Itech 7.8 X-Wings Pads & my self mods

[c0nquistad0rian]

I recently picked up a set of Itech 7.8 X-wing pads and gloves. It was sort of my birthday gift to myself (my girlfriend bought the catcher for me). I got everything at a very good deal; I don’t have money to through at a custom set. And the pads had the basic key features that I was looking for (right size, adjustable knee lock, flat faced, light, flexible, solid outer roll, butterfly style box pad), but I knew that there would be things that I would want to change about them. I did all of the work by hand, with a sewing awl over the course of a few weeks in the evenings after work. I just wanted to show off a little bit now that the pads are mostly done I didn’t really take any before pictures, so I’m posting Itech35’s pads, which are (were) the exact same thing).

Strapping:
The pads originally came with: two nylon straps & quick release buckles (one tension strap, and one in the middle of the knee), three sewn in leather straps in the calf area, one sewn in boot strap, and drop-down toe ties (well, mine did not come with these – perils of eBay).

I subscribe to LOTC’s philosophy when it comes to straps. I only really like the essential straps to be there.

Originally Posted by Lord of the Cage

The strapping system that I put together is one I have had since my first year of College hockey. I guess that would be 6 years ago. I have stated a lot on here that I strongly believe there are only two major connection points on a pad, the toe and the knee. Everything above and between the two is just there to hold protection in place.
Lord of the Cage

I opened up the side binding of the pad, and removed the tension strap completely. I removed the three leather calf straps and replaced it with two nylon straps, using one connection point. This is similar to and inspired from the idea of the Y-buckle that TPS uses on its pads. However, with that system, you’re still dealing with two straps every time you put on your pads. I use just a normal quick release buckle, having the two straps attach to a tri-loop. This way, you only have to deal with the two straps once, since the connection point for the straps is before the buckle.


And here’s the underside:


I also left the straps on the female ends of the quick release buckles open, closing them with a tri-glide like Vortek does. This way, if a buckle breaks, it is quickly and easily replaced, without opening up any stitching.

The boot straps were also sewn in to the binding of the pad. This seems to be a mostly aesthetic thing, since most newer designs don’t have straps that come through the front of the pad anymore. However because of its location, I think that this is probably the strap that is the most likely to break and should be easily removeable. So, I opened up the binding, and sewed in a jenpro tab and held the strap in using 3 mm lacing, like a thighboard. Notice that there is jenpro sandwiching both sides of the strap. Without this, the buckle end sometimes slips through the lacing and jenpro tab.



I replaced the toe bridges with Smith sliding toe bridges. I’ve used Smith sliding toe bridges before, as well as my own, and those made by another manufacturer and I will swear by Pete’s. The only thing that I changed is that I used waxed skate laces (they stay tighter better) instead of the ones that he sent with the toe bridge kit.


The knee:
The knee block is basically a 1” thick knee stack that velcros to the knee cradld. I wanted it to be a little bigger, so I sewed my own knee block using an additional ½” stack. I made the block with a double jenpro reinforced Giguere mod, where the strap goes through the foam. I feel like this is a better design to make sure that there are no slip-offs where the knee misses the protection while butterflying. I had to make sure to make the hole big enough to adjust the block up and down, corresponding with the placement of the knee lock, and big enough to slip the buckle through. I also made the block so that it velcroes shut with a strap on the back side, to make the foam on the inside easily removable and adjustable, like Pete Smith’s quick-change knee system

The adjustable knee lock is fully adjustable, held onto the pad by Velcro, as well as Velcro on the back of the knee block, and a removable knee lock strap . However, the foam in the knee lock is really just thick, bulky sponge. It’s tight and uncomfortable to wear with my gatekeeper knee pads (I took off the thighboards when I got the pads). Despite being labeled as prospec, I think that they didn’t consider knee pad wearers in this design.

Originally, I took out the sponge on both sides of the knee cradle and replaced it with ¼” thick yoga mat that I had been using for some projects. But, I still felt constricted by the way the knee lock bunched up on the outside flap when I butterflied. So, I sewed my own "knee lock", which is just the velcroed back, the inner flap that velcroes to the knee block, and a flap that goes behind the knee and belt loops the knee strap, to keep things snug without the knee strap digging into the back of my knee. I basically made this to cover the velcro areas on the back of the pad and on my knee block, where the original knee lock would have attached. This effectively eliminated the traditional knee lock in my pads.

Before:

Originally Posted by itech35

Bulky knee:


After:




Unvelcroed from the kneeblock:

[c0nquistad0rian]

Quick-change knee setup:


The calf:

The calf of the pad originally featured two very basic calf wraps using the same cheap (albeit thinner) sponge as the knee lock. I cut these off and discarded them in my search for a more open leg channel. I then made my own 1/2” calf wrap using some more yoga mat foam. I had the foresight to put a jenpro tab into the binding of the pad when I replaced the buckles so that I could lace in the calf wrap and make it removable.

Before:

Originally Posted by itech35

After:

Buckled:


The boot:
The boot of the pad offered originally offered no protection over the skate. On the inner boot, I again opened the binding and added a jenpro lace in tab to make things removable. And I added a ½” LD foam boot flap. This may seem like over kill to some, but I also decided to add an outer boot flap like the TPS R8’s, to protect the outside of my skate boot when I hug the post. This is laced into a jenpro tab that is laced into the pad stays on the underside of the boot.

Before:

Originally Posted by itech35

After:

Buckled:


Slideplates:
Lastly, I sewed in a jenpro medial roll to the side of the face of the pads and made slide plates, following the same attachment format that I used in my own design.

The "How to" (mods and repairs) Thread (9th post down)

I have two key differences from my original design: the first is that the calf plates also cover the whole calf wing. The second is that instead of cutting holes into the plastic to lace the pad straps through (difficult & a greater chance for wear of pad straps – though I never had an issue), I used more 3mm lacing to create loops that the pad straps belt loop through.



And here’s a shot of my whole set together:

[=china=]

I found this post very informative. Your mods look great and well executed.

The lower strap setup is real interesting and gives me ideas for my 7.8 Vamps and Helium Elites.

Excellent job.

[millzee53]

2 straps...i bet you get dressed quicker then any other goalie.

[itech35]

Wow.. those look awesome. I agree with you about the knee lock, it did seem a little bulky at first with my itech knee pads but now that the pads are really broken in the knee lock cushions are a lot less obtrusive, especially the inner cushion from dropping to the bfly. It's compressed so much now that it's almost perfectly flat but still soft. I just have a couple questions for you .. I like the look of the pads a lot better without the graphics on the sides (kind of like what you have, because the slide plates cover it). Since they're not sewn on, do you know of a good way to completely take them off without messing up the weave on the sides of the pad? As in, not effecting how they slide? And also... how do you like the gloves?

[c0nquistad0rian]

Originally Posted by millzee53

2 straps...i bet you get dressed quicker then any other goalie.

Yeah, and I keep the toe ties always tied. So, just the two quick release buckles and the boot strap on each pad. I get dressed faster than some of the skaters on my team

Originally Posted by itech35

Wow.. those look awesome. I agree with you about the knee lock, it did seem a little bulky at first with my itech knee pads but now that the pads are really broken in the knee lock cushions are a lot less obtrusive, especially the inner cushion from dropping to the bfly. It's compressed so much now that it's almost perfectly flat but still soft. I just have a couple questions for you .. I like the look of the pads a lot better without the graphics on the sides (kind of like what you have, because the slide plates cover it). Since they're not sewn on, do you know of a good way to completely take them off without messing up the weave on the sides of the pad? As in, not effecting how they slide? And also... how do you like the gloves?

Itech 35, since the graphic is just screened on in that area, you may be able to remove it with nail polish remover. Check this thread: Logo removal?

But, I'd personally be weary of doing that since it's such a big area. I would honestly let it go.

The gloves are great. I like the features that it has with the variability of the wrist and hand straps. It's very cool temperature wise to wear as everything in the backhand is mesh and breathes very well. It's comfortable and has good palm protection. When covering the puck, it seals the ice very well and has a big, oversized cuff on the back that is very accomodating. I am still working on breaking in (steaming) the catching glove, so it's still stiff and I have been catching a la Lundqvist, until it is broken in and can easily close. But, I haven't had any popouts with this method. I did try on a brand new 12.8 X-wing glove in a store, though and that thing closed like butter. The feel, size, and break felt the same as they did on my glove, it's just the 12.8 closes much easier. I don't understand why they can't make the 7.8 glove have a pre-broken in feel like this, but I anticipate that it will feel the same once it has been broken in.

The blocker is very light and very well balanced. I am curious as to why the underside is cordura and not jenpro as I think that would probably wear better. But, I'm sure that will be fine. The thumb protection and sidewall are huge, but they don't interefere with how I hold my stick. The finger protection is also made of HD foam with a soft back, like a good thighboard. The big cons that I see in the blocker are how tight it is on my hand. I understand that this is pretty common in newer designs, but It's never been my preference or experience and seems pretty ridiculous when you consider how customizable the trapper is.

see Sloth's and Mont's sentiments on a tight blocker to get the idea:

Originally Posted by sloth2946

Been thinking about this move a lot today and it literally just occurred to me when Mont has come up with this adaptation to an old standard....

As equipment has 'progressed' , specifically the blocker, it has become more bulky and more rigid. And people now are taught to keep the thing tight on your wrist for what I have no idea.

Anyway, when guys like me, Mont, Cuban and BC were growing up and playing, you could pull this move quite easily without having to finger tip it because when you put the blocker on the ice to do the sweep check the blocker board bent/flexed and there was room in the wrist not being taken up by bulky C/A units and most people wore their gloves a little sloppy if you will.

But with the new stuff...you simply cannot do this as the board is too stiff and the gloves tight. So much for progress....

Originally Posted by mont

One thing for sure though and here is where Sloth has hit on a very very good point. I wear the blocker and its wrist strap COMPLETELY LOOSE. I too believe this is the way to do it for a plethora of reasons and this kind of ability/agility necessary to perform this with greater ease is just another reason why. You do need good flex and mobility as Sloth points out. The board being stiff however, is not an issue as it is sitting "above" - parallel to the ice - furthermore the "flip" on your board will allow greater movement of the wrist as well.

Looking at the placement of the glove on the blocker, it also seems like it could be a little higher. I'm not saying that it's TOO low, just that it could be a little higher. My hands are average sized and my fingers would still be covered by the whole locker board if they were a little longer. This is just one aspect of the design that I felt could be improved.

See: Chakal's sentiments on the V3 blocker:

Originally Posted by chakal

I tried the V3 blocker last week and hated it!! OK, not completely, the comfort is great, it's light and it's as good as the V2 and V1 were.....


BUT!!!

To adjust to the new NHL sizing, the board has to be cut by 1" on the length.. right???è

I always thought it was a given, that companies would cut the 1" at the top, or, at worst, 1/2 at top and 1/2 at bottom. Right?

Well, why in hell, Vaughn cut the whole inch at the BOTTOM!!! The board goes high on the foreharm... WHY??? I don't have long fingers but still, when I open my hand, the fingers are flush with the end of the board. Isn't that useless to have a board that high on the foreharm and counterproductive to have the board so short where you really need it, at the bottom to cover more space?

That's why now I always ask for the palm to be as high as possible on the board to cover more space down, like Belfour has. You can clearly see it here on the picture, his wrist cuff starts when the board starts.


But here's the V3, see the difference?

[itech35]

Thanks for the info. I tried the nail polish remover a while ago, it just smeared the graphic and didn't completely take it off. I'll just leave it, it's only cosmetic. I've heard nothing but good things about the gloves, the blocker tightness is probably from it being pro spec, which I'm not too worried about because my hands aren't really big.

[EvilPepe]

Awesome. I was hoping you would post pics of your project. I need to get some decent (and affordable) to get me through for a bit, and am probably going with these pads.

I've read in other threads that there have been a few design changes since their first run of these pads. Does anyone have any elaboration? I'm suspicious about the cheesy-looking calfwrap and knee block in particular.

[Titanium]

I've had the 7.8 x-wing gloves for about 3 months now. The blocker is nice. I don't really like the catcher--it still doesn't feel quite right or even close well, even after using it for this long. I would actually get rid of it at this point if I find one that feels better to me.

[itech35]

Originally Posted by EvilPepe

Awesome. I was hoping you would post pics of your project. I need to get some decent (and affordable) to get me through for a bit, and am probably going with these pads.

I've read in other threads that there have been a few design changes since their first run of these pads. Does anyone have any elaboration? I'm suspicious about the cheesy-looking calfwrap and knee block in particular.

There's no calf wrap on these pads. If you're talking about the two pieces of thin foam in the shin/calf area, those do nothing but cushion the drop a bit. And the knee block is.. a knee block. lol

[theeagle]

My 7.8 pads are in the mail coming to me as we speak. I got the red, white, black ones.

[c0nquistad0rian]

Originally Posted by itech35

Thanks for the info. I tried the nail polish remover a while ago, it just smeared the graphic and didn't completely take it off. I'll just leave it, it's only cosmetic. I've heard nothing but good things about the gloves, the blocker tightness is probably from it being pro spec, which I'm not too worried about because my hands aren't really big.

I doubt that the blocker tightness is due to it being prospec. How would taking an inch off of the board make the glove itself tighter? As I tried to explain, I believe that this is just part of the way blockers are being designed now. I just don't necessarily agree with or like that aspect of it.

Originally Posted by EvilPepe

Awesome. I was hoping you would post pics of your project. I need to get some decent (and affordable) to get me through for a bit, and am probably going with these pads.

I've read in other threads that there have been a few design changes since their first run of these pads. Does anyone have any elaboration? I'm suspicious about the cheesy-looking calfwrap and knee block in particular.

I took a peek at the pad internals when I opened up the binding to replace the straps. It's made of shredpacked LD foam, with some sheet of HD foam towards the front. The meat of the pad, so to speak, should last a while. The back of the leg was where I was skeptical: I already mentioned the sponge foam used in the knee lock and in the calf area. The knee and calf wings are HD foam and should hold up just fine. The foam in the knee block is black minicell foam, which isn't as durable as LD foam. You can see the distinction between the 1" minicell foam and the 1/2" LD foam that I used. If I had more LD foam, I would have replaced the whole block.

Itech35 answered the design change questions in his review of the 7.8 X-Wings:

Originally Posted by itech35

I later learned that there are 2 versions of the new 7.8 pads just like there are with the 12.8 pads, I got the first version. The differences mean next to nothing though. The 2nd version has an x-wing logo on the front, a prospec logo on the inside of the thighrise, and it doesn't have the ridge on the calf wing.

As you can see, my pads do have the xwing embroidery on the face of the thighrise, as well as the prospec embroidery on the back of the thighrise. You can't see however, that my pads do still have the ridge on the calf wing. So, I believe that itech35 was wrong about this aspect of the design change.

Originally Posted by Titanium

I've had the 7.8 x-wing gloves for about 3 months now. The blocker is nice. I don't really like the catcher--it still doesn't feel quite right or even close well, even after using it for this long. I would actually get rid of it at this point if I find one that feels better to me.

As I said, the 12.8 version is very smooth and closes very well. I do like the feel and break of my 7.8, but it needs more steaming and I need to work with it more to properly break it in.

Originally Posted by itech35

There's no calf wrap on these pads. If you're talking about the two pieces of thin foam in the shin/calf area, those do nothing but cushion the drop a bit. And the knee block is.. a knee block. lol

technical terms aside, the quality of the foams in the back of this pad are its major weakness.

Originally Posted by theeagle

My 7.8 pads are in the mail coming to me as we speak. I got the red, white, black ones.

This comment has nothing to do with my thread, but cool. Good for you. I hope that you enjoy them.

--------------

I'd also like to make sure that I say thank you to Itech35, since I am using some of his pictures in this thread and for answering some questions that I had about the pads before I got mine.

[EvilPepe]

Originally Posted by itech35

There's no calf wrap on these pads. If you're talking about the two pieces of thin foam in the shin/calf area, those do nothing but cushion the drop a bit. And the knee block is.. a knee block. lol

Wiseass

Thanks Dorian - the foam in the kneeblock and back of the pad was what I was questioning. I've got some LD foam laying around, so I probably end up using that for the kneeblock.

[itech35]

Originally Posted by EvilPepe

Wiseass

Thanks Dorian - the foam in the kneeblock and back of the pad was what I was questioning. I've got some LD foam laying around, so I probably end up using that for the kneeblock.

Lol I didn't mean to come off as a wiseass I just always thought a block of foam is a block of foam, apparently there are many different qualities of it. I myself haven't had any problems with the stock knee block, I added a 1/2 inch stack to each pad (from Beccaraptor, awesome transaction all around) also.

Dorian, all the pro spec blockers I've tried on have been more snug than my 7.8 x-factor blocker which my hand swims in. You're probably right, I'm just going by what I've been trying on. No problem for the pictures.

[suicidekings]

The side of my itech x-wing 7.8 pads says 33", no .cm measurement after that (thighrise). I checked the larger sizes in the store and they all have a .cm measurement after the pad size. Goalie monkey says that all senior sizes have a +1 tighrise. Can anyone confirm if my pads are +1.

I posted my problem in this thread:

Sizing help...