Im so pumped - Custom Glove/Blocker Options - Advice

HawksGoalie33 · Pro Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 566

About a month and half ago Simmons announced they were hosting a contest with the winner receiving a custom set of their new Hoko 585 line glove and blocker... Today they announced I took home the grand prize and now my mind is running. This will be my first brand new set of gloves ever, let alone being custom so I really want to make the right choices because realistically this will be my last set of gloves for a long time.

Right now I am looking at modding the glove to include:
Skate lace pocket - color of skate lace tbd
Double Pro Palm
Double/Duel break
Split T trap
Rounded back wrist cuff (for more flex when covering the puck)

And the Blocker:
Double nash palm

Both:
Colors = black base with white accents (neutral and match my pads)
Name & number stitched in.

Beyond that, I had a couple of questions regarding various custom options for gloves and blockers and was wondering if you all could provide some insight as I continue to research things.

Glove:
Floating T ... is there any real advantage or drawback to having this? My understanding is that the only difference it has is that because the nylon cord/skate lace is loose at the anchor of the T strap it helps to deaden the puck's momentum when it hits the T... true/false? Anything else I should know? Wouldnt this also (after time) make the whole T kind of flop around when the puck is in it?

Blocker:
What makes a custom blocker custom? As I sit here the only options I can think of to change up a blocker are single vs double nash palm, elastic finger padding, colors and name/number stitching. Everything else would pretty much be changing the structure of the blocker itself wouldnt it?

That said, what benefits are there to elastic finger protection on the blocker? Every blocker I have worn has had finger protection that covered my hands fully so wouldnt the elastic almost put the finger protection almost in the way when playing paddle down?
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you're only as good as your last save

puckstopper135 · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject:

Woah, congrats Hawks! Can't wait to see the new set Very Happy

Returning2MyNet · Minors Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 379

hey congrats.
on the blocker you can go thine board or thick, change the top flair angle the postion of the palm on the board up down, canted etc.
Sounds like your having fun and are getting it handled just fine.
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caveman27 · Minors Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Posts: 167

First off, congratulations. Secondly, I wish I knew about the contest so I could have entered it.

Totally custom and you want plain black and white? If you want to retain team colors, I guess you could ask for a solid white background with a black jenpro weave fabric on top in the design of multiple, randomly-angled, maple leaves.

HawksGoalie33 · Pro Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 566

To be honest it isnt so much team colors (although our team colors are black and white). My current pads are black, white and silver. Money is hard to come by in terms of hockey gear budgets (like I said, this is my first new set of gloves, and of all gear Ive only had a new helmet, chestarm and jock. So with that the color choice of black and white is to match the current pads and in planning for the next set of pads whenever that is since a two tone color system of basic black and white is easier to match than going with other colors or a three color setup.

Im figuring black base with white accents and white stitching, plus the name and number on them. The glove I pretty much listed above and the blocker I am going to try and mirror the 994 thick board design blocker as closely as possible.

I shot Mark off a pm with my desires and am waiting to hear back on how much of it is doable.
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you're only as good as your last save

HawksGoalie33 · Pro Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 566

Basically everything is good to go except the double break, which would require a lot of reworking to the setup of the glove, and the split t pocket... after talking to him he said with the style and make up of the glove he would recommend against it.

Placed the order so they should be in production starting tomorrow.
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you're only as good as your last save

Returning2MyNet · Minors Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 379

sweet
your gona be in heaven soon
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HawksGoalie33 · Pro Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 566

I usually try and keep from thinking about big things until they are present (ie, dont think about xmas untinl xmas morning, etc)... otherwise I get to excited and it kills me... I havent been able to keep from thinking about these. I wish I knew how long it was from start of production to shipping.
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you're only as good as your last save

HawksGoalie33 · Pro Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 566

Talked to Mark and one of the guys in the shop about two last minute additional mods.

- +2" floating pocket on the glove

- Elastic fingers on the blocker

He said the glove was no problem, the blocker depended on where it was in production. I should find out tomorrow if they can do it, or if the gloves are already done.

So I either get both mods added on, or still get the one I care about and find out my gloves are closer to shipping than I thought, win win.
_________________
you're only as good as your last save

Arthriticbutterflystyle · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:19 pm Post subject:

Nice, It'll be interesting to see what the final product looks like Hawk

HawksGoalie33 · Pro Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 566

Yeah, Im getting antsy. The wait time on custom gear is said to be 6 to 8 weeks... now pushing closer to the 8 week side of things. My order went in line on the 10th of Sept which puts me at 5 weeks this Monday.

I am slightly annoyed because when I called yesterday the guy said he would get back to me today. I didnt get a call back so late in the afternoon I called and he said they still didnt hear from the manufacturing side where the gloves were in the process. The plant is right across the street from my understanding so I would think it would be an easy check. I know its a pain in the a$$ to track down an order for mods 5 weeks in and I could imagine they get a lot of calls asking for updates on a lot of orders so I can understand, but some update would be nice... I cant complain though, a free custom set is worth it whenever it comes in.

The floating T shouldnt be a problem since thats simply relacing the pocket and can be done anytime, the elastic fingers, while it would be nice, was an after thought add on so if it cant happen then oh well. Like I said, from this point it sounds like I can either get both last minute mods added on, or my gloves will be ready shortly. From my understanding the first set of 585 leg pads were delivered this week so we'll see.

Hopefully I'll have some kind of update soon... the full 8 week mark isnt until November 9th... 1 week after my season ends. Ill be resting up from a surgery then so hopefully I'll have them to play around with while I'm home off work and can break them in nicely.
_________________
you're only as good as your last save

Arthriticbutterflystyle · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject:

Hawks, Itech...

This thread isn't the place for your epeenis measuring, do that through PMs instead please. If you two continue to bicker I'll lock up the thread because it's supposed to be about Hawks gear...not who's the bigger prick or whiner on the forums.

Hawks, I'm sure your gear is close to ready and I can more than understand the frustration. I've been waiting what...5 6 months for my Brian's gear? Hell and it's not even custom.

HawksGoalie33 · Pro Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 566

puckstopper135 · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:53 pm Post subject:

Wait times are a pain in the a$$, but usually well worth it in the end.