Brian's Optik 4

[jerd31]

Brian's teasing the Optik 4 line dropping in November: 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_TAFVVujO9/?hl=en

 

 

Looks like they're going back to their roots on the graphics, I personally liked the Optik 3 graphic but it seemed to be a love it or hate it thing.  

 

[xmikex32]

Graphics are WAY better, but that’s just me 

[old and stiff]

Curious to see what type of mods/ improvements have been made to the line.

The glove seems to have a new segmented back hand, and I can’t tell if the palm has been rounded or if they’ve kept the traditional optik squared-off fingertip design. Sounds petty, but I didn’t care for the optik back hand and I considered asking Brian’s if they could use the back hand from the Iconik or Eclipse. If Brian’s added some type of enhanced plush palm liner like Bauer’s duraconnect, that’d be a huge upgrade IMO.

we’ll see if there’s been much change to the pads. I suspect they’ll use a knee block similar to what’s now featured on the iconik. Excited to see this line 

[A.YOUNGoalie13]

This graphic could be cool enough for me to try Brians

[IpaddyTECH]

DX2's anyone?

[jerd31]

Customizer is live! 

https://www.goalies-only.com/customizer3d/optik-4/

[IpaddyTECH]

Definitely a cool looking graphic, but kind of not that versatile?

Also I know this was a longshot but I was really hoping to see an integrated any block option for their knee stack. No luck haha

[Madmedic6]

On 9/2/2024 at 1:35 PM, IpaddyTECH said:

DX2's anyone?

We just had a customer do a set recently

[keeperton]

Product page is live too: https://www.goalies-only.com/collection-optik-4/

The pad changes all look like great revisions: the strapping and boot wear-guards in particular. The blocker looks interesting (with the "reversion" to the Optik 1 looking hand with no cross strap), I'm hoping I'll get to demo these all at some point and feel/see how the pucks pop off of their new board.

[ilyazhito]

I'd be curious to see how the Optik 4s play. Will there still be the FLEX, FLY, and MAX core options from the Optik 3 pads, or has Brian's gone with a different approach? 

[coopaloop1234]

36 minutes ago, ilyazhito said:

I'd be curious to see how the Optik 4s play. Will there still be the FLEX, FLY, and MAX core options from the Optik 3 pads, or has Brian's gone with a different approach? 

They list the three as the current options on their website. 

Decent pictures and brief overview of the pads there. 

[IpaddyTECH]

Anyone able to comment on the advantages/disadvantages of having the knee block strap come up through the knee block instead of attaching on the outside edge?

 

[RedX]

4 hours ago, IpaddyTECH said:

Anyone able to comment on the advantages/disadvantages of having the knee block strap come up through the knee block instead of attaching on the outside edge?

 

A closer wrap around your knee and leg would be an advantage. A disadvantage would be if you like a looser feeling pad this one doesn’t seem as adjustable as previous Brian’s pads.   

[xmikex32]

Saw Igor rocking 4s too

[jerd31]

I’m like 90% sure I’m gonna order Optik 4’s with the stock graphic in November- also contemplating doing the DX2 graphic.  Been playing around with the customizer:  

 

Neon green is my jam, but the latest one I did there with the cream looks pretty awesome IMO.  

[xmikex32]

Maybe since the  pads are used but I was checking out a goalie pad and his optik3 MAX were pretty soft. Does the max core soften up after a bit? Maybe I’m comparing it too much to Bauers 

[TheGoalNet]

On 9/6/2024 at 3:22 PM, Madmedic6 said:

We just had a customer do a set recently

Which store are you at?

[mr_shifty1982]

Interested in the chesty, any info?

[old and stiff]

I stopped by my LHS and there's a few pairs of Optik4 in stock. I'm still wearing original Gnetiks (took several years off) so I can't opine on using anything from the Optik4 line. My first impressions-

• pads seem very similar to the Optik3 but feature the thick Iconik knee stack and the outer "roll" seems even more thinned out. My gnetiks are 33+2 (would've been fine with 33+1) and the 33+1 Optiks seem too big... but I kept landing on the center of the knee stack . The elastic professor strap seems like a nice touch but I don't know how many folks will use it. I like the smart calf strap, as it's basically what was featured on my gnetik. While the optik is a different pad vs my gnetik, I'm intrigued about making it my next pad
• glove seems quite a bit different vs the optik3. I didn't like the optik3 back hand and was going to ask brian's if they could swap out the back hand from the iconik or eclipse, but this new change is much improved IMO. There's new cushy internals that I also approve of (palm and finger stalls). The optik1-3 internal palm felt too jagged for me, where I literally felt the breaks and didn't care for that. While this new internal palm isn't Bauer shadow cushy, it's more cushy and comfortable than previous Optiks IMO. I prefer a glove that opens/ presents wide but feel like the Optik4 doesn't present as wide as the Optik3, but it seems to be longer (if that makes sense?).  The steeper thumb angle is very apparent too. At first glance, I liked it a lot, and am curious what other folks think
• blocker seems pretty similar to other versions. The palm felt more True/CCM-like as there's a D30-like foam in the index finger. The back cuff feels even more open now as some material has been removed. It's my least favorite part of the line, and if I went with another Brian's blocker, it'd be the iconik. At this point though, nothing feels as good as the Shadow IMO

[IpaddyTECH]

8 hours ago, old and stiff said:

blocker seems pretty similar to other versions. The palm felt more True/CCM-like as there's a D30-like foam in the index finger. The back cuff feels even more open now as some material has been removed. It's my least favorite part of the line, and if I went with another Brian's blocker, it'd be the iconik. At this point though, nothing feels as good as the Shadow IMO

What is it that you didn't like about it? Other than it not being the legendary shadow haha

[old and stiff]

13 hours ago, IpaddyTECH said:

What is it that you didn't like about it? Other than it not being the legendary shadow haha

It's personal preference but I've only tried it on in-store. I might feel differently if I used it on ice.

Honestly, I don't like the fully beveled boards (old Vaughn v4, vapor, optiks, etc), and prefer boards with more of an aggressive curve up top. I don't want a blocker to be glued to my arm, but also don't want something that is too open/ flexible either. I'm in my 40s, so I'm old school with gear preferences. For as open as the shadow is, it doesn't feel crazy flexible/ loose (to me at least)... but I know a lot of guys who prefer their blockers to be as open/ flexible as possible

[Toobs]

On 11/9/2024 at 10:12 AM, old and stiff said:

It's personal preference but I've only tried it on in-store. I might feel differently if I used it on ice.

Honestly, I don't like the fully beveled boards (old Vaughn v4, vapor, optiks, etc), and prefer boards with more of an aggressive curve up top. I don't want a blocker to be glued to my arm, but also don't want something that is too open/ flexible either. I'm in my 40s, so I'm old school with gear preferences. For as open as the shadow is, it doesn't feel crazy flexible/ loose (to me at least)... but I know a lot of guys who prefer their blockers to be as open/ flexible as possible

Have you tried the eclipse? I love mine, super open cuff.

[Novasteel31]

On 11/8/2024 at 1:56 PM, old and stiff said:

I stopped by my LHS and there's a few pairs of Optik4 in stock. I'm still wearing original Gnetiks (took several years off) so I can't opine on using anything from the Optik4 line. My first impressions-

• pads seem very similar to the Optik3 but feature the thick Iconik knee stack and the outer "roll" seems even more thinned out. My gnetiks are 33+2 (would've been fine with 33+1) and the 33+1 Optiks seem too big... but I kept landing on the center of the knee stack . The elastic professor strap seems like a nice touch but I don't know how many folks will use it. I like the smart calf strap, as it's basically what was featured on my gnetik. While the optik is a different pad vs my gnetik, I'm intrigued about making it my next pad
• glove seems quite a bit different vs the optik3. I didn't like the optik3 back hand and was going to ask brian's if they could swap out the back hand from the iconik or eclipse, but this new change is much improved IMO. There's new cushy internals that I also approve of (palm and finger stalls). The optik1-3 internal palm felt too jagged for me, where I literally felt the breaks and didn't care for that. While this new internal palm isn't Bauer shadow cushy, it's more cushy and comfortable than previous Optiks IMO. I prefer a glove that opens/ presents wide but feel like the Optik4 doesn't present as wide as the Optik3, but it seems to be longer (if that makes sense?).  The steeper thumb angle is very apparent too. At first glance, I liked it a lot, and am curious what other folks think
• blocker seems pretty similar to other versions. The palm felt more True/CCM-like as there's a D30-like foam in the index finger. The back cuff feels even more open now as some material has been removed. It's my least favorite part of the line, and if I went with another Brian's blocker, it'd be the iconik. At this point though, nothing feels as good as the Shadow IMO

I'm also curious what others think of the glove, I've been so busy lately I haven't had a chance to go to a LHS and try one on myself. Might just have to bite the bullet and go for a drive to see Jay at TGC.

[xmikex32]

Has anyone played in optiks and Supremes? I'm guessing 1:1 stock the Bauers will be stiffer? most likely going to ditch my vapors and get a shadow set but i really want to try a set of brians and if I'm spending that much  might look into investing into a set of brians but hard to commit when ive never used brians before.

What i like about the Supremes, they are stiffer as a whole and the thigh rise is little straighter. They slide great and give off big rebounds. I know optiks are brians stiffer pad but are they stiffer thanx5/HL2? 

I love my M5 pads and took a chance and got a set of X5s but haven't been able to get comfortable in them and feel like I'm fighting them all the time.

[Toobs]

10 hours ago, xmikex32 said:

Has anyone played in optiks and Supremes? I'm guessing 1:1 stock the Bauers will be stiffer? most likely going to ditch my vapors and get a shadow set but i really want to try a set of brians and if I'm spending that much  might look into investing into a set of brians but hard to commit when ive never used brians before.

What i like about the Supremes, they are stiffer as a whole and the thigh rise is little straighter. They slide great and give off big rebounds. I know optiks are brians stiffer pad but are they stiffer thanx5/HL2? 

I love my M5 pads and took a chance and got a set of X5s but haven't been able to get comfortable in them and feel like I'm fighting them all the time.

Brians optik line in a max core (stock) will be significantly stiffer than a HL2 or X5. It’s a very stiff pad, although the boot is still pretty soft. That said, it also has a very aggressive Z curve, so if you’re wanting a straighter pad keep that in mind.

My current set of iconiks slide better than any set of pads I’ve used. It’s actually almost too much as I feel out of control frequently.