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Review: Scandium Pro, Cyber Pro, STX Arm Pad

LAS is back yet again with new equipment review.  This time we’re looking at a Scandium handle from STX, the revamped Brine Cyber Pro (an old favorite; let’s hope it’s good!) and the STX Cell Series of Arm Pads.

Editor’s noteread all of the 2010 Gear Review’s and see what you should be rocking this season.

STX Scandium Pro handle

Rating 7 out of 10

This handle is light and has a nice flex to it without being soft or bendy.  The graphics are very simple and understated.  It’s lightly textured so you won’t need a ton of tape to get a good grip.  The shaft comes is readily available in red and silver for longsticks.  They retail for $150.  The shorties are around $100 and you can also get them in gold and light blue along with the other two colors.

Considering the most expensive D shafts can cost $250 and the most expensive shorties can retail for over $200, the STX Scandium Pro is a pretty decent deal.  The quality level is high and the price is reasonable and close to the industry standard.  I’ve been using this shaft lately and have no complaints whatsoever.  STX sent it over for us to take a look at.

Brine Cyber Pro

Rating: 7 out of 10

The Cyber has been around for a while now and in its current incarnation it’s still legal for play under NFHS standards however it is not legal for 2010 NCAA play.  This just might be Brine’s toughest head right now.  the plastic is thick and the head is stiff overall.

As with most Brine heads these days, there are a number of stringing holes on both the scoop and the sidewalls.  There are no gimmicks with the Cyber and it is considerably more durable now than the version I used back in my collegiate playing days.

While the head is stronger, stiffer and less likely to break, it doesn’t feel that heavy.  It’s not as light as the Brine Clutch X, for example, but for a durable head, it’s quite good.  Unstrung, the head retails for around $90 and that is the one drawback; it’s about $10 more than comparable heads.  If this head were $80, the Cyber would be get an 8 out of 10, but it’s not.  I borrowed one from a friend to test it out.

STX Cell Arm Pads

Rating 6.5 out of 10

The Cell Arm Pads by STX offer very good protection, if only to limited areas of the arm.  That is intentional and for the player looking for a tough but minimal arm pad, the Cell Series delivers.

Because of this solid construction, the arm pads do require a little bit of wear in time to get comfortable.  Like the K18 glove, they are also designed to be tight to the body so unless you’re under 150 LBs, I’d make sure to get the larges and skip the mediums.

The shorter elbow pad retails for $45 and the longer arm pad retails for $55.  Both of these products fall within the normal range for their product type and would be a good choice for a lot of defenders and midfielders.

The Cell Arm Guard may be a little better for attackman as it has a full plastic elbow cap and is pretty affordable at $65.  STX sent these arm pads over to us for a trial run.

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About the Author: Connor is a pretty average lacrosse player at this point who doesn’t know when to give up on the game.  He played and coached in the NESCAC and still plays for the Southampton LC in NYC.  Connor lives with his fiance in Brooklyn and thanks her for allowing him to keep the dream alive.

Contact him at connor@lacrosseallstars.com.