ECD Ion Head Review
The elite attacker option from ECD: a 4.7 oz Diamond Plastic head for the quick attackman who loves to look good and play good.
LaxDrip verdict: a great attack head that's light, fast and built for a low pocket. Just know it isn't the toughest head out there.
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Overview
The elite attacker option from ECD. The ECD Ion is for the quick attackman who loves to look good and play good.
Picture the kid running behind the cage at X, the one who lives on a one-handed cradle around the crease and finishes on the doorstep. That's who this head was built for, whether he's doing it in a Virginia Beach summer tournament, a Section III playoff game in upstate New York, or bringing box-lacrosse hands from Ontario to the field.
Key Details
- Brand
- ECD (East Coast Dyes)
- Position
- Attack
- Cost
- $119.99
- Level
- Intermediate | Advanced
- Legality
- All levels of play
- Year released
- 2022
- Colors
- White
- Clear
- Midnight
- Ruby
- Frost
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.7 oz |
| Plastic | Diamond Plastic |
| Low (built around the offset) | |
| Stringing holes | 6 top, 20 sidewall per side, 4 bottom |
| Face shape | Pinched, narrowest at the middle, flares toward the scoop |
Shape, Material, & Scoop
It's a fairly pinched head, which makes sense for an attackman. The pinch gets narrower towards the middle of the head, then flares out somewhat aggressively.
The head is incredibly light at 4.7 oz. ECD designed it to be very aerodynamic, so it cuts through the wind much better than other heads do. Quick attackmen would love this head. (Want to compare? See the lightest lacrosse heads and shafts.)
The scoop is solid and very much like the DNA 2.0. You don't have to get down very low to pick up a ball, which is something that I like.
The Diamond Plastic doesn't really add many practical features that I'm aware of. It looks great, but the head breaks fairly often, which could be due to the amount of plastic or the plastic itself. There's no telling which one it is unless ECD makes a heavier version.
Stringing
The Ion's stringing holes are the same as all of ECD's new heads, with 6 top string holes, 20 sidewall holes per side, and 4 bottom string holes.
It's tailored pretty much exclusively to a low pocket because of the offset. Attackmen typically prefer lower pockets for one-handed cradling, and that's who the head was designed for. It would be tough to run even a mid pocket in this, but it is doable (ECD has a mid-pocket tutorial in the See it live section). Here's more on the different types of lacrosse pockets.
Aesthetics
The Diamond Plastic looks really good and really stands out on the field. There is nothing else like it on the market, so it's very unique.
The black and silver medallion on the throat looks good. Another color might have popped a little more, but the head pops enough already.
Pros & Cons of the ECD Ion
- Plenty of sidewall holes: there are many options to string this stick, with 20 sidewall holes available.
- Light: the head is super light and one of the lightest heads on the market.
- Not very durable: some players have commented on the lack of durability. That will happen with light heads because there's less material.
- Cost: because the Diamond Plastic is fairly new, it's an expensive head, coming in around $20 more than many other elite heads.
Who is the ECD Ion for?
This head is made almost exclusively for attackmen. Offensive middies can use this head, but it's more likely to break if they get stuck on defense, and it doesn't work great with a mid pocket.
If you play defense in any capacity, I would not recommend this head at all. The lack of plastic in the head makes it more fragile than a midfield or defensive head, so it breaks more easily. Poles, check out our best defensive lacrosse heads, and middies, see our best heads for middies.
See it live
Want to see the Ion on the field? Here's a full review from YouTube.
More Ion videos:
Conclusion
If I were an attackman, I would definitely consider using this head. The light weight allows for quicker movement and shooting, and the head is designed for a low pocket, which attackmen love.
I would be worried about the durability, especially at the $119.99 price point, but many other attack heads have the same issue. I would like to see the head become a little stronger, especially at that price.
The Diamond Plastic looks amazing and is definitely going to stand out on the field. It's a very specialized head, so defensive personnel should not be buying it. Overall, it's a great attack head but wouldn't be great for other positions. Compare it against our best attack lacrosse heads.
Buy the Ion at Battle Lax Shop all ECD
Battle Lax: ECD Ion Unstrung Head$119.99
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