Puckstopper

The biggest difference I noticed was the flatter face and that rebounds seemed hotter than my GT2 (which was really similar to the G4's we have in store). Kirk also talks about the board presenting flatter to the shooter in the Outer Roll podcast, but I didn't listen to that until after our league had suspended play, so I haven't had the opportunity to check that out. IMHO, if you're buying a full G5 set pop for the blocker too, but there's nothing wrong with grabbing up G4 stuff at a great price. It was a really solid line and I doubt you'll regret it.

On the customizer the part I ordered X-stiff is listed as the thigh/knee core. I feel like it's taking on a curved shape quite nicely. In fact I went to the basement to work on a couple projects last night and noticed that the pads were no longer supporting themselves between the bottom 2 shelves on my drying area any more. Previously I would put the top of the pad between wires on the bottom shelf and use the slight pressure from the upper shelf to press down on the pad and accelerate the curve. Apparently they've already taken enough of a curve that they won't hold themselves in place anymore.

I'm not sure what you mean? I don't notice the thickness at all while playing. I've never worn Bauer pads or gloves. If the opportunity comes my way I'd love to try out the UltraSonic line. I went X-stiff to try something as far away from the GT2 line as possible. Not that I didn't like the GT's, but I've still got them and could roll back to them if the G5 set didn't work out for me.

I'm not going to say the transition from GT2 to G5 was seamless, because the GT2's were SO easy to move in right out of the box and I ordered my G5's with X-stiff thigh rises. Believe me when Warrior says X-stiff they mean it on those babies! So there was an adjustment period and I think it would have been worse if I hadn't had to wait almost a week before trying the pads out. That week of downtime let me store them upside down and get a nice S-curve started. By the second time I used them that curve was further along, I was ready for the stiffness of the thigh and overall the pads played much smoother for me. One thing I never noticed was any stiffness in the ankle area at all, and that is something I'm pretty sensitive to. I felt like I made a huge mistake with my EF4 setup by skipping the ultrasoft boot area, because the "soft" took a minute to break in and the pads and I didn't get along well until it did. As far as the dual strapping goes, I've played 2 hours in the loose setting which I liked on the GT2 setup and 2 in the tighter setting. Quick impressions are that I like the feel of the tighter setting better but my technique has to be just a little better with it because the pad seems to sit a little higher and is definitely more connected feeling. The looser setting is more what I'm used to from a Warrior pad and still feels really good to me. Long term I'm not sure which I'll pick but it's nice to have the option. As far as CoverEdge goes I didn't notice a difference one way or the other. IMHO, that's a good thing. It may stop an occasional extra puck but the fact that it's there and the pads play well regardless makes it a win.

So I took some measurements and I'll post those pics in a second. Long story short both sets of pads are the same width. Full story: Looking closer at the pics I posted before I think I've figured out why my GT2s look so much smaller. Measuring the outer roll of each set the roll on the GT2 set is ⅛" thicker than the G5 outer roll. When you combine that with the ¼" dark green accent stripe that doesn't show up well in the first shot the GT2 set looks almost ½" thinner than the G5s.

FACT: RGT2s were a full 11" wide. FACT: Both blockers are the same length and width. FACT: The catch gloves LOOK different but it's at least partially an optical illusion caused by 3 factors. 1, the GT2 glove fell backwards slightly as I took my shot. 2, the GT2 has broken in more and 3 the double pocket makes the GT2 look different. Overall they're very similarly sized. Lets be a little careful throwing around misinformed statements when 99% of the goaltending world hasn't had a chance to go hands on with the product and make up minds for themselves yet.

We agree on that one! I agree that the G5s look wider, but when you put a tape measure on it they're not. I think the dark colors, black sliding surface and vertical stitching on the GT2 set add to the illusion. Thicker yes, but no heavier. It's a huge win! Steven, both are 35+2. The GT2 set is more flexible at the knee and have stayed dead straight through the thigh. I think they look shorter due to the hinging at the knee. The G5's have taken on a really nice curve in a very short time and feel amazingly stiff through the thigh. I expect that they'll keep a very nice stiffness for the life of the pad. Both lines do a great job closing the 5 hole in my narrow butterfly.

I decided to take some family portraits to compare the two Warrior lines I've used. I'll let the pics speak for themselves:

Due to Coronavirus the rinks were empty last Sunday which led to me going from having 0 hours of ice time to almost as much as I could handle. So, after 3 hours of time on the ice with the new pads (and glove finally!) I'm ready to update my early impressions: Pads: Most definitely the best sliding pads I've used. The foam in the inner area of the pad is noticeable firmer than their GT2 cousins, so I'm not sure if it's that, Airslide or a combination of both, but even after 3 hours I was still dialing these in. It's not a bad thing in any way, but there's still some adjusting to do in order to arrive at my spot on time and not slide through that spot. I still view this as a good problem as I was not as tired after 3 games as I ususally would have been after 2. Blocker: If you like Warrior blockers this thing is an absolute no-brainer upgrade. Rebounds seem hotter and the flatter face makes them very predictable. Catch Glove: I finally had the chance to try this baby out in game action and it didn't disappoint. For me the 60 degree liner is SO much more comfortable and natural than the 75 degree in my GT2 glove even if it isn't quite broken in yet. Both catching and stickhandling seem more natural and I absolutely prefer the Warrior single T over the somewhat floppy implementation of a double T on my GT2. Overall I was a huge fan of the GT2 set I had, but this set eclipses those pads in every way. Faster/easier sliding, hot, predictable rebounds, easier catching and stickhandling. The only potential downside for some might be how super stiff the thighrises are, but as you'll see in pics below they take an a nice S-Curve shape very quickly.

On the catch glove (only piece I have handy) the loop side of the velco is attached to the liner. This is my first set of G series gear, so I'm not sure how that lines up with the previous generations.

If I can get my hands on a postal scale I'll get an exact number. Suffice it to say they're (at worst) no heavier than my GT2 set and they feel slightly lighter.

A few more pics concentrating on the thigh rise, glove, AirSlide and jersies as requested. As a side note my second team also utilizes a black/green/orange color scheme but the colors don't match as nicely. As you can see, the thigh rise has already begun taking on a nice S-Curve with only a week of being stored upside-down. I got impatient last night and decided to get an hour of ice time in with the new set (minus the glove which isn't quite ready for game play). Preliminary on-ice impressions are that rebounds come off these babies HOT, that they are the best sliding set I've ever used and that I certainly got what I ordered with the X-Stiff thighrises. Shots hitting both the pads and the blocker have a much louder thump than my GT2's and have a much higher exit velocity than any previous set I've used. As far as sliding goes, I overslid pucks several times and had to reach back to make saves. Getting used to these will be a pleasure. I'll have to examine my GT2 set to see if I can figure out what makes these slide so much better, but the difference is noticeable! Finally, the stiff thigh rises work well but will require adjustments on my part. If these stay 80% as stiff as they currently are they'll still be the stiffest set I've ever owned. This is not a knock on the pads, simply a fact to be aware of. One final thought, is that the softer boot does allow much easier cross-crease pushes and does a lot to offset the 90 degree boot.

Thanks for posting the shot of your bungee ties Cal. That's pretty close to how I'd pictured using them, although I may add a small block of foam to alleviate wear down there. Nice set by the way. I went retro brown on my last set and liked how they looked. I will get more glove pics up shortly after I get home and some side by side shots with the GT2 set. If there is anything else you guys want just let me know!

I liked the thumb angle on the GT2, but there was something that just wasn't quite right for me with the 75 degree break. I'm hoping going to the 60 degree break will get me closer to my beloved VE8 in terms of feel. As the glove breaks it I'm thinking this was a good change, but I won't know for sure until I can hit the ice with them in about a week.

After almost a year in Warrior GT2's I decided I wanted to go back to a stiffer pad. Given how much I loved my GT2s, selecting G5's for my next set was pretty much a no brainer. So far my initial impressions of the G5's are extremely positive and I can't wait for the opportunity to get on the ice in them and see how they perform. Specs: Pads: 35+2, Single break exterior (no break also available) X-Stiff thigh/knee core (medium stiffness also available) weave sliding area. Glove: 60 degree (75 + 90 degree available) single T (double available), Nylon lacing instead of skate lace. Blocker: Large palm (Intermediate, Medium and XL available) Impressions/Thoughts Pads: Out of the box I didn't really notice the face forward/ CoverEdge+ design. My initial impressions was that these were somehow even lighter than my GT2 set and that I loved the thinned out thigh rise. A couple things jumped out at me right away: No more Profile Lock and the toe strapping had been adjusted to allow the user an option on how tight they wanted the elastic strap. By adding a second cutout to run the elastic through Warrior has really allowed the end user to dial in their preferred tightness using their elastic option. Of course if skate lace or bungee laces are more your thing Warrior has your back there as well. Holes are pre-punched and ready to go for you. Personally I don't think eliminating Profile Lock will be a big loss based on how my GT2 set broke in, but it will be interesting to see how the X-Stiff thigh rises I selected for this set take a curve. By the time I get them on the ice they'll have been stored upside-down with light pressure on them for nearly 2 weeks, so hopefully there won't be any major issues. Taking another second to examine the super thin thigh rise I noticed that it's only thinned out in the area that should be covered by my body when I'm in the butterfly, and then the vertical roll gets thicker as it runs down the pad toward the ankle. This seems like a fantastic compromise that provides extra coverage low on the pad but thins out the pad in areas where that coverage is redundant allowing for extra mobility and also a (small) weight savings. The slit that allows the calf wrap to sit closer to the leg makes a noticeable difference. The pad sits closer to the leg and it almost feels like a professor strap making the pad sit higher on the leg. The outer roll of the pad has a gap that others have noticed in pictures. It doesn't look bad in person and definitely allows the boot to have a nice soft feel right out of the box. 2 more observations about the boot area are that it's even more of a tabletop boot than the GT2, and it's a 90 degree boot instead of having the tapered shape of the GT2. Catch Glove: Initial impression: Ugh, this thing is way stiffer than my last one and I may have made a mistake trying the 60 degree break. After a few days of working the glove in I'm happy to say that as the glove loosens up the 60 degree break is feeling much more natural. It's still not breaking in as fast as the GT2 did but I'm attributing that to the velcro'd in liner as opposed to the GT2 being all one piece and having fewer layers. The glove is showing signs of break-in, it's just not as quick as the GT2 which was game ready within a few hours of coming out of the box. I like the single trap better than the double, but it does seem a hair shallow. It appears that Warrior has gone to a slightly offset T location similar to (but less dramatic than) what CCM offered on 590 custom orders. I may have to swap the nylon lacing out for skate lace eventually, but I'm going to try the glove as ordered for a couple months. Again, CoverEdge+ is not noticeable right off the jump, but looking closely the top of the glove leans towards the shooter and works to cut down the angle a bit. Blocker: Initial impression: Ah, here's that CoverEdge+ stuff and "Oooh, I forgot how much I like the feel of a brand new Warrior glove!" The blocker is noticeably thicker and flatter than previous Warrior blocker. Overall the flatness of the blocker should lead to more predictable rebounds, and the extra thickness doesn't come with any weight penalty that I could feel. Warrior uses some of the nicest feeling internal materials I've ever felt on their gloves and putting on a new Warrior glove for the first few times always feels amazing! The blocker maintains Warrior's 3 different hand position options and on the G5 it seems like the middle position is a bit more centered than the GT2. Going paddle down was super easy, so this go around I'm going to try moving the board down to the bottom notch instead of staying in the middle as I did with the GT2. After making that change I can still get paddle down easily and have just a hair more coverage below my hand. Overall impressions: The pads feel light, well built and very well balanced. Probably the thing I'm most impressed with is that all of the changes in this iteration of the equipment feel like they have a legitimate function as opposed to simply being changes for the sake of change (magnetic buckles anyone?). The textured area in the outer portion of the pads and blocker adds a subtle effect that you don't notice unless you look closely. i would be curious to know If these areas would have been double textured if I'd selected weave in those areas or if they'd have just been flat. Regardless, it's a nice touch. Overall I can't wait to get these on the ice and see how they play. I'll update with direct comparisons to the GT2 series after a few games.

I did business with Scott in the late 90's or early 2Ks and found him to be personable and dedicated to his craft. The gear I got from him turned out great and held up well. I don't really know what happened with him later as I took a few year break from the online hockey scene and missed all the drama. However, with all that said, he's gotten REALLY egregious with copying other companies designs. When I worked with him he wasn't willing to come anywhere close to a graphic that might be mistaken for someone else's. It's very disappointing to see him stray from that ideal.

Mmmm, maybe not. But if you're in the Columbus Ohio area I'd be more than happy to let you take them for a test drive.

Me too. Unfortunately I'm going to have to wait until at least tomorrow evening to get up there and retrieve it. Oh well, I've got to wait at least another week before I can get back on the ice, so I guess I can wait a day to see the gear I'll be wearing when I come back.

Based on the picture that my boss at my "fun" job just texted me, my earlier concern appears to be groundless. Of course these would show up on a day I have meetings all day, PT after work, etc.... Kudos to @Kirk3190 , Steve and the team at Warrior for an amazingly quick turn around on these. It was only 33 days between time my order was confirmed and when these arrived. I just have to push a little harder in therapy so my PT will cut me loose a week or two early and I can get these on the ice!

Are you? Are you really?

Softer for sure. There isn't a 24" but there's a 23.5 and Warrior's sizing is a little different so a 25" may work for you (for reference I use a 27.5" V1 Pro+ and a 26" Eflex IV. They're virtually identical in height.

It is. If you want the exact tool look for a 8mm socket with a 1/4" drive at the other end.

I see where your head is based on True Design, etc, etc... Both companies are willing to take risks to satisfy their customers. I guess what I SHOULD have said was that I would bet on Warrior being the company to do this at a price point I can stomach and without nickle and diming us to death.

Hey @Kirk3190 is the Wuhan Coronavirus having any impact on the timing of any of the new products being available at retail?

True custom would be cool AF! Smart money would be on a handful of options just like their main competition but if any of the big players were going to think outside the box and offer up custom padding and a paint/wrap service for an all inclusive price my money would be on Warrior being the ones to have the cajones to step up and try it.