RBK Ice Hockey Equipment--Choosing the Perfect Stick!

RBK ice hockey equipment is in the news quite a bit and with their acquisitions in recent years, they have become one of the biggest ice hockey manufacturers. All of their equipment has overall reviews of good solid construction, durability and high performance. One of their big successes is their goalie equipment which is highly popular and known to be comfortable without giving up any protective qualities.

They have also ventured into composite sticks in a big way and if you are in the market for a new ice hockey stick, you should take a look at the RBK ice hockey equipment line. These days ice hockey sticks come in a lot of different high-tech materials, and while some players will always prefer the feel of wood, these new sticks also offer a lot of pluses, especially in terms of being lightweight which can help the power and accuracy of your shot. If you look around the NHL you are going to see a lot of composite sticks.

RBK has an incredibly full line of ice hockey sticks made from every material. Make sure when you look at new sticks that you order the right size--as you place the stick on the ground, blade on top, the blade should be between your chin and nose. The most important thing is that you are comfortable with the stick. An ice hockey stick is like an arm extension--it needs to be the right length and you need to feel relaxed with it. Likewise, you need to feel at ease with the material it’s made of and to choose a blade curve that fits into your playing style. As with skates, the stiffness of sticks should increase with experience. Beginners don’t need a stiff stick or too much of a curve.

As with any other piece of equipment, high-tech composite sticks are going to cost more. Today you can choose from shafts made of aluminum, fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon-graphite and titanium. But you won’t see many great players with aluminum or fiberglass sticks. Carbon fiber and titanium are everywhere just like they are in golf, tennis, and even bicycle frames. Composite sticks can cost anywhere from under $100 to over $300, now in the same price range as some ice hockey skates.

A couple of good choices for senior players at both ends of the spectrum from the RBK ice hockey equipment line are the RBK 4K Composite Hockey Stick and the RBK 9K O-Stick Composite Hockey Stick. Both are great sticks for different level players and in different price ranges.

The RBK Sr. 4K Composite Hockey Stick is an affordable one-piece composite stick. As to whether it will allow you to get off a better shot really depends on your skill as a player. It is lightweight and according to RBK is a pre-preg graphite and fiberglass composite. With a traditional shaped shaft and a composite blade, it is stiff and durable and would make a good first-time composite stick choice. You should see some increased velocity on your shots, and it will show you how a composite stick feels and plays.

The RBK 9K O-Stick Composite Hockey Stick is the stick used by Detroit Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk, who endorses RBK ice hockey equipment. Obviously it’s a high-end stick--and it has that unusual design with holes down the shaft. RBK calls it their exclusive “O-technology,”--air actually flows through the shaft and the lower part is also more aerodynamic than a normal hockey stick. Reebok calls these holes power ports and this unique air flow is designed to make your shots harder and faster. It’s a unique feeling to get air under your shot to help it fly.

The composition of the RBK 9K O-Stick is super-low-fiber-aerial-weight graphite which makes it light and durable. This model also has a graphite blade, which although very light is also extremely hard, giving more power to every shot. The RBK 9K O-Stick is not for everyone but many players can significantly improve their shot performance and accuracy with this stick. As with any stick you will have to take into account the sort of flex, lie or curve you are most comfortable with.

RBK considers that the technology behind this stick makes it 21.5% more aerodynamic than any other regular ice hockey stick. Advanced hockey players can really benefit from the weight, stability, and accuracy of the RBK 9K O-stick.. It has been much talked about since it was first introduced in 2006. Every year it has grown in popularity and it has more inquiries than any other stick in the RBK ice hockey equipment line.