High Humidity and Breaking in new pads

[BgSxyGoalie]

Hi all,

I have a set of Vaughn V3's coming, hopefully in the next week. I have not had new pads in a while, so am looking for some advice on the best ways to break this equipment in. I have read that the blocker should be good out of the box, so the focus is on the catcher and leg pads. I have read a lot about baking the glove, but am nervous at the thought of this. Do people think that baking the glove is a genuine good idea or not? Also, what is the protocol for baking ie. what temperature, do you wrap it in aluminum foil or just throw it in there on the oven racks, how long to cook for?



Additionally, I am in an extremely humid area right now, and was wondering if I should be storing my pads outside on my deck (which is in the shade with no direct sunlight) after using them, or if I should be keeping them inside (although I do not have a dehumidifier). Does anyone think that storing the pads outside in the humidity and heat may actually help the break in process by loosening up the leather a bit, or will it just cause problems?


Thanks for any help

[Mission1972]

Don't know if I would want to keep my pads in a humid location. I know it works wonders for chest and pants though. Probably the first thing you are going to want to do is break in the pads at the break lines, keep them stored under a table or something to get them curved and loosened up at the breaks.

If you're going to watch tv for an hour or so, put the pads on and rest your arms accross the tops keeping them bent. Another strange one I heard but I guess works is to beat them with a baseball bat. Don't crank them, but give them some repeated taps all over on the front of the pads to loosen them up.

Check my post under the Vaughn 8600 review thread near the end. The 8600's are like plywood out of the box. All I do is keep them tucked under a hockey stick to loosen up the breakpoints and curve them. The pads have only been used a couple of times now but are much more flexible using the stick and the TV thing along with some carpet fly's.

[goalie39]

I think most people just use a skate oven to heat the catcher, thats what i did with mine anyway. Works well, really helps with the break in.

[doogie24]

yeh, i wouldnt be baking a new glove with a regular oven. take it to a shop and get it done in their skate oven. put it in a for a few minutes and repeat it a few times