REVIEW: Easton Stealth RS Pro Stock Hockey Gloves

The Stealth RS is Easton’s latest top end glove in their line up.  This glove caters to players who prefer a an “in-between” fit; one that is not too loose like a traditional glove but not overly tight like many of the anatomical offerings on the market.

We are reviewing the Pro version of the glove so there will be some differences in the materials used between the retail model.  The materials used in the entire glove (shell, liner, gussets, palms) are not the same but the overall shape remains similar minus the custom cuff.

Those who are familiar with the Pro Stock Easton E-Pro 4-Roll glove will recognize many of the materials used in this Pro RS.  They share the same silver Bio-Dri liner, nylon shell and nash gussets/palms.  The retail RS comes with the new Dri-Lex liner, nylon/synthetic shell, all new AX Suede palm and gussets.  Mid-density foams and PE inserts are found throughout both versions and help make this glove very lightweight.

So how does the glove fit?  It is tight throughout the fingers and in the back of the hand.  The cuff flares out for added wrist mobility.  I would compare it to the fit of the Bauer Vapor series but a bit more snug in the fingers.

(Pictured above: the same Nash palm and gusset you find on most pro stock Easton E-Pro hockey gloves).  I’ve never had an issue with these palms crusting up or piling too much.  They are thin enough to give an excellent stick feel but because of this, durability may be an issue if you’re particularly tough on your palms.

The Easton RS is unique in the way it has three piece index, middle and ring fingers.  Opening and closing the hand feels very natural and comfortable with this design.  I am able to get a better feel of the stick compared to many of the competitors’ gloves with only a 3 piece index finger design.   This is my favorite feature of the glove.

The cuff is angled; a design similar to the old Jofa gloves.  It has plastic inserts throughout.  The lock thumb is also pretty beefy but not to the point where it is uncomfortable to use.

The palm side of the cuff is cut very low.  It has a huge E-Pro influence and I prefer this type of cuff over the stock retail one.

The retail model of this glove is currently retailing for $149.99US.  Not that many pro players are using this glove quite yet so it makes finding a pro version quite difficult.

The Easton Stealth RS is a very comfortable and mobile glove.  Those who like the fit of Bauer’s Vapor series will feel right at home with these as well.  Sadly, it’s not the prettiest glove in the world but what it lacks in looks it makes up in performance and fit.

 

– M

Initial Thoughts: Rick Nash Winnwell Pro Stock Gloves

Rick Nash, Matt Stajan, Marc-Andre Bergeron, and Kyle Quincey.  What do all of these NHL players have in common?  Their glove of choice is Winnwell.

Being a Gold Medal winner, 4-time NHL All-Star and Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey club, Rick Nash has been heavily courted by different companies to endorse their products.  Yet, he chooses to sport Winnwell Pro Stock Hockey Gloves.

Here is a glimpse of Rick’s 14″ pro gloves.  Over the next couple of weeks I will be using this glove and checking in with updates.

These are made of nylon and have plastic inserts everywhere like you would expect from most pro gloves nowadays.  All of the graphics and text are embroidered.  For players who don’t like overly loose (think traditional 4-roll) or tight (newer anatomical style) fitting gloves these are in the middle.  The blooming style cuff also increases wrist mobility.

What I liked right off the bat was how the thumb was constructed.  The white bit you see sticking out is a plastic insert which offers protection from hacks and slashes.  The thumb is allowed to move freely unlike some gloves that will basically have one large piece of plastic from the cuff to the tip of the thumb, restricting movement.

The three piece index finger is another feature we like that more and more companies are also incorporating, but mostly into their more anatomically fitting gloves.

The palms and gussets of the glove are made of you guessed it, Nash leather (pardon the pun.)  An unique feature about these palms are the seamless transitions between the palm and gussets on the inside of the pinky and index fingers which are key areas for wear and tear.

The inside of the glove is lined with Winnwell’s Cleansport NXT liner (more information available on their website: http://www.winnwellcleanhockey.ca/cleansport.php.)  The NXT extends all the way from the cuff through to the fingers and I actually prefer these types of liners because they are generally softer than what is traditionally used and I don’t get any uncomfortable scraping on my knuckles.

I weighed these gloves and compared them to another pro glove I had sitting in the office with nash palms and gussets…

Winnwell Pro Stock: 639g

RBK Pro 4-Roll: 702g*

*The RBK has had the inner padding and a part of the cuff removed so technically it will weigh a bit more than 702g.

For more information on Winnwell’s products, check them out at their website: http://www.winnwellcleanhockey.ca

Stay tuned… we also have another Winnwell product to show you in the coming days that may surprise you.

 

 

– M