For you guys with the M5's how are they for durability and anyone have the matching gloves? might be pivoting from Brians to Bauer. I know the durability and craftsmanship wont be nearly the same but its hard to justify spending 2500+ on pads when i play mid to lower level beer league maybe 2 times a week. Trust me I want to spend that but the rational side of me is overtaking.
I've always been leery of Bauer since there has been some durability issues but that was some time ago. I've been reading some good reviews of the m5's and seeing that I'm looking or a stiffer pad they might be in my wheel house. I'm currently in warrior G5 pros and are softening up a little bit.
My main concerns are durability, can I get 2/3 years out of the pads with the same schedule of 1/2 games a week? I'm also worrying about the m5 glove protection. I've only used pro palm Simmons gloves and pro warrior gloves. I'm not facing super hard shots but a couple guys play down in our league and can shoot it. I've yet to have a stinger in my warrior but have not taken a hard shot into the palm always the pocket. I've thought about getting M5 blocker/pads and a Mach glove, but if the protection is ok on the M5 glove i can get both gloves for the price of just the Mach glove.