Easton sticks

[60PlusWinger 82]

I get it, Easton sticks have a bad reputation in the durability category. When I was in high school everyone used the Synergy sticks and they were hands down THE stick to have. This was 2004 when I couldn't afford them and neither could my parents. Now a days with all the sticks on the market it seems flooded, there are so many options and so much marketing that people are almost dependant of reviews and hype to decide on what stick to choose.

What's the point of this? Well I have used a lot of sticks in the past 4 years, probably 30 and that's not an exaggeration. I've experimented with flexes, curves, flex profiles, lengths, etc. I am currently using an Easton HTX E28 85 flex clear.

Hockey world blog did a review on this stick and said it was average at best with literally nothing special to talk about or to make it stand out. Mind you that when you see a pro using a stick they are getting paid a lot of money to use it and most likely it isn't what it's painted as.

The past two sticks I've used (V9, HTX) have been two of the best sticks I've ever used. I get why people are loyal to Easton sticks. There's just something about the feel of them, the way they shoot and hell, the resale is crap so you can easily find a replacement for them on eBay for cheap. Durability is not a strong point but at the end of the day neither is a Ferrari. I appreciate the innovation, the steps they take to tweak thing and experiment and from what I have gathered from the pros I know Easton sticks have been a favorite even with the option to use others.

Does anyone else here feel the same way? Have any feedback?

[Jratcl13 10]

Cant say iv used many hockey sticks, as iv only been playing a year. But i started with an EQ20, and now use a Stealth CX ST 75flex E28, and i love it.

I understand what people say about the durability, BUT from a shooting point of view it's the best stick iv used. It doesn't seem as durable as my CCM Ribcor 30K, but for just shooting feel alone i would go with the Easton every time.

Like i said, not used that many stick's but for me my Easton is my go to stick.

[Mimizk 114]

I love Easton's stick, especially elliptical tapered. I've been feeling something special for the models against the other makers'.

But also I'd agree with your opinion, Easton's retail blades are too weak. I break it only 3 shots. So I've been using pro stock sticks. Almost of it have durable blade than retail/normal sticks.

[jazzyjoey 2]

The blade durability frustrates me to no end, but for me, the HTX is the best performing stick on the market right now. Your point about the resale value being so crappy is dead on, and it's the reason I can't stop buying them once my blade breaks down.

[60PlusWinger 82]

I tried out a 1N, liked it but not as much as my HTX in the short time I've used it but you could argue that being that they are both mid kicks. I thought "ok well Easton durability is crap so buy a 1N for $270 and it will last"... but for the price of that one new 1N I could have 3 Eastons almost so who cares about durability if you are resourceful and once they go on sale you can even resort to going to the store to get a V9/V9e/HTX for the $100-150 they go for and get your warranty. I paid $100.00 for my V9 on sale, it broke and Easton replaced it with an HTX so I'm on 10 sessions this far with two sticks and I'm out $100.00 so I think durability issues can be overlooked. eBay, sales and the Internet in general can keep you in Eastons pro stock or retail for as long as you're willing to order at a third of that insane $299.00 price tag.

[chippa13 1844]

Mind you that when you see a pro using a stick they are getting paid a lot of money to use it and most likely it isn't what it's painted as.

The amount of pros who are getting paid a lot of money to use anything in the NHL can be counted on one hand. The majority of sponsored get things like gift cards, golf clubs, or swag. Many simply give away the "proceeds" from their sponsorship deals.

[60PlusWinger 82]

The amount of pros who are getting paid a lot of money to use anything in the NHL can be counted on one hand. The majority of sponsored get things like gift cards, golf clubs, or swag. Many simply give away the "proceeds" from their sponsorship deals.

That's not true, I actually have quite a bit of buddies and players that I have worked with that are in the NHL, AHL and ECHL.

[chippa13 1844]

So I guess the insiders have been lying to us all, unless you define "a lot" as a $5 grand gift card. To be fair, that is an awful lot to a guy on an ECHL deal and even most AHL deals but it makes no difference to the average NHLer, and those are the guys that manufacturers want using their gear.

[Stewie 721]

don't the AHL and ECHL both have stick deals with CCM? if so, they don't have to pay anyone to use their gear, its mandated, and its not easton (outside a limited number of exceptions).

[60PlusWinger 82]

So I guess the insiders have been lying to us all, unless you define "a lot" as a $5 grand gift card. To be fair, that is an awful lot to a guy on an ECHL deal and even most AHL deals but it makes no difference to the average NHLer, and those are the guys that manufacturers want using their gear.

First of all don't hijack my thread because you feel like arguing. Second of all I said I have friends and have worked with guys in the NHL/AHL/ECHL. They travel, they talk, they train with others in different leagues with different contracts and options and I know what I know from working with them and hearing what they tell me about other players. Never did I specify a particular player in a particular system, ECHL, AHL or whatever. I'm saying "The amount of pros who are getting paid a lot of money to use anything in the NHL can be counted on one hand" and the rest just getting gift cards is not true and no there are 3 exempt players per AHL club that can use whatever sticks they want. End of discussion. BACK ON TOPIC PLEASE

[chippa13 1844]

Reread my initial statement. Nothing I hate more than being misquoted.

[Buzz_LightBeer 975]

Mind you that when you see a pro using a stick they are getting paid a lot of money to use it and most likely it isn't what it's painted as.

The number of guys collecting a physical paycheck to use a particular brand are few, but there are guys who receive apparel/merchandise credits to get items.

[60PlusWinger 82]

Anddd this thread is toast...

[Tyler Roy 86]

The amount of pros who are getting paid a lot of money to use anything in the NHL can be counted on one hand. The majority of sponsored get things like gift cards, golf clubs, or swag. Many simply give away the "proceeds" from their sponsorship deals.

I've heard this many times, and not from a guy who knows a guy who played with a guy either, from NHL eqms and different plm's for different companies. I was trying to find the video where the Wild eqm goes on about how they buy x many sticks and how some players get them for free but the team has to buy most of them.

[acid_jazz 1]

I don't go through a lot of sticks, but I just bought a Mako 2 on clearance. I haven't used an Easton since they had aluminum sticks. I'll be hitting the ice next week with it so I'm excited to see how it performs.

[60PlusWinger 82]

I don't go through a lot of sticks, but I just bought a Mako 2 on clearance. I haven't used an Easton since they had aluminum sticks. I'll be hitting the ice next week with it so I'm excited to see how it performs.

I had the chance to get a Mako II last year in 75 flex for $99.00 and didn't. Just SO whippy

[nicker87 47]

Must say you make a very good point I've never considered about the price for Easton sticks on sale and the flooded resale market! I've always been a Bauer guy for sticks but after talking to some guys about the htx and seeing the new cx and st I'm really considering trying one out or even a clearance v9, the fact it may only last a few games doesn't seem so bad now after reading that

[60PlusWinger 82]

Must say you make a very good point I've never considered about the price for Easton sticks on sale and the flooded resale market! I've always been a Bauer guy for sticks but after talking to some guys about the htx and seeing the new cx and st I'm really considering trying one out or even a clearance v9, the fact it may only last a few games doesn't seem so bad now after reading that

Even current models go for less than any other stick and in store there are sales galore. The durability scares people off I think

[60PlusWinger 82]

Must say you make a very good point I've never considered about the price for Easton sticks on sale and the flooded resale market! I've always been a Bauer guy for sticks but after talking to some guys about the htx and seeing the new cx and st I'm really considering trying one out or even a clearance v9, the fact it may only last a few games doesn't seem so bad now after reading that

In my honest opinion, after using almost every stick on the market, if durability was no issue Easton sticks would be the best selling sticks out of any brand. Period

[ulf 5]

the V9E is a great stick with huge pop. more so than the apx. but my 12yr son broke the stick in only 3 weeks. it only took 3 games and 6 practices. he doesn't have a massive shot either. he hammers the apx and can't even chip it..their night and day in terms of durability..but sadly the v9e wins out performance wise

[kovalchuk71 212]

I get it, Easton sticks have a bad reputation in the durability category. When I was in high school everyone used the Synergy sticks and they were hands down THE stick to have. This was 2004 when I couldn't afford them and neither could my parents. Now a days with all the sticks on the market it seems flooded, there are so many options and so much marketing that people are almost dependant of reviews and hype to decide on what stick to choose.

What's the point of this? Well I have used a lot of sticks in the past 4 years, probably 30 and that's not an exaggeration. I've experimented with flexes, curves, flex profiles, lengths, etc. I am currently using an Easton HTX E28 85 flex clear.

Hockey world blog did a review on this stick and said it was average at best with literally nothing special to talk about or to make it stand out. Mind you that when you see a pro using a stick they are getting paid a lot of money to use it and most likely it isn't what it's painted as.

The past two sticks I've used (V9, HTX) have been two of the best sticks I've ever used. I get why people are loyal to Easton sticks. There's just something about the feel of them, the way they shoot and hell, the resale is crap so you can easily find a replacement for them on eBay for cheap. Durability is not a strong point but at the end of the day neither is a Ferrari. I appreciate the innovation, the steps they take to tweak thing and experiment and from what I have gathered from the pros I know Easton sticks have been a favorite even with the option to use others.

Does anyone else here feel the same way? Have any feedback?

We had nothing but problems with the V9 sticks. The blades were so bad that it got to the point where you could look at the bottom of the blade and know where it was going to break. It reminded me of the problems Easton had with the Si-Core and SL blades. Did that more than once. I want to try the CX because it feels great, but I don't want to get burned again.....

Your comparison to a Ferrari makes some sense, but the issue with it is that you can find sticks from other companies with the "Ferrari" performance AND good durability. Why wouldn't someone just go that route instead? There's nothing inherently unique about the Easton sticks that makes someone want to sacrifice durability for performance.

[Cavs019 710]

They were the gold standard for me from about 1998-2006.

Everything from the S17 onward has been absolutely terrible in my experience. That includes the beloved SE16.

[kovalchuk71 212]

They were the gold standard for me from about 1998-2006.

Everything from the S17 onward has been absolutely terrible in my experience. That includes the beloved SE16.

Agreed. SE16 is all hype. It wasn't liked much when it was released retail (as far as I remember), and now everyone is in love with it.

[ChrisMolnar 14]

I really like the S19 and original RS. The EQ50 was decent while it lasted but was super gimmicky.