Hi all, I'm a brand new goalie, but I do hope that this post will be useful to others.
After much searching, I decided to go with the Vaughn 7400 pad and glove set. So far I'm pleased. Obviously I'm not able to compare them to any other brand or model, but I was able to feel quite comfortable in them by my fourth time wearing goalie gear. There was nothing that felt off or uncomfortable, with one exception, the thighguards.
Thighguards are protective shielding for your knees and thighs. They're built right into the pads like thighboards, but unlike thighboards, which go outside your pants, the thighguards tuck under your pants. My experiences are specific to the Vaughn 7400 thighguards, but I imagine this will be of benefit to anybody who is wondering about thighguards on their current/future pads.
When I'd read (and read, and read) the equipment reviews, I'd heard that the first thing most people did with the 7400's was to remove the thighguards. I figured I'd do the same, but I wanted to understand why I wanted to, before doing it.
Right from the start the thigh guards seemed a bit restrictive, both when standing upright, and when in the butterfly position. Obviously goalies don't spend too much time standing straight upright, and when they do, they don't need their pads to be perfect, but when in this position it felt as if the pad was restricting mobility somewhat. It was difficult to lock my knees, and it felt that the pants were being pushed up on. Again, I didn't think it was that important, as really how pads feel when you're standing straight up is pretty low on the list of concerns.
In the butterfly, the thighguards seemed to push up and out on my pants a bit. It didn't seem that restrictive, but it did feel a bit annoying. Additionally, in two of my first three ice times taking shots, I managed to get hit pretty nicely above the knee. I hadn't noticed it at the time, but I got some nice deep bruising to show off to the girlfriend.
So, figuring I'd tried the thighguard experiment, I decided to get some kneepads, and ordered the VKP 8000 knee and thigh pads. Today I replaced my thighguards and was quite surprised at the difference. I documented my experiments in a photo-essay that I call:
Temple's Thighguard Test: or How Sub-Trousal Thigh Protection Affects the Blocking Capability of the Carpetfly
To begin, again I'm brand new and have a very narrow butterfly. I know that this is something that I can improve with stretching. I stretched well, put my gear on, and took two pictures in each equipment configuration. The first is a narrow, comfortable butterfly (giggyfly I believe is what the kids are calling it these days) that I dropped into. The second is the widest butterfly I can manipulate myself into without hurting myself. I understand that a carpetfly does not necessarily show what a butterfly will look like, but I think the differences shown between configurations are relevant.
Please click as desired for larger images.
Configuration 1: With Thighguards, Without Kneepads
Note the outward twist to the top of the pad, the bit of flesh showing on my thigh, the gaping hole in coverage, and the apparent pain indicated by flailing arms in the second pic.
Configuration 2: With Thighguards, With Kneepads
Please again draw your attention to the twisted pads, and the gaping hole begging for pucks to pass through, which is somehow wider when I flare out wider in the second pic.
Configuration 3: Without Thighguards, With Kneepads
Note in these pictures, I almost look like a goalie. The twisting outward of the tops of the pads is gone, and I can actually almost entirely seal my 5-hole both with a narrow and wide flared carpetfly. Notice also that the second picture shows a much wider flared carpetfly, and that it was so comfortable, that I took a pose of nonchalance with my hands on my hips.
Configuration 4: Without Thighguards, Without Kneepads
This configuration is included for completeness as a control to compare against how either or both of the thighguards or kneepads affect the carpetfly.
Other notes are that when wearing the kneepads without the thighguards, the pads seemed much more comfortable, both while down in the fly and while standing straight upright. It also seemed that my mobility was improved, I have a feeling that my skating will be helped by this modification. I will be playing a game tomorrow night and will post an update on how my on-ice butterfly feels as well as overall mobility and comfort.
That's it, thanks for your patronage. Hopefully this was enjoyable if not informative for you.
Craig