had originally purchased before. I've enquired with easton about it to see what they say, in meantime am going to go shopping today to see if I can find and 'original' RS made in Mex (fortunately, I still have the bill from SC, and they have decent return policy)--stick hasn't been used.

Sportcheck is the only place I've been able to spot the chinese made RS in the batch of mexican made ones.

[boo10 323]

Saw some Easton sticks at Sportchek with the pattern listed as "E3 Liles". Can't find anything on this pattern and they are definitely not pro stock, as they are lower end models.

Seeing as Sportchek is now owned by "Crappy Tire", it wouldn't surprise me to see them slipping some overpriced, crappy smu's into their inventory.

[Rankin2 2]

It would make sense if after the main production run of a stick in mexico they would move production to china, then current sticks would be made in mexico in the time overlapping between the old and current models

[Mario123 2]

But why wouldn't they make them the same as the Mexican ones?

[AIREAYE 248]

But why wouldn't they make them the same as the Mexican ones?

It would make sense if after the main production run of a stick in mexico they would move production to china, then current sticks would be made in mexico in the time overlapping between the old and current models

Rebuild strategies could encompass different methods of production, depending on capacity, excess materials/inventory on hand and availability.

Saw some Easton sticks at Sportchek with the pattern listed as "E3 Liles". Can't find anything on this pattern and they are definitely not pro stock, as they are lower end models.

Seeing as Sportchek is now owned by "Crappy Tire", it wouldn't surprise me to see them slipping some overpriced, crappy smu's into their inventory.

Sportchek has their own SMUs and this isn't the first time they've had these rebuilds that are a little off from the original production. You've seen this with the Vapor XXX rebuild they had a few years back. S19s iirc more recently. They are technically the same as what's on the label, however, they might not have used the exact same materials or production source as the original runs for various reasons.

What you probably saw was NOT "E3 Liles" but rather "E3 | Lie 5.5 |" that you misread.

It's also not fair or accurate to call them crappy or overpriced when you're paying $100-$150 for a $300 stick...

[boo10 323]

Rebuild strategies could encompass different methods of production, depending on capacity, excess materials/inventory on hand and availability.

Sportchek has their own SMUs and this isn't the first time they've had these rebuilds that are a little off from the original production. You've seen this with the Vapor XXX rebuild they had a few years back. S19s iirc more recently. They are technically the same as what's on the label, however, they might not have used the exact same materials or production source as the original runs for various reasons.

What you probably saw was NOT "E3 Liles" but rather "E3 | Lie 5.5 |" that you misread.

It's also not fair or accurate to call them crappy or overpriced when you're paying $100-$150 for a $300 stick...

I'll go back to the store at some point and check it out, but I would swear it said "Liles".

I am in no way implying that all smu's are crappy, as I have seen lots that are of high quality. To be clear, what I am saying is that Canadian Tire sells lots of smu hockey items and the vast majority of them are overpriced pieces of crap! For example, this amazing turd: http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/reebok-pump-junior-hockey-skates-0833334p.html#.UpKKVsT9GoA

[AIREAYE 248]

Why do you think that it's bad?

[boo10 323]

Why do you think that it's bad?

The normal list price is $299.99. It's got microfibre liner, e-blade holder, (Not E-pro), steel is of the lowest quality, etc. In contrast, you can pick up a pair of 16k's, which are significantly better for $249.99 at Sportchek. I've held those XT Pro skates in my hand and can tell you that a fair price would probably be about $109.99.

[AIREAYE 248]

We're getting kind of OT here, but the 16Ks should be $399.99 everywhere, not $249.

Looking at the Q&A page of the XT Pro skate, it is situated between the 12K ($200 at SC) and 14K ($300 at PHL). So for a normal list price at $300, it may be a tad over priced, but not as dramatically as you make it seem...

[Mario123 2]

I'm not saying that those Chinese RS sticks were terrible, but the retailer makes it seem that you're getting the $300 RS for $140. I'd rather pay the $169 that other retailers have the original Mexican made ones marked down to, than the one my friend has. It just seemed a little misleading to the average consumer. Maybe they should have labeled it as a SMU.

Last year, I purchased a SMU S19 from SC, and I found the quality really good. It was made in Mexico though, not China. I knew something was off because the paint had no 'sparkles' in it, and the shaft was a traditional shape as well.

[gocanada72 3]

I totally agree..I was under the impression that if the stick was labelled an RS, that it actually was an RS. I hit some stores today, and couldn't find any 'made in Mexico' models. What was a bit strange though was that the 75S's appeared to be almost identical to the RS I bought...had same visible seam in the tapered area, and same shaft geometry, and smooth sides. I'll post some pics later comparing the RS china and RS Mex.

[gocanada72 3]

[AIREAYE 248]

Guys, it IS an RS.

Just made in a different place with evidently slightly different configurations.

[customskateworks 39]

Many products have components that are made in one country, but assembled in a third-party country. On top of that, it depends what type of product it is, which countries are involved, and what the market country will be to determine what "country of origin" must be stamped on it. In the USA, in order for a product to say "Product of the USA" it must use at least 50% American sourced raw materials (don't quote me on that but I think it's close). So the carbon fiber fabric may still made in Mexico and shipped to China for molding and final assembly. There must be substantial change or value added for the country of origin to be changed, in this case the raw carbon fabric made in Mexico, turning into a hockey stick in China. So most likely, somewhere between stick batches, it was decided they needed the space to assemble a new stick or meet professional demand, so they outsourced the labor. Whether or not one product is inferior to the other is up for debate.

[gocanada72 3]

Honestly, i don't really care where it came from, but to not have the kevlar, and the concave shaft, and to have the strange seam on the elliptical part (with a bump at the seam that you can feel), just doesn't seem right. Especially seeing as my stick from last year doesn't have any of those issues. Plus, when I look at RS2's, they still have the concave shaft/kevlar etc. so it's not like they decided to drop those features going forward. Just seems like they pulled some features out of the stick, and I don't think it's that honest of them to still call it an RS.

[AIREAYE 248]

Not to sound like an apologist, but for the sake of productive argument, how can you tell that there is no kevlar? By the glossy coating? Could that just be covering the Kevlar underneath?

I went to a local Chek today to see. I found 2 RSs in question, both were made in China, but one had that seam at the hosel and the other didn't.

[gocanada72 3]

As said, been using easton product for years now, and typically their high end sticks have that textured feel--not sure if it's the kevlar for sure, but I do know their low end sticks are all smooth fiberglass/kevlar combination. The RS2 has that textured feel and convex shaft, it is even marketed as a convex shaft--I see no reason why they would change this for a few months, then go back. The seam at the hosel I find is really strange...I see it on all the 75s's, which makes me feel like I paid good money for low end product with high end graphics.