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I've had 4.8's for over a year now and I play in two competitive men's leagues (ice). I have done tons of mods to them, so I would have to say that out of the box, they're not the best of pads. However, I really like them now because of a few things you can do. One of the first things you need to do with these pads is to get the adjustable knee lock in one location. Don't bother trying to use just the velcro, it'll always come loose! I eventually found a spot I liked and sewed it in with kite string. I won't go into all the different things I've done cause I can't post pics right now and it would seem confusing without them. The good news is after a full season of about 60 games I can say that these pads break in wonderfully! They start to form themselves to your stance, even if you like them loose. They are very flexible, which I like, but that won't impress the RBK folks. I like how light they feel and have had no probs with protection. The best thing about them is the knee guards don't have that 2 inch gap between them and the top of the calve guard that the 7.8's have. This gives you total coverage and flexibility down the length of your leg. I would suggest to go for a larger size and just skip using the thigh boards (4.8 thigh boards were worthless!) I have noticed a lot of wear along the inner knee/calf area and the hard foam underneath the leather is starting to bulge out a little. But hey, for $260 and a some modifications you've got a pretty nice pad!
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