Pereira using new Obo chest pad

Another sighting is Canada's starter Kevin Pereira, wearing the new Obo chest pad. Kevin, who has also been involved with the full men's squad set-up recently, being around as a reserve goalkeeper for the World Cup qualifying tournament, is sponsored by TK as far as I know, so this is a ninja style sneaky observation. Obviously a lot of companies prefer to have their sponsees wearing all of their kit, but I really think they should stick with the bespoke approach as seen with Nick Brothers, George Pinner etc. so that the goalkeeper can still use equipment that fully corresponds to their own style of play, physioliogical differences, personal preferences and so on! The redesigned Obo chest pad has received good reviews, with a lot of the Australian internationals also using them, with its beefed up protection around the ribs and shoulders.

It's noticable here, by the padding protuding under the stylish tight fitting (not gym style though!) goalie top:

link

Gryphon's new helmet on the way

In goalie equipment news, it looks like Gryphon are set to sell their own helmet design, having sold a more open cage design for greater peripheral vision but with a smaller chin (as opposed to the ice hockey mask versions that Obo etc. sell) that Grays and TK also produce. The design itself has a flatter top, but still curved to reduce impact, unlike (and as an alternative to) the ridged designs that are available. The cage also seems to be open with a larger cat eye, like the new Obo design that they are prototyping at the moment in the effort of boundary pushing regards size of cage in relation to the chance of a hockey ball getting through.

You can see it in use here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisbartle/9407916182/in/set-72157634872619152 

And more detailed photos on the FHF forum:

http://www.fieldhockeyforum.com/threads/clemons-x-gryphon-evo-3.17252/

Millington to Monarch

It looks like Monarch have signed up another national premier league goalkeeper with Tom Millington of Wimbledon joining their foam wearing ranks. The goalie has been spotted displaying his new kit on the interwebs, which having provided evidence, will appear slightly stalkerish I guess (but a journ's role is a little I guess, and social media seems to make that a lot easier)?! Anyhoo, it will be interesting to see how D30 makes an impact on the game, in terms of whether or not it can be a game changer, and what it offers goalkeepers technically at the highet level of domestic level in the country.

https://twitter.com/tommy240388/status/362547943208804352/photo/1

Monarch seeing use at top level

With George Pinner starting for England after waiting his turn for quite some time behind James Fair and other competition, having impressed early on for Beeston at a young age and at U21 level, his new kit is seeing use at the highest of levels, playing internationally in the World Hockey League at the moment. The range he has been working on with Monarch to make use of the D30 foam possibilities, as well as the new rhp design, has been seeing action against some of the world's best shooters. And should therefore be an indicator of its ability for use by those interested in the new range! Colour wise, Pinner's gloves look to be black, whilst his pads are going for a white and orange looking mix.

You can see the kit in use here:

Monarch's new range promo video

With George Pinner working with sponsors Monarch to produce a new specialised range which makes use of D30 to potentially improve protection and rebound at the same time (would be interesting to know more, but Monarch should be releasing more information in the near future!), the first video interviewing him has been put out by the company. It's not the first time an England international has helped work on a range, with Simon Mason producing his own line with Mercian a while ago but the first time D30 has been introduced to foam, after it was introduced into other sports. It will be interesting to see how Pinner gets on with using the kit, as considering it's being used in the premier league and internationally and in the Euro Hockey League as well, it's facing the highest levels of shots around. Not bad for a testing environment!

You can watch the teaser video below: