Rayzilla

This thread will be a review of the Brown 2400CA with Russian Spec chest arm protector that I just ordered from John Brown Custom Sporting Equipment Limited. And if you are interested in hearing about what hockey life is like in another part of the world, Hong Kong then you can pop back every once in a while to see what's up.

Details on the 2400CA order and if John has to time to send me some work in process photos, I'll post them here to share with you all.

I've signed up for two different leagues for this coming season. The opening night for the CIHL is Saturday 25 September while the opening night for the SCIHL Division 1 is Thursday 30 September. I'll post some more about these leagues in the next few days when I get some free time.

Thanks for visiting.

Ok. I got it all sorted with John. My wife's trip to Toronto has been cancelled so I'll be getting the 2400CA shipped directly to me here in Hong Kong. John will be sending me the invoice some time today.

The new season here starts at the end of this month. I'm signed up for two nights each week. Maybe I'll start up a new thread now so that I will make it a 2400CA to Hong Kong and I'll include some photos of the new rink that I will be playing on.

On 8/25/2021 at 8:23 AM, Chenner29 said:

Here's a pro stock Bobrovsky unit for comparison.

I'd guess the component upgrades are part of what make it a Russian Spec

https://sidelineswap.com/gear/hockey/goalie/goalie-chest-arm-protectors/3683738-bobrovsky-pro-stock-goalie-chest

The link doesn't open for me. I get a "403 Forbidden" message. Does the link work for anyone else?

Could I have some feedback on whether my email that I will be sending to John makes sense? Here it is:

"1) Russian Spec. You stated this "segmented shoulders with heavier plastic and the Extra  Bicep protection that is the Russian Spec." In your original reply to me, you stated that Extra Bicep Protection is standard on the 2400CA, so does this mean that Russian spec is just Segmented Shoulder with Heavier Plastic, or is the Extra Bicep Protection different on the Russian Spec than the Bicep Protection on the stock 2400CA. 

John must be busy because hasn't replied to my email from a few days ago.

One question I asked about is that I did not see an option to choose Russian Spec. Is there such a thing or is it a couple of individual options?

2 hours ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

Sounds like a good start.  I would add in a request to have the back plate dip down at the top so it doesn't poke out of the back of your jersey and touch the back of your mask when you're down.  Used to happen to me all the time on my older Brown.  I asked for that on my current custom unit and I have never had it happen again.

Ooooo. That's a good one that I never thought of. I've had that happen to me before. It can look pretty clumsy when you have that bump sticking up at the back of your neck. Thanks!

11 hours ago, Maxpower29 said:

He was a few days with me too. Usually late at night too. He's probably super busy I bet. If not let me know I'll shoot him a message also 

Sure. Anything that would help to get some traction on my order. Late night reply from John would be perfect because I am 12 hours ahead over here so I would receive his reply some time around noon, so I can reply back immediately. 

My revised order now looks like this:

1) Extra Rib Protection;

2) Segmented (Multiple Breaks) with Heavy Plastic;

3) Asking if it is "possible to have the shoulder lifts made so that it can be easily removed? Like using velcro and/or laces?"

4) Asking for a shipping cost if delivered to Hong Kong. If it is too much, I'll ask my wife to bring it back for me, and;

5) Extra Bicep Protection (no extra charge because it is standard on the 2400CA).

I think this is about it. I thought I was going to go all out and get everything but it appears that might be overkill and a risk on losing too much mobility.

6 hours ago, Maxpower29 said:

He responded all weekend with me but it was later in the day. He was also on vacation the week I ordered so that might have been why he was responding and making sure he had the info. Even got me to wait to pay because he wasn't around. I thought about other stuff to add but i figured I'd try this out and see then if I wanted something else after having enough experience with a Brown I'll get another and sell this one. Doesn't seem like I'd have an issue moving one and the money loss to me would be worth it if I wanted something else 

I replied to his confirmation of receiving my original request 3 days ago and he has not replied still. Maybe he thinks I am not serious because I am all the way in Hong Kong? Hope he will reply soon.

2 hours ago, Maxpower29 said:

Not too much. Went with the russian spec segmented floaters, extra bicep and rib protection, measured all my upper body and arms for him, and I think that was it. Im hoping it fits well. If i need something different ill just adjust off this one. I cant wait to try it

That sounds basically like what I asked for but I sent him a few questions and I'm waiting for his reply. I guess they do not work on the weekend?

17 hours ago, Maxpower29 said:

Mine was shipped out Thursday or Friday. They sent me this. Love it 

Looks nice!

Did you request any mods to your order?

3 hours ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

Standard for sure.  And definitely get it segmented!!

Thanks for the reminder. I need to change it to segmented too. The comment on the Brown website is that the "Solid with Raised Edges" is "(Not Legal)". Which part of it is not legal, the fact that it is Solid or the Raised Edges? Or is it that it is wider in general in that it extends out to cover the side of the ribs and under the arm? I do not mine the "not legal" part since I only play in beer leagues here.

9 hours ago, bildeer said:

Personally, I would go standard as this unit is already one of the larger C/A's you can purchase in the standard configuration.

That's a good point, that it is one of the bigger ones out there already. So adding more to that is different than adding more to a smaller or normal sized one. Thanks.

10 hours ago, Maxpower29 said:

I just went with standard. I didn't get mine yet it's shipped out to me. It looks big already and i don't like too much bulk that's not needed. 

I want mobility. Bulk is acceptable if it is places that do not affect mobility too much. So if the shoulder wings will affect mobility then standard is the way I will go. Thanks.

3 hours ago, bunnyman666 said:

If you were to mod that, I would get both velcro land lace-in. You could see if Brown would do that.

I'll check with him on that. 

Quick question before I write back to him. Regarding the Width of the Shoulder Wings, how many of you went with "Standard", "+0.75" or "+1.50". I am deciding between "Standard" and "0.75". Will the ).75" be noticeable enough to be worth the extra (the +1.50 is $39.95 so I think the +0.75 will cost the same)? 

Thanks.

 

13 hours ago, bunnyman666 said:

So many contrivances to prevent goals can actually make more goals scored against you. In general, too tall of shoulders get in my way. If you have an enormously long neck, the shoulder lifts would be a great investment. Whenever I finally get a Brown, I want the shoulders as flat as possible. Can you order them with flatter than normal shoulders?

I removed the raised shoulder padding from my options selected. I agree that that could get in the way of side ways head movement with the chin of the mask and dangler. I suppose I will be able to mod something like that on my own but make it removable with velcro to attach it. Has anyone tried that?

Thanks for the tip.

On 8/12/2021 at 2:01 AM, bildeer said:

What I mean is that you should take extra care to flex the arms when running the unit through the shower, as they will be one of the stiffest areas. I also took a skate lace and tied both arms in a flexed position to dry to expedite the break in process.

The russian spec comes with extra bicep, rib protection and heavy plastic standard iirc. I personally would not do the shoulder lifts or wing extension, as I feel the unit is big enough as it is but if you feel like you can work with it, there would be no reason not to do so. No idea on the raised edges, as I have never used anything like that before.

I like your idea about the dry flexing. I'm going to do that for sure.

I finally completed the order process last night. I had to wait until last night because I store my equipment in a locker at the rink and I had to measure my current chest protector and take a photo with me wearing it. There was never an option to choose "Russian Spec". Just separate individual options to select extra bicep protection, extra rib protection, and heavy plastic on the shoulder wings.

Thanks for your information.

Some quick questions about some options. I am thinking about adding:
1) Extra Bicep protection;

2) Raised Shoulder Lifts (but worried about mobility with the chin of mask and dangler);

3) Extra Rib Protection;

4) Shoulder Wing Extension (maximum 1.5");

5) Solid Raised Edges (Not Legal) and Heavy Plastic;

6) I currently tuck out with my current but I have also tucked in the past. Not sure what I want to do going forward but likely not tuck.

Comments?

On 8/7/2021 at 10:31 PM, WillyGrips13 said:

I think Brown does a summer shutdown around August. At least they have in years past. This may affect your production time. 

Back in 2006 when I ordered mine, I wanted the built-in collar. The shop that I bought from actually sent one without. I had to send it back and they sent one with one. I wanted my shipping money back because it was their mistake. I never heard back from them. The shop went out of business shortly thereafter. Pretty sure no hockey shops carry Brown unless it’s old inventory. I know as recently as three years ago when I lived in Connecticut, Wesco in Brookfield had a few 2100 units. Now dealing directly with Brown you’re going to get something built specifically for you. 

Roughly a year ago, I removed the integrated throat guard from my 2100 and started to use the Maltese throat guard I use with my Vaughn 8800 Epic C/A. I found the integrated one had a gap in protection. It’s just a ring of foam attached with fabric. No padding in the connecting fabric. Every now and then a puck would sneak in there. And I do wear a dangler. Now the Maltese throat guard and C/A together cover with no gaps. 

Aside from the upper arm addition, I’m not sure if Russian spec includes anything else. 

No idea what extra cushioning entails. 

Extra rib protection might be for units that don’t have the part that is standard on the 2400. 

It seems that many components are interchangeable between models. It’s possible telling them which components you like vs the ones you don’t will help them choose the right model to build off of. As with most things regarding their products, asking them directly will get you the most accurate response. My price list may be outdated by now, too. 

I hope they are not doing the August shut down anymore but I worry that they might be with the possible slow down in orders due to Covid-19. 

I had written a response earlier today but I guess I forgot to submit it and so I'm rewriting this again.

When I played my first game here in Hong Kong, I wore my Maltese collar but after that game, I stopped wearing it because of the heat. As I mentioned, the rinks here in Hong Kong are all in shopping malls so they are not as cold as the arenas in Toronto where I grew up. I may have to take it out again if I need the neck/throat protection. I wear a dangler too.

I was on the Brown site now filling in the options and measurements but I haven't come across the option for Russian Spec yet. I will need to complete the form tomorrow when I go to the rink to measure my current chest protector.

2 hours ago, ArdeFIN said:

I have a JB2000 from about 2015 maybe. I've made a thread about the modding process under the "mods" -topic.

 

 

Cool. Thanks for the link. I'm kind of new on here but I'll give that a look tomorrow. I've got to shut down here to get to sleep and back to work tomorrow. Still need to send off that email to Brown.

19 hours ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

I hope you didn't feel like you had to defend yourself.  I wasn't attacking or anything.  Just curious that's all.  Life brings us to all different kinds of places.

No worries. I did not feel at all like you were attacking me. It was a decision that we made 12 years ago and we have no regrets. We've made some good financial decisions, my wife is having more success here than she could ever achieve in Canada, and I've made a career change that I am loving. And we've never really gone into any real lockdown here and we've been at zero cases for the last couple of months now I think. I can't wait to travel to countries like Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and hopefully a few new ones to play in hockey tournaments again. It's so much fun traveling with my friends to play hockey.

On 8/10/2021 at 1:40 PM, bildeer said:

Hi, I have been using a 2400 russian spec since november of 2020. If you go this route, I suggest making sure that you have pants that are wide enough to fit the rib protection in if you do happen to tuck. Mobility is good once you run it through a few hot showers and move everything around.

If you are sensitive to heat and weight, this may not be the best option, as mine (somewhere in between a medium and a large) weighs a little over 9 pounds dry, but that is something that you may be able to adjust to, as is the same deal with the heat that this thing retains.

I like mine a lot more than the vaughn ve8 that I was previously using and it looks like it will hold up for about 20 years at the rate that I am using it.

Thanks bildeer. I am almost sure that I will get the Russian Spec if I can get the Brown made on time. And I'll do that hot shower trick but what do you mean by move everything around?

If I pay this kind of money for the chesty, I will battle through the heat to make it work. It will be quite a change in weight though because I am coming from a Warrior RG2 Pro, which is probably one of the lightest on the market. And like I said, the rinks here are all in shopping malls so they are no where near as cold as the cement hockey arenas that I used to play in in Toronto. Maybe if I start a thread, I'll post up some pics of some of the rinks I've played in here in Hong Kong.

3 hours ago, bunnyman666 said:

I have had those flinching occasions. It was such a tell that guys would act like they were going for those areas! Wish I were kidding!

You may not realise it but they can probably see the flinch when they wind up so they actually may pepper a few with everything they have to get you off of your game. Get the Brown and be done with flinching.

4 hours ago, ArdeFIN said:

@Rayzilla Keep this thread updated or even start your own as I'm also dreaming about a new Brown while I'm really happy with my modified one too. At times you just have to get something new to replace the existing gear...

Sure. I will either just continue posting on this thread or if I do start a new one, I'll add a notification/link post on this thread.

Which one do you have and how is it modified?

3 hours ago, bunnyman666 said:

Some people think it’s overkill. I tend to be of the school that says that chesties not only provide protection by their actual construction, but also by placebo. By no means is the Russian Spec placebo by any stretch, but knowing that you will likely feel few shots gives you the faith to play your heart out without worry that a puck will catch you “the wrong way”. That extra protection translates into a feeling of security. My first chesty, a Vaughn LT80, was great until it wasn’t. When I caught the shot that made my arm go numb, then sear in pain, I played more tentatively until I got my Warrior RG1. I am actually quite satisfied with my Vapor 1X and my Rbk P2 (modded by Factory Mad), but JB has been on my radar for years, and I imagine that a Russian Spec will be what I ride into the sunset wearing when I get around to buying one.
 

End of the story is that I can let myself go and play whilst wearing a good chesty, and you will, as well when you get your Brown. 

This is exactly my same thoughts. I think differently from those guys that think bags with wheels are for gentle people and that if you don't want to put up with big bruises for the sake of 'feeling' the puck. To me, those are just their opinions and I am entitled to my own that is dependent on how I personally feel. Just wait until they reach my age and have bad backs and broken collar bones, etc. Ok, sorry for the rant.

I've been so busy today, I still haven't had a chance to write to Brown yet. Let me try now to get the puck sliding.

Anyone else with more comments or experiences with the 2400 or dealing with Brown, please feel free to continue posting. TIA.

2 hours ago, SaveByRichter35 said:

How'd you end up in Hong Kong if you don't mind me asking?  @Rayzilla

I have no problem with the question. I was born, educated, married, and started my family in Toronto. Then my wife got an offer with her employer to do a 3-5 year relocation to her firm's office in Hong Kong. Up until that time, I had lived all of my life in Toronto and I thought to myself, "never in a million years would I ever want to move away from Toronto!" But I found out that there was hockey in Hong Kong and I thought it would be a great opportunity for our kids to experience life there so we opened our mind to trying it without much risk since she can always choose to go back. Well, about twelve years later and a change in my career, I have no urgency to move back and the opportunities for my wife will not be the same if we were to go back now. Life is very comfortable and convenient here and there are a lot of opportunities to accumulate a nice retirement fund here so that is probably what we will do. Then when our kids grow up and decide where they want to live, it may sway us to do whatever knowing that we have a retirement fund to fall back on.

There's much more but I have a Zoom meeting to get to now and then I need to start getting in touch with Brown.