Blue Ice Nano Pro Hockey Stick Review 1

No one enjoys an affordable stick quite like myself, to the extent where last season I bought a barrel bargain stick for $12 at my local hockey store. That stick brought me good fortunes with a career high of 16 goals in 11 games played. So when I heard Blue Ice Hockey was sending Hockey World Blog a stick to write reviews on, I was elated, but also doubtful of the top-of-the-line, I-will-never-pay-for-this stick.

HWB received the stick in the mail on the expected day from Blue Ice Hockey and, without delay, the review began.

Stick: Blue Ice Nano Pro

Weight: Unfortunately, I do not have the weight for the spec junkies. It is a little heavier than the Battleaxe BX10, but I felt it to be in a good way. I found the BX10 to be too light while the Blue Ice Nano has the right combination of weight for feel and power.

Curve/Lie: P.1 heel to toe curve

Flex: 100

Price: $105 US dollar

Player Background:

Height: 5′ 11″

Weight: 200 lbs

Position: forward

Tidbits: I’m a play-maker so feel is really important to me. If I’m not making passes tape to tape, the stick is a bust. Like everyone else, nothing feels quite like a good slap-shot – hard, accurate and hopefully not ringing off the post. As a player, I’m working on my wrist shots. Laying into the shot and letting the flex do the work for you.

Aesthetics:

The color scheme is basic, but not run-of-the-mill basic boring, but basic as in, “I have taste, but I don’t have to have a stick where it looks like someone threw up their Fruity Pebbles on.” A black primary color with silver tribal like accents. The stick also has “tacki-grip” at no extra cost.

Performance:

The stick feels like a one-piece should. It is solid, not too heavy, but heavy enough that you will not have any recoil from slapping pucks.

The blade we are testing is their P.1 heel to toe curve. The curve is a little more different than what I am used to, but in a good way. The curve produces low slap shots, but the benefit of the P.1 blade is the ability to rip quick and hard wrist shots.

The shaft is a 100 flex allowing for a solid feel all the way through the shot. Since I’m playing more forward than defense, my slap shot count has been low and mostly limited to warm-ups. So far I have yet to feel any loss in flex. I have noticed that my power has increased. Currently the stick is about two inches longer than preferred, so it is uncertain if the increased power has to do with this, but in the upcoming tests the stick will be cut down to size.

The accuracy of the blade so far is good. Once again, the blade is a little more different than what I am used to, so there is a learning curve. I’m hitting the net, and that’s a positive.

Stick handling is nice. The shaft has a free tacki-grip, giving a good feel of the stick. With the slightly heavier than other sticks weight, the feel is well balanced. I have found my stick handling has increased. I even pulled a pretty nifty toe drag around a defender, a move that I try only rarely.

Durability:

Aesthetically, the stick has been holding up well. Although I am not a fashionista when it comes to sticks, it still is pretty annoying when you get a stick and a game later there is a big chunk of the design missing. So far no real wear and tear.

The Blue Ice Nano has very little break-in. I once had a Bauer where after a half a season I could put the puck where I pleased. One game later, it broke. The Nano, on the other hand, comes out of the box working well with little break-in required. Chris took some shots with it and commented on this and agreed.

Ending Notes:

Right now I am still feeling the stick out, getting a feel for curve primarily. I like the feel, like the power, and I tip my hat to the guys over at Blue Ice for the price of $105 US dollar, which may be the best bang for the buck out there right now.

Interested in the Blue Ice Nano Pro stick? Head on over to Blue Ice’s website for questions or orders, and make sure to let them know you heard about them from Hockey World Blog.