New NHL Swift Jerseys; A Fans Perspective

[FlyersHockey1967]

i can understand the freakout that this board is having over his allstar replica that he bought from nhl.com but i can tell u this is no change. about a year year and a half ago i bought an Ovechkin Caps replica off of nhl.com, the logo, the nameplate, and the number 8 were all glued onto the jersey, not sewn on. this is just the way nhl.com has taken to doing their jerseys. im sure if he bought the same jersey from river city sports for example, it would be sewn on like it should be. maybe not the logo, but the name and number should be sewn on. this is just the crappy overpriced work that nhl.com does.

Ummm...No. You see, the replicas the NHL sells today are almost like the authentics, only with cheaper materials and everything glued in.

But with the new RBK unis, all the replicas will be made with even cheaper materials and everything SILK-SCREENED, yet charged EVEN MORE FOR CRAPPIER STUFF. They won't be anything like the authentics.

[FiddySicks]

Well... if it was customized then no wonder it was originally $200. Even current jerseys come to a total of $220 after taxes if you buy it with a name on the back. So that price doesn't come across as crazy.

And its the RBK EDGE jersey system... Swift is the Nike equivalent.

Actually, it is crazy. I can pick up replica customized jerseys (or used to before RBK came into the picture and I refuse to buy their Indonesian crap... more on this later) for $135 American. The only difference between a replica and authentic being the lack of fight strap and a couple of patches/labels. I'm lucky that I've been shopping with a company for so many years that they're honest enough to tell me that the current RBK replicas are pure **** and there doesn't look to be much hope for next season, AND the prices will be going UP. It's the age old business game, make a cheaper, crappier product and raise the prices. I had been set last month to buy my last two jerseys ever (or at least until replica quality was back to where it's been) and was disappointed to learn that the store was now out of the CCM/KOHO styles. Oh well.

I can't quite tell if you have ever even seen an authentic jersey before. Coming from someone who owns 6 AND current and older replica jerseys, I can tell you exactly all the differences. Both are made from different materials, the pros being made in a more durable polyester which is double layered on the shoulders and has re-enforced elbows. Mind you, this was the same way older replicas came, but not for the past 10 or more years. With pros, all the crests and patches are SEWN onto the jersey and not just glued. The crests themeslves are stiched onto a softer... whatever the hell you call it which makes it more flexible and durrable. Yes the pros also have a fight strap but that is not where the extra cost come from. Its the materials that go into making them which is why they are so inflated because they are made to be streched, cut and just simply abused. A replica would not be able to withstand the same kind of abuse the pro can.

To the casual eye, yes they look ALMOST identical (slightly larger cut on the arms for pros) and the $150 increased price tag would not be enough for some people to justify spending. With the new waves of replicas on the way, I'm sure you will either see less people buying jerseys in general or more people willing to dish out the $$ for pros.

I dunno man. Ive got a ducks authentic 3rd I got last year on discount and I really cant see mch of a difference. Yeah the double layered shoulders and different cut, along with the fight strap make it a good quality shirt, but IMO that along with the other things you mentioned doesnt make a $150 increase in price worth it. But thats just me.

[Don]

i can understand the freakout that this board is having over his allstar replica that he bought from nhl.com but i can tell u this is no change. about a year year and a half ago i bought an Ovechkin Caps replica off of nhl.com, the logo, the nameplate, and the number 8 were all glued onto the jersey, not sewn on. this is just the way nhl.com has taken to doing their jerseys. im sure if he bought the same jersey from river city sports for example, it would be sewn on like it should be. maybe not the logo, but the name and number should be sewn on. this is just the crappy overpriced work that nhl.com does.

Ummm...No. You see, the replicas the NHL sells today are almost like the authentics, only with cheaper materials and everything glued in.

But with the new RBK unis, all the replicas will be made with even cheaper materials and everything SILK-SCREENED, yet charged EVEN MORE FOR CRAPPIER STUFF. They won't be anything like the authentics.

the way i read it is that the rbk jerseys are going to be like the swingman nba jerseys, and the nfl eqt jerseys...well those are not screenprinted my friend. those are twill lettering glued onto the jersey. screen printed jerseys are the "replica" jerseys, not the EQT or swingman jerseys.

[Mingjai]

i can understand the freakout that this board is having over his allstar replica that he bought from nhl.com but i can tell u this is no change. about a year year and a half ago i bought an Ovechkin Caps replica off of nhl.com, the logo, the nameplate, and the number 8 were all glued onto the jersey, not sewn on. this is just the way nhl.com has taken to doing their jerseys. im sure if he bought the same jersey from river city sports for example, it would be sewn on like it should be. maybe not the logo, but the name and number should be sewn on. this is just the crappy overpriced work that nhl.com does.

Ummm...No. You see, the replicas the NHL sells today are almost like the authentics, only with cheaper materials and everything glued in.

But with the new RBK unis, all the replicas will be made with even cheaper materials and everything SILK-SCREENED, yet charged EVEN MORE FOR CRAPPIER STUFF. They won't be anything like the authentics.

the way i read it is that the rbk jerseys are going to be like the swingman nba jerseys, and the nfl eqt jerseys...well those are not screenprinted my friend. those are twill lettering glued onto the jersey. screen printed jerseys are the "replica" jerseys, not the EQT or swingman jerseys.

I've seen the All-Star replica jerseys on sale at the Wild store in the Mall of America, and if they are any indication, everything next year will be screened on to one layer of twill, which will then be glued on to the jersey. That means no embroidery or layered twill patches that we're used to and are willing to pay $$ for.

[Neon_Matrix]

Well... if it was customized then no wonder it was originally $200. Even current jerseys come to a total of $220 after taxes if you buy it with a name on the back. So that price doesn't come across as crazy.

And its the RBK EDGE jersey system... Swift is the Nike equivalent.

Actually, it is crazy. I can pick up replica customized jerseys (or used to before RBK came into the picture and I refuse to buy their Indonesian crap... more on this later) for $135 American. The only difference between a replica and authentic being the lack of fight strap and a couple of patches/labels. I'm lucky that I've been shopping with a company for so many years that they're honest enough to tell me that the current RBK replicas are pure **** and there doesn't look to be much hope for next season, AND the prices will be going UP. It's the age old business game, make a cheaper, crappier product and raise the prices. I had been set last month to buy my last two jerseys ever (or at least until replica quality was back to where it's been) and was disappointed to learn that the store was now out of the CCM/KOHO styles. Oh well.

I can't quite tell if you have ever even seen an authentic jersey before. Coming from someone who owns 6 AND current and older replica jerseys, I can tell you exactly all the differences. Both are made from different materials, the pros being made in a more durable polyester which is double layered on the shoulders and has re-enforced elbows. Mind you, this was the same way older replicas came, but not for the past 10 or more years. With pros, all the crests and patches are SEWN onto the jersey and not just glued. The crests themeslves are stiched onto a softer... whatever the hell you call it which makes it more flexible and durrable. Yes the pros also have a fight strap but that is not where the extra cost come from. Its the materials that go into making them which is why they are so inflated because they are made to be streched, cut and just simply abused. A replica would not be able to withstand the same kind of abuse the pro can.

To the casual eye, yes they look ALMOST identical (slightly larger cut on the arms for pros) and the $150 increased price tag would not be enough for some people to justify spending. With the new waves of replicas on the way, I'm sure you will either see less people buying jerseys in general or more people willing to dish out the $$ for pros.

I dunno man. Ive got a ducks authentic 3rd I got last year on discount and I really cant see mch of a difference. Yeah the double layered shoulders and different cut, along with the fight strap make it a good quality shirt, but IMO that along with the other things you mentioned doesnt make a $150 increase in price worth it. But thats just me.

Oh I agree, a few pieces of strechier polyester and some thread does not mean they should charge an extra $150. I guess they want to try to create a gap between the jerseys not through quality but through price to show that you paid a lot more for a superior product.

Of my 6 authentics, I only paid full price for one, got two others half priced and the other 3 used ($25 a piece from stores who didn't know they could be sold for much more). I will pay the outrageous price for the new Leafs jersey because I want the best looking jersey avaliable to the public. I wont like paying that much... but it will be worth it in my eyes.

Luckally, if all goes according to plan, I'll be able to get 25% off that baby, muhaha!!

[FiddySicks]

I will pay the outrageous price for the new Leafs jersey because I want the best looking jersey avaliable to the public.

Your definately lookin in the wrong place if you want a Leafs jersey and expect it to be the best looking jersey available to the public.

[Neon_Matrix]

I will pay the outrageous price for the new Leafs jersey because I want the best looking jersey avaliable to the public.

Your definately lookin in the wrong place if you want a Leafs jersey and expect it to be the best looking jersey available to the public.

I mean I want the best looking JERSEY, I didn't say anything about having the best looking team on it.

[EatSleepJeep]

I can't quite tell if you have ever even seen an authentic jersey before. Coming from someone who owns 6 AND current and older replica jerseys, I can tell you exactly all the differences. Both are made from different materials, the pros being made in a more durable polyester which is double layered on the shoulders and has re-enforced elbows. Mind you, this was the same way older replicas came, but not for the past 10 or more years. With pros, all the crests and patches are SEWN onto the jersey and not just glued. The crests themeslves are stiched onto a softer... whatever the hell you call it which makes it more flexible and durrable. Yes the pros also have a fight strap but that is not where the extra cost come from. Its the materials that go into making them which is why they are so inflated because they are made to be streched, cut and just simply abused. A replica would not be able to withstand the same kind of abuse the pro can.

To the casual eye, yes they look ALMOST identical (slightly larger cut on the arms for pros) and the $150 increased price tag would not be enough for some people to justify spending. With the new waves of replicas on the way, I'm sure you will either see less people buying jerseys in general or more people willing to dish out the $$ for pros.

There are some other differences, too. For example: on my replica Dallas (CCM White Star Template), the green area in the star on the crest is a tackle twill panel and the gold stitching of the star outline and words is pretty flat. On my authentic (Koho Green Star Template), the green area in the middle of the crest is made of 1/8 full stitches and the gold thread forming the star and the letters has a high metallic content.

[CC97]

I've seen the All-Star replica jerseys on sale at the Wild store in the Mall of America, and if they are any indication, everything next year will be screened on to one layer of twill, which will then be glued on to the jersey. That means no embroidery or layered twill patches that we're used to and are willing to pay $$ for.

Agreed... I recently saw a Leafs jersey on sale for $10 at a store but didn't even think about getting it because the logo was screened on.

If I ain't willing to pay $10, I'm definitely not willing to pay $120