hrosenberg33
05-28-2007, 04:13 PM
(THIS IS A 2 PART REVIEW THAT WAS INITIALLY POSTED AT GB, HENCE THE LACK OF FLOW.....MY APOLOGIES IF IT'S A TOUGH READ)
The initial game use was unfortunately for DEK and not ice but is does allow me to give some early impressions.
First the Pads....
Battram Fury
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9838/1000726tw7.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000726tw7.jpg)
Size: Pro Spec 34+2 for an ATK of 17.75
Ordering: This was pretty easy, Scott tends to be pretty open to changes or mods. If he thinks it will work he'll let you do it. 100 emails/PM's later and this part was done. I believe every mod I asked for was done by Scott and that was appreciated. I have had the experience before that a manufacturer will make changes to the gear you order, and although it is done with the best intentions, it did rub me the wrong way.
Features:
Since this is a new pad model I will try to describe all the features I can
- Fully flat front with no laces at all
- Squared off toe and thighrise
- Thin profile thighrise
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7813/1000728uk8.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000728uk8.jpg)
- 7 possible strap positions for the leg and calf, 6 nylon straps in total
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4894/hanspad3qn5.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hanspad3qn5.jpg)
- 2 boot straps (took the second one off immediately)
- sliding toe bridge (came with lacing cord which I think sucks, so changed it to skate lace immediately)
- double break at knee
- square outside roll, 4 piece
- knee lock with 3 knee stacks, 2 of them removable
- velcro on outer knee stack and inner aspect of knee wing (meant to keep knee wing tucked as I found the last 3 pads I used just flapped around in that area and made it hard to move around)
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6921/1000756wf9.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000756wf9.jpg)
- shallow boot channel
- NO calf stack
- first pad with new logos
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6553/1000742bb9.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000742bb9.jpg)
Weight: I don't have a working scale in the house, but Scott said with his scale it was just under 5.0 lbs. I tend to believe the number as the previous Barricades I owned came in at 5.3 lbs and these are certainly lighter. I must say this is a very light pad and on the legs is is nicely balanced so that you really can move around with ease. I did know that there were pads in the box when they were dropped off, so they are probably not as light as some pads that are out there now. :P
Workmanship: These pads are very nicely finished, with some pretty solid stitching all the way around and a real solid feel to every part of it. One issue for me was that there was a line of marker across the crease of the front ankle break on the pad. Not a big deal as it came out with the Mr Clean eraser, but a small oversight that I would prefer not to see.
Playability: These pads took about an hour to figure out the strapping set up. I played with having the top strap (the ******* "tension strap") on and off and to me, it didn't work for me. These pads have a very nice natural S shape to them and are quite flexy, so I found that using the bottom most 5 strap points with the top two angled down (see pic) such that it does not get in the way (a la Velos) was the best set up for me. I have not had a pad with this strapping before, but it really does seem to work like a charm. They really do make a 90 degree wall without any issues and have yet to experience troubles with. No underrotation/overrotation to report.
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5821/1000729ih4.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000729ih4.jpg)
Negatives:
- The toe ties should be skate lace, and not lacing cord
- The marker line on the pad, no permanent harm but it was unexpected
- The inner roll on the pad has some wrinkles, I have talked to Scott about this and this seems to be a function of the way the pads are stuffed and the foams he uses. It makes sense, but aesthetically I would rather they were not there.
- I still don't like the font of the "Battram" but I knew I was getting it no matter what.....I'm just trying to convince Scott I really dislike it so that he changes is by the next time I get a new set. :P :twisted:
I can honestly say that this is the first pad that I have bought which I have actually thought "When I get my next set of these pads, I will change...?nothing" (well...except for the few negatives above)?
I will be sure to update this review after I get a good number of ice times on it. For now if you have any questions or pics you need please fire away.
(UPDATE SINCE INITIAL REVIEW)
Overall these pads have been quite a pleasure. After months of owning these pads I still don’t have the urge to get new ones so they must be doing something right.
Here are a few thoughts:
Strapping – this area has been a bit of hit and miss. I have found that strapping them relatively loose works out best for me. I am able to get full rotation easily yet the pads rotate back to their original position without a problem. The issue though, has been with the knee lock. At the current length of the knee lock strap the outside wing of the knee lock will occasionally slip under my knee and I have to pull it out with my hand once the play leaves my end. I think in the future I will ask for an offset set up, which has a longer wing on the outside this way I can use the lock at the same tightness and it won’t slip under.
Movement (While Up)– most people using 11” will likely agree that virtually all movements are much easier around the net, whether it is skating out to get the puck or in your crease. These pads have a pretty significant toe taper which does allow me to get into a deep crouch without any interference or slip out.
Down Play – the rotation into a nice 11” wall in the b-fly is consistent and pretty easy to perform. Now although I do perform some b-fly slides and shuffling while down, I do not use the backside recovery, mainly due to my use of dull skates. However, the movements that I do perform while down are very smooth, with occasional “overslides”. These pads (I believe this is stock) do not have any sort of graphic on the knee wing or calf guards so it’s only smooth Weave to slide on. Again, I think for push offs while down the taper on the toe help to dig in the blades. Hopefully this area of my game will improve as I change my edges (I just changed to a 3/4” hollow from a 1”!!! I know, I know)
Protection – there is not much to comment here, except that like any decent pad (that is not made with deer hair or tv foam wrap) there is never any pain on any shot. You know where the puck hit you and one can easily follow their rebounds.
Rebounds – with the types of foams used, the rebounds are lively at the shin and knee area, yet pretty soft at the toe and thigh-rise. Given that I do not expect this character of the pads to change I have learned these characteristics well and I generally know where my rebounds will end up.
Reliability – four months is really not long enough for anything to go wrong with pads at the rate that I use them. I am only a once/week hack (if I’m lucky two) so of course the pads could pass for new after a little magic eraser.
Overall, a very nicely made pad, with minimal issues to speak of (except for the knee lock issue).
If you have any questions please feel free to ask.
Hans
The initial game use was unfortunately for DEK and not ice but is does allow me to give some early impressions.
First the Pads....
Battram Fury
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9838/1000726tw7.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000726tw7.jpg)
Size: Pro Spec 34+2 for an ATK of 17.75
Ordering: This was pretty easy, Scott tends to be pretty open to changes or mods. If he thinks it will work he'll let you do it. 100 emails/PM's later and this part was done. I believe every mod I asked for was done by Scott and that was appreciated. I have had the experience before that a manufacturer will make changes to the gear you order, and although it is done with the best intentions, it did rub me the wrong way.
Features:
Since this is a new pad model I will try to describe all the features I can
- Fully flat front with no laces at all
- Squared off toe and thighrise
- Thin profile thighrise
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7813/1000728uk8.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000728uk8.jpg)
- 7 possible strap positions for the leg and calf, 6 nylon straps in total
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4894/hanspad3qn5.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hanspad3qn5.jpg)
- 2 boot straps (took the second one off immediately)
- sliding toe bridge (came with lacing cord which I think sucks, so changed it to skate lace immediately)
- double break at knee
- square outside roll, 4 piece
- knee lock with 3 knee stacks, 2 of them removable
- velcro on outer knee stack and inner aspect of knee wing (meant to keep knee wing tucked as I found the last 3 pads I used just flapped around in that area and made it hard to move around)
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6921/1000756wf9.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000756wf9.jpg)
- shallow boot channel
- NO calf stack
- first pad with new logos
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6553/1000742bb9.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000742bb9.jpg)
Weight: I don't have a working scale in the house, but Scott said with his scale it was just under 5.0 lbs. I tend to believe the number as the previous Barricades I owned came in at 5.3 lbs and these are certainly lighter. I must say this is a very light pad and on the legs is is nicely balanced so that you really can move around with ease. I did know that there were pads in the box when they were dropped off, so they are probably not as light as some pads that are out there now. :P
Workmanship: These pads are very nicely finished, with some pretty solid stitching all the way around and a real solid feel to every part of it. One issue for me was that there was a line of marker across the crease of the front ankle break on the pad. Not a big deal as it came out with the Mr Clean eraser, but a small oversight that I would prefer not to see.
Playability: These pads took about an hour to figure out the strapping set up. I played with having the top strap (the ******* "tension strap") on and off and to me, it didn't work for me. These pads have a very nice natural S shape to them and are quite flexy, so I found that using the bottom most 5 strap points with the top two angled down (see pic) such that it does not get in the way (a la Velos) was the best set up for me. I have not had a pad with this strapping before, but it really does seem to work like a charm. They really do make a 90 degree wall without any issues and have yet to experience troubles with. No underrotation/overrotation to report.
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5821/1000729ih4.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000729ih4.jpg)
Negatives:
- The toe ties should be skate lace, and not lacing cord
- The marker line on the pad, no permanent harm but it was unexpected
- The inner roll on the pad has some wrinkles, I have talked to Scott about this and this seems to be a function of the way the pads are stuffed and the foams he uses. It makes sense, but aesthetically I would rather they were not there.
- I still don't like the font of the "Battram" but I knew I was getting it no matter what.....I'm just trying to convince Scott I really dislike it so that he changes is by the next time I get a new set. :P :twisted:
I can honestly say that this is the first pad that I have bought which I have actually thought "When I get my next set of these pads, I will change...?nothing" (well...except for the few negatives above)?
I will be sure to update this review after I get a good number of ice times on it. For now if you have any questions or pics you need please fire away.
(UPDATE SINCE INITIAL REVIEW)
Overall these pads have been quite a pleasure. After months of owning these pads I still don’t have the urge to get new ones so they must be doing something right.
Here are a few thoughts:
Strapping – this area has been a bit of hit and miss. I have found that strapping them relatively loose works out best for me. I am able to get full rotation easily yet the pads rotate back to their original position without a problem. The issue though, has been with the knee lock. At the current length of the knee lock strap the outside wing of the knee lock will occasionally slip under my knee and I have to pull it out with my hand once the play leaves my end. I think in the future I will ask for an offset set up, which has a longer wing on the outside this way I can use the lock at the same tightness and it won’t slip under.
Movement (While Up)– most people using 11” will likely agree that virtually all movements are much easier around the net, whether it is skating out to get the puck or in your crease. These pads have a pretty significant toe taper which does allow me to get into a deep crouch without any interference or slip out.
Down Play – the rotation into a nice 11” wall in the b-fly is consistent and pretty easy to perform. Now although I do perform some b-fly slides and shuffling while down, I do not use the backside recovery, mainly due to my use of dull skates. However, the movements that I do perform while down are very smooth, with occasional “overslides”. These pads (I believe this is stock) do not have any sort of graphic on the knee wing or calf guards so it’s only smooth Weave to slide on. Again, I think for push offs while down the taper on the toe help to dig in the blades. Hopefully this area of my game will improve as I change my edges (I just changed to a 3/4” hollow from a 1”!!! I know, I know)
Protection – there is not much to comment here, except that like any decent pad (that is not made with deer hair or tv foam wrap) there is never any pain on any shot. You know where the puck hit you and one can easily follow their rebounds.
Rebounds – with the types of foams used, the rebounds are lively at the shin and knee area, yet pretty soft at the toe and thigh-rise. Given that I do not expect this character of the pads to change I have learned these characteristics well and I generally know where my rebounds will end up.
Reliability – four months is really not long enough for anything to go wrong with pads at the rate that I use them. I am only a once/week hack (if I’m lucky two) so of course the pads could pass for new after a little magic eraser.
Overall, a very nicely made pad, with minimal issues to speak of (except for the knee lock issue).
If you have any questions please feel free to ask.
Hans