Sherwood's Code Photon Line Lands in Three Tiers

Sherwood has rolled out Code Photon, a full protective line in its Code family that splits into three price tiers: Pro at the top, then 1, then 2. Twenty-seven products are listed in Sherwood's CODE Photon Protective collection, all dated September 1, covering shoulder pads, shin guards, elbow pads, pants and gloves.

The pitch is the same across all three tiers: a tapered, low profile fit that sits close to the body rather than building a wall around it. What separates the tiers is foam.

HockeyMonkey lists FeatherLite XT construction on the Pro pieces, combining HPE, EVA and Zotefoams inserts, plus Nitrex impact foam, including in the shoulder caps and sternum. Ice Warehouse describes Nitrex as a closed cell foam meant to absorb repeat hits and shrug off sweat, and HockeyMonkey says the XT build uses engineered channels and a perforated base with mesh overlay to move air through the hot spots. Ice Warehouse weighed the senior medium Pro shoulder pads at 1000 grams and lists the heritage as Code Encrypt, Code TMP 1 and Code V.

Step down to Photon 2 and Sherwood lists standard FeatherLite instead of XT, with moulded EVA foam parts. Ice Warehouse lists the Photon 2 shin guards with a vented moulded plastic knee cap, a moulded plastic shin shell and a compress-moulded HD foam calf guard with a PE insert.

Two features run through all three tiers. The 360 Wrap strapping is integrated into the structure of the gear, and Ice Warehouse says the straps are elongated and tapered in key areas so the piece fits more like a harness than a strapped-on shell. On HockeyMonkey's pages, CIP, or Customizable Impact Protection, means adjustable bicep coverage and a removable belly pad on the shoulder pads, and adjustable thigh guards with removable liners on the shins. HockeyMonkey lists a Microban antimicrobial liner on every piece in its Pro and Photon 2 bundles.

HockeyMonkey's U.S. pricing: Pro senior shoulder pads US$229.99, Pro senior shin guards US$199.99, Pro senior elbow pads US$169.99. Photon 2 senior shin guards are US$109.99 there, with the junior version at US$89.99. HockeyMonkey is also selling three-piece senior bundles at US$599.97 for Pro and US$339.97 for Photon 2.

Ice Warehouse lists the Pro shoulder pads from JR SM through SR XL, with every size in stock.