"Official" Smith Thread

[Jim]

Jerry,
awesome gear. how do you like the neck guard?
and are the thigh boards removable?
i am not a fan of the thigh boards also the constant talk will/or will not be legal to use next season.
congrats!

[Jerry Klein]

Originally Posted by Jim

Jerry,
awesome gear. how do you like the neck guard?
and are the thigh boards removable?
i am not a fan of the thigh boards also the constant talk will/or will not be legal to use next season.
congrats!

What I like about the neck guard is that the collar is the same heavy material as used on the outside of the pads (Robocop?), so it would be harder for a skate to cut, and probably more resistant to impact from a puck. My Itech neckguard is just fabric over foam, not as much protection. What I don't like about the Smith neck guard is that it seems to ride a little lower on my neck. I'm thinking about asking Pete to make me a custom neck guard that is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch higher.

The thigh boards are removable; they are attached with a lace. I'm not going to remove mine because they give me that added layer of protection for my knees, and I really don't even notice they're there when I'm playing. Plus the Smiths don't flop all the way towards your legs like other brands and get caught under your pants; Pete has them attached to the back of the pads with adjustable quick-release straps, so their rearward movement is limited.

I don't really worry about whether they are going to be "legal" or not. I play in a beer league and the refs don't ever check on that sort of thing.

On that point, is it definite that they will not be legal? I find that ironic, because the NHL rules make a big deal saying that equipment needs to be protective, not performance enhancing. Seems to me that the purpose of thigh guards, first and foremost, is protection.

[Jim]

Jerry,
it is good the hear they dont get caught under the pants.
that was one of the major reasons i removed mine.
and yes, a few times i wish i had them.. took some good shots to the knee
area, i wear old school cooper knee pads but the extra protection
would have been nice.

yes, the throat guard looks great.. but i thought might be a bit low.
that is what is tough about throat guards dont want it too high like a turtle neck
nor too low..

great loooking gear congrats again!
Jim

[goalie30]

I think the thinking at the NHL is that kneepads, like the RBK ones, provide knee protection without adding a puck-blocking feature to the pads.

For us beer leaguers it really doesn't matter.

The Smith thighboards are massive, have a unique attachment system and never get stuck under my pants. They have saved many goals from going through the five hole.

[goalieboy29]

Hey Gang,

Been on the ice with my new gear a few times now and I am loving the Smith lifestyle. My pads are like feathers, FEATHERS I tells ya!! Glove is sweet, closes perfectly and I haven't had any stingers on even the toughest shots. Blocker great too.

Still fooling around with the pad set-up a bit. Took the knots out of the toe laces and snugged up the knee locks and that solves over rotation. Anyone else falling off their landing gear? Once in a while, if I make a desperate bfly left or right I can slip off and hit the ice. OUCH! I know it's me and not the pads. Anyone else have a similar experience? How'd you fix that?

Finally, took the boot strap off altogether. I just don't see what it does and removing it seems to have no ill effect.

Thats it for now. For those waiting, I feel your pain but hang in there. So worth it!

[royfan33]

Originally Posted by goalieboy29

Anyone else falling off their landing gear? Once in a while, if I make a desperate bfly left or right I can slip off and hit the ice. OUCH! I know it's me and not the pads. Anyone else have a similar experience? How'd you fix that?

Try tightening the knee lock a bit more. I've always worn my pads loose, but even when I tightened up the knee straps, I didn't stop falling off the gear from time to time until I really tightened up the lock. It takes a bit of getting used to (especially coming from Kohos, where the knee lock wasn't tight at all), but once you get comfortable with it, it's fine. Also, you might try taking out a knee lift if you're using all four. I went from four to two and it really helped.

[NYInk]

Nice gear Jerry Congrats...I know you have been waiting a while! The stuff looks sweet, good luck with them

[PSYCHO SID]

Jerry,

Very nice pads and gloves!! I'm going to add another inch to mine now that I've played with them a few times. 33+2's should do it. I agree with you on the thigh boards, mine never get caught in my pants. Great job Jerry and Pete!!!

[goalieboy29]

Thanks RoyFan.

I have all 4 lifts in there now. I'll try taking 2 out. What does that do?(why does it help). I have the elastic/velcro strap pretty much tightened all the way. When you say knee lock do you mean the 2 straps attached to the pad? I have my straps running along a diagonal now a la Velocity. Is that how you do it?

Thanks.

[Hounsy]

My first day out my right knee did slip off once, since removing one lift it hasn't done it since.

[snova031]

Just took off the Smith logo on the front of my pads...think it looks a lot better without the logo there....what do you guys think?

Before:



After:

[NYInk]

I think it looks real good...nice job dude

[snova031]

Thanks man.

I've had them for almost 2 months now and haven't even used them yet

[NYInk]

Man that's rough. I just picked up my new Vaughn gloves on Saturday and I am already dying to use them

EDIT: Just realized you're on LI...me too

[snova031]

Originally Posted by NYInk

Man that's rough. I just picked up my new Vaughn gloves on Saturday and I am already dying to use them

EDIT: Just realized you're on LI...me too

Yeah, I can't wait to use them either. I was in an accident and can't play for another month now....

Where you play?