ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft Mesh Review
The newest Hero mesh, built on ECD's Tri-Fiber Core for a pocket that grabs the ball on the catch, lets it go clean on the shot and stays the same in any weather.
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I tell every player I coach the same thing: you can buy the best head on the wall, but if the pocket's junk, the stick's junk. Mesh is where your hold, your channel and your release actually live. And for years, the ECD Hero line has been the mesh I see in more twigs than any other.
I've seen Hero strung up in box sticks up in Canada, on high school attackmen around Virginia Beach and on club middies grinding through wet, cold spring games in upstate New York. The Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft is the newest version, built around ECD's Tri-Fiber Core. It's three specialized fibers woven together for more texture, more control and a more consistent pocket. It's made in the USA with ECD's partners at Jimalax.
Below, I break the Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft down the way I would for one of my own players: specs, how it holds, how it handles weather, how fast it breaks in and how it stacks up against other mesh. If you're still shopping around, our best lacrosse mesh guide covers the field.
The ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft mesh. See all 20 colors at Battle Lax.
Key Details
- Type
- Semi-soft men's lacrosse mesh
- Technology
- Tri-Fiber Core (three specialized fibers)
- Pocket shape
- Anti-bagging construction holds its shape over time
- Weather
- Built for consistent performance in all weather
- Feel
- Lightweight, textured, grippy
- Level
- Intermediate to elite players
- Positions
- Attack and midfield (faceoff guys: see the Hero X variant)
- Made in
- USA, with Jimalax
- Cost
- $24.99
- Colors (20 at Battle Lax)
- White
- Black
- 15 Storm Striker colors
- Hero X Faceoff Mesh
- 2 limited editions
Want strings too? The Hero 4.0 Complete Kit in Semi-Soft is $34.99 at Battle Lax.
Pros & Cons of the ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft
- Tri-Fiber Core gives great texture and hold
- Ball sticks on the catch but comes out clean on the release
- Anti-bagging build keeps your pocket from going baggy
- Consistent in rain, cold and humidity
- Quick break-in, game ready fast
- 20 colors, including Storm Striker and limited editions
- Made in the USA
- Semi-soft can feel a touch less rigid than semi-hard in the first few days
- Pricier than basic mesh
- Some colors sell out fast
- Strings sold separately unless you buy the complete kit
ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft Drip Score
I'd put the Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft at an 8.7/10 on the Drip meter. It's about as good as mesh gets for hold, break-in and style, and only gives back a few points on price and early-days stiffness.
| Category | Bar | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Colors & style | 9.5 | |
| Hold & feel | 9.0 | |
| Break-in | 9.0 | |
| Release | 8.5 | |
| Weather consistency | 8.5 | |
| Value | 8.5 | |
| Durability & anti-bagging | 8.0 | |
| Drip score | 8.7/10 |
Who Is the ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft For?
The Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft is built for intermediate to elite players who want a pocket that's ready fast and holds the ball through traffic. It's a favorite of attackmen and middies, the guys who are carrying, dodging, feeding and shooting every possession.
- Great fit: Attackmen who dodge from X and need hold when a pole is hacking at their hands. Pair it with an attack head from our best attack lacrosse heads guide.
- Great fit: Middies who want a pocket that's game ready after a few wall ball sessions, not a few weeks.
- Good fit: Players who restring a lot. Semi-soft is easier to work with on the stringing bench.
- Not the best fit: Faceoff guys, who should look at ECD's Hero X Faceoff Mesh, and players who want a stiff pocket that never changes. Semi-hard will suit them better.
New to the game? Our guide to the different types of lacrosse pockets explains the basics before you string your first stick.
Hold, Channel & Release
This is where the Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft shines. The Tri-Fiber Core gives the mesh more texture, so the ball grabs the pocket on a catch and stays put while you cradle. ECD says the ball seems to stick to your pocket, and that's exactly how it feels when you pull in a feed through traffic.
The key is that it doesn't stay stuck. Once you've built a clean channel, the ball comes out smooth and on line. For an attackman snapping off a quick stick on the doorstep, or a middie ripping it on the run, that mix of hold and clean release is the whole ballgame.
Weather Consistency
Mesh that changes on you mid-game is a nightmare. Older soft mesh would soak up water and bag out by the second half. The Hero 4.0 is built to stay consistent in all weather, so your pocket feels the same in a sunny Virginia Beach tournament as it does in a sleety March game in upstate New York.
That's a big reason I steer players toward Hero over cheaper mesh. Consistency means you can trust your release when it matters.
Break-In
Semi-soft mesh breaks in faster than semi-hard, and the Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft is no exception. Most players can get it game ready after a few sessions on the wall. Throw a few hundred, pound the pocket with a ball, and adjust your shooters as the pocket settles.
Need a step-by-step? Our guide on how to break in lacrosse mesh walks you through it.
Durability & Anti-Bagging
Every soft mesh eventually stretches. The Hero 4.0 is built with an anti-bagging construction that helps it keep its shape over a full season. You'll still want to tighten your sidewalls and check your pocket depth every few weeks. That's just good stick maintenance.
Speaking of depth, make sure your pocket stays legal. If the top of the ball sits below the bottom of your sidewall, your stick won't pass a check. Read what makes a lacrosse stick illegal before game day.
Stringing the Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft
Semi-soft mesh is forgiving on the stringing bench, which makes the Hero 4.0 a great pick if you string your own sticks.
- Match the pocket to the head. String a low pocket in a low-offset attack head and a mid pocket in a versatile midfield head. Let the head's design guide you.
- Build a defined channel. Use your shooters to create a channel so the ball comes out the same way every time.
- Break it in before you tweak it. The pocket will settle after a few sessions. Adjust your sidewalls and shooters after break-in, not before.
For heads, the Hero 4.0 pairs well with the Maverik Optik Force for a low attack pocket, the StringKing Mark 3V for a versatile mid pocket, and the Maverik Tactik 3.0 for two-way middies. ECD's own ECD Ion is another natural match. Our best lacrosse heads guide has more options.
All of those heads are at Battle Lax: Optik Force, Mark 3V, Tactik 3.0 and ECD Ion.
See it live
Want to see Hero 4.0 strung up and on the field? Here's a review from YouTube.
More Hero 4.0 videos:
- Inside the Product: Hero 4.0 Mesh
- Inside the Product: Hero 4.0 7 Diamond
- ECD Hero X Faceoff Mesh Review
ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft vs. Other Mesh
| Mesh | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft | Hold and fast break-in | $24.99 |
| Hero 4.0 7 Diamond (semi-soft) | Bigger diamonds and a deeper channel | $24.99 |
| Hero 4.0 Complete Kit (mesh + strings) | Full restring in one box | $34.99 |
| StringKing Type 5x (semi-hard) | A stiff pocket that won't bag out | $29.99 |
Semi-soft vs. semi-hard: Semi-soft mesh breaks in faster, feels softer on the catch and gives you more hold. Semi-hard holds its shape longer and stays stiffer, but takes more time to break in. If you want a pocket that's ready fast and grips the ball, go semi-soft. If you want a pocket that never changes, go semi-hard. Our hard mesh vs. soft mesh breakdown goes deeper.
Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft vs. Hero 4.0 7 Diamond: Same Tri-Fiber Core, but the 7 Diamond version uses larger diamonds. That gives you a different pocket feel with good hold and a smooth release. Try it if you like a wider, deeper channel.
Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft vs. StringKing Type 5x: The Type 5x is a semi-hard mesh for players who want a stiff, consistent pocket that won't bag out. The Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft is the better pick if you want more hold and a quicker break-in.
People Also Ask
Is ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft good mesh?
Yes. It's one of the most popular mesh options in lacrosse for a reason. The Tri-Fiber Core gives great hold and a smooth release, it resists bagging and it stays consistent in all weather.
What's the difference between Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft and Semi-Hard?
Semi-soft breaks in faster and gives you more hold. Semi-hard is stiffer, holds its shape longer and takes more time to break in.
How much does ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft cost?
At Battle Lax, a single piece of Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft is $24.99. The Hero 4.0 Complete Kit with strings is $34.99.
How long does Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft take to break in?
Most players get it game ready after a few sessions on the wall. Semi-soft breaks in faster than semi-hard. See our guide on how to break in lacrosse mesh.
Does Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft work in the rain?
Yes. ECD built the Hero 4.0 to perform consistently in all weather, so your pocket won't soak up water and bag out like older soft mesh.
Is Hero 4.0 good for faceoffs?
Faceoff players should look at ECD's Hero X Faceoff Mesh, which is listed as one of the Hero 4.0 options at Battle Lax. Pair it with a head from our best faceoff heads guide.
Final Thoughts
The ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft is the mesh I'd hand most attackmen and middies without thinking twice. The Tri-Fiber Core gives you hold on the catch and a clean release on the shot, it breaks in fast, and it stays consistent whether you're playing in sun, sleet or a downpour. It's not the cheapest mesh on the wall, but for $24.99 it's the single best upgrade you can make to your stick.
If you're ready to restring, grab the ECD Hero 4.0 Semi-Soft at Battle Lax, pick your color, and get to the wall.
Keep reading: Best lacrosse mesh · Hard mesh vs. soft mesh · Best lacrosse heads
