Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Your Kit => Topic started by: Maverick79 on August 05, 2016, 11:38:34 AM
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Most of us have had a lot of kit over a number of years, some have a lot of kit during one season!
If you were to take the best of the kit you have owned and the most disappointing, what would you put in the two kit bags? (Keepers feel free to add keeping kit)
Best:
Bat(s): (you can never have just one in the bag!) Slaz SX Pro (pinged like crazy out of the wrapper and hit my first ton with it), Focus Black Label (huge middle), Newbery Grizzly
Pads: Focus Evo (very comfortable and decent protection
Gloves: H4L Hattori (the old white/yellow ones - fit was perfect)
Helmet: Masuri Elite Titanium (old style - pre vision series)
Protection: Stretton fox bespoke
Spikes: Asics gel advance 3 (like wearing slippers)
Bag: Ayrtek stand up Wheelie (loads of space, stable and 2 bat pockets)
Most disappointing:
Bat(s): GM Icon 808 - very hard pressed and not a generous middle on the one I had
Pads: GN prestige - very odd fit and sizing
Gloves: GN oblivion tests - very chunky and odd feel
Helmet: Masuri vision series (a difficult one as I like the design but I find myself between sizes and the large is just too big and the grill is too far from my face hindering vision and the standard is tight)
Protection: none
Spikes: Adidas SL 22 (blue stripes/half spike)
Bag: Kook pro duffle (too big and too heavy for a duffle fully loaded)
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Best:
Bats: Slaz SXI Classic, H4L Devil, newbery krakatoa sps
Pads: Newbery TT
Gloves: H4L Custom
Helmet: Old masuri
Protection: Areo P2
Spikes: Kook something or other
Bag: Hunts duffle
Worst:
Bat: Slaz Pro blade classic - although i ht most runs with it it replaced my sxi when that broke and was no where near a sgood
Pads: Junior kook kahuna
Gloves: Gray nics Predator 4 star
helmet: Gunn and moore purist
Protection: Puma something or other 3000
spikes: N/A (only has two pairs)
Bag: Gray nice back pack thing - small and unprotected bat cover
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My most disappointing bit of kit was definitely the xrd GM original l e pads I bought. They were like strapping lead weights to your legs. For the cost too, I was gutted.
Best - my BB hulk bat is brilliant.
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Best kit - a 'pro edition' TON apparently made for an IPL pro - it is a cut above everything I've ever had before. And my ayrtek gloves - got 3 pairs and they are/were awesome. Shame they stopped doing them!
Most disappointing - my laver and wood that I had a few seasons ago - just didn't perform particularly well and wasn't very forgiving and (I feel bad for saying this) my ayrtek stand up wheelie from a few seasons ago - didn't like the opening and having to dig right down into the bag from one end and it also started to fall apart pretty quick - about 6/7 months or so.
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My most disappointing kit is a mongoose duffle. It is very poorly designed.
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I may not have necessarily had a stack of kit in terms of the Hosk (but who has?), Reds and his softs addicition or even Cam's never ending quest to find the perfect combination but I've had my fair share of triumphs and fails!
Best
BAT: TLB plain sample bat (not sure of its origins, anybody know?
- Bought it for £90 and it was an absolute rocket. Picked up lovely and went like a train, sadly only survived for around a season before it went at the shoulder of the bat all the way down the back. RIP
GLOVES: My best gloves would probably be my current Slazenger Ultimates. Had some serious use this season and still subtle. Grey pittards also nice to not notice discolouring as much.
PADS: OLS unbranded batting pads. Was given a new pair to me by a friend as a leaving present. Lasted two seasons of full use before giving them away and were light, comfortable and durable!
THIGH PADS: Aero P2s - not much to say apart from durability they are in their 8th season and still going strong.
SPIKES: My bargain spikes would actually be ones I bought on here. Asic Gel Advance 3s (blue/yellow). Think I got them for £15 and they're comfy as anything and managed to score a few runs in them which is always nice.
BAG: Woodworm Pro Series Duffle, survived several overseas trips, didn't get any silly little tears and plenty of storage - did the job (£25)
HELMET: Masuri's x2, comfortable, does the job, still looking for an older version to buy if any are out there for a backup.
Worst
BAT: Gray Nicolls Evo Players, hands down. Looks wise a beauty but an absolute plank of a thing. Wasted plenty of time trying to play it in to no prevail, finally given up after a crack appeared at the toe - lost cause! 👎
GLOVES: TLB sample gloves, ripped first week in and never got a replacement that was promised sadly.
PADS: Gray Nicolls Evo 1000 batting pads. Just Google them for a photo, and you will understand.
PROTECTION: Slazenger Ultimate combo, bought this year to take over from my Aeros and match my gear together. Disappointed, Inner thigh pad is completely seperate and doesn't have that bit to attach it to the main one, and the main one doesn't sit properly!!!
BAG: Gray Nicolls Evo Wheelie. Clumpy, too big, zips breaking, no "shape" to it. Safe to say my Evo experiment was a FAIL.
SPIKES: Asics Gel Speed Menace, gave me the biggest blisters ever so bad memories of them *shudders*
HELMET: My beginners lid, some knock off Albion "ND Helmet". Cheap knock off which only lasted my first season. Never to be seen again!
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Best
Bats - HitsHards G1 still the best bat iv ever used? Current B&S elite pro performance is as good but the pick up and balance in the HitsHards was majestic.
Gloves B&S all white 2016 gloves or Salix players either or
Pads as above
Keeping kit. B&S kit from this season without fail
Helmet - Masuri TI now about 4 years old
Worst
Bat - Affinity just do don't see what all the fuss was about average performance and awful pick up for me
Gloves - GM 808 sizing and fit is awful
Keeping kit - GN kit any of it as I just find it not very good and weird sized
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Best ...
[1] Bats - Kahuna 800, Hits Hard Rola supersonic & Blank bats B4 profile
[2] Gloves - Ayrtek small mens, BDM sachin LE
[3] Pads - Morrant 2-strap
[4] Helmet - Masuri vision series
[5] Bags - Blankbats Duffel
Worst ... Only thing i have changed frequently is my bat and the worst has been SG !
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Now this will test my memory a bit!
Best
Bat: GM Purist 303, striped down and a DIY weight reduction done. It was a small bat with a very traditional profile, but just felt right and pinged.
Chase 150 Finback - light, heavily concaved and relatively small. Bought before my forum days, so I didn't have my fixation with full profiles that means I'd overlook the same bat today.
Sausage Gloves
SS super test. Decent protection, nice fit and they looked nice. Also a bargain if imported from India.
Split finger gloves
H4L NV pro. Minimalist look, great protection and grey pittard palms.
Pads
OLS plain. Lightweight, good protection and unbeatable value for money. Being brandless they were also great for my matching kit OCD!
Bag - I change these so often as I never find the perfect one. An old Slazenger wheelie (pre sports direct days) has probably the best I've had.
Most disappointing
Bat - GN Oblivion E41 LE (refurbed by GM as a Supernova). It was in pieces one net after the refurb (maybe I'm being a bit unfair)
Kookaburra Ricochet 250. It looked very nice (especially for the price) but the middle was roughly the size of a pea
Gloves - Chase 175. Lovely gloves and great protection. Just a shame that the palms had holes in after 3 weeks of use.
Pads - GN Oblivion test. The pads themselves and protection was great. They just didn't fit me right and felt rather uncomfortable. Now in the possession of a teammate who loves them.
Bag - GM original wheelie. Plenty of space and pockets. Shame it fell apart after less than a seasons use (apparently quite common with GM luggage).
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Best
Bats - GM Purist Original LE - Beautifully balanced and goes like a train all over.
Gloves - Eclipse All Sport Sausage Pittards, so comfortable and light
Pads - VKS Superlite, barely know they are there, protection isn't amazing but is more than good enough.
Bag - Kookaburra Pro Playes Bag - Can take the kitchen sink with me to a game if needed
Lid - Ayrtek, first lid that's fit properly and vision out of it is superb.
Most Dissapointing
Bat - Gray Nicholls Carbon Fibre Handle. Worst bat i've ever seen or used. Just terrible.
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Best.
Bats, loads, Affinty Toro, h4l Nv g2, b3 bespoke, and grays oblivion extreme pro all performed exceptionally.
Softs.
Original b3 sausage was one of my favourite gloves, loved the feel.
Currently gray nics sausage(kaboom,prestige, powerbow all similar design) suit me well.
Pads, new Ballance tc1260 and Affinty custom colours are up there in terms of protection comfort and build quality.
Thigh pads, stretton fox! Nothing comes close(hence I have multiple sets)
Helmet. Ayrtek! Currently have a new regs compliant trial helmet with Tia I'm grill. Light and comfy.
Shoes/spikes. Anything by new balance, was happy to get there first lot as found them so comfy and great, but there 2016 ones are even better! Up and up from the NB guys.
Worse gear.
Bats, a few gray nics that have been planks and not fit for purpose, and a ca that dented and cracked being used with soft rubber ball!!
Softs.
Gloves, some M&H I bought in a sale that were just bulky, but very floppy, gave me no confidence in them.
GM 808 le from 2015, looked good but just felt flimsy once in use.
Pads, again M&H pads that were just massive around the ankles, squeaked and weren't comfy.
Thigh pad, helmets, and shoes, had loads from many manufacturers, but never had any I've thought these are awful, all were useable.
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Best:
Bat - Gray-Nicolls Evo 5 star (2010ish) - lovely pick up and pinged from everywhere!
Pads - Gray-Nicolls Nitro Test (again 2010/11ish) - lightweight, comfy and great protection
Thigh pads - P2 Strippers - excellent and lasted years
Worst
Bat - Newbery B52 players (2012 I think) - middle too low for me
Gloves - Newbery SPS - just didn't like the fit of them
Pads - GM 808 - poor sizing
Bag - GM original & Kookaburra 800 wheelie - both well designed bags but didn't last a season.
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Best - a BAS Vampire Blaster, Hunts Insignia, Batas pads and gloves.
Worst - GM Original softs 'Mens' size. I can only assume they mean for male whales.
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Best bat has to be my affinity Toro , unreal performance.
Going back one or two years, my old df magnum, and my ace grade two, we're both bats that felt right and performed superb
My laver reserve, was also superb, apart from I had to shave three ounce off it before I could pick it up in anger
Best softs, erm, used slazenger top end for ten years or so, then affinity, and now ss
All excellent
Worst bat, probably the two M&H bats I had,(pre forum days,) absolute shi/e
One snapped, and the other was so dry, it cracked and fell apart after a couple of months
Worst softs, were some top end puma, that I couldn't hold onto the bat with, and the stitching came apart
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Well the bats I have enjoyed most have been Aldred (never had one that didn't perform) Bradbury (3 bats all excellent, 2 exceptional), best indian bat BAS hands down, gray nics aus have 2 bats very very good, recent lavers are getting up there, and the storm damaged B&S suggests further purchases are required. I would t like to pick that lot apart.
Disappointments h4l, Robert pack, Woodstock, hunts county, affinity, early lavers. It is not to say all of these are bad bats, only that either they were t as good as I was expecting or whilst exeptional in one area (eg performance on affinity spectre) they lacked in other areas. There have been some odd one offs that could go in either category.
As to softs, not quite as taken with them so less astounded or disappointed. Really liked the Morrants ultra light pads, and for some reason gave them away. Really like my gray nics xxx9 gloves, the best I have had. Didn't get on with the way Strettons feel, prefer Remfries by a distance. Helmets never been that bothered about, so I suppose that's about it.
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Oops forgot Charlie French the two bats I had from him really were top draw.
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My Aldred Velocity is both the best piece of kit i have ever used and the most disappointing. 2.13 but picks up like a dream, pings like crazy when you get it out of the middle. However I am 6.3 and it's short blade long handle, I just cant get used to the feel of it when i bat. Used it for 2 nets and decided to sell it when I go back to uni.
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For me there are a couple of things that stand out for me.
My best bits of kit were my B3 Bespoke, GN Dynadrive Custom and the XP-80. All of them exceeded my expectations performance wise, in spectacular fashion.
I'm also a huge fan of the HC softs that I have.
My most disappointing bits of kit? The SAF Custom Long Blade that was such a disaster that when the batmaker had a go with it, he really couldn't believe how bad it was either and immediately offered to replace it, and the Aldred I had which just had the middle in entirely the wrong place for me. The other massive disappointment was a pair of GM Original pads that I got ina sale. The top hats were just the wrong shape and used to catch on each other when running between the stumps and really frustrated me.
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best bits of kit ive had were bat wise either my new aldreds as both long blade spectres and go like crazy or my old Talisman which was just perfect for me and got me runs till I discovered long blade which changed the game but passed it on in the end as switched to long blade
best glove were my Vulcans as best protection I have seen in a glove while comfy (just glad I managed to snap up the last pair before dean ran out so I have some for next year), pads were my stac black prince as never found a more comfortable pad since they fell apart after 7 years use
Had some kit which just didn't pan out from various makers but that may have just been me so im loathe to blame the kit.
Never got on with aero strippers so they were sold after 2 nets as they just never fit right also never seemed to get on with my ss gladiator pads for some reason even though they were nice.
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Best :
Bats - g.n powerspot ( 1991) , symonds super tusker (1988).... best bat ive ever had in my hands , 2x g.n kabooms (2011) which were cheap but ping insanely , impala hamerhead (2000) , j.p.gavan custom featherblade
Pads - easton air management (1994 ?) , puma iridium 6000 , puma evospeed 6000 , morrant international ultralites ..... sooo good I'm scared of using them
Gloves - g.n legends (2011) , puma kinetic 4000 (2011) , kingsport the zone epic , j.p gavan featherblade
Helmet - masuri titanium (2011 ) , ayrtek /adidas adizero titanium (probably my favourite current peice of kit)
Bag - aero standup tour wheelie ( done so many kms via public transport with this thing , I'll cry when it dies ) , m and h coffin (1994) , albion wheelie (2012) .... so huge and i thrash this thing so hard but it refuses to die
Shoes - adidas sl22 boosts , first ever nike bowling boots (1994 ?)
Other - remfry arm guard and chest pad , sidearm pro , aero p2 strippers ( comfy and don't slip on me ), aero bat grips
Worst :
Bats - kookaburra bubble (1995) was a plank for 2 months then snapped , millichamp and hall signature (1994) gimmicky with baaad pickup , g.n e41 was awesome for one season then somehow became a plank , g.n optimum (1996) worst bat ever ...not worthy of being fire wood
Pads - g.n powerbow (2011) spontaneously combusted after a few months , kookaburra something (1987) ... first and only pads i ever had with buckles
Gloves - kookaburra blade (2011) ...fat ugly horrible things they were , aero p1 handwarmers ...or whatever they were called
Helmet - albion (2011) titanium ....grille kept hitting my shoulderblade so swapped it out for a g.n titanium grille which still did the same thing
Shoes - nike rubbers (2010) ....somehow they fit when i bought them and used them for a season but the next season the toe area had shrunk somehow ....one of lifes great mysteries
Other - aero p1 strippers ....make me fiddle more than steve smith when i bat , sidearm elite...sssnnnaaapppp ! , octopus grips .....i dont understand the love for these hidious things .
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Wow. What a post. Outstanding.
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Amazing post! Love it! Incredible shrinking shoes
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Amazing post! Love it! Incredible shrinking shoes
Yeah , those shoes had me questioning my grip on reality for a moment ! :) .....surely they still fit ? Why don't they fit ? They did fit last year , right ? Yeah , i wore them all season . Did my feet get bigger ? That's impossible, im in my thirties , im not still growing . Hey , now that i think about it my other shoes all still fit , so it must be these particular shoes . W.t.f ? .....how do shoes actually shrink ? Etc etc etc . :D