Several weeks ago, the folks over at Elite Hockey sent Hockey World Blog basically their entire catalog of base layer clothing, which includes a variety of compression and loose-fit shirts, pants and shorts in several different styles. The members of Hockey World Blog split up the clothing, choosing each a top and a bottom to review. This review will cover the Elite Hockey Pro Vent Loose Jock Legging Pants.
Product: Pro Vent Loose Jock Legging Pants
Color: Black / Black
Design and Construction:
Elite Hockey’s Pro Vent Loose Jock Legging Pants combine Elite Hockey’s Pro Vent technology with the natural properties of bamboo, as well as their Pro Fit Cup.
The Pro Vent technology aims to provide increased airflow, wick moisture away, all with a light weight and flexible shirt.
While not a scientist by any means, bamboo in clothing is a unique topic to tackle. Naturally, bamboo is a sustainable resource that grows quite quickly, and minimizes CO2 and generates more oxygen than trees. With increased deforestation, this is in a nutshell, more bang for your buck. In essence, companies that use bamboo are helping the environment.
Bamboo can be made into fibre in a green friendly way by crushing the woody parts of the bamboo plant and then use natural enzymes to break the bamboo walls into a mushy mass so that the natural fibers can be mechanically combed out and spun into yarn. Elite Hockey uses bamboo that provides durability as well as a soft feel, all while positively impacting the environment. The shirt also provides hypoallergenic, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
The Pro Fit Cups provides a hard protective cup that is lightweight, has cooling vents to avoid heat, as well as flexible sides that allow the cup to sit comfortably.
The leggings also feature Velcro squares that can be used to hold up your socks. Those squares are protected by another flap which can help keep them lasting longer by not collecting random strands of other fabric that, after a long time of using, tend to always get stuck within the Velcro.
Visually, the black on black leggings has Elite written across the waist as well as Elite Hockey’s crest on the front right leg.
Fit:
Wanting to try something different than jock shorts that I have always used, I opted for leggins. Debating between a compression and a looser fit, I chose the latter with a bit of concern. I worried that the leggings would be too loose, almost sweat-pant like, more specifically from the knee downward. However, once I put on the leggings for the first time, they felt absolutely perfect.
The material is not skin tight, instead, provides enough freedom without being too loose. My concern lower in the legs was resolved with a taper legged that, quite frankly, I find ingenious for as simple of a design feature it is. The taper allows the legging to fit snugger lower down allowing for the leggings to tuck into the skates seamlessly. This is important as the alternative could have been the leggings bunching up near the ankles and creating an uncomfortable feeling when you lace up.
Performance:
For me, performance is how well it feels. The bamboo fibers make for an almost silky feel that feels nice absolutely nice to the touch. It feels more like silk than anything, and that is quite nice. From there, you have to take into consideration breathability. The material is extremely breathable, never allowing your body to overheat. This is extremely important as your legs are always moving and generating heat, which if stuck to your body, could very increase exhaustion. Next, you consider moisture wicking. When you skate, you sweat, and you want that sweat off of you. Due to the style being a loose fit, the leggings do not make as much contact with your skin, disallowing it to fully push sweat away. It still does push moisture away quite well, but if this is your primary reason for a base layer, a compression fit would better suit you. Lastly, you consider how well are you doing away with that infamous hockey stench. While I am a player who washes such a legging after every use, I can easily see this being able to be thrown in the bag and forgotten about until the next game without any stench whatsoever.
Overall Impressions:
While I have always used a jock short, I find myself converted to Elite Hockey Pro Vent Loose Jock Legging Pants. The leggings are loose enough to allow for movement and tapers perfectly in the legs to avoid any bunching up under your equipment. It brings in the comfort of loose fit above the knees with the near compression feel below the knees. It really is a product that is worth getting if you are in the market for a cup or base layer and looking to try something slightly different than the traditional jock short.
