CCM Tacks 7092 Shins

[darkhors 88]

Reviewer Details:
36 years old / 5’11 / 180lbs
Location: Michigan

Position: Forward
Playing Level: Upper B and C Men's 

Size: 15 inch
Previous Shins: Jofa 6060's (about 12 years old or so)

Fit

Coming from the Jofa's the Tacks line is pretty much the same type of fit as the old Jofa and Reebok's so when trying them on, I was very happy with how they felt. The strapping on these is very nice and the spandex lock strap is very comfortable around the back of the knee. The padding seems a bit bulky, but I think that is the norm with the newer shins because it felt that way on the Alpha QX's and the Super Tacks that I tried too. Coming from super old pads, mine are likely matted down from the years of use and I think that anything new I try on would have this same feel. The calf wrap covers the back of the leg very nicely and this was a major selling point for me because I felt that most of the other shins I tried (excluding the Super Tacks) didn't cover much of my calf. The Tacks have a deeper leg channel and that helps to get more of the back of the leg protected. The one downside for me on these was when I put them on for the first time with my skates. I think because there's more padding they sit just a hair more forward than my Jofa's which pushes the pad a little into my tongue. I skate tongues out and it's a little noticeable when I'm standing around, but I don't notice it at all when I'm skating. I'm pretty sure that after a little break in, this will be a non issue.

8/10 (great calf wrap and strapping system, but padding needs to break in a bit).

Protection

So far protection seems great. I've taken a couple of shots off the leg and haven't noticed anything at all in terms of discomfort. They have a lot to live up too though, because my old Jofa's are still going strong and have been since the day I got them. The cap seems very durable and the shin portion looks almost identical to my old Jofa's, so I'm confident that these will have very similar protection. Although I haven't had to use it yet, I really like the calf wrap on these and it seems that it's going to be a bit of an upgrade to my old shins because of the strapping and larger outside flap.

10/10 (pending longer TOI with them)

Weight

Ice Warehouse says these weigh in at 657g which is pretty much the heaviest shin around, but they don't feel heavy when you have them on. Plus, I'm fairly certain that they are lighter than my Jofa's, but I'm hoping to be able to weigh them in the next couple of days to see which one is heavier and their exact weight. Also, I tend to block a lot of shots even playing forward and I'd rather have a little heavier, more protective pad, than not.

9/10 because they're listed as the heaviest

Durability

I can't give an accurate rating at this time, but after I get about another month of them on the ice, I'll be back to post an update on this category.

?/10

Intangibles

Feel is the key here. I know that has a lot to do with fit, but I have it as a separate category because there were other shins that "fit" properly, but these just have a great feel to them when you have them on. The Alpha QX Pro's felt bulky even though they are lighter and fit decently and the Super Tacks fit great, but those felt like they had too much padding. These shins just seem pretty natural feeling to me, like they're a part of my leg and not something that sitting on top of them. They allow me to just skate and not have to think about if my equipment in is the right place or anything like that. I don't even notice them when I'm on the ice and that means more to me than weight savings. If the protection is as good as my Jofa's, I could see me note having to buy another pair of shins for another 8 years or so.

9/10

Conclusion

So far, these haven't disappointed, but again, I'll be back in a month or so to give a good update on these, especially the durability and protection categories. I'm hoping they still feel just as good as they do now. Also, the price point on these pads are great at $100. You get pretty much everything in terms of protection that you would from the Super Tacks, but at 2/3's the cost. 

Overall Rating

9.5/10 (Pending longer durability and protecting testing).