New Reebok uniforms waterlog players' gloves, skates?
So, when the league unveiled the new Reebok EDGE jerseys this summer, it was accompanied by a slick marketing video and a bunch of psuedo-scientific mumbo-jumbo about how the new jerseys were designed. Using such words as "moisture-wicking" and "core-protection", the videos, which can be viewed over at the official Reebok EDGE site, boost such things as the jerseys being "14 percent lighter" and "2 times stronger." I guess they didn't factor in that whole fighting thing when it came to the stronger claim.
They make it sound like the old jerseys were as heavy as playing with cold steel plates strapped around your neck. But in reality, the new jerseys weigh "a game puck less" than the old CCM ones. Well, a game puck weighs between 5.5 and 6 ounces. SIX OUNCES! No wonder those guys looked like skated around with lead boots.
But the one claim that caught my eye was the claim that the new jers... errr, hockey uniform system resists 76% less water than the old ones. They basically made the jerseys waterproof, which is a swell claim if you're trying to sell a new uniform concept to the league suits. But what about the guys on the front lines?
According to the Raleigh News, some players have complained about where all that water that is being "wicked" away. And it's not just disappearing.
So, with all the things that they have done to the jerseys, was making them lighter at the end of the game worth waterlogging the players' gloves? What do you think would be more detrimental to the sport, skating around with a jersey filled with sweat, or trying to puck-handle in slimy gloves?The new "Rbk EDGE Uniform System" sweaters introduced by Reebok are designed to wick away moisture and carry less water weight. But Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Glen Wesley and other players around the league have noticed a lot of that sweat seems to end up in the last place they want it: their gloves.
"It's repelling [moisture], but it's staying in the uniform," Wesley said Sunday. "It's pretty rare that you have to change gloves in practices, but it's gotten to the point now where you have to do it now. It's even with the practice uniforms."
Just talking amongst other players, I've heard stories of players complaining of the water dripping into their boots. They try to redirect it by putting their socks outside the skates.
(Pittsburgh Penguins) forward Gary Roberts told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week that he noticed even before his first exhibition game an uncomfortable difference during training camp practices.If the water is seeping down into the skates, then you can be assured that a formal complaint will be lodged on behalf of the players by the NHLPA. Because there's nothing worse than playing in wet skates."My hands are soaked, my feet are soaked," Roberts said. "I feel like it's May, in the playoffs, I'm sweating so much. That seems to be a complaint with a lot of guys."
Is this going to be like the NBA ball nightmare?
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What happened with all of the 2-3 years of research and developement they did with the players? I would have figured this fault would have been discovered with these jerseys...
The NHL cannot afford nor weather its own NBA new ball type of controversy.
Great post, thank you!
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