What are the key features of the Tribe7 Fort7 Pro lacrosse goalie head. How does it compare to other popular goalie heads in terms of weight, face shape, and performance. Is the Fort7 Pro suitable for all levels of play.
The Evolution of Tribe7 Lacrosse Equipment
Tribe7, a San Diego-based equipment manufacturer, has been making waves in the lacrosse world since its inception in 2009. Their mission? To produce durable and affordable lacrosse equipment for players of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals. The company’s commitment to innovation and quality has led to the development of several groundbreaking products, including the Fort7 goalie head.
One of Tribe7’s early claims to fame was a faceoff head so tough that East Coast Dyes (ECD) famously filmed a truck running over it without causing significant damage. This demonstration of durability set the stage for Tribe7’s future innovations, including the Fort7 goalie head.
Fort7 vs. Fort7 Pro: Understanding the Differences
The Fort7 goalie head comes in two versions: the original Fort7 and the Fort7 Pro. While both share the same face and head shape, the Pro version introduces an upgraded plastic material called Durovulc. This new material offers several advantages:
- Increased stiffness
- Minimal weight increase
- Enhanced durability
The upgrade to Durovulc was a direct response to player feedback, as many goalies found the original version too flimsy for high-level play. By incorporating this new material, Tribe7 has addressed these concerns while maintaining the head’s large surface area and lightweight design.
Weight Analysis: How Does the Fort7 Pro Stack Up?
One of the Fort7 Pro’s standout features is its impressive weight-to-stiffness ratio. But how does it compare to other popular goalie heads on the market?
The strung-up Fort7 Pro weighs in at 440 grams (15.5 oz). For comparison, a strung-up STX Eclipse 2 weighs 444 grams (15.66 oz). This slight weight advantage, combined with the enhanced stiffness of the Durovulc material, gives goalies a responsive and agile tool for making saves.
Dylan Mandeville, an experienced goalie and Lax Goalie Rat follower, notes that the Fort7 Pro’s weight is “comparable to the Eclipse II or Nemesis III goalie heads.” He adds that it “matches almost every head on the market except for the ECD Impact, and I don’t think anything is going to touch that for a while.”
Why does weight matter in a goalie head?
A lightweight goalie head allows for faster hand movement, potentially increasing the chances of making saves in crucial moments. The Fort7 Pro’s design strikes a balance between weight reduction and structural integrity, giving goalies the best of both worlds.
Face Shape and Surface Area: The Fort7 Pro’s Unique Advantage
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Fort7 Pro is its face shape and surface area. Tribe7 claims that the Fort7 has “the most ball grabbing surface area of any goalie head in lacrosse,” boasting 12.5% more space than the next biggest head.
This expanded surface area is equivalent to adding an 8-inch plate of mesh to any other head, potentially increasing save percentages and giving goalies a psychological edge. The Fort7 Pro’s face shape is more triangular compared to the spoon-like or rounded designs of heads like the ECD Impact or STX Eclipse 2.
How does the Fort7 Pro’s face shape compare to other popular heads?
The Fort7 Pro’s shape is most comparable to the STX Shield or the Nike Prime Elite goalie heads. When compared side-by-side with the ECD Impact, the Fort7 Pro shows a noticeable size advantage in terms of ball-stopping ability.
However, this larger face shape does come with some considerations. Some users have reported that the more prominent edges of the Fort7 can present a challenge on low shots, particularly off-stick low saves. The head may catch in the turf, causing it to spin, whereas more rounded edges allow for smoother transitions.
Performance Analysis: Strengths and Potential Drawbacks
The Fort7 Pro’s unique design offers several advantages for goalies, but it’s essential to consider both the strengths and potential drawbacks when evaluating its performance.
Strengths:
- Larger surface area for increased save potential
- Lightweight design for quick hand movement
- Enhanced stiffness with Durovulc material
- Triangular shape may provide better coverage on certain shot angles
Potential Drawbacks:
- Prominent edges may catch on turf during low saves
- Adaptation period may be required for goalies used to more rounded head shapes
- Not approved for USA Lacrosse women’s play (as of this writing)
Dylan Mandeville offers his perspective on the face shape: “The face shape is a little different, and that’s what drew me to this head. That extra 8 inches of space the head offers, I think, helps mentally for me. You’re telling me that I get an extra bit of space to make saves compared to any other head on the market, I’ll take that any day.”
Side Profile and Offset Design: Engineering for Performance
The Fort7 Pro’s side profile reveals an interesting design choice that sets it apart from many other goalie heads. The head starts with an offset back but then bends forward towards the top. This unique profile serves several purposes:
- Increased stiffness at the top of the head
- Improved throwing mechanics
- Enhanced scooping ability
By reducing bends in the upper portion of the head, Tribe7 has created a stiffer structure that maintains its shape during high-impact saves. At the same time, the offset design towards the bottom provides the benefits typically associated with offset heads, such as improved ball control and more natural throwing motion.
How does the offset design impact goalie performance?
The Fort7 Pro’s unique offset profile may offer several advantages:
- Faster outlet passes due to improved throwing mechanics
- Better ball retention on saves, particularly for shots aimed at the top corners
- Easier ground ball pickups thanks to the scoop-friendly lower offset
These design features demonstrate Tribe7’s commitment to engineering a goalie head that addresses multiple aspects of performance, from save-making to clearing and initiating offense.
Durability and Longevity: The Durovulc Advantage
One of the key selling points of the Fort7 Pro is its use of Tribe7’s proprietary Durovulc plastic material. This upgraded material addresses the primary concern voiced by users of the original Fort7: excessive flexibility. But how does this translate to real-world durability and longevity?
While long-term studies are not yet available, early user reports suggest that the Fort7 Pro holds up well under regular use. The increased stiffness provided by Durovulc appears to resist warping and maintain the head’s shape even after repeated high-impact saves.
What factors contribute to a goalie head’s durability?
Several elements play a role in determining how long a goalie head will last:
- Material quality and composition
- Design and structural integrity
- Frequency and intensity of use
- Environmental factors (temperature, humidity, etc.)
- Proper care and maintenance
The Fort7 Pro’s Durovulc material seems to address many of these factors, potentially offering goalies a head that maintains its performance characteristics over an extended period.
Price Point and Value Proposition
As with any piece of sports equipment, the price of the Fort7 Pro is an important consideration for potential buyers. While Tribe7 initially set out to produce affordable lacrosse equipment, the Fort7 Pro represents a more premium offering due to its advanced materials and design.
The exact pricing may vary depending on the retailer and any ongoing promotions, but generally, the Fort7 Pro is positioned in the mid-to-high range of goalie head prices. This places it in direct competition with established brands like STX, Warrior, and ECD.
Is the Fort7 Pro worth the investment?
The value proposition of the Fort7 Pro depends on several factors:
- The goalie’s skill level and playing frequency
- Personal preferences regarding head shape and weight
- Budget constraints
- Longevity and durability expectations
For goalies who prioritize maximum surface area and appreciate the unique design features of the Fort7 Pro, the investment may be justified. However, those on a tighter budget or who prefer more traditional head shapes might find better value in other options.
Compatibility and Stringing Considerations
When evaluating any goalie head, it’s crucial to consider how it will work with various shafts and stringing options. The Fort7 Pro is designed to be compatible with standard goalie shafts, making it easy to integrate into existing setups.
In terms of stringing, the Fort7 Pro’s unique shape and large face may require some adjustments for stringers accustomed to more traditional heads. However, the increased surface area can also provide more options for customizing the pocket and channel to suit individual goalie preferences.
What stringing patterns work best with the Fort7 Pro?
While personal preference plays a significant role in stringing choices, some patterns that may work well with the Fort7 Pro include:
- Traditional 10-diamond top string for maximum hold
- Mid-low pocket for quicker releases on clears
- Tight channel to take advantage of the head’s large surface area
Experimenting with different stringing techniques can help goalies find the optimal setup that complements the Fort7 Pro’s unique characteristics.
Player Feedback and Real-World Performance
While specifications and design features are important, real-world performance and player feedback provide invaluable insights into a goalie head’s effectiveness. Early adopters of the Fort7 Pro have reported several positive aspects:
- Increased confidence due to the larger surface area
- Improved stiffness compared to the original Fort7
- Good balance between weight and durability
However, some users have noted a learning curve when transitioning from more traditional head shapes, particularly when handling low shots.
How do collegiate and professional goalies view the Fort7 Pro?
While adoption at the highest levels of play is still in its early stages, some collegiate and professional goalies have expressed interest in the Fort7 Pro’s innovative design. As more high-level players experiment with the head, its reputation and acceptance in competitive play may continue to grow.
It’s worth noting that individual player preferences vary widely, and what works for one goalie may not be ideal for another. Prospective buyers are encouraged to demo the Fort7 Pro if possible before making a purchase decision.
Tribe7 Fort7 Goalie Head Review
By Coach Damon
In this post, we’ll review the Tribe7 Fort7 goalie head.
Tribe7 is an equipment manufacturer based in San Diego. Founded in 2009 with the intention of producing durable and affordable lacrosse equipment for all players from beginner to advanced/college/pro players.
One of their early pieces of equipment was a faceoff head that was so tough ECD filmed a truck running over it.
There are 2 versions of the Fort7 goalie: the original Fort7 and the Fort7 Pro.
Both versions feature the exact same face and head shape (i.e. same plastic mold) however the Pro version uses an upgraded plastic material they call Durovulc. This newer plastic provides a lot more stiffness with little increase in weight but a bit more of a dent to the wallet.
Lots of goalies complained that the original version was too flimsy so they upgraded the plastic to give it more stiffness with the same large surface area.
Let’s have a look at this goalie head.
To help us with this review of the Fort7 Pro goalie head we’ve recruited the help of Lax Goalie Rat follower Dylan Mandeville, who has been using the Fort7 Pro as his gamer for a while now!
Tribe7 Fort7 Pro: Weight
The Fort7 Pro was designed specifically to be super lightweight and stiff at the same time.
This allows for your hands to be as fast as possible giving you more chances to make big saves in games.
The weight of the strung up Fort7 Pro head comes in at 440 grams (15.5oz).
For comparison my strung up STX Eclipse 2 is 444 grams (15.66oz). While obviously the mesh used can impact these totals it gives you an idea that the Fort7 is just slightly lighter than the Eclipse 2.
In terms of feel, I find the weight of this head to be pretty comparable to a lot of the other heads we’ve tested.
I can move seamlessly with the stick in my hands and I don’t feel as if the weight is deterring me from making any saves.
Dylan’s thought’s: It’s comparable to the Eclipse II or Nemesis III goalie heads in terms of weight. It matches almost every head on the market except for the ECD Impact, and I don’t think anything is going to touch that for a while.
Tribe7 Fort7 Pro: Face Shape
One of the more noticeable qualities of the Fort7 goalie head is its face shape.
According to the Tribe7 website –
The Fort7 has the most ball grabbing surface area of any goalie head in lacrosse. 12.5% more space than the next biggest head. It’s the same as adding an 8 inch plate of mesh to any other head. As in must have it, for more saves.
I’m not sure what head they’re comparing the Fort7 to get that 12.5% number however one thing is clear. Tribe7 definitely went with the more is a better approach as the face shape is really maximized to the limits.
The shape is more of the triangular variety versus the spoon-like or rounded ECD Impact or STX Eclipse 2.
The most comparable head shape of the Fort7 is the STX Shield (left in the photo below) or the Nike Prime Elite goalie heads.
Max surface area makes a lot of sense in terms of saving ability. You don’t need a bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard to understand that more surface area equals more room to make saves.
When you compare the Fort7 Tribe7 to the recently released ECD Impact goalie head, you’ll see the Fort7 has a sizable size advantage in terms of ball stopping ability.
The one thing that I found when using this head was that while the face shape is certainly bigger than that of the ECD Impact, I found that the more prominent edges of the Fort7 presented a challenge on low shots.
When going to make low saves, especially off-stick low, I found that the head would get stuck in the turf causing the head to spin whereas the more rounded edges of a head like the ECD impact allow for a more smooth transition.
I don’t necessarily see this as a negative though. I think is just something you need to consider when purchasing a head and what your preference is as a goalie. I’m also sure that after some more reps this is something I could get used to with this head and think about all of the additional coverage that you’re going to get.
One very important detail – the Tribe7 Fort7 is NOT on the list of approved USA lacrosse women’s heads. That’s a bummer and it means that – as of this writing – female goalies cannot use the Tribe7 Fort7 goalie head.
Dylan’s Thoughts: The face shape is a little different and that’s what drew me to this head. That extra 8 inches of space the head offers I think helps mentally for me. You’re telling me that I get an extra bit of space to make saves compared to any other head on the market, I’ll take that any day.
The side profile of the Fort7 Pro is pretty interesting:
It starts out offsetting back but then bends forward towards the top.
I think this is a good design for the top to reduce the bends and keep it stiffer while still providing the throwing and scooping benefits that the offset-ness gives you.
Tribe7 Fort7 Pro: Throat
The throat design of the Fort7 resembles that of the StringKing Mark 2G goalie head.
It’s a comfortable grip but the throat does start to get rather wide toward the head. So if you’re one of those goalies that like to position their top hand as close to the head as possible it might get uncomfortable.
I was a “top hand against the plastic” goalie but the Fort7 throat does have these little nubs that made putting a single finger on the throat very comfortable for me.
Tribe7 Fort7 Pro: Stringing
An important factor in a goalie head is: can I throw in a tasty pocket very easily?
With the face shape of the Fort7 it fairly easy to throw in a nice pocket.
The distribution and number of top string holes as well as side string holes is great.
There’s tons of bottom string holes too.
But one knock on this goalie head that I’ve heard from a lot of experts (and even intermediate) stick stringers is the holes are too small. You can see in the pics below its tough to get 2 revolutions of regular string through it. That’s not even the thicker paracord 550.
The cutout scoop, while it does reduce weight, also caused goalie stringers some issues.
Lots of stick stringers had the same feedback regarding the stick hole size:
Other testimonials –
Tribe7 Fort7 Pro: Durability
The Fort7 Pro is made of our proprietary DUROVULC polymer blend, an advanced material that rewrites the strength-to-weight ratio in lacrosse heads.
As mentioned earlier, many goalies complained that the original version was too flimsy so Tribe7 upgraded the plastic to give it more stiffness with the same large surface area.
Both versions feature the exact same face and head shape (i.
e. same plastic mold) however the Pro version uses the upgraded Durovulc material that provides a lot more stiffness with little increase in weight but a bit more of a dent to the wallet.
I think the head flex is relatively okay. It’s not quite the reinforced scoop that ECD Impact or the stiffness of the Warrior Nemesis 3 possesses but it certainly is very stiff and sturdy.
The Fort7 also has winglets on the scoop, to cover and direct more shots while also having teeth on the inside of the scoop, to securely clamp down on more ground balls, making the crease your own personal fort.
Dylan’s thoughts: I’ve used the head for over a year and I think it’s held up pretty well, especially in the summer. I did get one little crack in the bottom of the head after playing in 35-degree weather at our Halloween game though. But I sent an email to the company and they instantly gave me a discount and wanted to send me another one head.
Tribe7 Fort7 Pro: Price
The Fort7 Pro comes in at $107.
99 unstrung. That is comparable to heads such as the STX Ecplise II and ECD Impact heads which come in at 109.99 each on lacrosse monkey.
You also have the option of purchasing a strung head for an extra $45.99. You can choose from a standard or custom option. The custom option allows you to pick the color of mesh, sidewalls, and shooters you want with your head.
Tribe 7 allows you to provide them with any additional requests you may have for getting your head string like how you would like your channel done or the number of shooters you would like in the mesh.
Lastly, you can purchase the Fort7 Pro as a complete stick for $227.77. This comes with the Tribe7 Elite7 shaft, their newest Titanium-Scandium shafts that combine light weight and strength into the perfect premium package.
There’s also a previous version of the Fort7 head made with a different plastic that is priced at $74.99 for those who might be looking for a cheaper option.
Tribe7 Fort7 Pro Goalie Head Video Reviews
Here is the Lax Goalie Rat video review of the Fort7 featuring Coach Damon, Evan, and a new guest: reader and goalie Dylan Mandeville.
Here is ECD Greg’s review of the Fort7:
Here is Chris from MainelyMesh (who since retired from making videos) reviewing the Fort7:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Tribe7 Lacrosse (@tribe7lax)
Conclusion
Thanks a ton to the Tribe7 company for sending us over a Fort7 head to check out. We talked with their team and their are awesome guys and a great company!
The Tribe7 Fort7 is a very solid option for us goalies looking for max surface area while keeping things light and stiff.
The biggest knock on the head is the small stringing holes.
I’d probably recommend this goalie head more for the beginner goalies than the college guys but I wouldn’t be surprised if we spot a few D1 goalies trying out the Tribe7 Fort7 this upcoming season.
Anyone using the Tribe7 Fort7 (newer version)? Leave me a comment down below and let me know your experience.
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And although this month is traditionally considered calm in book publishing, it has seen its fair share of high-profile releases. Like this week, for example. New novels by Tim Powers and Katherine Valente. A new novel by Karen Lord, her debut novel made headlines, winning the Mythopoeia Prize in 2011, beating the likes of Guy Gavriel Kay and Patricia McKillip. Continuation of the series “Shadow Ops” by Mike Cole. Traditional thank you goes to our translators: 9New 005 
Valente “Six-Gun Snow White”
Fans of science fiction have nothing to profit from at all. Fans of fantasy and steampunk have more to choose from: new novels from masters of the genre such as James Blaylock and Leland Modesitt, the intriguing debutant Belcher and yet another master Mike Resnick. Also highlighted is a new book in the very popular Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison. Traditional thanks for the fact that this review saw the light goes to the translation team: ALLEGORY, Borogove, iRbos, olvegg, suhan_ilich, WiNchiK !
Malzberg
This time we are collecting debts for the second week of January and providing your assessment with the third week. This time, the novelties are clearly more interesting: here is the book of not the latest author in the world of science fiction, John Wright, and Mark Hodder, who does not change himself, continuing to write steampunk. One of the leading comic book writers these days, Warren Ellis has written his second novel, proving that a talented person is talented in everything. Well, in addition to this, a lot of interesting new products and reissues. We would like to thank our translators for making this review possible: ALLEGORY , Borogove , iRbos , olvegg , suhan_ilich , and WiNchiK !/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60794897/LXM18_PENN_037_.0.jpg)
Powell “Ack-Ack Macaque”
Valente “The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There”
But, all’s well that ends well. Our review is back, your humble servant will now lead it, and I sincerely believe, and I promise you that it will continue to appear on a regular basis. This time, due to the fact that the entry into the rut has not yet been completed, the review presents the first week of the new year and part of the second. The remaining books from the second week will be added to the next review, in a week. In the meantime, thank you WiNchiK , Borogove and olvegg for making this review available & Space Opera 
