air thief blocker: review

hey everyone,
today i got to play with my new blocker the brian's air thief. it's incredible! though anything would be after using a bauer 1. anyways, it's extremely light which allows for quicker reaction and also lets you handle the puck better as your hand and arm doesn't get so tired. the rebound control is EXCELLENT! i couldn't believe how easy it was to direct rebounds to whereever i wanted them. my old bauer was beyond hard to control rebounds with. this one you just turn your wrist to the side and the puck goes there. you don't even have to try to do it! i love that so much! my bauer i would actually have to think about controlling it. it was horrible.
the air thief also feels great while wearing it. it's very comfortable and fits snugly without being tight. the protection is great as well. my hand no longer hurts after practices.
the brian's air thief is a great product. i high recommend checking it out next time you're in the market for a blocker.

[alw]

I just bought a Brian's Air Thief blocker a few weeks back. I am very happy with it as well. I really like the fit. The finger stalls have a nylon type material around the sides of your fingers that really help keep your hand cool. Not sure how long it will be before that material falls apart though! Anyway, back to fit, I really like the way it is cut and the thumb is set. It does give me better stick control over my Vaughn Legacy 2000 that was retired. It is very light and thin but after several hundred shots at a camp last week I can say the protection is just as good as anything else I have worn. Like most new gloves the end is shaped to allow better paddle down play if that makes you happy. THE BEST PART OF ALL... The new cuff design is EXCELLENT! The flexibility in the wrist and fit over a C/A is just fantastic. This is also true of the Air Thief catcher. I am very pleased with the combo. My catcher has a very minor tear in the palm that needs repair and an eyelet popped out but both items appear to be natural wear and not related to construction. The catcher has been through hell this summer.

Hate to dig up this ancient post, but did your Air Thiefs have the tackified fingers? I'm not sure if this is a standard Brian's feature on the blockers, or custom.

[Draco]

I believe it is only standard on the Airlite.

I have an air thief blocker<which is the best by the way> and............
THEY HAVE STICKY FINGERS!!! YEAH!!!, the pinky and ring fingers have tackified leather, which is standard on all brians blockers, and the cuff and everything else is great like described above.

yeah the air thief has the sticky fingers. i think all brian's blockers do. if they don't it should be easy to get them put on as a custom feature.

Thanks for the answer below ALW. Well I asked the questions for nothing. Today I was acutally able to check one out at a shop I hadn't visitted yet. The back of the board is a 400 or 420 Denier nylon I believe, since this a non-wear/non-impact area that is ok. But I did notice that the sides of the board, and the nose of the blocker is all clarino. Plus there is clarino in other areas. Awesome blocker from looking it over and putting it on... But I will put in my own review in the future if I get one.

*One of my Christmas presents is going to be a blocker. Which one from my list is up to my guesswork *

[This message has been edited by Tank (edited December 14, 2000).]

[alw]

Off the top of my head (blocker is not in front of me) I think it is all Clarino.

Mine also has the tackified(?!?!) leather on two fingers. It doesn't seem to do much and is actually getting pretty worn already. I think it will wear out pretty fast. If nothing else it is an extra layer to wear through on those fingers, nothing special though.

[Bigdog]

I also just recently bought a Thief Blocker along with a Air Hook Catcher. I must say I agree with all the above comments. The weight is what really caught my attention. It is just as light as my old MCM Cobra but has better protection and is made much better.

Dog

Well I did in fact get the Thief for Christmas. And as you guys mentioned (cuff, weight, balance), this is an awesome blocker. Previously I had a B5500. It was a great blocker, and just as well made. However the Thief is more comfortble, with the vented glove (which fits like a glove). And the backhand "air pac" pad is very nice, and of course the wrap around clarino covered fingers.