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Pros
  • Hard
  • Fast
  • Spin
As mentioned by yogi_bear. This rubber is not for learning table tennis. This rubber is for people that already have a decent technique and spent time with systematic practice to improve it.

The nominal 55 degree sponge is not as noticable as with other compareble rubbers (like Joola Golden Tango). The rubber and topsheet are very bouncy and there is no time a "dead" feeling that you experience so often with harder rubbers. Compared to a Omega 7 Pro, it does not really feel any harder, just much faster. In the begining I used the O7P and O7T on a Vega Tour blade and as mentioned in the O7P review I struggled with the speed of both rubbers.
Over summer last year I was able to adapt to the O7P very well and played it now for 5 month on my FH.
After I received the Omega 7 Tour I tried on the FH first and again had the same problem with speed and spin sensivity as earlier with the O7P. The Omega 7 tour faster and shots tend to get even longer than with the Pro. Blocking was nearly impossible in the beginning and after like 5 hours of trying I gave up.
I then tried the Omega 7 Tour on the backhand and this worked better. Maybe because of the shoter strokes, I was able to manage the speed and also got used to blocking. Only my underspin shots and chops were many times to long and so I gave up on the O7T and wanted to save it for later in the year, when our match season is over, to give it more time in practice like the O7P.

But....I did also receive the new XIOM IceCream Blade and I was surprised how the behaviour of this rubber changed after using it on the this blade. I use the O7T now on the ALC side and use if as my FH rubber. Gone is the blocking problem. I can now precisly block and placement is excellent. Short play is a brease and shots that previously went too long, now have a better arc and get on the table again.

I did put weigth on the negative side, although it has to be mentioned. Omega 7 Tour is a heavy rubber, but this is to be expected with 55 degree rubber.

All in all this rubber is a spin machine. With every stroke you will be able to generate spin. If you are used to the O7P already and would like to add a speed and spin, than O7T is worth a try. It will require some time to get used to the amount of speed. But you will be rewarded with excellent loops with high spin and excellent speed.

As mentioned, the rubber is sensitive to the blade composition. I found it difficult to play it with ZLC (I tried it with the Vega Tour and IceCream ZLC side as well) but works perfectly with the IceCream AZX ALC side (maybe it was designed that way)....
Speed
9.6
Spin
9.6
Durability
10
Control
8.8
Pros
  • Precision
  • Speed
  • Handling
Weight: 91g

I was sceptical in the beginning as I have played a XIOM Vega Tour blade for quite some time and none of the newer XIOM blade were good enought to replace it. The special Hinoki feel combined with special core and ZLC was the perfect combination for me.

From the specs the IceCream AZX is nothing even comparable to Vega Tour with Koto outerply and ALC composite. Nevertheless XIOM was generous to have me play this blade and so I gave it a try. Glad I did, because IceCream blade is really outstanding.

ALC side has very crisp and noticable feedback, which helped me to improve my FH loops, as I can very well notice if I hit the ball more towards the center or outer of the blade. The loop arc is more noticable compared to my Vega Tour, even with rubbers that have a lower throw like the new Omega 7 rubbers. But most noticable is the very high precision that I can now put into my shots. Placement is much easier with this blade.
Ball contact is very short, but still looping backspin is working well.

ZLC side has less feedback (compareble with Vega Tour), but still enough to be noticable. The throw is a bit flater than with ALC, which requires a bit different technique when looping against backspin.

I did play ALC on FH (with various rubbers like Vega Pro, Omega 7 Pro and Omega 7 Tour). I can only anticipate that IceCream was designed for O7x rubbers (or the otherway round) but the O7x rubbers work extremly well with the blade. I first had the O7P on the blade and it already worked perfectly, but lately changed to O7T and this now the combination I stick with.

On BH (ZLC) the O7T was bit to much speed and I had less control in blocking, but with O7P it works as before.

I didn't mention spin so far, but the blade supports very well in generating spin. I didn't miss anything compared to my already spinny Vega Tour blade. I really like the higher precision of the IceCream, which makes even risky placement (loops to wide FH or parallel blocks towards the edge of the table) much easier.

The IceCream Blade definitly is a blade for people that do regular systematic practicing. It will be hard to manage this blade and the O7x rubbers with only 1-2 hours fun table tennis a week. The blade has a higher speed than Vega Tour, but as the the Vega Tour it is very linear in playing.
No bouncy effect that kicks in when you don't need it. If you hit the ball hard, the shot is blazzing fast, if you only touch the ball, it is short and slow. I really like this behaviour.

A small comment on the handle. XIOM really did change the handle for the better. The handle now fits perfectly in my hand and the cross over to the blade itself is not as edgy as with the Feel Series.

Professional equipement developed by XIOM... I really like it. I found a very worthy replacement for my Vega Tour (which I will keep because of it special material combination)
Speed
8.7
Control
9.3
Hardness
8.5
Durability
10
Pros
  • Grippy TopSheet
  • High Control
  • More Speed
As the title says. I'm a long time player of the Vega Pro (VP) and after playing the Vega Tour (VT) now for a bit over 30 hours, I will stick to it on my FH.

The additional speed of the Vega Tour come in handy with the new plastic ball. The new top sheet generates even more spin on touch play (slow FH loops, flicks et al).

Blocks and drives are consistent and with high control. With the top sheet being thinner and more flexible, the rubber is a bit more sensitive to incoming spin, but that was true for the VP as well, so for players coming from the VP not a big surprise. It needs adjustment during receive (especially side spin) and block (more active blocking required).

Looking at the specs the new VT comes with all the new "features" of XIOM (Elasto Futura Cycloid and the new carbo sponge) if you believe in these marketing terms.
With it's 45° sponge, it still plays more like a 47,5° sponge. See my review in forum section to see the different composition.
A fact to notice is that the VT is lighter (4 grams cut to a Vega Tour Blade) than the VP, which is good if you like your racket not too head heavy.

All in All a good addition to the Vega Series of rubbers and another example of XIOMs innovative cooperation with ESN.
Speed
8.8
Spin
9.1
Control
8.9
Pros
  • Speed
  • Control
Cons
  • short game
Omega VII Pro is a speed machine, that still has high control. If you like to loop drive, this is a rubber to consider.

Short game is a challange as the catapult kicks in early.

I can't match the comment on forgivingness and spin though. Spin is high no doubt, but it requires a decent technique to generate this spin. If the ball is not hit in right moment, there is more speed than spin and a good chance to overpace.

Omega VII Pro requires active play the whole time, but rewards you with difficult to return loops and blocks. Underspin is also dangerous because of the lower bounce after second contact.

Nice rubber again from XIOM. A unique rumber in the market that will surely finds its crowd of fans....
Speed
9
Spin
8.1
Durability
8.3
Control
9
Pros
  • Grip
  • Weight
  • Durability
Cons
  • Short strings
I bought these shoes a year ago and they survived the past season with 2 x training per week, plus championship games on the week-end.
The grip of these shoes is excellent. One the same level as Mizuno Wave Medal (older versions), which I consider a reference in this domain. The shoe has a low weight, which I consider a plus (although the rating shows it as yellow....).
If you rely on a good cushioning in the shoes, than the XIOM won't work for you. I'm the opposite. The more cushioning the shoes have, the more problems I get with the knees. This is why the XIOM Logan works for me.

Two things that I didn't like and found strange:
The short shoe strings (maybe it is because of the size 10 UK). Not that you are unable to make a knot, but still annoying. I already told XIOM about it, so I'm not sure if this is not fixed already, as I had a pair from the very first batches, they sold in Europe.

Second thing is the tongue of the shoes is not stabelized in the middle, so it tends to shift sideways in play. Not a real problem, but again annoying, if you are sensitive to this.
Comfort
9.3
Grip
10
Durability
9.5
Weight
5.3
Pros
  • High Spin
  • High Control
  • price
Given that the Vega Pro is a hard sponge rubber (47.5), this isn't a rubber for everyone to start with.
It requires some amount of acceleration (wrist, forearm) to generate spin and speed.

Why do I still think it is for masses? Because I believe it is good enough for everyone to learn to generate this type of spin with the rubber. Even if you struggle in the beginning coming from more "lively" rubbers, you get used to it quickly. I worked my way to the Vega Pro coming from Vega Europe to Vega Japan and finally Vega Pro, but should have skipped the Vega Japan and directly go for the Pro. I was hesitant because of the reviews, but think that the step isn't really that hard, because the speed of the Pro is nothing to fear.

Although it is an ESN Tensor rubber it still has it uniqueness in not having a very dominant catapult effect as many other rubbers coming from the same ESN generation (e.g. Donic Acuda, Thibar Aurus ....). This make the Vega Pro the most controlled ESN rubber I have played (and I played many ...).
The Vega Pro plays very "linear", so if you don't put much energy into your strokes, you will be able to play slow and short. With energy you generate a lot of spin, speed and length without overshooting.

There is not really any area of play that the Vega Pro has a real flaw. Short game is great due to the hard sponge. Blocks are easy as well, even with thicker sponges (I currently upgraded to MAX and never felt more confident in my spin blocks). As mentioned in one of the reviews, the Vega Pro is better played closed to the table or requires an OFF+ wood to be effective from mid distance. I currently play it on a XIOM Vega Tour which is perfect combination for both - close to table and mid distance.

Last thing to mention is price/performance. Being half the price of a BTY Tenergy and 2/3 of the more prominent ESN rubbers, the performance is exceptional. I played the Tibhar Evolution MX-P as well and coulnd't find that it gives me any better package for the additional bucks.
The rubber last longer than the Tibhar, Donic or Andro rubbers I played and doesn't require any "upgrades" even after 4 month of play (70-80h total).
Speed
7
Spin
9
Durability
9.7
Control
8
Pros
  • Good Speed
  • High Spin
Cons
  • Unforgiving
I'm a long time XIOM rubber player and use XIOM Vega Pro and Vega Japan rubbers. With the new Omega V series coming out, I had to opportunity to "test drive" an Omega V Tour.

Omega V Tour is the same sponge hardness as Vega Pro or Omega V Pro, but with a topsheet that uses a differen pimple geometrie. Pimples are a bit wider and more dense. The topsheet therefore feels more dense and compact, compared to a Vega Pro.

I played the Omega V Tour on the FH in 2.0mm (on an Adidas Fibertec Classic), keeping my Vega Pro 2.0mm on the backhand for comparison

As all XIOM rubbers is takes a couple of hours until the rubber reaches its normal characteristics (XIOM rubbers feel stiffer and harder than their really are in the first 6 hours of play, so don't be surprised).
The Omega Tour has more catapult than the Vega Pro, while maintaining the same spin. The catapult effect kicks in very late, but then is higher than with other rubbers I played before.

Short game is easy and opening loops agains backspin aren't a problem. However playing loop against block or loop becomes a challange with the OMEGA V Tour. The additional catapult of the Tour made it difficult for me to not overshoot. On the otherhand, when not playing fast and strong enough the ball would drop into the net.
The OMEGA Tour is quite delicate to play, because the window for the right amount of force and speed to hit the balls is very narrow.

Push and Short game: Easy and very spinny
Block: passive blocks are easier, active blocks are a challange (catapult effect)
Loop: on backspin OK, against block or loop to difficult for me
Drive: challenging as well, because of the catapult effect

XIOM OMEGA V Tour is an excellent rubber, with long durability (played for 3 month, without any noticable degredation), but way to advanced for me. The number of unforced errors was too huge and therefore I switched back to Vega Pro.
Speed
8
Spin
8.9
Durability
9.5
Control
7
Pros
  • High Controll
  • Low Weight
  • Stiff
Exceptional new blade from XIOM. High Quality craftmenship and perfect finish.

The blade combines the best of both worlds (All wood and composites). It has the touch and good feedback from an all wood blade, combined with the larger sweet spot, low weight, stiffness and lower throw of a carbon blade.
The most outstanding feature is the high controll. I never played a blade that handles linke an ALL+ in passive play (serve, block, short play), but gets into speed as soon as you start looping and driving or aggressivly pushing. It has enough speed to be played in half distance, but also huge controll, when played close to the table.

I found MY blade after nearly testing 20-30 blades over the past 6 years.
Speed
8
Control
9.5
Hardness
6.5
Durability
9.4
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