Protective Bulk

[2nhockey 21]

My daughter has really been smitten with hockey. Our association provides all necessary equipment to first year players free and then rents equipment to year 2 and beyond players for a small fee (maybe $40/year).

 

Since this year has gone so well I've been buying her protective gear slowly as things go on clearance. She is completely outfitted with her own gear now except for shins. Since she is playing up a level her protective is likely overkill for what is typical for her age, but some of the girls she's playing against are easily my size - I am anything but small - and a couple even have respectable slappers. My daughter plays D and thoroughly enjoys blocking shots. My daughter plays varsity. 

 

Not able to view any equipment in person we are ordering blind. I got her some CCM Super Tacks to try but those things had incredible bulk. So bulky and heavy they looked comically out of proportion on her. She went back to her Easton S3's and after the next game was complaining about knee pain from impacts and bruising on her calves and shins, probably equally from pucks as slashes.

 

So I am getting an order ready to go. The Tacks won't work. I am thinking of getting CCM RBZ's because they seem to offer more protection than her Easton's without the bulk of the Tacks.

 

These pads aren't on sale anywhere and seem to not be eligible for discounts so I am absolutely not set on these pads. The season is pretty much over but she has some camps coming up. I am not desperate for shins but would like to get them soon.

 

Looking for any guidance you can offer. Daughter is 5'1", 105 pounds playing against girls who are fully grown.

 

Thanks!

[Cavs019 710]

Bauer Vapor shins are another good choice. They taper down by the calf and ankle and have a much more streamlined fit. It seems most manufacturers have at minimum a traditional box fit line of shins that complements a tapered offering. 

[AIREAYE 248]

I agree with cavs, check out the Vapor shins, as I really enjoy the wrap and fit of them. If you're looking for high end, the APX2s/X100s should be on sale or coming up on sale soon as the new Vapor line prepares to launch. Similar story with your RBZs coming on sale soon as the new CCM line prepares for launch.

[kmfdm86 112]

The demographics are completely different being a 29 year old 6'2" 175lbs male. But for what it's worth, I love my CCM RBZ shins.

 

I've got a bad right knee and I don't feel a damn thing through them. Haha. They don't restrict movement and they stay in place really well and I'm only using one level up from entry level model. RBZ 130, $59.99 for Jr and $69.99 for Sr.

[Vet88 674]

The biggest issues with shins (and elbows and skates) is finding one that fits and feels right. Everyone has a different opinion. For example my son has tried every top end model out there yet still will not give up his 6 year old broken down CCM V10's so I'm about to transplant some different knee caps onto them to keep them going.

You get what you pay for and it doesn't matter what league you play in or how good you are, falling down, taking a slash or getting hit with the puck is still the same. For this reason I always advocate to my pupils that you try and buy the best protective equipment that you can afford and target the previous models top end range in terms of value for money spent. However as you move up the range and get more protection, you also get more bulk.

Personally I like the Rbk range and have been a fan of 10k, 11k and 20k gear. Built like a tank (I don't mind the bulk) and for me are the best fitting shins / elbows I have found. Out of Bauer Apx2's, MX3's and 8000's the APX2's have a slimmer fit. The RBZ are a slimmer fit in the CCM range. Warrior gear is nice but doesn't fit me so I can't make any recommendations for them and there are a lot of good things said about the STX 500 range but I haven't tried them.

If she likes the S3 for fit then take a look at the junior sized Easton HSX on clearance at HM (and eligible for additional discounts).

I share your pain with having no decent shop nearby, possibly you might want to consider buying a range of shins for her to try and then return everything but the one she likes. Most online shops have a no return fee if returned within 30 days. I know it means a large up front payment to cover and the cost of the return shipping but it's about the only way you can try a range of gear without having to go to a decent store.

[IPv6Freely 2096]

See if you can find some Easton Makos on clearance. They're pretty popular here; I know at least 6 or 7 guys that wear them. Since you're ordering blind, buying clearance isn't a bad idea especially since you can use coupon codes.

[rawkstar 45]

Its all about the fit 100% like other people are saying, personally I've been a huge fan of the reebok/tacks line, but really one or two levels down from top of the line I think gives you the best combo of price, mobility and protection. I found those were quite a bit more protective than similarly priced rbz shins, I found rbz shins to be really minimal. That could be something to try, stepping down to a lower tier tacks shin for less bulk, but still good protection. 4052 tacks and rbz 130 are priced the same, but 4052 will be significantly more protective while at the same time much less bulky than the super tacks. But the tacks shin could just be too wide for her leg, so this could all be moot :) I like the idea of buying a bunch and trying them on to see which one fits the best, then returning the rest.

[2nhockey 21]

So if I go from a Super Tacks to a Tacks 4052, for example, I would drop bulk by dropping protection? Help me understand this. I thought a line would largely be shaped the same across the line, and to get a different shape I'd have to switch lines. Further, I thought the higher up the line I went would get me more protection, more weight and maybe different liners or breathability?  Thanks for clarifying. 

[kmfdm86 112]

2 hours ago, 2nhockey said:

So if I go from a Super Tacks to a Tacks 4052, for example, I would drop bulk by dropping protection? Help me understand this. I thought a line would largely be shaped the same across the line, and to get a different shape I'd have to switch lines. Further, I thought the higher up the line I went would get me more protection, more weight and maybe different liners or breathability?  Thanks for clarifying. 

More material=more protection. Less material=less protection.

[rawkstar 45]

Yep, basically that. It would fit similar, like the knee cap and the plastic shin guard shell are the same on all the pads within the line, but all of the internals and the padding is very different. Super tacks has a lot more padding all over, lots of padding on the inside, really beefy flaps on the outside of the calf, bigger flaps on the side and above the knee. All the padding is thicker and bulkier. 4052 would be the same shape, but less padding and less bulk.

[2nhockey 21]

Awesome, thanks for the help. Getting an order ready to go now. Once that's done time to move on to the next!

[talkintothemike 4]

My daughter is similar in size to your daughter.  I have bought her CCM RBZ equipment the last two years.  The biggest reasons are the fact that it is very protective, yet very light weight.  (She plays on boys' teams, so I like the extra protection for the more physical play.))  My daughter plays Travel and may have up to 3 games in a day, so no moisture absorption is also a huge plus so she has dry equipment for the next game..  My daughter loves the feel and the protection, especially the shins and the shoulders.  The only negative for us is that the RBZ elbows are all shorter in length than other manufacturers at the same size.  We have tried the next size up, and it was long enough but the straps were too big and the pad looked huge under her jersey.  (Like somebody stuffed her elbows with a towel.)

 

Bottom line for us is that we are sticking with RBZ shins and shoulders.  I just ordered her some Tacks elbows, so we will see how that goes.

[Hat_Trick_Hokie 49]

On 3/12/2016 at 2:55 PM, kmfdm86 said:

They don't restrict movement and they stay in place really well and I'm only using one level up from entry level model. RBZ 130, $59.99 for Jr and $69.99 for Sr.

Totally agree.  Went with the RBZ 130 shins, shoulder, and eblows.  Slimmer low-profile fit, and the mid-level pads are awesome for the price.

[2nhockey 21]

Just to finish this... box from Hockey Monkey made it today with the Easton HSX's in it just in time for practice. Practice actually was a scrimmage and then finished up with some 3v3 hockey. She blocked 4 shots off her shins and had a pretty hard fall on her knees. She said she didn't even feel the shots and never mentioned her fall. Said the shins never impeded her skating maneuverability or speed.

 

Thanks again for the help. She is absolutely thrilled with her new shins. Really feel like I hit a home run here.