Skate Fenders Adult Accessory Review Hot

As purchased the shell provides superb protection but the standard strapping system is next to useless. I bought these for my Graf 735 skates which have a softer shell through which you feel the full impact of even light blows by pucks and skates. Tired of bruises and sore feet I went to look at these at a store and pulled a Graf 735 off of the shelf and put a fender on it. I quickly realized that you will need a small/medium sized fender for smaller skates as the larger one will stick out at all sides and corners and the straps can't cinch tight enough.
Even with an appropriately sized fender I still found it was difficult to get the fender tight to the skate boot using the stock strapping. My skating was negatively affected as the fender slid on my boot as I skated, throwing off my balance and catching on my other skate from time to time. I threw the stock strapping out and purchased four pump straps. These are 'single-sided velcro straps that loop back on themselves and are static (i.e. do not stretch). They make cinching the fenders nice and snug a simple and easy task and now they stay put during play.
These straps are easily purchased at most sporting, hardware or cycle shops and cost a buck or two each so they don't break the bank. Buy a few replacements as the straps are subject to a lot of wear and tear. Even though the replacement straps are not expensive it is annoying to have to spend some extra money to improve the product because these fenders aren't very cheap to begin with.
Now having said that the fenders aren't cheap and that you have to spend money to improve them I think they are well worth the purchase. You see them more and more on NHL players wearing the fenders and it's because they work. You don't feel hits unless they are 90 degree straight on. The fenders have a ridged design that deflects most impacts from sticks and pucks, they cover the lower half of the tongue, and they are relatively light, are strong and provide excellent protection. If you can get them tight enough to the boot they don't impact skating.
If you see a friend or team mate with them, borrow them and put them over your skates and whack them with a stick and see for yourself.
Strangely enough they seem to peak curiosity and it's the one thing I have that people stop and ask me about to the point that after a game guys from the other team sometimes skate over to take a second look.