The Gear Desk

The Lab

New sticks, skates, helmets, and pads, tested against the marketing. What changed, who it is for, and whether it is worth it.

Lead Story

Sep 14, 2026

Lawsuit Says a Bauer Re-Akt 55 Cracked Open on a Puck

A Los Angeles player's suit against Bauer Hockey and Pure Hockey puts a helmet failure claim, not a concussion protocol, at the center of the case.

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Sep 1, 2026

CCM Vizion Player Skate Lists At $1,229.99, Sold Out At CCM

CCM prices its Vizion Player Skate at $1,229.99 senior, tied with the Jetspeed FT8 Pro at the top of its skate index, but every size and width is unavailable on CCM's own site while Ice Warehouse still holds stock.

GOALTENDINGSep 1, 2026

True Catalyst Nitro Pro Goalie Pads List at $2,099.99 US

True's top-priced 2026 goalie pad pairs a Super Critical Foam core with a patented post connection toe bridge, and reaches buyers mainly as a custom build at $2,099.99 USD for a senior pair.

Sep 1, 2026

Sherwood Rekker Morph Pro, 365 Grams and a Second Kick Point

Ice Warehouse calls it the lightest Rekker ever built at 365 grams, and a year after launch the senior tier still lists at $299.99 USD.

Sep 1, 2026

CCM's $549.99 Tacks X Pro Tops Its Player Helmet List

CCM prices the Tacks X Pro above every other player helmet it sells, and the measured specs that justify the number come from a retailer, not from CCM.

GOALTENDINGSep 1, 2026

Warrior Alpha Surge Custom Goalie Pads Start at $1,899.99 in Senior

GoalieMonkey lists three senior Alpha Surge custom build levels from $1,899.99 to $1,999.99 USD for leg pads, with a 12 to 14 week processing time posted on the senior Cut and Sew Classic blocker.

Sep 1, 2026

Every Bauer Pulse2 On Bauer.com Is A Custom Build

Bauer published 101 Pulse2 handles on August 24, all of them MyBauer configurations, with no stock SKU anywhere in its 2,444-product catalog.

Aug 12, 2026

CCM Skips Trigger 11 and Ships the Ribcor Trigger Unleashed Pro

CCM's top priced Ribcor is on pre-order now and lists an August 14 launch.

Aug 12, 2026

CCM Recalls Its Hybrid Visor And Replacement Visor Over Cracking Risk

Health Canada and UK regulators say the polycarbonate can develop micro-fissures around the screw holes and could crack under puck impact, and owners are told to stop using it now.

GOALTENDINGAug 12, 2026

CCM's Tacks XR Pro Goalie Skate Ships With Pitch Ground In

The runner comes cut to a 10F27 profile that retailer listings say encourages a forward-leaning stance, and every spec here comes from those listings.

GOALTENDINGAug 12, 2026

True's Catalyst 7X6 Goalie Pads Are Soft by Design

True's Catalyst set pairs a flexible core with an adjustable stiffness knee stack, and its catcher uses the same 590 break The Goalie Crease lists on the Nitro Catalyst Pro.

Aug 12, 2026

True's Catalyst Nitro Puts the Real Upgrade Under the Boot

Ice Warehouse lists True's new flagship Catalyst Nitro at 904 grams, 109 below the outgoing 9X4, on a new SpeedShift holder and steel system.

Aug 12, 2026

Warrior Enters the Skate Market at $1,199.99 With New Balance Behind It

The Alpha Pro lists at $1,199.99 with a one piece Minimus Carbon 3 boot, an Intuition liner and three fit volumes.

Aug 12, 2026

Warrior's Covert QR7 Pro Lands in All Four Sizes

Warrior's new Covert flagship is fully stocked at US retail, and the QR6 Pro it replaces has been pushed to clearance.

Jul 24, 2026

Sherwood Rekker Legend Pro: The Pyrofil Flagship, Explained

Sherwood's top line stick pairs Mitsubishi Pyrofil carbon with a dual zone low kick point built to load and release faster.

Jul 24, 2026

True HZRDUS PX: The 345 Gram Quick Release Weapon

True's flagship stick chases the lightest build on the market with a low kick point tuned for an explosive, effortless release.

Jul 24, 2026

Warrior Super Novium wants your hardest shot

Warrior's new flagship pairs its lightest, strongest build to date with a stiffer Bevel Taper aimed at pure shot velocity.

Jul 24, 2026

Warrior Super Novium: The Lightest Glove Warrior Has Built

Warrior's lightest glove yet chases featherlight weight with an EPP foam package and an AX Suede grip palm.

Jul 24, 2026

True Project X Storm Puts an AI Kick Point in Your Hands

True's limited-edition top-tier stick uses a SmartFlex AI kick point that shifts in real time based on where your hands sit on the shaft.

Jul 24, 2026

Bauer HyperLite 2: A 3D Printed Bucket Built to Absorb

Bauer's flagship helmet swaps traditional foam logic for a 3D printed GX-POD liner and a dial-in Occipital Lock fit.

Jul 24, 2026

CCM Jetspeed FT8 Pro: A Faster Loading Flagship

CCM's 2025 flagship pairs a hybrid kick point with tougher, lighter aluminum-and-carbon layering, aimed at players who shoot in tight.

Jul 24, 2026

Bauer Supreme Shadow: The Mach Gets a Stiffer Successor

Bauer's new flagship Supreme skate pairs a 40 percent stiffer outsole with a rethought holder that stays rigid for power and flexes for agility.

Jul 24, 2026

Bauer Proto2 Mid Kick Stick Built For Velocity

Bauer's elite mid-kick stick returns lighter, with boron fiber reinforcement and a rebuilt blade core aimed at players who shoot hard and want to keep their aim.

Jul 24, 2026

Bauer Vapor HyperLite 2, the lightest Vapor stick yet

Bauer's flagship low-kick Vapor drops to roughly 365 grams and leans hard into quick-release shooting for snipers.

TRADEJul 23, 2026

Trump's 50% Tariff on Hockey Sticks Misses Most Gear

New duties target Canadian-made equipment, but Bauer, CCM, and most sticks ship from China and dodge the tax.

Jul 23, 2026

New Tariffs Could Push Bauer Supreme Fuse Skates Past $600

White House tariffs on Canadian hockey goods threaten to raise prices on gear largely made elsewhere.