So, 3 and a half years into my "comeback" and a lot of farting about with Kit, I think I've finally settled on a set-up that will hopefully do me for a while now. Part stuff I've picked up along the way finished off with a couple of bargains that I've picked up because they were surplus to requirements for a friend of a friend's friend sort of thing.
You can see it here:
https://flickr.com/photos/28544136@N07/sets/72157649727112035Bag - GN1000 duffle. I coveted one for most of last season and finally managed to pick one up from the batch that was released in Autumn. A bit less roomy than the woodworm duffle I had last year, but lighter and more comfy. I do a lot of walking with my bag so that's important
Shoes NB4020/4030- I've been thrips ugh a pair of asics and a couple of pairs of Adidas, the last pair I had were Vectors and they were just too tight on me. So I sold the shoes I had on eBay and came up with enough for new spikes & rubbers. Went with these after seeing them in a shop, very light and comfy.
Pads GN Powerbow Gen X Players - one of my bargains. I've been using Adidas pads until now and thought they were light but these are something else, hardly feel like they’re there. Look on the small side but wrap around nicely and fit perfectly even though I've got long legs.
Gloves
GN Powerbow 750 - My gloves are the one thing I hadn't chopped and changed but my trusty CA's split half way through last season, I picked up some Kookaburra's to replace them but fell out with them when I got a cut finger from getting hit on the hand three times in an over. Bought these based on availability and price.
GN A61 - and then a bargain came along, there’s a pair of these currently on eBay for £68, I picked these up for £25. Light but robust, taken a couple of blows on them and there’s good protection. Look good too.
Helmet Masuri Club - have struggled to find a lid I was comfortable with but got this for last year and have no reason to change.
And then the shining glories
First a GN Powerspot @ 2'10" - 8 lovely straight grains, great pick up, flies off the middle and off the rest of it as well. Got this after selling a M£H original that was just too heavy for me. A lovely bat and a worthy replacement for the Newbery GT335 that I started my first full season back with.
And finally a GN F18 LE @ 2'9", allegedly picked for a pro and a bargain at about half their current retail price. You can judge it for yourself from the pictures but the Ping is lovely and I’m now dying for winter nets to give it a go.
The elephant in the room is that, shoes and helmet aside, it's all Gray Nicolls. That’s a happy accident and not by design. Non matching gear has never bothered me one bit, but now I’m steadying myself for the inevitable ’new sponsors?' and ’third team pro’ jokes I’m going to get in January.