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- Sep 3, 2014
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As always headgear are my favorite types of gear and when they’re Winning inspired that makes them just much better. With the original Sabas Pro Series Headgear you had something that was also WInning inspired but with some drastic changes. Due to the increased vision it left the face a little more open and the thinner padding didnt protect the nose as well as the FG2900 but the low weight was incredible. Furthermore the back and side padding was significantly better than the FG2900. Now here we have the second version of the Pro Series, the new and improved, the best of the best, and quite possibly my new favorite headgear.
Look
This headgear looks a lot more similar to the FG2900 than the old model. The overall thickness was increased, the cheeks were made bigger, the shape is more angled and less rounded, and instead of a velcro closure Sabas now uses a quick clip. The white leather is absolutely beautiful, very white, not dull at all, eye catching for sure. Usually a liner can make gear look a little ugly but the grey liner used in the Pro Series actually complements the white leather. Overall its a very beautiful piece of gear, as expected from Sabas.
Quality/Construction/Padding
The quality is top notch, my headgear has no bad stitching, no ruined leather, everything is perfect and it's held up just fine no matter what I put it through. Sabas uses some of my favorite leather, it feels and looks tough, thick, its great quality and it has a nice but dull smelll to it. The laces are even good quality and I say this because the laces on the FG2900 are awful and split at the ends. The plastic of the quick clip is also pretty good, just a little thin but i dont see it breaking anytime soon. My only complaint with it is that its a straight clip instead of curved but it hasnt come undone during sparring even when i wear it tight.
The padding is another area where the headgear truly shines. Just like the FG2900, Sabas uses a layered foam combination with the outer layers being more firm and the inner layers more soft. The only big difference is that Sabas uses firm padding in the inner layer of the middle of the forehead and JUST the forehead. Now I say firm because its more firm than the rest of the inner layers but thats not to say its rock solid or uncomfortable. The forehead is still comfortble and you dont feel it at all during sparring, its just thicker and a little more firm than the rest of the inner layers. The Pro Series also has better side and back padding than the FG2900 with thick sides and a back pillow thats held in with elastic.
Comfort/Liner
This headgear offers some of the best comfort of any headgear that I’ve used. As I said the inner layers use a soft foam, besides the center of the forehead, and this means that the headgear shapes to your head due to the soft padding. Also the cheeks and overall shape wrap around your head/face perfectly and unlike most other headgears the cheeks actual cradle your face and sit down, close to your nose. A test to see how much the cheeks stick out is putting a pencil or something flat across the cheeks and seeing if you can stick a finger in between the pencil and your nose. So far I’ve been able to do that with an FG2900, R9 and the new Pro Series. By comparison the old pro series, the cheeks were so thin that my nose could actually stick out past them depending on how I wore it so my little test was pointless. Without a doubt excellent comfort and no complaints from me at all.
The liner is also one of the best I’ve used. Its controls moisture pretty well and dries up quick. Like i said the grey color is actually really slick and goes very well with the white leather. Usually i hate liners but i dont mind this one, Id still prefer leather but this works the way it should. Another plus is that the liner helps so the headgear doesnt slip around after sweating.
Performance/Protection
The performance of the Sabas Pro Series headgear is as expected, absolutely amazing. Just like I thought, the thicker cheeks and thicker overall padding made a huge difference. My nose has been hit straight on multiple times and I dont feel it. The thick cheeks and how they cradle around the nose means that certain punches can be bounced off the cheeks with a little roll. The vision is incredible, maybe even slightly better than Winning. My peripheral vision is almost unchanged and the cheeks dont get in the way of seeing lower strikes like uppercuts or kicks. The headgear also doesnt feel heavy at all and the combination of the closure systems and liner the headgear doesnt shift much at all no matter what youre hit with.
Ive been hit with practically everything ranging from soft taps to hard shots and this headgear takes it all like its nothing. It does an incredible job at absorbing shock, its like the punch lands, gets stuck within the foam and launched back because you almost never feel shock. Now obviously no Mexican style is perfect and just like an FG2900 or an R9 punches can go through the cheeks and hit your nose or your lips but these types of headgears do a great job at lessening the blow by a lot. As I said I’ve been hit in the nose a lot and you just dont feel it like you should. Normally a hit to the nose means i get that dull sensation, that obnoxious feeling, but with the Sabas you barely feel anything or nothing at all. Also the added protection of the sides and back are just a little extra to protect you from those fouls. I dont get hit in the head much, its rare but when I do im always glad to have that extra padding back there. Its similar to the hazard lights in a car, you dont use it every day but when you need it youre glad you have it.
Weight
The Sabas Pro Series Headgear weighs in at 12.6oz and like I said, you dont feel it. Its a light headgear, not as light as the original but thats the trade off for better protection. A wise decision by Sabas to make the second version thicker in my opinion because they crafted one of the top 3 headgears I’ve ever used.
As for the sizing my head measures in at 23.5in so i went with a large and it fits perfectly. Sizes available for stock are i think medium and large. The sizing seems to be similar enough to Winning or Ringside so thats what i used.
Cost
The Sabas Pro Series goes for around $110 but Sabas is constantly having sales and usually you can pick one up for around $100 in either white or black. You can order custom as well which obviously raises the price but you can get nearly any color imaginable as I’ve seen a lot of Sabas’ custom gear and theyre showing off new colors almost daily. I think either price is absolutely justified as you get your money's worth and then some.
Overall
Sabas has taken a headgear that I liked and improved on it 100%. The new Sabas Pro Series headgear is probably my new go to headgear alongside my FG2900. I truly believe we have a new king or at least a top competitor capable of matching the FG2900 and even beating it in some aspects. Incredible protection, construction, comfort and padding, just a nearly perfect headgear. For the price youre paying you get everything and then some. All there is to do now is save up and get myself a custom one.
+Protection
+Padding
+Looks
+Comfort
+Quality
+Construction
+Quick Clip
+Vastly Improved
+Two Stock Color Options
+Price
+Weight
+/-Liner
Look
This headgear looks a lot more similar to the FG2900 than the old model. The overall thickness was increased, the cheeks were made bigger, the shape is more angled and less rounded, and instead of a velcro closure Sabas now uses a quick clip. The white leather is absolutely beautiful, very white, not dull at all, eye catching for sure. Usually a liner can make gear look a little ugly but the grey liner used in the Pro Series actually complements the white leather. Overall its a very beautiful piece of gear, as expected from Sabas.
Quality/Construction/Padding
The quality is top notch, my headgear has no bad stitching, no ruined leather, everything is perfect and it's held up just fine no matter what I put it through. Sabas uses some of my favorite leather, it feels and looks tough, thick, its great quality and it has a nice but dull smelll to it. The laces are even good quality and I say this because the laces on the FG2900 are awful and split at the ends. The plastic of the quick clip is also pretty good, just a little thin but i dont see it breaking anytime soon. My only complaint with it is that its a straight clip instead of curved but it hasnt come undone during sparring even when i wear it tight.
The padding is another area where the headgear truly shines. Just like the FG2900, Sabas uses a layered foam combination with the outer layers being more firm and the inner layers more soft. The only big difference is that Sabas uses firm padding in the inner layer of the middle of the forehead and JUST the forehead. Now I say firm because its more firm than the rest of the inner layers but thats not to say its rock solid or uncomfortable. The forehead is still comfortble and you dont feel it at all during sparring, its just thicker and a little more firm than the rest of the inner layers. The Pro Series also has better side and back padding than the FG2900 with thick sides and a back pillow thats held in with elastic.
Comfort/Liner
This headgear offers some of the best comfort of any headgear that I’ve used. As I said the inner layers use a soft foam, besides the center of the forehead, and this means that the headgear shapes to your head due to the soft padding. Also the cheeks and overall shape wrap around your head/face perfectly and unlike most other headgears the cheeks actual cradle your face and sit down, close to your nose. A test to see how much the cheeks stick out is putting a pencil or something flat across the cheeks and seeing if you can stick a finger in between the pencil and your nose. So far I’ve been able to do that with an FG2900, R9 and the new Pro Series. By comparison the old pro series, the cheeks were so thin that my nose could actually stick out past them depending on how I wore it so my little test was pointless. Without a doubt excellent comfort and no complaints from me at all.
The liner is also one of the best I’ve used. Its controls moisture pretty well and dries up quick. Like i said the grey color is actually really slick and goes very well with the white leather. Usually i hate liners but i dont mind this one, Id still prefer leather but this works the way it should. Another plus is that the liner helps so the headgear doesnt slip around after sweating.
Performance/Protection
The performance of the Sabas Pro Series headgear is as expected, absolutely amazing. Just like I thought, the thicker cheeks and thicker overall padding made a huge difference. My nose has been hit straight on multiple times and I dont feel it. The thick cheeks and how they cradle around the nose means that certain punches can be bounced off the cheeks with a little roll. The vision is incredible, maybe even slightly better than Winning. My peripheral vision is almost unchanged and the cheeks dont get in the way of seeing lower strikes like uppercuts or kicks. The headgear also doesnt feel heavy at all and the combination of the closure systems and liner the headgear doesnt shift much at all no matter what youre hit with.
Ive been hit with practically everything ranging from soft taps to hard shots and this headgear takes it all like its nothing. It does an incredible job at absorbing shock, its like the punch lands, gets stuck within the foam and launched back because you almost never feel shock. Now obviously no Mexican style is perfect and just like an FG2900 or an R9 punches can go through the cheeks and hit your nose or your lips but these types of headgears do a great job at lessening the blow by a lot. As I said I’ve been hit in the nose a lot and you just dont feel it like you should. Normally a hit to the nose means i get that dull sensation, that obnoxious feeling, but with the Sabas you barely feel anything or nothing at all. Also the added protection of the sides and back are just a little extra to protect you from those fouls. I dont get hit in the head much, its rare but when I do im always glad to have that extra padding back there. Its similar to the hazard lights in a car, you dont use it every day but when you need it youre glad you have it.
Weight
The Sabas Pro Series Headgear weighs in at 12.6oz and like I said, you dont feel it. Its a light headgear, not as light as the original but thats the trade off for better protection. A wise decision by Sabas to make the second version thicker in my opinion because they crafted one of the top 3 headgears I’ve ever used.
As for the sizing my head measures in at 23.5in so i went with a large and it fits perfectly. Sizes available for stock are i think medium and large. The sizing seems to be similar enough to Winning or Ringside so thats what i used.
Cost
The Sabas Pro Series goes for around $110 but Sabas is constantly having sales and usually you can pick one up for around $100 in either white or black. You can order custom as well which obviously raises the price but you can get nearly any color imaginable as I’ve seen a lot of Sabas’ custom gear and theyre showing off new colors almost daily. I think either price is absolutely justified as you get your money's worth and then some.
Overall
Sabas has taken a headgear that I liked and improved on it 100%. The new Sabas Pro Series headgear is probably my new go to headgear alongside my FG2900. I truly believe we have a new king or at least a top competitor capable of matching the FG2900 and even beating it in some aspects. Incredible protection, construction, comfort and padding, just a nearly perfect headgear. For the price youre paying you get everything and then some. All there is to do now is save up and get myself a custom one.
+Protection
+Padding
+Looks
+Comfort
+Quality
+Construction
+Quick Clip
+Vastly Improved
+Two Stock Color Options
+Price
+Weight
+/-Liner
