Puckstopper

So you're saying Cartman's mom is a Seatlle fan?

That's what I do. The only issue I have is occasional over-rotation but that's more related to piss-poor technique than anything else. I've had the same issue with other pads (Sub-Zero, Eflex 4, etc) so I know it's a me problem as opposed to a pad or strapping problem.

Try eliminating the heel strap. My pads rotated beautifully once I loosened that up. Eventually I got rid of it and haven't looked back.

@Kirk3190 will respond to a DM if you have more in-depth questions. For sizing any reputable dealer can get you sized up and this info is widely available. As Jake said, there is no difference in sizing from year to year.

That'll be Phil Kessel's nickname after he's taken in the expansion draft. Oh and @Dumpy at risk seeming pedantic, Kraken is mid-grade, overly sweet rum, not vodka. Although I will admit, it's pretty damn tasty for lower end stuff. Back in my bartending days I used to make a shot I called "Smokin' Krak" by topping Kraken with 151 and lighting it on fire. Tasted like a toasted marshmallow!

I hear the organist will be playing some Krak-pipes.

Both of these are good points and should be added to my list of "not gripes". I"m just going to be cheesed off for a while because they didn't go with "Totems" for the name. I'm a huge fan of totem pole art and really thought there would be a lot that could be done with a color scheme and logo with that name. I recognize there were some downsides too that name but I feel like it could have been done respectfully and well.

Overall I'm a little underwhelmed, but I expected to be. I wasn't going to be happy with any color scheme that didn't include a dark or at least emerald green, but that's just not a popular color in the graphic design community at the moment. Other gripes: The name "Kraken" is trendy and hip at the moment, but I doubt it will age well. The jerseys are a flat out rip off of the Tennessee Titans. Even the shoulder crests are similar to the Titans' T logo. Positive notes: While the main logo feels a little over-designed it's pretty good. The team name ISN'T the Sockeye. The jerseys AREN'T pink. Overall I give it a 6.5/10. Changing the colors up just slightly would have yielded something that felt more original.

Good looking wheels man! I'm way more impressed with CCM than Bauer in the skate department at this point. The ankle and tongue padding on the upper end AS3 skates is really well done.

Man, I'm glad I've got that clownshow muted! Regardless, take Warrior out of it. I'd say the same if it were Vaughn, Brian's, CCM, or anyone else. At the end of the day these are handmade products and there will be minor errors and differences. I'm not saying Cupra shouldn't have been a little upset, but he's carried this a bit far imho.

Well, if they don't factor that in, they won't be in business long. And if seams WERE failing I'd agree. But what you were upset about were relatively minor cosmetic issues that would not have affected how the pads played. Look, it wasn't my intention to slam your choice of gear. For roller hockey (which I think I remember you saying you bought the pads for) I wouldn't spend top dollar either, as the stuff takes more of a beating no matter how well you treat it. But the simple fact is that you have to assume that, regardless of who the MFG is, their top notch people are doing the pro stuff (for the actual pros, not retail "pro"), their novices and newcomers are working on the youth lines, and other levels of skill are layered in between. Sorry, when you buy a middle price point, intermediate pad, you probably didn't get the most skilled craftsmen working on them. I don't have any proof that Warrior or any other MFG runs their factories this way, but I will tell you that in handling hundreds of pads/gloves at various price points and sizes over the last couple years at my retail job there are wider variances in what's tolerated in lower price point gear from just about every MFG out there. I would say the only one I've never seen an imperfect item from would be Brian's Canadian-made stuff. In fairness we don't move much of that so I don't have as big a sample size to draw from, but in my personal experience they've been flawless.

Dude, you bought non-pro intermediate gear. It's not that expensive and it wasn't nearly as big a deal as you made it out to be! People who do stuff like returning multiple sets of gear over tiny cosmetic blemishes are a part of the reason gear IS so pricey. As far as Quad's custom pro set goes: The break is in the same spot, the one pad has just broken in more. It happens during shipping. My GT2s were the same way and within a couple weeks of use they were dead on even. More disappointing is the fact that the graphic at the knee doesn't appear to line up. That's something I'd be bummed about for sure, but I'm honestly not sure how I'd handle the situation.

Use a pocket stretcher for sure! Mine is a piece of 1x2 I had lying around. I angle cut the edges and covered that areas that will touch the glove with some old PadSkinz I had lying around to avoid tears. It's worked wonders on my GT2 and now my G5 glove. I alternate between stretching the glove and tying it tightly closed. Most gloves I switch every night, but Warriors have responded better to 2 nights of being held open followed by a single night of being tied shut.

Tough to say. I've used the EF4 almost exclusively since I came back from a shoulder injury last October. I definitely prefer the Bishop curve from Warrior over the CCM Crawford I ordered. However, at the moment I'd say I prefer the flex of the CCM. Regardless, I'm committing to the M1 for the summer to see how I adjust.

Average of my M1 Pro+ sticks is 632 grams with a 26" paddle. I've got 4-5 hours on the ice with them and have liked them so far. They're definitely softer than the V1 Pro+, but not quite as flexible as the EF4. Once I get some more time with them I'll go more in depth, but my initial impressions have been quite positive.

Honestly, there is a tradeoff between mobility and protection. I'm willing to live with the occasional bruise to have the freedom of motion. After playing in one of these in high school, anything on the market feels like and improvement!

Can't vouch for the 2S, but my 2X is lightweight, mobile and very protective. I've taken a couple on the lower arms that stung, but I think I'd have felt those shots wearing most of what's out there right now.

Lead times on gear seem to depend on a number of factors. The retailer you pick sometimes seems to have and effect. But I can share an example that removes that variable: A co-worker and I both ordered Axis sets within a week of each other. He ordered a set in CBJ colors a week before I ordered a set in Graphite Grey, navy and yellow. His expected arrival date was a week AFTER mine, meaning for whatever reason CCM thought his set would take 2 weeks longer to build. Both sets are 34" with single break internal and external, so I'm not sure if it's the colors, the strapping differences or if I just lucked into an earlier production slot for some reason.

Really there's no reason to not use Warrior's system until it wears out. I've used the Warrior elastic, Brian's original Smart Straps and a couple different bungee ties. At the end of the day there are really no significant differences between how the bungee ties and the Warrior system function.

Middle. One recommendation based on recent experience: Change the black pocket lacing to grey or literally anything other than black. Dark lacing can make it harder to find the puck. This may only occur rarely, but if you're going custom why not build for absolute max performance.

They're not quite as bad as 580 people, they just chase after first cousins and the occasional farm animal.

My early delivery G5 set had a couple of minor cosmetic issues, but in only a very few hours on the ice before COVID shut everything down I'd decided they were the best set of pads I'd ever owned. I was very happy with pretty much every aspect of them and look forward to renewing my acquaintance with them Wednesday when I finally have more ice time.

Why? I may be an idiot (ok, I AM usually and idiot but that doesn't matter at the moment) but I really don't see how copying a logo from a scuba company would benefit JRZ almost 15 years later. In the mid 90's I had a college psychology professor had us do a group project where all the groups had to design a logo for an imaginary company (Tomcat Trucking in the case or our class). The logos would be judged by another class based on which company you'd most like to do business with (and we'd judge their submissions) and the winner got the only A on the project. Back then you couldn't just whip something together by stealing images from Google and Photoshopping them into something cool. Out of 8 groups, 6 of use turned in something similar. The only really unique one was super abstact and it was made by a group of art students. It also finished DEAD LAST in the voting. One of the 6 similar, boring "safe" logos was voted the winner, and it proved the professor's point perfectly. Generally speaking people want logos that get the point across simply, aren't threatening, and don't require too much thought. I'd say the Fusion logo fits that perfectly, and to me it's not at all surprising that in it's generic-ness it comes close to another logo for a product using the same name.

I've got a set in graphite grey, blue and yellow coming. I was the first user of the demo set I borrowed. The Axis set will clearly take more breaking in than my G5's have. I didn't bother taking the glove on the ice as I know I don't really like a 590 break from my Eflex set, but it was still super stiff out of the box. CCM really needs to catch up the Brian's and Bauer in this area, although I'd say they're on par with Vaughn and close to Warrior at this point. The blocker is noticeably lighter and rebounds are fairly lively off it. I didn't get enough shots to be more definitive than that. The pads are plenty stiff, so if this is your cup of tea you'll be happy. Coming from the Warrior leg channel the loose fit QMSS felt comfortable, more so than the tighter EF4 leg channel. The boot feels noticeably softer right out of the box than other stiff CCM pads I've used, and with some more break-in I expect it to be fantastic. The Max Rebound + foam on the pads definitely works as advertised. We had a 3rd net set up against the boards at center ice last night and even medium speed shots were ending up below the faceoff dots at either end. Shots from guys who could really rip them were caroming all the way down the boards and behind the nets in the traditional spots. The demo pads have a SpeedSkin sliding surface and while it slides better than my EF4's, I'm glad I went with weave for my personal set. Overall these feel better than they look. The build quality is spot on, and any thoughts of "street hockey pads" go right out the window after spending some time with them.

Picked up a 34+2" demo set of Axis pads and matching blocker from our local Perani's this afternoon. I've got an 8:30 stick and puck, so I'll report back with some first impressions tomorrow.