A season-by-season look at what Bauer, CCM, True, Warrior, and Sherwood are putting on shelves for 2026-27 — and what’s still working its way through development camps.
Every summer the equipment cycle resets, and this one has more real product behind it than the usual marketing churn. Between new stick lines from all four major manufacturers, a genuinely new Vapor skate platform from Bauer, and a wave of goalie gear rebuilt around updated foam and composite chassis, 2026-27 is shaping up to be a heavier release year than 2025 was. Here’s what’s shipped, what’s shipping soon, and what’s still being tested in the wild before it hits retail.
Skates: Bauer Resets the Vapor Line
The headline release on the skate side is the Bauer Vapor FlyLite, the first full reset of the Vapor platform in several years. The boot moves to a new Fusion Curv Composite quarter package paired with a Fusion Flex outsole, a combination built to push more energy back into each stride rather than absorbing it in the boot. The holder is new too — Bauer’s PowerFly system pairs a rigid front post with a more responsive back post to sharpen lateral pushes, and buyers can choose between the standard Fly-X steel or a titanium-coated Fly-TI runner for edge retention. It’s a clear continuation of the Vapor identity — low-volume fit, forward-leaning stance, built for players who win races to pucks — but with enough structural change that it reads as a true new generation rather than a graphics refresh.
CCM and True aren’t standing still either. CCM’s JetSpeed line carries its FT8 Pro update into skates as well as sticks, continuing the brand’s push toward lighter carbon boots and more aggressive heat-molding. True’s Catalyst 9X4 is the brand’s current flagship boot, and with True now the equipment partner for IIHF events at every level from juniors through senior competition, expect its skates to get more ice time — and more visibility — than in past seasons.
Sticks: A Crowded, Genuinely Competitive Field
This is the deepest stick release calendar in a few years. CCM’s newest lineup includes the JetSpeed FT8 Pro, RibCor Trigger 10 Pro, XF Ghost, and the second-generation Vizion — the last of which moves to CCM’s ALUPLI construction, blending carbon fiber with aluminum layering, on an optimized mid-kick profile designed for a fast, reliable release. Bauer’s current shelf includes the Pulse, Proto2, and Vapor FlyLite stick, with the Pulse’s Fusion kick point splitting the difference between a quick-release low kick and mid-kick power.
Sherwood’s newest release is the Rekker Morph Pro. Warrior has refreshed its lineup with the Alpha LX3 Pro, Alpha Deluxe, and Covert Deluxe. True’s current sticks include the HZRDUS Smoke and Project X Storm. Across all of these, the shared engineering story is material science: 2026-generation shafts from Bauer, CCM, and True all move to newer nanocomposite resin systems, aimed at squeezing out more energy transfer or fatigue resistance than the 2024-25 generation delivered.
Still in development camps, not yet at retail
- Bauer Pulse II — spotted on multiple players at 2026 NHL development camps; full release details haven’t been confirmed.
- CCM Tacks “Recharge Pro” — the next Tacks stick, also seen at development camps this summer.
- CCM RibCor “Trigger Unleashed Pro” — surfaced at the 2026 IIHF World Championship; expected later this year.
- True Catalyst Nitro (player version) — testing since early 2026, with the goalie version showing up at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
- PRO Reserve ONYX — a hybrid-kick stick built around blended NHL/AHL/NCAA specs, expected to launch in August.
Goalie Gear: New Pads and a Bigger Materials Shift
The crease has gotten more attention than usual this cycle. CCM’s Tacks lineup — pads, catch glove, and blocker — carries a genuine feature overhaul rather than a cosmetic update, built around a new core foam and a Diamond Glide inner edge for faster crease movement. CCM’s Tacks Pro goalie stick pairs ALUPLI shaft construction with CARBONRIB paddle reinforcement, aimed at durability without adding weight, and a SoftStiff EVO blade that stiffens at the toe for rim plays while staying softer through the heel for puck feel.
True’s Catalyst Nitro Pro pads and catching glove round out the top tier, built on a lightweight multi-density foam chassis for rebound response without added bulk. On the more experimental end, Vaughn has reportedly been testing a new goalie line under the “Ion” name since last fall’s Oilers camp, though it hasn’t surfaced publicly beyond that sighting.
The Bigger Pattern: Safety and Fit Customization
Two threads run underneath all of this year’s releases. First, protective gear across the board is shifting toward bio-based foam components — the first mainstream generation of hockey equipment to build sustainability into the impact-absorption layer rather than treating it as an afterthought. Second, custom fit is becoming a bigger part of the retail conversation: 3D scanning and made-to-order builds for sticks, skates, and protective gear are no longer pro-only tools, and expect more of that technology to reach consumer-level customization over the next year or two.
Helmets are part of that safety push as well. Bauer’s Re-Akt line is expanding with more impact-absorption tech and custom-fit liners, while CCM’s Tacks X Pro brings updated safety systems alongside comfort improvements — both consistent with the broader move toward tighter, more individualized protective fit across the sport.
What This Means for Your Next Purchase
If you’re shopping this fall, the practical read is straightforward: this is a real generational year on the stick side, so if your current stick is due for replacement, the new CCM Vizion and Bauer Pulse platforms are worth demoing before you commit. On skates, the Vapor FlyLite is the one to try on if you’ve historically skated Vapor — it’s different enough from prior generations that a fit check matters more than usual. And if you’re a goalie shopping pads, this is the best year in a while to compare CCM Tacks against True Catalyst Nitro Pro side by side, since both saw substantive rebuilds rather than incremental tweaks. For anything still in the development-camp stage — Pulse II, Tacks Recharge Pro, the Catalyst Nitro player stick — patience is the better play; wait for full retail specs before ordering.