CCM Jetspeed FT6 Pro Protectives Review

May 10, 2023 || Written by Katie Lakusta

Get ready to take your game to the next level with the latest addition to the Jetspeed family—the FT6 Pro protective line is designed with the highest level of performance and protection in mind. With cutting-edge materials and some new, innovative Aer-Tec technology, the FT6 Pro promises to provide an unbeatable combination of speed, mobility, and safety on the ice.

The Jetspeed Line

The Jetspeed protective line is designed to prioritize speed and mobility on the ice. It features lightweight materials and a streamlined design across all levels that allows players to move quickly and effortlessly. This goal is in contrast with the Tacks Protective line, which is built for maximum protection with thicker materials and more padding overlap. Ultimately, the choice between the two lines depends on a player's individual priorities and playing style; the Jetspeed line for 2023 has gone a step further with the new Aer-Tech Thermoregulation and Suspension Systems, increasing ventilation throughout the gear.

Flexmotion Design

(Found in: Shoulder Pads, Elbow Pads)

CCM's FlexMotion design aims to improve a player's mobility and range of motion on the ice. This design uses segmented foam padding in key areas of the equipment to allow for greater flexibility and movement—by segmented, it means each piece is made to move independently to maximize both coverage and mobility. FlexMotion works with the new Aer-Tec Suspension design to make the gear feel as weightless and inconspicuous as ever.

Aer-Tec Thermoregulation Suspension System

(Found in: Shoulder Pads, Elbow Pads, Shin Guards, Pants)

Aer-Tec is a brand new innovation debuting in the Jetspeed FT6 line, with its two goals evident in the name: enhance aeration throughout the gear by suspending the gear away from the body.

The last thing you want is your equipment distracting you from your game, especially if it can be avoided. By incorporating CCM's cutting-edge Aer-Tec Thermoregulation System, The new FT6 Pro protective gear facilitates superior air circulation, sweat evaporation, and body heat regulation, leading to a quicker cooling of the body's core temperature. This, in turn, allows players to make faster and more effective decisions during pivotal moments on the ice.

JDP Design

(Found in: Elbow Pads, Shin Guards)

The JDP design in the elbow pads and shin guards is intended to provide increased protection to the joints by dispersing impact away from the joint and into the surrounding padding. In both, the cap consists of a hard plastic outer shell with a curved shape that wraps around the joints. The inside of the cap has a softer foam layer that helps absorb and disperse the impact energy away from the joint.

This design is based on the principle that the most effective way to protect a joint is to prevent the force of collision from being directed right on the joint. By redirecting that force, the risk of injury can be reduced.

ZoteFoam

(Found in: Shoulder Pads, Elbow Pads, Shin Guards)

CCM added a ZoteFoam reinforcement in strategic sections of the FT6 Pro shoulder pads and shin guards.

Zotefoam is a highly versatile type of closed-cell foam material that is used in a wide range of applications due to its unique properties. It’s been used in various other industries, including aerospace, medical, and automotive.

It’s produced through “cellular expansion,” which involves the creation of a gas-filled matrix within a solid polymer structure. This results in a material that is lightweight, flexible, and has excellent shock-absorbing properties. It is also waterproof, resistant to chemicals, and has good thermal insulation properties. All of these properties make it the ideal foam reinforcement for protective hockey equipment.

FloFoam

(Found in: Shin Guards, Pants)

FloFoam finds its application most often in sports equipment, particularly in ice hockey gear such as gloves and shin guards. The foam is engineered to offer exceptional impact protection while ensuring a lightweight and comfortable feel for the wearer. It works in tandem with the JDP design, with its remarkable capacity to absorb and dissipate impact energy—thus making it effective in mitigating injuries that may result from collisions or contact with hard surfaces. FloFoam has earned a reputation as one of the most sophisticated and potent foams used in sports equipment today, widely acknowledged by the manufacturers who make the gear and ice hockey players alike.

Final Thoughts

We were thoroughly impressed upon seeing the FT6 gear for the first time, which is quite the feat with how impressed we already were with the AS-V series not too long ago. CCM really went above and beyond with keeping to Jetspeed’s goal of “speed and agility to leave defensemen in the dust, particularly with adding Aer-Tec technology and complimenting it with FloFoam, ZoteFoam, and the Flexmotion design. I could barely feel the gear at all when I first tried the demos out, which is huge—with fewer distractions out on the ice, it leaves room for you to play at your absolute best.