5 Games Later...My Gatekeeper Pros vs Older Velocities

[stonep]

Originally Posted by rhanz

I don't see how that's possible, unless you're strapping V2s weird. My V2s are incredibly flexible and do a great job of closing the 5-hole, even in a narrow butterfly.




That was after having the pads about two days. Since then I've actually tightened the top strap a bit, resulting in even better closure.

The Vapors that I tried on did seem slightly more flexible, I must admit, but I hardly consider the V2s to be stiff in any way.

Some people are able to make the V2's work, others can't. I've heard of more then a few with the same issue, actually two. The main problem being the flex in the thigh isn't that great, mine never warp around my knee like the pictures above, they just sotra stick out 45 degrees and I have to really stick my legs out to close them. Second, is the little hole on the bottom of the five hole the v2's leave, because its not a perfect square and the v2's are tapered at the top. The vapor 2's are better in both regards, I just feel the vapors are a better pad for the less flexable person, certainly one of the best modern pads for someone ont flexable for sure is the vapor 2.

There is no doubt though, the V2 is an excellent pad.

[rhanz]

Yeah, the little hole along the ice bothers me.

I'm guessing you had the top strap attached to the buckle right around the knee? I had similar problems with lack of flexibility until I clipped it to the top buckle.

I'm not saying that they should have worked for you, that's obviously up to personal preference. But to say that V2s are not flexible is just plain not true.

And I can't speak for the Vapor2s, but the original Vapors definitely left as much, if not more of a hole in the 5 hole by the ice.

[stonep]

Originally Posted by rhanz

Yeah, the little hole along the ice bothers me.

I'm guessing you had the top strap attached to the buckle right around the knee? I had similar problems with lack of flexibility until I clipped it to the top buckle.

I'm not saying that they should have worked for you, that's obviously up to personal preference. But to say that V2s are not flexible is just plain not true.

And I can't speak for the Vapor2s, but the original Vapors definitely left as much, if not more of a hole in the 5 hole by the ice.

Yes, I shouldn't of said the V2'S Arn't flexible, they are. Just not flexible enough for me I suppose, the vapors are very nice closure for my flex. But your right, the key to getting the vapors right, or really any modern pad I've found is making sure that the entire inside part of the pad that hits the size is custom ordered with "HD FOAM" This makes for a much nicer solid closure to the ice.

[Faint]

Haha if anyhthing, the velocities are way to flexible for me

[stonep]

Originally Posted by Faint

Haha if anyhthing, the velocities are way to flexible for me

Perhaps in the boot and thigh area, but the vapors have a nicer s curve and close the 5 hole better, the thigh is more flexable.

[Keeps33]

ninj76's pads

[Ninj76]

I don't see how that's possible, unless you're strapping V2s weird. My V2s are incredibly flexible and do a great job of closing the 5-hole, even in a narrow butterfly.

That was after having the pads about two days. Since then I've actually tightened the top strap a bit, resulting in even better closure.

The Vapors that I tried on did seem slightly more flexible, I must admit, but I hardly consider the V2s to be stiff in any way.

###############################################

I have no idea how you do that!?!?!? I tried everything. I switched the strapping from conventional back to butterfly. I added two extra knee pads thinking the extra height might give me an advantage.

I tried tight, loose, i removed some inner thigh pads from my pants, loose skate straps, tight, skate straps.

Then I see your picture and everything is snug in the five hole. Oh well. I sold them already. Can you tell me how you tie your Velo's? And can you tell me if you break them in any special way?

Thanks a ton.

Ninj

[Ninj76]

Originally Posted by Faint

Haha if anyhthing, the velocities are way to flexible for me

This issue for me was not that the pads were inflexible...it is that I am as flexible as uncooked pasta.

[Cujo_64]

let me know if you ever get tired of these. I want to get a back up pair ! I have the same size and mine are the white.red.black ones. Great pad, very light wieght and rotates well. better than the old supremes in wieght Rob

[rhanz]

Sure:

I use the velcro knee lock.

Top nylon strap goes straight across, and is relatively snug. Definitely some play in the strap when standing up, but snugs nicely pulling the thigh rise in while in the butterfly.

Apart from that, the straps are all relatively loose. The leather straps are about 1 hole away from snug, except at the ankle, where it's more like 2 holes from snug. THe boot strap is on the 4th hole.

[Ninj76]

Ok Guys...The last review was five games later with my new CCM Gatekeeper Pros. As a reminder, this was a potential solution for me not being able to close my five hole with old Velo's...with a flat front, higher thigh-rise and a thinner, softer, lighter pad I hoped I could seal that five-hole shut.

15 Games Latter:

Pads: Getting better and better in terms of fit as I learn to tie them. Due to feedback from the guys on this thread (thanks), I made a few adjustements. 1. I added an inch between my toe laces and the skate by tying a knot (see How to tie Velocities on the Vaughn website for more details) like I used to do with my old pads. That allowed it to move more off my toe. 2. I loosened all my straps including my boot straps. My mobility is better.

Pros: light and agile pads with great rebound control. incredibley fast-drying so if you are playing a couple of games in a day, they dry and lighten up quickly. easy-clips mean quicker strapping time.

Cons: they do not seem to slide and butterfly as well as my velo's. They do not seem to rotate as easily as my velo's (i.e. when in a butterfly, they sometimes "catch" and do not line-up into a perfect wall and instead angle towards the ice like old pads used to), and they are not as tapered in the toe which means it is harder to push off in the butterfly than the Velo's. My "cheater blades" do not seem to dig into the ice as easily. Does my 5-hole close? Yes and no...when dropped in my buttefly, I can get the bottom of the pads to touch, but the tops flare away into a V. That is due to them not spinning into a perfect flat pad.

Bear in mind that much of this is due to the fact that I have not practice time when I can do nothing but experiment and work on my technique like sliding. You guys know what it is like b4 a game...you do not want to try anything too new for fear of letting the first 6 shots in. So once I get back with my goalie instructor, and have ice time where i can try all sorts of new things, I may figure all of this out.

Glove: Awesome...can play the puck better and it catches better. Now that it is broken in, it is easier to freeze the puck as well. And it does not smell! This new fabric kicks arse.

Blocker: Finally broken in and can hold my stick properly. But I still think the glove sits too low which makes paddle down saves tricky since I cannot get the stick to lay flat against the ice easily and quickly.

That is it for now guys...feel free to send me feedback.

Cheers,

Ninj

[Cujo_64]

great info ! I have had to experiment with mine as well. I cant slide with mine, but hell I cant slide at all. I never figured out how. I just block everything I can and pick up any rebounds. it seems to work. lol I need to learn how to use that ... If I had some practice time I would work on it... just need to figure out the metrics and how to's of it. Rob

[Itechgoaliedude]

I am an Itech guy and thought long and hard before this last set I bought the V3's were my other choice. Now it seems like everyone is prob changing out of vuaghns for the thigh rise issue. I wear 36+2 RX9 soft flex with the breaks very similar to the V3's I am looking at getting a new set in prob 2 ta 3 seasons because I am on the ice playing D1 Club 3 days a week at least usually more.

I want to know 1)how do you break your pads in specifically? and 2) how tall of a thigh rise do you think I need in Vaughn?

(I am actually a size 35 pad but the thigh rise I wanted was only available in 36)