Quote:
Originally Posted by designissues
I would say go with your gut. Trust your instincts. If you don't want pro level gear don't get pro level gear. If you have your doubts and think pro level is the way to go, do that. For some people the senior level gear is plenty protective enough. For others they just don't like the idea of used gear. Whatever your situation is, trust it. There are a lot of goalies out there who need and demand the best gear that money can buy. For them pro gear is the only option. In fact a lot of pro gear isn't even protective enough for them. But for a lot of people that just isn't the case. I laugh that some of the same people that say how little point there is to buying brand new gear since it will be used after just one game are the ones that are buying brand new gear after just one season. Some of the time people buy gear and just aren't happy with the gear. That I understand. But I am talking about always wanting to have the newest and greatest gear. Wouldn't your one game old 2009 model be the same as your one year old 2008 model you are replacing? Not to mention, how much experience do they have with current senior level gear? Its one thing to say its not nearly protective enough for you to use, its another to say its all crap.
Personally, of course I would love pro gear but is so far beyond what I need. I don't deny that there is a big quality difference between pro and senior level gear. I have tried on entry level, senior level, and pro level gear. Side by side comparisons. There is a definite difference no doubt about it. But different people have different needs. For me, I feel completely totally safe in senior level gear. Never doubted it for an instant. I have an X-wing 7.8 glove and blocker that I absolutely love! They have been wonderful to me and I have never had a single complaint about the quality or the protectiveness. I would whole heartedly recommend these to anyone, and the price is right. I am getting the RX7 glove very very soon and can't wait to compare the two. At the level of hockey that I play at, and the frequency of which I play I can't ever imagine buying pro level gear. I hope my level and frequency both increase to the point where the senior level gear isn't good enough for me anymore. But for now, I will keep enjoying getting my gear for less than half the price and still being completely protected for my needs.
I know this isn't a popular opinion and I probably am offending alot of people and I really don't mean to. Frankly I just wished I played as often or as well as those that require the best gear. For me though, senior level gear is amazing!
|
I think you think how I think.
I bought all this Bauer Reactor 1 stuff about 10 years ago for roller hockey. I won lots of games and got top goaltender in the league a couple of times.
I think everyone will agree that Reactor 1 is just about as low end as you can get, especially by today's standards. I have been using the gloves, and they work fine, had no stingers yet, but let's be realistic, they are 10-12 years old and the blocker palm is starting to come unstitched and the catch doesn't want to stay open anymore.
When I started ice hockey about a month ago, I bought the Vaughn 3750 chest protector. Now, this thing is what most would consider entry level, but it is so far beyond what I was using (again, Reactor 1) that it seems incredible to me. It seems entry level stuff has come a long way in 10 years. I guess I was thinking that the entry level Vaughn gloves would have a similar effect on me since I would be coming from the Bauers.