Flat Bottom V Skate Sharpening

I recently had my Easton Stealth S17 skates sharpened with a new technology from Blackstone Sports called the Flat Bottom V.

This new technology grabbed some spotlight with use by some NHL teams last season and now has 14  20 National Hockey League teams signed up to use the skate sharpening system for the 2009-2010 season. The guys at Blackstone really knew they had something when several NHL players proclaimed that they had to have it and wouldn’t go back to regular sharpening!

I’ve skated with the Flat Bottom V sharpening five times now and can certainly say that there is a noticeable difference between the FBV and the traditional skate sharpening.

The Technology

While the technology is based on physics principles of friction, the application to ice hockey compared to traditional skate sharpening can be most easily understood in the following images:

As we can see, the edges remain in tact producing a sharp bite for acceleration and agility but instead of the concave hollow, the middle of the blade is ground flat to increase glide.

I highly suggest that all serious hockey players take a shot at trying the Flat Bottom V. I’ve really enjoyed playing using this technology, noticing added ‘bite’ instantly during the first few strides. It took me a few minutes to get the feel for how the edges perform, but after the initial few shifts I had no complaints.

A quote from Cory Stillman describes the feeling best:

“For pushing and gliding and being on top of the ice, there’s a huge difference,” says Panthers’ veteran Cory Stillman who became a disciple in training camp after he tried it just once. “Because it’s not sinking into the ice, you don’t have to work as hard.”

One recommendation that I have is to make certain that you match up your current sharpening hollow with the associated FBV sharpening. This will reduce the adjustment period to the Flat Bottom V.

Here are the corresponding hollows for the Flat Bottom V according to Blackstone:

From our initial testing, we have determined that the 90/75 can be related to the edge of a 5/8 circular hollow and the 100/75 can be related to the edge of a 1/2 – 3/8 circular hollow.

Next time you hit your local Pro Shop to get a sharpening, try out the Flat Bottom V…I think you’ll be glad you did.

*P.S – I got my Flat Bottom V sharpening from a Sport Check store and there was no additional cost for the FBV versus a regular sharpening.

Easton Stealth S17 Skates

I recently finished six ice sessions with the Easton Stealth S17 Skates and for a company known more for it’s composite hockey stick technology, they have started to develop some very nice skates.

Initial Impressions

The first thing that I noticed, after the very lightweight (less than 700 grams), when trying on the Stealth S17 skates was the fact that it fit very nicely around my heel and Achilles tendon.

I have a narrow heel and ankle, so this is normally an issue for me with brands.  I was intrigued by this feature, which Easton calls the “Stealth Padlock”, which does exactly as it promises – it locks the heel down to avoid slippage which maintains power through the stride.

Another component that struck me soon after wearing the S17 skates were the removable heel lifts.  For those of you who have never had heel lifts, they take a bit of getting used to but many players use them for increased agility and acceleration as they literally keep you on your toes!  I haven’t used heel lifts in quite a few years, so I removed them after the first ice session.

Stealth S17 Composite Boot Structure

The S17 boot is constructed of a texalium/carbon fiber composite that provides a very stiff boot, while maintaining an extremely light weight.  Further update on the durability of the boot will be completed as I wear the skates more frequently. After the initial few ice times, the boot was responsive, solid and the Dryflow technology (an air vent in the bottom of the boot) worked well – especially when I removed the insoles following the ice session.

With the composite boot, I really suggest that you get these skates heat molded for a more custom fit.  The heat molding or “baking” will really help with comfort and breaking in the skates. The Stealth S17 skates come with instructions for heat molding the skates. The instructions read: 4 minutes at 200 F.

*I recommend taking these skates to your local hockey shop for heat molding.  The last thing you want to do is compromise the integrity of the boot on such a high quality skate.

Other Relevant Features:

• The white felt tongue is flexible and thin, but provides very good lace-bite protection with reinforced leather and nylon mesh down the front center of the tongue.

• The inner boot features a brushed liner that is comfortable and has a very smooth feel. ( I wear bare feet in my skates)

• I was very interested to find that the Rubber-covered toecap was more durable than I expected. Even after just 6 ice sessions I expected a few nicks and cuts.  As of now, it still looks like new.

• The RazorBladzII Blade Holder feels no different than the Lightspeed2, but I have had problems with the LS2 breaking from puck impact. I will keep this review updated with regard to the durability of the blade holder.

• Of note is that the manufacturer recommends 1 sizes smaller than your shoe size. I am wearing a half size larger in the Easton Stealth than I wear in Bauer and RBK/CCM Skates.

Durability Update March 3, 2010:

After more than 40 ice session I continue to be surprised at the durability of these skates. The rubber toe cap is still in fantastic condition and the integrity of the boot is still solid. The blade holder has not let me down as yet. There is not much more than a couple of scratches thus far. I have had almost half a dozen Tuuk bladeholders break over the year and RazorBladzII has been no less durable.

The tongue and tendon guard have not wilted as they do with some other skates and I can’t say enough about the venting in the bottom of the boot… it really helps the skates dry out quickly!

Buy Easton Stealth S17 Skates

You can purchase your Stealth S17 Skates online from Total Hockey and get Free Shipping!

If you have any additional questions or if you have comments on your use of the Stealth S17 Skates, please feel free to leave a comment.

Online Hockey Store Review

In this day and age, the advent of the internet and online stores has given us access to the best prices on high quality hockey equipment and collectibles throughout the world. More and more people are seeking out online stores for their new hockey equipment purchases as they become more familiar and comfortable with purchasing online.

If you are looking to buy hockey equipment or memorabilia online, the following are a great collection of stores and sites to find exactly what you are looking for at great prices.

Hockey Equipment

Hockey Deals – Hockey Deals has a great selection of the latest equipment available. Hockey Deals features especially great deals on the new blade replacement technology Thermablades as well as the most technologically advanced skate on the market, the Kor Shift 2.

Hockey Giant – Hockey Giant is the largest store for hockey equipment on the internet. They feature a huge selection of equipment and always seem to have a great selection of clearance items. They are known for having absolutely outstanding markdowns in their clearance section.

Total Hockey – Total Hockey.Net is the online source for the latest and greatest hockey equipment. If you can’t find it at any other store, try Total Hockey.net. Total Hockey is always the first to offer pre-orders for the newly announced equipment like the CCM U+ Skates and CCM U+ Stick!

Ice Jerseys – Ice Jerseys is your leading source for the greatest selection of official licensed NHL hockey jerseys from all 30 NHL teams – and more. Buy RBK Edge, authentic pro, replica and kids jerseys and customize your jersey with pro sewn-on lettering. This is a great place to pick up your own 2008 All-Star Jersey.

NHL Digest Store – We have compiled a store right here at NHL Digest that lists great prices on the equipment voted most popular by hockey players across North America.  Check out our own online hockey store.

Hockey Collectibles

NHL Shop – The NHL Shop offers a HUGE variety of collectibles and clothing for your favorite team. You can buy everything from drinking glasses to hats, to jerseys with your favorite team’s logo. This is by far the best one-stop shop for everything team related.

Pro Sports Memorabilia – Pro Sports Memorabilia offers a great selection of some of the most original and unique NHL Collectibles. I highly suggest that you check out their selection of merchandise. You never know what might you might find at this site!

Ebay – Ebay.com is obviously one of the most reliable sources for anything that your heart desires. Although you might not always find what you set out to look for, you will always find something to add to your collection when you visit Ebay and spend some time looking around at all of the auctions that they have to offer.

Amazon – Amazon.com is most well known for their selection of books. Although they have a great selection of hockey books, they also have all of your favorite hockey movies and other collectibles that you never knew you needed!

I hope that these sources help you to find what your hockey heart desires!

Let me know what your favorite online stores are!

Top 10 Most Popular Pieces of Hockey Equipment

It may come as no surprise that the high end hockey equipment that is the most popular with the National Hockey League players is also the most popular with the general public.

This is precisely why the equipment manufacturers pay lofty figures in the form of endorsement deals to elite NHL players in order to wear and promote the newest equipment.

Here is a breakdown of the 10 most popular pieces of hockey equipment on the market today.

1.) Bauer One95 Hockey Skates – Bauer has long been a popular choice with professional hockey players and the company continues be on the leading edge of hockey equipment technology.

2.) Bauer Vapor XXXX Stick – Along with their incredible skate technology, Bauer continues to improve on their development of composite stick technology as well.

3.) CCM U+ Skates – The CCM U+ skates entered the market on a relatively quiet note.  There was not as much hype as is typically seen with a product launch by Nike Bauer or Easton, but these skates are quietly becoming very popular with professional players and are certainly worth consideration if you are in the market for a new pair of blades this season.

4.) Easton Stealth S17 Stick – The Easton lineup of sticks has been favored by many elite hockey players since they began producing Aluminum sticks a couple of decades ago.  The Easton brand name has been synonymous with leading edge composite technology and the S17 Ellipse stick is no different.

5.) Bauer Vapor XXX Lite Stick – Even with the advent of the Vapor XXXX, the Vapor XXX Lite has retained it’s popularity with pro players.  This stick was the first in a lineup of composite sticks to weigh in at less than 420 grams, the lightest stick ever produced by Nike Bauer.

6.) RBK 9K-O Stick – This is the stick that has created the most “buzz” and hype over the last couple of years with arguments stemming as to the actual effectiveness of the holes in the bottom of the shaft which RBK claims reduce wind drag during slap shots.  Pavel Datsyuk has used this stick with great effectiveness and several other pros have endorsed the technology as well.  Scientists, on the other hand, argue that the physics of the claim has little if any merit.  Test it out and see for yourself.

7.) Easton Stealth S17 Helmet – Easton partnered up with a great cycling helmet company in GIRO that has assisted them in developing one of the most form-fitting and lightweight helmets on the market, all without sacrificing protection.  One of the unique features of the helmet is that is allows for adjustment of the size without requiring any tools.  We  first saw this feature back in the 1980’s with the Cooper XL7 – luckily the Stealth S17 isn’t nearly as ugly as the old Cooper!

8.) Vaughn Velocity 3 Goal Pads – Vaughn is the premiere manufacturer of goal equipment and the Velocity line-up of pads continues to improve each year.  The Velocity 3 was first seen worn by Miikka Kiprusoff and have been a favorite of many Vaughn supporters ever since.

9.) RBK 9K Pump Skates – The popularity of these skates is most influenced by their use by Sidney Crosby and the development of a much better “pump” system than we saw when CCM introduced their ultra-heavy version of the Pump skate back in the 1990’s.

10.) RBK Edge Jersey – While this jersey lacked some functionality that made it less than desirable by players, the marketing brass at the NHL’s head office made these new jerseys fan friendly and  rolled them out with tremendous suspense and excitement.

Online Holiday Hockey Deals

It’s getting down to crunch time for you online shoppers to get your purchases completed in time for your hockey players or fans to have their presents on Christmas day.

I have personally come to love online shopping after spending a few years wondering about the security, the shipping, and the quality of goods.  Most recently, I have found many online retailers offering free or discounted shipping with reliable providers such as UPS or FedEx and the prices are often much better than my local stores.

With the traditional busiest day of the shopping season, Black Friday, now behind us we searched some online hockey stores to find the best deals on hockey equipment.

1.) Hockey Giant has a great holiday sale going on right now on some of the best equipment including jerseys, hats, T-shirts, skates, and sticks offering up to 75% off by using the Code “HOLIDAY08″ on checkout.

Click Here to go to Hockey Giant.com

2.) Total Hockey is offering free shipping on all orders over $99.00.  They are featuring customized skates with colored blade holders as well as the Warrior Dolomite composite stick on sale for just $99.99 (Reg. $179.99).

Click Here to go to Total Hockey.net

3.) Hockey Deals is the place to buy hockey equipment for youth players.  The clearance center at Hockey Deals is packed full of drastically discounted youth hockey skates, sticks, and protective gear.  On top of that, they are also offering free shipping on orders over $99.00 and a Lowest Price Guarantee.

Click Here to go to Hockey Deals.com

4.) Ice Jerseys is the premiere provider of customized jerseys and apparel for any hockey fan.  They are currently offering free shipping with UPS Ground on orders over $85.00 and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Click Here to go to Ice Jerseys.com

5.) Ebay is of course the place to find the perfect gift for the hard to buy for hockey fan.  Most recently there have been some excellent auctions on vintage memorabilia from the days of the original six.  If you have an old school hockey fan on your list, don’t buy their gift without checking on Ebay. You never know what you might find.

Click Here to go to Ebay

6.) Blade Tape is a revolutionary new option to traditional hockey tape that last for 15+ ice sessions.  They are currently promoting a great holiday 3-for-2 sale.  For every 3 of the same item that you add to your cart, one of them will be free on checkout!  I have personally been using Blade Tape for over a year and highly recommend it.  They also offer free shipping on orders over $50.00.

Click Here to go to Blade Tape

Don’t Forget The Clearance Sections!

Most online stores also have a clearance section where you may be able to find even further discounts.  Many of the clearance equipment items are old models or odd sizes, but the discounts tend to be very steep.  So, if you’re an odd size or don’t mind using last year’s model make sure you check out the clearance section at these online stores!

Feel free to share your online shopping experiences with any of these stores in the comments.  Other readers certainly welcome the feedback for peace of mind in helping to overcome their hesitation with online shopping.  I know customer experiences certainly helped to change my view of online shopping!

Bauer One95 Skates

Nike Bauer has finally released the long awaited sequel to its One90 skates. However, the One95 still weighs in at over 700 grams. Conversely, the Easton Stealth S15 skates, the lightest on the market, have a weight of well under 700 grams.

Buy The Bauer One 95 Skates now at Hockey Giant.com

Buy The Bauer One 95 Skates now at Total Hockey.net

The new One95 skate is constructed from a material called ALIVE. What is interesting about this material is that it is not epoxy based. When a skate uses an epoxy based material, the process of “baking” the skate for a better fit is not as useful because only in interior components of the boot are shaped and not the boot itself.

The One 95 Skate Boot

The new ALIVE material used in the construction of the One95 skate is designed to allow the entire boot to be formed to the foot during the “baking” process resulting in a more customized fit. The One95 boot is also slightly deeper fitting than the One90, which will allow more people to wear them comfortably without affecting performance. The abnormally shallow boot construction of the One90 prevented many players from comfortably wearing the skate.

The ALIVE material that is used to construct the boot of the One95 is reported to be about 35-45% lighter than the material used for the One90 skates. However, the One95 still weighs in at over 700 grams. Conversely, the Easton Stealth S15 skates, the lightest on the market, have a weight of well under 700 grams.

One 95 Blade Holder

In addition, the One95 will utilize a stock white TUUK Lightspeed 2 blade holder that will accommodate both the Lightspeed 2 and Lightspeed 2 Power blades. Some One95 models may be equipped with a new Lightspeed 2.1 blade holder that accommodates a longer steel runner for increased speed.

The tendon guard is vastly different than that of the One90 and more akin to the tendon guard used on the Vapor XXXX skates. Nike Bauer has addressed the concern about broken tendon guards that were found to be problematic with the One90. The One95 also features a white felt tongue that is more familiar and comfortable to most hockey players.

Buy The Nike Bauer One 95 Skates now at Hockey Giant.com.

Glove Tap to the Pro’s at Modsquad Hockey for some details.

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