Lemieux

Had a chance to try out the Vaughn Velocity V10 Pro Carbon, including the XP 70 degree catcher and XP blocker.

To add to what's been said, I understand that for the V10 line, the XP gloves not part of the stock offerings and are a custom order product (though it appears that some retailers have ordered XP catchers to have available to customers right away).

And the XP catcher has two main options: 60 degrees (as it has been in the past) and now the new 70 degree break, which is a more vertical break, which is meant to be in the style of the 580 break.

An interesting thing that I saw on the XP catcher is that there was a tag to mark the break of the glove, and the listed boxes were 50, 55, 60, and 70!

Not sure which stock gloves offer which breaks, though it at least looks like Vaughn has an internal naming convention for some of their offerings. Wish there was more said to explain what it all means.

I had a chance to demo a set of CCM EFlex 6, including the 581 break catcher. Captured a few thoughts before I returned it to the store!

I had a chance to demo a set of Hyperlite 2 with the Vapor 90 catcher and the Vapor 2-Piece blocker. Captured a few thoughts before I returned it to the store!

Spent the end of a few ice sessions practicing my Dwayne Roloson vs. Jonathan Cheechoo, circa May 2006.

Mask: Pro's Choice | Blocker: Brian's G-Netik V | Catcher: Brian's Optik 2

Mask: Sportmask Pro Custom | Blocker: True L12.2 | Catcher: True L12.2

While I placed an order for a custom goalie set in April 2022, I really wished that I could have ordered a True L12.2 blocker and catcher set. (Custom orders for True were closed at that time, as most of us may recall.)

I've long had a Canadian-made 590 catcher on my wish list, and even more so when True offered production slots to the general public from the Lefevre factory in Quebec. They even had the bronze color that I wanted to match my Edmonton Oilers set, so I asked my local hockey store United Sport & Cycle to add my name to the wait list.

In September 2022, I got a call asking if I still wanted to order True gloves because they were provided a small window of production slots. (And yes, this was just weeks before Catalyst PX3 became available, though there's been no mention of any significant change to the gloves for that line.)

Already prepared from many hours on the True customizer, I submitted my specs on September 15, 2022. The gear was shipped out on October 31, 2022, and I picked them up on November 5, 2022.

Blocker: medium size, half cuff, 595 face edge, Suregrip material, centered position, tight hand fit, straight index protection.

Catcher: 590, pro palm, double tee pocket, Suregrip material, webbing strap.

I had to wait until I finished a special photo shoot before I could get on the ice with them .

My friend was the first person to take out this Optik 3 demo set on the ice. Only a few short clips, but it looks like the pads slides well!

On 10/8/2022 at 10:49 AM, Madmedic6 said:

I couldn't stand the placement of the finger elastics and they would roll under the palm when demoing it with a stick. When I custom ordered my gnetik v blocker I had elastics moved to finger tips. 

@Madmedic6 Ohhhhh, this is a good point! I thought I was just waiting for that index finger to break in a bit more, but now I see that it's related to the elastic placement. I should've caught that. You're right - the index finger is the part that feels the most different from what I wanted in my blocker.

In the Optik 3, I see that they've placed the finger attachment behind the finger - so not at the finger tip, but behind the middle phalange. Smart tweak.

First skate in the new gear.

On 10/8/2022 at 7:09 PM, RichMan said:

I remember the blue/orange ones on GSBB, right?

Looks like you got the Pro model. The Elite one looks like the CCM pro stuff with the open back. Still hot looking!

  Yep, that was me! And yes, the Pro model does what it needs to for me. Didn't quite see what benefit I'd get from going to the Pro Elite.

On 10/8/2022 at 7:17 PM, RichMan said:

How do you fit the inner pant belt with a goalie cup? Doesn't the upper padding of the cup get in the way of tightening the belt? 

I fit...snugly into my pants, so I don't rely on the inner belt.

I took a photo below to show where it sits. It appears to rest above the padding of the cup. I haven't noticed any interference.

I ordered a custom McKenney 870 pants in 2014. Colors were royal blue and orange, plus a custom curved stripe and a custom graphic. The pants did everything they needed to do.

Shortly after ordering my custom Brian's set, I was thinking of ordering a custom pant shell in navy, but I was convinced to order new pants.

I added the stripe for some pop with the set (the bronze delayed my pants because they had to track down the material). I provided the patch to McKenney and they agreed to add it to the pants. The secondary logo gives it a '90s vibe - think Buffalo Sabres in their black and red jerseys.

The McKenney XPG2 Pro is essentially the same pant as the 870, though with an added inner belt. Fits and feels very similar. I wore them immediately with my new gear and they feel good in them.

I maintain that this pant is the best value on the market - lots of options, high quality, made in Canada - all at a very reasonable price. Would recommend!

New gear arrived - a few more pics at my review thread.

On 7/10/2022 at 1:14 PM, keeperton said:

Funny that this is like the inverse in models of what I've been mostly using.

Some comments: The main thing I prefer about how the Optik blockers are done compared to the GNetik blockers is how the finger elastics are attached to the mitt: the elastics being anchored to the outside of the pinky and the index finger on the GNetik, and to the back of the fourth/ring finger and back of the index on the Optik 2. I also got the Bri-Core put in the board on my Optik 2, but will outright say the rebounds are clearly hotter off my GNetikV (more consistently, anyhow). The sidewall on the GNetikV is definitely more protective and not terribly restrictive, but the Optik 2 is more open (and familiar) feeling.

The GNetikV blocker is a really great blocker: its super well balanced, protective, responsive, goes paddle down nicely, kicks hot rebounds, etc. The only perceived downsides I have are the slightly restrictive fingers and that the cuff is less open than the Optik 2.

@keeperton Good point about finger elastics. I demoed several blockers and sometimes that was an annoying issue with having the elastics in a place that I wasn't used to. I have to admit that I didn't note any major issues with the elastic on the G-NETik V blocker. The cuff does feels a bit less open compares to my SubZero blocker, and I'll probably have more comments to add after I play in it a bit more.

On 7/10/2022 at 1:14 PM, keeperton said:

Hope you're looking forward to your set and good luck. I'm pretty sure that whenever the Optik 3 line comes out, the changes on the iteration are going to end up making an incredibly performing pad for the general modern goalie.

I guess what I'd say is that I'm glad I placed my order when I did and received my gear now. The Optik line has found a good formula to deliver what it needs to do - unsurprising to see how many people still order Optik.

My custom order arrived in mid September (which included not only the Brian's set, but also McKenney XPG2 Pro pants and a custom crested Edmonton Oilers jersey), and I picked everything up at once. See below for pics and YouTube video I made of unboxing the gear. And my local hockey store, United Sport & Cycle, has a testing area so it was totally reasonable to try everything on right away, right??

@ZeroGravitas Great work on the review! Love seeing how you listed all the custom options - cool to see what choices are available for Axis 2. And the extra touch to compare stock vs. what you chose was on point!

After trying out a few different sets of demo gear in early 2022, I placed my order for new goalie gear earlier this year in April. I recorded a video to explain why I ended up picking the set that I did, and I thought to share it here on TheGoalNet too!

In short:

Brian's Optik 2 goalie pads

• MAX profile has a pre-curved shape that fits with how I move.
• Calf pillow helps to seal low shots, which sometimes surprises even me!

Brian's Optik 2 goalie catcher glove

• The full-hand 40 degree break is very comfortable on my hand.
• It opens really wide to present big.

Brian's G-Netik V goalie blocker

• I prefer the sidewall on this model over the Optik 2.
• It has Bri-Core in the board, which is a new material to reinforce this blocker.

The gear is slated to arrive in mid-late August 2022, so I'll say more once it arrives.