I have had this piece of gear for about 6 months and have been very impressed with its performance. Let me preface this by saying I've played with guys who have very heavy shots, from Joe Sakic and Steve Konowalchuk to Ryan Caldwell and Max Bull of DU last year. Most of the guys in the higher level men's league I play in can shoot the puck hard, so it would follow that I would need a decent C/A to stand up to the beating. Hopefully what follows will be insightful for those in the market for a new chest and arm unit.
PREVIOUS EQUIPMENT:
Before this piece, I was using an early model Vaughn Vision 5500 that seemed adequate for my needs. However, I did have problems with stingers to my blocker elbow, and since the gear was getting a little worn out, I decided to shop around. I knew I wanted something that afforded me the great range of motion and mobility this one had but also would be protective enough. I had used less mobile units like the CCM/Heaton 8 and knew mobility was key. Thus, I tried on the newer, higher-end Vaughn models (5500, 6000, and 7000) only to find them too restricting. Other large models like the Brown, Koho 590, and Brian's Beast had too much padding to deal with. Eventually, I narrowed my choice down to 3: the older 5500, the TPS X-Hale, and the Vision 3700. I settled on the 3700 for a variety of reasons...
FIT and FEEL:
Right out of the gate, the 3700 felt very comfortable, almost broken-in. It barely needed any adjustment, but there are plenty of ways one could if they needed to. As with most Vaughn c/a's there are 5 or 6 straps on each arm alone. It sits close to my body and feels very compact, which is a quality I seek in most of my equipment. And since it's fairly flexible, it wraps around comfortably. I feel like I'm in control of all of the surfaces.
MOBILITY vs. NET COVERAGE:
The mobility this unit affords is the best I've used. The arms bend easily despite the elbow floaters being somewhat larger than the 5500 I was using. Similarly, even though there the mandatory three layers of shoulder protection, none get in the way at any time, and the padding "gels" with other parts well to seal off any holes when needed. The belly padding is a little shorter than my last c/a, and that took some getting used to. But since I tuck it into my breezers anyway, there is no loss of protection, and the shorter length actually allows for better torso rotation. An added bonus is that I do indeed appear larger in net than before, because of the slightly larger elbow and shoulder floaters. I play a more athletic, hybrid style, so appearing as big as I can is not necessarily a major priority for me. I believe the 3700 is a great compromise between mobility and coverage for athletic goalies like me.
PROTECTION:
Like I said, I've faced some howitzers. I've been surprised by how few stingers I've felt through this gear, especially on my blocker side elbow where I seem to get stung most often. There is an added small sternum plate on this unit, which is an upgrade from my 5500, and it has definitely aided in the all-around protection. I have felt no stingers to the biceps or shoulders either. The ones I have felt I'm convinced I would have felt through any c/a. I think at some point, I realized that inevitably there is going to be some pain involved in this position. It can never be completely eliminated. Therefore, I opted for a compromise that would protect me reasonably well (and in that, it has exceeded my expectations) and also provide me with my other requirements.
In conclusion, I believe the Vaughn Vision 3700 c/a is more than adequate for goalies in higher level men's leagues and lower. I think it's a better choice than higher priced models that seem to offer more protection and size. Plus, at only $169.99 or thereabouts in most retail stores, it fits nicely into the average goalie's budget. I highly recommend it for anyone in the market for a c/a, so check it out.
Any questions, fire away.
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