ilyazhito

Interesting. How good are the gloves, compared to the big boys?

I found one on a local goalie Facebook group. 

I use a Sumo now, so gloves, pants, mask, chest protector, and skates go inside. Jerseys are in a bag with my change of clothes, shower kit, and water. Sticks attach to the side of my bag, and pads are strapped in upside down, face facing the inside of the bag. 

Does anyone have a used 40" Sumo tower bag they are willing to part with? I've heard good reviews about them, and would love to get one to replace my Vaughn wheeled bag. 

4 hours ago, Madmedic6 said:

Well I can certainly say that I absolutely did not like the mach pads. Used them several times and absolutely hated the mach strapping. Couldn't get them to where I'd like them. And when I did the straps would pop off.  The hyperlite glove is definitely not my favorite, but it wasn't all terrible. I did however really like the blocker minus the tight fit of the palm. 

What is your size? Maybe if you posted info on your Machs, you might find people willing to buy them off your hands. 

On 9/15/2022 at 1:10 AM, ZeroGravitas said:

I wasn't planning on writing this originally, but the forum post lamenting the lack of activity on these boards made me want to do something to generate some discussion.

New for 2022 is CCM's Axis 2 line. It was highly anticipated by yours truly because I was interested in how they would incorporate their new knee system - dubbed Dynamic Response System Pro by CCM. Also new for this year is the launch of CCM's new custom program. CCM now offers tiers of custom - Total Custom and Total Custom Pro. We won't talk about All Out here - that is essentially Total Custom Pro with a custom graphic.

With Total Custom, you get reduced custom options at a slight (inflationary?) increase in price over the prior CCM release - the Extreme Flex 5. Essentially, you're paying more for less. Less custom options and less color/material options.

With Total Custom Pro, you get the full custom options that you're accustomed to from prior CCM releases at an additional cost: +$50USD over TC for the catcher, +$50USD over TC for the blocker, +$100 USD over TC for the leg pads.

The big draw with TCP is that your equipment is to Pro-Spec, which includes the lace on the inner landing edge. But a bummer is that you don't truly get all of the custom options. For example, the pros get some custom options with EFlex that us mortals cannot get, such as having options beyond Control Rebound or Max Rebound, or getting Soft/Stiff options for the pad flex.

Even with TCP, you cannot choose a Face Foam Option - you'll be stuck with MaxRebound+. In my opinion, this is understandable as a retail stock option and even as a Total Custom option (should have renamed this custom tier though...), but not at the Total Custom Pro level.

But enough yammering. Let's get to the gear.

Full disclosure: I am employed at a hockey store and paid less than retail for this equipment. All thoughts are my own, malformed and pulled from my ass, and not my employer’s. As far as I know, CCM does not know or care who I am - though with my obnoxious colorways, I have no doubt they could find me and pee-pee whack me. I have no relationship with CCM beyond working at a retail store and selling their (and other manufacturer's) equipment.

Leg Pads

Category	Retail/Stock Option	My Specs	Notes
Knee Cradle	Recessed Foam w/ Removable Knee Wrap	Recessed Foam w/ Removable Knee Wrap	Changeable with Total Custom Pro only.
Toe Arrangement	HD Toe Bridge w/ Bungee Lace	HD Toe Bridge w/ Bungee Lace	Additional options with TCP. TC has optional skate lace.
Knee Landing	3D Grip	3D Grip	Changeable with Total Custom Pro only (Suregrip).
Flex Options	Pre Curved/Single Break Core/No Outer Break	Pre Curved/Single Break Core/No Outer Break	TC allows same as stock, but with a single external break. TCP allows numerous options.
Knee Strap Option	No (Leather) Strap, 2" Elastic Only	No (Leather) Strap, 2" Elastic Only	TC allows a leather strap below knee. TCP allows a leather strap at the knee.
Inside Leg Channel and Calf Strap Options	Loose FIT QMSS	Tight Fit QMSS	TC allows Loose and Tight fits with QMSS or with 2 leather straps. TCP allows numerous options.
Leg and Boot Channel	Shallow Soft	Shallow Soft	Changeable with Total Custom Pro only.
Boot Strap Options	No Strap	Under Heel Angle	Changeable with Total Custom Pro only.
Thigh Protector Tab	No Lace Tab	No Lace Tab	Changeable with Total Custom Pro only.

I ordered my set as a 33+1.5 with all white weave, except the landing area, which is red weave, and the center zone, which could only be Speedskin or Jenpro. Surprisingly, the CCM customizer let me do tone-on-tone for the logos so I ran with that. I think it came out pretty solid.

I never wore Axis 1, but these pads are stiff. CCM literature states it's approximately twice as stiff as Axis 1 and that the knee landing, with the introduction of the DRS Pro knee, is about 4 times stiffer. Meanwhile boot stiffness is only slightly stiffer than Axis 1.

But even with all that stiffness, rebounds off these pads are nothing like Mach. Sometimes shots seem to die a foot away from the pad, or right next to the pad. Mach seems to send everything away with a vengeance. I've absolutely let goals in that Mach could have saved me from.

That said, I appreciate the S-curve on these pads as it definitely helps me close the five hole better than Mach.

A big surprise to me was that the boot strap came as a leather strap instead of the QK5 strap that came with older CCM models.

Here, you can see the mismatch of colors between the white Speedskin and the white weave.

Below is the DRS Pro knee. Instead of having a wedge integrated with the knee block like Bauer and inserted into the core of the pad, CCM has a stiff wing built into the side of the pad, which is Velcro'd to the knee stack.

The inside edge of the pad, with the telltale lace in the inner gusset. The foams used on the landing area are very stiff. Sliding is pretty good. I'd say about 70-75% of CORTech sliding. How of that is up to the weave and how much of that is up the stiffened landing area foams? Who knows!

Catcher

Category	Retail/Stock Option	My Specs	Notes
Palm Size	SR/Regular	SR/Regular
Cuff/Thumb Options (Break)	591 One-Piece	580 One-Piece
Tee Pocket	Double Tee	Double Tee	Changeable with Total Custom Pro only.
Palm Material	AX Suregrip Grey	AX Suregrip Grey
Hand Position	No (Leather) Strap, 2" Elastic Only	No (Leather) Strap, 2" Elastic Only
Pinky Loop	No Pinky Loop	With Pinky Loop
Stiffness	Game Ready	Pro	Changeable with Total Custom Pro only.

I ordered a 580 catcher. Mostly because I was tired of customers asking me what a 580 was like and not having something to let t hem try on. Closure was, surprisingly very good out of the box. I threw it in a baseball glove steamer and worked it in. It was much easier to use out of the box compared to my Bauer Mach - which also has a pro palm. Using it has not been a big adjustment from the 600-esque closure on the Bauer Mach. The pocket seems huge and it really feels like it just gobbles up pucks. Minor quality nitpick - there is some excess black thread in the tee - you can see it in the first picture below.

If you opt for any break besides the 591 break, you do not get the new backhand and new strapping system, so I can't comment on the new Cross Form strapping system.

My custom order seems says that I specced for AX Suede Suregrip Grey, but I seem to have gotten the Beige?

Blocker

Category	Retail/Stock Option	My Specs	Notes
Palm Size	SR/Regular	SR/Regular	SR/XL is available with TCP.
Palm Material	AX Suede W/ Black Palm	AX Suede W/ Black Palm
Finger Protection	Curved Finger Protection	Straight Finger Protection	Changeable with Total Custom Pro only.
Hand Fit Options	Regular	Regular	Changeable with Total Custom Pro only.

Blocker feels pretty good on the hand. The palm does feel tightened up over prior CCM models, taking a page out of Bauer's book. The palm isn't quite as tight/luxurious feeling as a Bauer palm, though.

Overall, performance so far is kind of middling. It does not shoot out rebounds like a Bauer blocker does.

The new sidewall construction is very stiff. They have some very stiff foams in the black weave part of the photo below.

I've been missing the blocker cuff, which Mach eliminated.You are able to change tightness of the cuff by Velcroing both sides of the cuff - the piece that has the Polygiene tag and the opposite side are Velcro'd in.

Minor nitpicks with the quality, see below.

Let me know if you any questions or want additional pictures! A long-term review is unlikely to follow.

 

Is there a way to spec these pads for harder rebounds?

Can wheels be attached to a carry bag? This way, you can have the best of both worlds: a bag that can easily be carried on stairs, yet can also be rolled to save strain on one's back.

If it is possible, I would love to mod a carry bag to have wheels, and possibly even buy this bag. 

7 hours ago, Yzueblin said:

I used fuzion 1 and fuzion 2 and my next custom gear would be brians again... nothing is better than primo for sliding. not even bauer 

I get that. I love the hard rebounds Bauer gives, and I'm curious if other small manufacturers have something similar.

I hate having pucks (or balls) die just out of reach. The big boy rebounds go like this, from softest to hardest (True 12.2, CCM EFlex, Vaughn Velocity, Vaughn Ventus, Brian's GNetik, Warrior G6, True L20.2, CCM Axis 2, Brian's Optik, Bauer Vapour/Supreme).

If JRZ was still around, I would expect their pads to be comparable to Brian's Optik, maybe Bauer Vapour when it comes to rebounds. Now that they're gone, I don't know who among the smaller manufacturers makes a good hard pad. 

I agree. I wonder what current JRZ users will look for when it comes time to replace their gear. There are also the big boys, but I'm not sure how the modern Kenesky or McKenney pads compare to JRZ. 

That's right. One caveat is that Warrior runs small. Warrior goes from 18.75 to 19.25 for 32" and from 19.25 to 19.75 for 33". I would measure your FTK carefully, because if you are exactly at 19.25, you can fit into either a 32 or a 33 Warrior. 

On 11/21/2022 at 6:12 PM, Wonder35 said:

I had one of those, heavy as a brick.

What drugs were Cooper smoking when they made that?  

Back to the OP topic, Stauber's Goal Crease is good, because they have both new and used stuff. Most other stores only sell new stuff. 

15 hours ago, coopaloop1234 said:

Yea, not sure what Teezle is smoking, but Warrior gloves are ridiculously protective. 

My senior GT (before hypercomp) was more protective than my one95, 2S, LT90, and CCM I've used. The GT2 Pro and G5 Pro, both with hypercomp, are even more protective. 

Plus, just take @WONGER's word over mine anyways since he plays against higher level shooters than me, I'm just upper intermediate. 

I like my Warrior FR blocker. Hopefully I can find a good trapper to match it with. Maybe I can find a good Warrior glove. 

Here are the pics of my regular gloves.

What hand are you? I have a set of used regular gloves I can send you. I also have full right gloves that I'm using now. 

13 hours ago, Teezle said:

My unofficial first impressions of stock gear based on what I tried on at the store: most of it is terrible. Even the stuff where the custom gear is made offshore in the same place as stock, the stock gear felt much more poorly constructed. There were a few bright points.

Brian's:

Optik 3 blocker felt nose heavy; the balance is too far towards the fingertips. Optik 3 Glove was absolutely horrendous, possibly the worst glove I tried on off the shelf; felt like you were holding a large cylinder in your hand at the break area. GNetik glove was pretty good - easy to close off the shelf and didn't have anything weird sitting in the break.

CCM:

Axis 2 blocker was probably the best balanced blocker I tried on. Very comfortable and good finger protection. Axis 2 glove (591 angle with the no finger stalls) was awful - I see no reason why anyone would purchase it given the other options available. 

True:

The offshore stock 12.2 glove (600 break) was alright. Game ready was easy to close off the shelf, but the materials felt cheaper than the Canadian made version. The offshore stock 12.2 blocker was fine, except that the thumb placement seemed to be made for people with weirdly proportioned hands whose thumbs are closer to their wrists? I was also not a fan of the suregrip on the blocker palm because it was very very stiff. The offshore 12.2 pads looked well constructed, but the knee block was very loosely attached.

Vaughn:

I have never liked Vaughn blockers or gloves, and did not get any surprises. What did surprise me was how soft the thigh rise on the SLR3 pads was - significantly softer than the offshore 12.2 even though it is supposed to be Vaughn's "stiff" pad.

Bauer:

I currently use a full Bauer setup and really like it (Mach pads + glove, Vapor 2-Piece [i.e. old 1X style] blocker). The Hyperlite blocker is great if you like the thin board style. The Mach blocker felt okay to me, but nothing special. Not sure that removing the cuff portion really makes it more open than say the half-piece cuff for CCM or True.

Warrior:

G6 blocker felt very clunky with its super flat board shape. G6 glove was easy to close off the shelf and has a large open pocket, but felt lacking in protection.

 

Wow. Now I know not to look for Warrior, if the gloves are not that protective.

I knew that Lefebvre gloves have historically sucked, especially at the non-pro level. I'm curious what was bad about the True 12.2 and Axis gloves.

What do you want to buy? 

8 hours ago, A.YOUNGoalie13 said:

So half old then?

Perhaps. The problem with going down to the calf is that my pads have tended to slip off me when I tried that. 

I can't stand skate laces. They have no give, and the chances of me cutting them by mistake is too high. 

27 minutes ago, A.YOUNGoalie13 said:

I have felt so konekted to my gear since the start of the season but I can’t quit put my finger on why…

 

And yes, strapping across the knee or using toe ties is not just for old people

I go across the knee but use ProLaces. 

What discussion of odd gear would be complete without the Kozac cut? That stick looks really weird. I get its purpose, to allow for better stickhandling in the butterfly position, but the oddly-shaped handle and two blades are a no-go. 

Wow! It's good to know that it wasn't anything you did, but at least now you know which shop to use and which to avoid. 

In your case, I would go with S Bauers. 

21 hours ago, GoalieInTheDesertYT said:

Thanks a lot for the input, I was thinking about moving to a 33 but with your input I may have to move down to a 32. Makes sense if I’m moving down from a Bauer S to a M.

I may have to try on my swagger 31+1

Bauer runs small, so you may have to order UP a size from what you would usually expect. I have an 18" ATK/21 FTK, which would correspond to a 35 from most manufacturers (except Warrior), but because Bauer runs small, I need 36/XL Bauer pads. If your normal size is a 32, you need an S (33) in Bauer to get the same fit. 

That really sucks @WillyGrips13. 

Here are some photos of my cat. Her name is Toraneko ("tiger cat", which means tabby cat in Japanese), and she is a 3-year-old Maine Coon mix. 

Here are pics of a pair of L Ultrasonic pads I got off SidelineSwap. The original user listed them for $550 US + shipping. They are in excellent condition, come with ProLaces, and have hot rebounds and almost effortless sliding. If they weren't too small, I would keep them.

I'm looking to trade these for a pair of XL Ultrasonic pads.