I am making the transition from roller to ice. A bit of background:
I started playing goal on the street in Detroit in the late 90's. Using the Franklin, Itech, and Mission gear without skates. Bought Mission skates and loved roller goalie. Joined an outdoor league, and eventually an indoor league. In 2010, I tore my adductors playing roller goalie and took a 11 year break. When I left, I was a hybrid goalie. When I came back this September, I made the transition to full butterfly goalie.
I bought a used set of Warrior RG3 classic pro (pads 34" + 1.5", catch, blocker) for $350 (US) and played a few games with them. They never felt comfortable to me, so I picked up a used set of Vaughn SLR Pro (pads (34" + 2", blocker) for $300 (I bought a new SLR2 Pro catch glove). The Vaughn's just felt better. Rotation seemed smoother and more predictable. Once I decided I liked the Vaughn SLR Pro pads (34" + 2"), I bought a brand new set of SLR2 leg pads and blocker.
I ended up with a full set of SLR Pro pads, SLR 2 Pro pads, and Warrior pads before I found what I liked. I may still try Brians and CCM, but I think that after spending way over my budget for my reentry to hockey, I am taking a little break from buying stuff.
A word of advice, if possible, try not to "cheap" out on protective items. I bought a Warrior RX3E chesty thinking that a $300 chest protector should be fine and I was wrong. Even in roller hockey (the puck is lighter), I was getting bruised ribs using that chest protector. I used the Warrior RX3E+ knee pads and they were terrible. My knees were always completely bruised from driving into the butterfly. My Warrior pants sucked (too bulky, and the buttons for suspenders fell off after about 4 games, leaving those sharp pins sticking out the back). I bit the bullet and bought CCM Eflex 5.9 chesty, CCM Pro Pants, CCM KP Pro knee pads, and a CCM GP Pro jock, and CCM did an amazing job on these. The pants are amazing, the chesty is perfect, and the knee pads cradle my 46-year old knees very well. No more bruising, and a LOT more confidence in the crease because I am not subconsciously thinking about every decent shot bruising my ribs (or even breaking one).
For me, Warrior quality has fallen off so much that I won't even consider Warrior as an option for anything other than my twigs.