Beer League Basics: Bauer Classic Shoulder Pads

Hello hockey world,

This week is the first instalment of beer league basics, basically this is going to be very cheap and very light equipment Ideal for playing beer league or pick up hockey. This equipment is not something you would want to wear during a full contact game as it is not going to protect you that well its basically just there so that the stripes (referees for our rookie readers) don’t hassle about not wearing your shoulder pads out on the rink. The pads being reviewed this week are the Bauer Classic shoulder pads, these shoulder pads are about as basic as you can get and used by yours truly. What makes these shoulder pads great for pick up hockey is the following: Very small shoulder caps, the shoulder caps on these pads are incredibly small making shoulder movement very easy. The real luxury of these beauties is the chest protection; these bad boys have the sturdiness of a wet noodle and they fold easier then an origami rectangle, thus making them fantastic too play with. The Bauer Classic shoulder pads are the closest things to not wearing shoulder pads you will be bale to find on the market. These puppies have become harder and harder to come by though since most all leagues are cracking down on safety regulations Bauer has began putting out shoulder pads with more and more protection, which is a good thing I guess, safety can be pretty cool, but sometimes its good to go back to the type of gear so many greats have worn in the past and say “screw it… drop the puck and lets play this beautiful game that we Canadians have come to love and treat like a religion”. The Bauer Classic shoulder pads are a true testament to old school hockey and if you can find a pair I suggest grabbing them and strapping them up.

Throwback Thursday: Bauer Supreme Total One MX3 Skates

Throwback Thursday: Bauer Supreme Total One MX3 Skates.

                This is the first instalment where we here at Jeff’s Hockey Opinions are going to review a product that has already been out for roughly a year. The Bauer Supreme Total One MX3 hockey skates, these skates I can personally get behind as I am currently using them. These skates are one of three top of the line skates that Bauer produces along with the Vapor and Nexus series. While the Vapor skates are made for quickness and agility and the Nexus is made for that control on the corners, The Total One’s are made for power, this skate is made for the player who is going to be playing both sides of the ice, the guy or girl who is grinding it out in the corners. So what gives this skate more power than your standard skate? First thing first is the free flex tendon guard, what this is going to do is extend back with every stride and launch you forward like a sling shot so you will be able to hit top speeds a lot faster. The Total One’s also have the 3 flex tongue technology to go hand in hand with the tendon guard, it works the same way as the tendon guard and together they create a springboard effect propelling the player up the ice. The flex tongue comes in three different tensions so the player can decide which one works for them the best. The Total Ones also come with the light speed edge holders. These light speed edge holders have a quick release button on them so you are able to change your blade in seconds, this means no more leaving the ice if you happen to blow tire while playing hard out on the rink. This overall is a great skate, but be warned if you have a very narrow foot this skate may not be for you as it is on the wider side.