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Gear Review: Core Shaft by Easton Lacrosse

[rwp-review id=”1″]

Easton has been dropping update heads, gloves and more on us this year, but their bread and butter is still in the lacrosse shaft game. Their ultralite shafts are ridiculously light and strong, so I was excited to see what their Stealth Core shaft would be like, especially when I saw how affordably it is priced. I put this shaft through the ringer, and had a number of people give it a whirl to make sure I got as many perspectives as possible.

Appearance… +10.0

I am a simple guy when it comes to graphics on my lacrosse sticks. A crazy dye is great once in a while, but I usually want the shaft portion of the stick to be pretty basic. For me, the Easton shaft delivers in a major way. There are no splashy colors, and it’s not glowing in the dark. It’s just a light grey shaft with black lettering on it… of course to me, that is perfection.

It works with any team’s color scheme, and doesn’t hurt the eyes. Plus Easton get some serious branding work done by having their name displayed loud and proud on the product. That’s just smart marketing.

Grip… +10.0

The Core shaft has a rough finish, and it almost feels like there is super smooth tape wrapped around the stick, which I love. I usually tape the entirety of my shaft, but with the Core, I don’t do that, and only add about 8 inches of tape at the bottom. The stick slides through my hands when I want it to, and I can grip and rip with ease.

I ended up taking the tape off after a period. Didn't need it.
I ended up taking the tape off after a period. Didn’t need it.

As I’ve used the shaft more and more, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see the grip stay intact, at least for the most part. Usually, with even the most grippy shafts, I will be forced to tape my entire stick after a couple of games and some wall ball. With the Core, I’m four months in on heavy use, and still don’t feel the need to tape it up.

Weight… +5.0

The Core shaft is not the lightest shaft on the market by any means. It had thick walls and is built to take abuse and last forever. With a light head, I can still make the overall stick pretty light, and as long as the head isn’t too heavy, it doesn’t affect my shot speed or quick fakes at all. If you’re looking for a shaft with a little more oomph in the weight and feel department, you’ll love the Core shaft. If you want a “light as a feather” stick, Easton’s ultralite shafts may be better for you.

Durability… +10.0

I have now used and abused this shaft in a full season of box, clinics in the winter, field games, and one of my guys had to use it a recent box game in Syracuse because his shaft broke in the game. The shaft shows NO dents, NO bending, and very few dings or scratches, even though I’ve really put it through the ringer. Crosschecks in box lacrosse result in no damage. Connecting with a defender’s stick after a shot? No problem, except maybe for the defender.

This stick has been to Cuse, and it has seen box action.
This stick has been to Cuse, and it has seen box action.

In my experience, when it comes to durability, you’ll be hard pressed to find a tough shaft on the market.

Value… +7.5

At around $80-90, the Easton Stealth Core is priced similarly to light, but relatively weak, shafts. The Core’s disadvantage here is that it is a little heavier than many of its pricing counterparts, but it sticks out as probably the most durable and tough shaft of the bunch as well.

If you’re not getting free equipment, or don’t have money to burn, the Core shaft should serve you well. It lasts a long time, doesn’t degrade with use, and will match any team’s gear, so you won’t need to buy a new one for aesthetic reasons either. For what you get, $80 isn’t bad at all.

Overall… 8.4/10

If money is no issue, and you don’t mind breaking 3 or 4 $90 shafts a year, the lighter shafts might fit you well. But if you’re looking for something that will definitely last an entire season (and is great for box lacrosse), then the Easton Core could become your next favorite piece of equipment. It is tough, and does the job you need it to. I have no fear that this shaft will break, and I’ve played with it indoors, and outdoors in the cold. The grip is great, the value is there, and it will last you forever. Overall, I’d say it is a pretty good option!