Lightest gear

[kerouacknew]

Im thinking about redoing all my gear. New chest, Pants, Pads, Gloves and Mask.

Keeping my True Skates. I like em.

The plan is to go with the lightest top of the line gear i can get. Im currently wearing mostly Vaughn.

Looking to shave major weight. Cut my bag weight as much as possible without losing protection.

Where do i start? 

Who makes the lightest gear currently.

Thanks

[coopaloop1234]

I believe it's Warrior. But the difference between them, Brians, and Bauer are all pretty close that it doesn't really make a difference.

Even Vaughn and CCM which are heavier, are close enough that the weight factor should really not be that much of a point of contention when dealing with all the lines that are currently out.

[Max27]

i think the new g4s are the lightest on the market for pads and gloves,

chest pad i have no idea if im being honest. if you want to reduce weight of all your gear you could downsize, trav4oilers went from 36 + 3, 37 + 1, and now 36+1

mask & pants idk either sorry

[IPv6Freely]

I don't know whether to envy or pity those who can tell the difference between a few grams in their equipment. 

[ruckus007]

It's a accumulation of everything I guess. If I can shave 6-8 dry lbs from my gear, it'd be easier for me to stay in the game, considering water weight adds another couple. 

Parts of the human body start to resist certain ranges of motion or resistance movement with just 2-4 lbs added to the right (or wrong) areas. 

If you're going off the shelf,

Bauer has the lightest skates and sticks. 

Top line pro masks are all about the same with Bauer and CCM at the top of the pack.

Warrior has the lightest pads and gloves, although at this point, as @coopaloop1234 mentioned, it doesn't really matter.

Vaughn and Bauer has the lightest C/A's and Pants.

Don't wear knee pads to save a bit more weight. It's ok, knee caps are over-rated anyway.

Use plastic shopping bags from Best Buy to haul your gear. They weight nothing.

[1C5]

Haha!

And use a player's stick to save a few grams. I mean how often does the puck even hit the paddle of a goalie stick anyway?

[creasecollector]

That shopping bag from Best Buy bit killed me. Since I'm buying a new bag soon, you just may have sold me on that option!

And OP, all of these brands mentioned are good options in this thread, but if you are contemplating new gear, are you sure this new gear will help you with your game? That's the most important part I think. Sure, the lightest setup you can get would feel nice, but will it help you? Go with the gear that you feel will help you game the most, not the lightest on the scale. 

It's 2018, and all of the gear is pretty darn light.

[TitanG]

Here’s a thread on mask weight but is by no means all encompassing:

Off the top of my head (pun intended), high end masks with carbon fibre tend to weigh less, so the NHL-only (but possible to get if you have the right connections) CCM GFL Pro mask that @TheGoalNet has a thread on would be one answer, or a Pro Sportmask, or Coveted mask which also use carbon fibre. Protechsport does not, but their Kevlar mask is also very light (check their website for specifics). Also, apparently Defender Goalie Masks have an all nylon mask they are testing that is also quite light:

Really all I can say is that most of these masks are roughly the same weight, but price and fit will vary. Also the type of padding you intend to use changes things, with more dense foams or gel foams like Maltese weighing more.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the further a piece of equipment is from your centre of mass (or centre of gravity as most call it), the more you will notice it’s weight just based on the equation for torque. Thus focus first on reducing weight on your skates, mask and gloves before the rest, unless of course you can reduce a lot more weight in another area.

[bunnyman666]

Ditch the jock, mask, leg pads and use a player stick- you will be lighter on the ice!

[TheGoalNet]

Just a reminder... there’s generally an engineering trade off between weight and strength. When things get lighter, they get weaker or softer. 

Thats why the lightest retail C&As are usually famous for stingers or the lightest retail pads are usually the softest or fastest to break down 

don’t get me wrong... I love me some sight light gear, I ordered pads with A Cordura face!!! 

But @coopaloop1234 is pretty bang on... P2, Optik FLY, and 2S are all light and stiff. The weight gap isn’t that significant right now 

[Max27]

47 minutes ago, TheGoalNet said:

Just a reminder... there’s generally an engineering trade off between weight and strength. When things get lighter, they get weaker or softer. 

Thats why the lightest retail C&As are usually famous for stingers or the lightest retail pads are usually the softest or fastest to break down 

don’t get me wrong... I love me some sight light gear, I ordered pads with A Cordura face!!! 

But @coopaloop1234 is pretty bang on... P2, Optik FLY, and 2S are all light and stiff. The weight gap isn’t that significant right now 

didnt sparks tell you that he likes his mask to be heavy or he feels it isnt protecting him?

[TitanG]

1 hour ago, Max27 said:

didnt sparks tell you that he likes his mask to be heavy or he feels it isnt protecting him?

I get why Sparks would think that, but it's a misconception. Just because something is heavier doesn't make it more protective. Look at steel, kevlar, carbon fibre: all are strong, "space age" materials, yet are a fraction of the weight of weaker materials. If I took his words to the extreme, that would mean the most protective mask would be made from something like lead or depleted uranium. Try lifting that, let alone playing with it.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying that is what you believe, Max27, just saying that a person's (like Sparks') gut instinct is not always correct...

[Max27]

9 minutes ago, TitanG said:

I get why Sparks would think that, but it's a misconception. Just because something is heavier doesn't make it more protective. Look at steel, kevlar, carbon fibre: all are strong, "space age" materials, yet are a fraction of the weight of weaker materials. If I took his words to the extreme, that would mean the most protective mask would be made from something like lead or depleted uranium. Try lifting that, let alone playing with it.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying that is what you believe, Max27, just saying that a person's (like Sparks') gut instinct is not always correct...

yeah i disagree with it lol i just remember him saying it

[TheGoalNet]

12 hours ago, TitanG said:

I get why Sparks would think that, but it's a misconception. Just because something is heavier doesn't make it more protective. Look at steel, kevlar, carbon fibre: all are strong, "space age" materials, yet are a fraction of the weight of weaker materials. If I took his words to the extreme, that would mean the most protective mask would be made from something like lead or depleted uranium. Try lifting that, let alone playing with it.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying that is what you believe, Max27, just saying that a person's (like Sparks') gut instinct is not always correct...

@Max27 yes, Sparks did tell me that Wall felt sturdier and more structured than the older discontinued model NME he was forced to wear in the CHL. That’s why he switched. 

However, the new VTX shell with Textreme has been great for me so far. It’s a great combo of strength and weight 

Sparks is also testing a 960 right now, which is heavier than a VTX

@TitanG - I don’t disagree that people can’t engineer better materials. I’m loosely involved with that in my day job. My point is that heavier usually still stronger. Strength to weight ratio is why people pick Aluminum or Carbon Fiber. Cast Iron is about as strong and rugged as it gets. Unfortunately, it’s heavy and that’s why people have developed alternatives. It doesn’t mean that Cast Iron widget is worse or less durable than an Aluminum widget. 

[SnackDubs]

On 8/9/2018 at 5:20 PM, kerouacknew said:

Im thinking about redoing all my gear. New chest, Pants, Pads, Gloves and Mask.

Keeping my True Skates. I like em.

The plan is to go with the lightest top of the line gear i can get. Im currently wearing mostly Vaughn.

Looking to shave major weight. Cut my bag weight as much as possible without losing protection.

Where do i start? 

Who makes the lightest gear currently.

Thanks

I just know the ve8 chest is stupid light and good, everyone hit all the rest of it

[Max27]

3 hours ago, TheGoalNet said:

@Max27 yes, Sparks did tell me that Wall felt sturdier and more structured than the older discontinued model NME he was forced to wear in the CHL. That’s why he switched. 

However, the new VTX shell with Textreme has been great for me so far. It’s a great combo of strength and weight 

Sparks is also testing a 960 right now, which is heavier than a VTX

@TitanG - I don’t disagree that people can’t engineer better materials. I’m loosely involved with that in my day job. My point is that heavier usually still stronger. Strength to weight ratio is why people pick Aluminum or Carbon Fiber. Cast Iron is about as strong and rugged as it gets. Unfortunately, it’s heavy and that’s why people have developed alternatives. It doesn’t mean that Cast Iron widget is worse or less durable than an Aluminum widget. 

why was he forced to wear an NME? 

[Naz]

19 minutes ago, Max27 said:

why was he forced to wear an NME? 

For too long, when you played for an OHL/WHL/QMJHL team, they handed you a mask and said "This is what you are wearing"... fit be damned. 

[Max27]

2 minutes ago, Naz said:

For too long, when you played for an OHL/WHL/QMJHL team, they handed you a mask and said "This is what you are wearing"... fit be damned. 

thats dumb lol

[TheGoalNet]

5 hours ago, Max27 said:

why was he forced to wear an NME? 

CHL contract limits what people can wear. It’s better now, but for awhile the 960 was not in the contract so guys wore whatever Itech / Bauer’s alternative line was. 

As the contract currently stands, it’s Bauer NME or Profile and CCM. 

There’s some rogue masks from time to time though... don’t usually last too long before they’re caught 

[Max27]

9 hours ago, TheGoalNet said:

CHL contract limits what people can wear. It’s better now, but for awhile the 960 was not in the contract so guys wore whatever Itech / Bauer’s alternative line was. 

As the contract currently stands, it’s Bauer NME or Profile and CCM. 

There’s some rogue masks from time to time though... don’t usually last too long before they’re caught 

is that bc the team is supplying gear for them?

if yes, what if the player just bought the mask they wanted w their own money?

[Punisher Goalie]

@kerouacknew if anyone hasn’t mentioned this yet, the 1S pants are hilariously light (and still really protective btw). I don’t think any other pant on the market is close. 

I don’t have direct knowledge of the 2S pants but I think they are supposed to be as light. 

[Max27]

38 minutes ago, Punisher Goalie said:

@kerouacknew if anyone hasn’t mentioned this yet, the 1S pants are hilariously light (and still really protective btw). I don’t think any other pant on the market is close. 

I don’t have direct knowledge of the 2S pants but I think they are supposed to be as light. 

the 2s pants are supposedly tight af

[kerouacknew]

42 minutes ago, Punisher Goalie said:

@kerouacknew if anyone hasn’t mentioned this yet, the 1S pants are hilariously light (and still really protective btw). I don’t think any other pant on the market is close. 

I don’t have direct knowledge of the 2S pants but I think they are supposed to be as light. 

Thats funny. I have been looking for a pair of the 1S pants. Most places are sold out of them

[bunnyman666]

3 hours ago, Max27 said:

is that bc the team is supplying gear for them?

if yes, what if the player just bought the mask they wanted w their own money?

Sponsorship, plain and simple.

[Naz]

17 hours ago, TheGoalNet said:

CHL contract limits what people can wear. It’s better now, but for awhile the 960 was not in the contract so guys wore whatever Itech / Bauer’s alternative line was. 

As the contract currently stands, it’s Bauer NME or Profile and CCM. 

There’s some rogue masks from time to time though... don’t usually last too long before they’re caught 

When Mac Carruth first got to Portland, he had a nice Warwick (or Eddy or Masked Marvel, not sure which) in the first pic.
Then he had to change to the lovely fitting *Sarcasm* Bauer....

If you google other images of him in Portland, you can see he somehow managed to keep using his old Heaton c/a