True A4.5 AC2 85 flex Hockey Stick

When a decent hockey stick costs $100-$200 or so, it's not easy to try a lot out before you buy. I think it can be one of the most difficult pieces of gear to shop for, unless you get an opportunity to try a bunch out first.
I got that opportunity my first season, as everything was loaned to me from the rink's hockey loaner program and was different gear every week. I was given everything from wood sticks to composites of varying sizes, some barely up to my shoulders. I expect that some of the composite sticks I tried out were in pretty bad shape, so I can't say "brand x sucks" because I'm probably didn't try an actual working stick. Stuff doesn't end up in the hockey lending room on accident. It gets there usually because it has seen the end of its usability by the original owner, which usually means it's chipping, cracked or otherwise ready to under-perform.

During one particularly frustrating practice with a wooden stick, a buddy let me check out his True A4.5 stick.

TC2 - Toe Curve, Open Face. a.k.a. Backstrom, Nugent-Hopkins, Hall, Crosby, Kopitar. Lie: 6.0 / Flex: 85

I knew almost immediately that I wanted one. He said it was his second True stick, as he had the A1.0 first and liked it. At the time I was thinking of the A1.0 because it was on sale at my LHS, and was planning on buying one a few weeks later.

The next week, I ran into another buddy who was actually using a A1.0 stick. He let me try it, and I could tell the difference between it and the 4.5. The A4.5 was lighter, more responsive, had a better puck feel, was lighter....did I mention lighter? Buddy said the A1.0 was an okay stick, but he wanted something better.

A week or so later, I went into my LHS, and they gave me such a discount on the A4.5 that I didn't even consider the A1.0 at that point. Two weeks and two practices later, I bought a second A4.5 as a backup. I don't think I actually need a backup, so this was more of an insurance deal. I really like this stick. So much that I want a second one so that I never need another stick.

The A4.5 is extremely light for a stick of its price, and it's incredibly easy to maneuver, making it a great poke-checking stick. It also has an open toe, which while helping provide lift, it doesn't take away from the backhand. Receiving strong passes on the backhand is manageable, and even reliable, as is puck handling. And due to its light weight, you never feel like you're carrying around too much stick.

Great overall stick - the open toe helps lift the puck on the forehand, there's still enough there to make it comfortable on the backhand as well. 

Here's a video review that goes into a bit more tech than I do: IceWarehouse [they call it a mid-kick, while True calls it a low-kick]

Keep in mind: the A-series hockey sticks from True are early models, and can mostly be found on sale at the time of this writing. True is on to more current models now.

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Tech Specs [from True]:

Player Profile	Designed for all types of players who are looking for performance, balance and strength.
Kick Point / Flex Profile	Smartflex technology - Low Kick
Shaft Construction	Axenic technology, SmartPly technology
Shaft Geometry	Traditional with concave walls
Shaft Coating	Light matte grip
Shaft Taper	Slight, Gradual
Blade Core	Foam core with active bond 2 technology. Dual carbon fiber rib structure used to maintain blade stiffness, and promote more pop and feel.
Blade Wrap	100% 3k carbon core with fiber glass wrap
Blade Coating	Matte finish with Non-skid texture (sandpaper)
Stick Used for Measurement	TRUE HK A 4.5 SR 85 TC1 OVI L
*Average Weight (gm)	446
*Average Weight (oz)	15.73
Actual length (in)	61.0

Warrior Dynasty AX2 Hockey Gloves

Another piece of hockey gear that you should consider investing money in is a decent pair of hockey gloves. I've tried quite a few different brands, and they all have their pluses and minuses. Finding a good pair of gloves is important because that is what is between you and the stick. And the more you can feel and the more flexibility you have, the better.

As I was going through my local hockey shop, trying on the various gloves from the major manufacturers, one again I was surprised just how different all gloves feel and fit. And since everybody is different, there's lots of variety to chose from.
My LHS puts their gloves out for sale like many other shops do; most expensive gloves on top, getting less expensive the lower down the wall you look. Naturally someone on a budget would look low, and might even find what you're looking for there. But for me, the temptation to look higher up at the more expensive gloves could not be avoided. I found the higher up I went, the more comfortable they were, and the better made, especially in the palms. Once I hit a particular price point...around a hundred bucks...they all more or less evened out. But one pair I tried on struck me in particular.

Warrior Dynasty AX2

Warrior Dynasty AX2 15" hockey glove.

Putting my hand into the Warrior Dynasty AX2 glove was almost obscene. No other glove I tried felt like it. It molded to my hand and fingers like it was made for it.

The fingers and palm felt especially strong while still having sensitivity. 

They have a traditional fit, which means they are loose in the wrist to allow plenty of mobility. They grab me right around the knuckles and the back of the hand. The thumb is comfortable and not cumbersome.

Traditional 4-Roll design.

One thing that appealed to the over-50 part in me was the polygiene inner lining, which boasts being "odor free". Gloves get gnarly, and the stink doesn't stop if you ignore it. So preventing the stink is foremost on my mind. I figure something like the would help more than hurt:

My poor lighting doesn't do the yellow color justice.

The grip on the stick is smooth, well-formed, and doesn't force you to do anything weird with your fingers. The palms are thin enough to be lively, yet sturdy enough to last. The gloves allowed for all the mobility I could muster, and haven't let me down yet. The looks are great. I especially like the big "Warrior" letters, and overall a really beautiful piece of gear. I think of a nice hockey glove like a nice baseball glove. Once you try one, it's hard to play with cheap stuff again. And in this particular case the design and workmanship is so good that you really can't go wrong with them.

I didn't try the other gloves in the series, so I can't really compare them.

Here's an online video review that goes into more tech than I do: IceWarehouse

My guy at the local hockey shopped raved about them, saying that the local juniors team are wearing them, and they're not even sponsored.

They've lasted a half a season so far. I'm hoping they'll go at least two seasons more. I'd be surprised if they wouldn't, as there's virtually no sign of wear on the gloves outside of a bit of tape color rubbing off and a little bit of label ink on the inside of the thumb. Not a stitch out of place.

Tech Specs [from Warrior]:

• Traditional volume fit balances protection, mobility and classic style
• Durable Clarino™ tipped gussets with mesh fingers make for a Butter Soft game ready feel
• WarLite impact protection with plastic inserts
• Performance Clarino™ Authentic Pro Palm
• WarTech performance fabric liner with Polygiene®keeps players dry and comfortably stink free

Hockey Cages - Bauer True Vision 1 and Bauer Profile 2

A tale of two cages, neither I shopped for specifically. One was at the local hockey shop, the other came with the helmet.


Bauer True Vision 1 Cage

Bauer 2100 True Vision 1 Cage mounted on a Bauer 4500 helmet.

Bauer Profile 2 Cage

Bauer Profile 2 Cage mounted on a Bauer 5100 helmet.

When I bought the 4500 helmet, I neglected to buy a cage. I didn't even think about it at the time. On my first hockey night playing with my group, all of them wore cages and suggested that I do the same. I didn't research it or anything, because at the time I didn't have much money, so the decision was made for me. I bought the least expensive large cage I could get at my LHS, the Bauer True Vision 1.
The cage connects to the helmet via two screws in the forehead, then rests in J-clips mounted on the side. The 2100 True Vision cage has a foam chin support mounted to the cage, which is then connected to the helmet via straps to buttons behind the ear. Overall a decent, safe system. A little chin-strappy, but safe.

Something called "True Vision" should live up to its name. I find the cage functional, but not the best as far as vision goes. There are a couple of reasons for that.

In the two photos above, there are obvious differences in shape and design. The True Vision cage is more rounded with the horizontal "wires" running more elliptical than level, like the Profile 2. The Profile 2 also has more pronounced sections to the cage; the upper section covering from above the eyes to the tip of the nose, and the lower, more angled section covering the mouth and chin. This gives me better field of vision than the True Vision does, and has less wires crossing into my sight lines. I can look straight ahead and still pick up the puck underneath me.
Also, about those wires...on the Profile 2, the wires in the front are oval-shaped, not round, therefore they're thinner in width. It keeps them strong but puts less metal in front of your view. Major difference between the two cages, and a definite reason to buy the Profile 2 over the True Vision.

The Profile 2 also has a strap connected to the cage as well as straps that connect the cage to the helmet, so it feels much less like the whole thing is running on the chin strap like the True Vision does. It's a better, overall more stable feeling.


Conclusion: The Bauer True Vision is a perfectly functional cage for the price, but if you're looking to improve your vision on the ice, consider something like the Profile 2.