C/A question

[Stryker908]

Hey Scott,

Congrats on the new site, it looks fantastic!

I am in the process of saving for a new C/A and so far I have tried a bunch on (I even took a pt job at one of the big online retailers to make some extra hockey money :eek:)

The one that I am looking at right now is obviously the Battram C/A and then additionaly the TPS Summit.

The thing that I like about the summit is the <> shaped pads, I think this provides a very natural movement, additionaly the "full wrapping sides" feel comfortable (for lack of a better term)

The Bauer that I am wearing now is easily 10+ years old and the protection is definatly out dated I have had more then one "stinger" this year, as well as a skate to the nipple, Yeah that hurt!

1st off Scott can you do the <> style? Or is there a reason that the TPS C/A is the only one on the market using that style (meaning is there a reason I wouldnt want it?)

2nd what is the weight of the Battram C/A like? I realize I'm going to be adding some additional weight (mine right now is incredibly light.... prob because its made for a 15 year old :D)

3rd is there an upcharge for things like the "shoulder ridges" I just play mens league.... and the bigger the better imo :)

Thanks for your time!

[Scott Battram]

Right now our dies for the upper bpdy pad are rectangular, however it isnt a problem to bandsaw cut unique shaped blocks, I would have to take a look and see how the diamond shapes move, but in terms of overall construction, I cant see not being able to do it! Not sure why they are using it or if it is better than the tradition rectangular blocks. I will ned to take a look at one. I cant see it being better for protection, as there are many things that make the unit protective, and it really isnt just the shape or what the blocks are made from that determine protectivness. Perhaps movement and fit...

We can go a couple of directions on the upper body pad, we have a new way of keeping the goalie cooler using air knit and exceed, which at the same time also weighs less than 400 d nylon. These units are coming in around 4.5 - 5 lbs the full nylon unit is around 6 or more depending on mods and sizing. The biggest weight in the upper is the fact I beleive in protection first and the plastics we use add some additional weight to the arms, sternum plate and chest area.

The shoulder ridge mod is a small charge which I would need to look up the cost since we dont do it often enough to have it atop my brain! I think its in the 20.00 ballpark... but I or Tischa would look back to see what other customers have paid for that one.

[Stryker908]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for your quick response, here is a picture of the <> pattern that I like. Please let me know if you would require pictures from a different angle or closer up to get a better idea if this is something you could/would recreate.

When wearing it the movement is great ... allowing both side to side and up and down....

[Gregan]

Do you really think that those diamond shaped bits make the unit more mobile? I don't think it makes a difference personally... I spent a few seconds thinking about it myself and you need the C/A to wrap around your chest and to bend when you lean forward. So you need both vertical and horizontal bend to the unit. The diamond shaped bits don't promote flex in those directions, they promote flex in diagonals across your chest, why do you need flex in that direction?

Ultimately I don't think there is any difference really, maybe a small amount of flex difference between the two if any at all. The only reason the TPS folks have done the diamond shaped bits is to make their unit look different and to attract attention to their unit when you see it on a store shelf.

[Stryker908]

Do you really think that those diamond shaped bits make the unit more mobile? I don't think it makes a difference personally... I spent a few seconds thinking about it myself and you need the C/A to wrap around your chest and to bend when you lean forward. So you need both vertical and horizontal bend to the unit. The diamond shaped bits don't promote flex in those directions, they promote flex in diagonals across your chest, why do you need flex in that direction?

Ultimately I don't think there is any difference really, maybe a small amount of flex difference between the two if any at all. The only reason the TPS folks have done the diamond shaped bits is to make their unit look different and to attract attention to their unit when you see it on a store shelf.

I suppose its possible that you are correct, and it could just be the "material" that TPS has used to creat their product that leads to the greater flexibility.

My contention though would be that we as humans dont move on a vertical/horizontal axis, that our movements are more "free form" and more likely to be in a less then aligned direction.

Your right it may not be the shapes of the blockes that leads to the increased flexibility, but I can tell you from expirience that the Summit C/A is more flexible then the RBK Premire (version 1) the Bauer Vapor XXX, The Itech Prodgy and the TPS Bionic.

The reason I have tried so many is I took a part time job working for the retail versions of one of the "BIG" box hockey stores (I get a discount and it pays for my ice time :) ).

All of that being said, I am increasingly curious about the Battram C/A and the options available by ordering directly from the MFGR.

[Punisher]

i have been looking at CA's for a while now (from a designers point of view) and i incorperated the diamond shape as well in my design, but only on the sides (ribs) the abs are rectangular, this i did just out of motion.
your core doesn't rotate that much it would rather bend back and forwards,
it's the sides of your torso that make the rotational movement.
pinching the CA under your arms, look at it from the front, if you move your left arm towards the ground you curve your side, not so much your abs they kind of stay in one line.

so in my ideas i incorperated 2 rows of rectangular blocks and then triangulars and on to diamonds, even better would be to keep triangular blocks because they have some extra mobility in contrast to diamonds or square blocks.
you could look at it like scales on snakes they are triangular(ish) and move over each other.put some space between it and thicken it up and you got triangulars next to each other.

i find this a very facinating subject, i'll post some concepts as soon as i get back to my home pc.

Cheers, Pun.