Itech RX9 Catcher Review

[meaks17]

I purchased this catcher from another member on the board, who had gotten a deal on it and did not like the thickness of the palm, the glove was new. I wanted a pro level glove because I play against guys who have played NAHL, AJHL, European Pro and high level Minnesota high school. I had not played for a couple years and sold all of my old equipment, so last year I purchased a bunch of cheap equipment and now decided I needed to upgrade.

I had the glove on ice last night and messed around with it during the day, I will try and update as I use it more, but here are my initial on and off ice impressions.

CRAFTSMANSHIP 9/10

I am coming from a RBK 6k and obviously this is a huge improvement. There are so many little details that I am impressed with. The materials are top notch and there isn't a stitch out of place.

FEATURES 9/10

There are two hand straps on the inside, a wrist strap, two finger ties and a strap to adjust the angle of the bottom part of the glove.

The break of the glove was at the bottom of my finger/top of my palm, easy adjustment from the RBK I was coming from.

I have the nash palm, the palm is very thick, I didn't get a stinger when I was hit in the palm (I like a thick palm, so this is a plus for me).

The pocket isn't the deepest I have ever seen but certainly isn't shallow.

FEEL & FIT 9/10

I have somewhat big hands and this catcher fit great.

It was easy to make adjustments with the many straps to make the glove fit comfortably.

The glove was a little bit heavier than my old RBK but not enough to hinder me holding it how I normally do in my stance.

It closed easily out of the box.

PERFORMANCE 10/10

I was very confident wearing this glove out on the ice, I did not get any stingers in the hour I was out there last night. I told my friend I felt like he could have shot my glove with a bullet and I wouldn't have felt it, which shows how much protection is in this glove.

It felt like anything that went palm or higher in this glove found its way to the pocket. I snagged quite a few pucks with it and it closed nicely.

I did not have a problem with popouts, I think I had one the whole ice time but I was on a weird angle.

SUMMARY 9/10

I was very impressed with this catcher out of the box and after one session on the ice. It is definitely worth taking a look at if you are looking at a new pro-level glove.

*Sorry for the quality on the pictures, I had to use my mac to take them. I tried to give a view of the front on pic 1, the back on pic 2, the strap that lets you change the angle of the bottom on pic 3 and the internals on pic 4.

[pb31]

how is the break on the glove, more like rbk or vaughn.

could you show a pick of the palm

[steele3311]

Originally Posted by pb31

how is the break on the glove, more like rbk or vaughn.

could you show a pick of the palm

Its just like a Vaughn 5500

[hroark2112]

I checked out 2 RX9 gloves today, one brand new & one used.

Apparently the glove is heat-moldable to your hand. Both gloves I checked out seemed to have different breaks, which tells me that you can break it in to the angle you want, within some limits (I'm sure). I loved the new one. I hated the used one! Whoever broke it in likes a very different break than me.

Probably the only Itech glove I've ever liked.

[NYInk]

Nice review man!

Just to help out, here is a picture of the glove for those who were asking.

[Jim]

Nice review.. I want to check on of these out..
Does Itech take custom orders?

I would like a white glove with nash palm white logo and lettering.

[That1Goalie13]

yes they do, i have a blocker on order from them, although mine is coming slow boat from china( or canada i since i got the rx9) because its been 11 weeks and my shop said 1 more

[cab6289]

Meaks very happy to hear you like the trapper.

It is a very good one, I just couldnt afford to have three and it didnt match my college colors at all.

Oh and what a ment by thickness is that compared th my 5500 it is prob 2x thicker, which is super good, but ive never got a stinger in the 5500 so i decided to stick with it.

Anyway, best of luck with the glove and happy again to hear you like it.

-Chris

[itech35]

I messed around with a new one of these at Pure Hockey and it was pretty nice. The break was similar to a RBK glove (it didn't feel like it had the traditional "springy" Itech palm) and it's ridiculously light. I went with the 12.8 mostly because I was unsure of the nash palm/tee on the RX9 but it still felt like a great glove.

[th954]

i was just checking one out today, and the 12.8 has a bigger pocket but not as deep, whereas the RX9 had a smaller pocket but was a bit deeper,overall i liked the rx9 a little better than the 12.8 because of the thickness in the palm, i felt like id get too many stingers with the 12.8 (which i currently get with my old glove and end up with bruises on my hand). But this was only after messing with them in the store for like 15 minutes. does anyone find it hard to open the RX9 fully over the 12.8? i think is just cause it wasn't broken in, but figured id ask.

[Goalieman33]

the rx9 is a sick glove off the shelf when we got it in the break off the shelf was nice also the pad with a soft flex is soo nice

[Riptide]

I tried this on today at the Hockey Stop here in Columbus. The palm on this is definitely thick. It also is not easy to close right off the shelf. You can close it, yes, but you definitely have to heat-mold it and/or break it in a bit. It is not playable right off the shelf.

When I first walked in, I nearly crapped myself when I realized they had a ton of RX-9 catchers in there and the leg pads as well.

But to be honest, right off the shelf, I still liked the way the Vaughn 7500 felt over any glove I've tried on.

I'd love to try on a broken-in RX-9 though. It's a very lightweight but protective glove.

One difference over my beloved T5500 is the back flap. On the RX-9, the backhand flap is really padded and about twice as thick as the T5500 backhand flap, but the Itech seems like a lighter glove (due to smaller NHL reg size and modern materials no doubt).

The backhand of the glove looks like an armadillo kind of. All these over-lapping segments and so forth. Really cool-looking in my opinion.

I'm hoping I can find a used one to try on.

- Rip

[EvilPepe]

Originally Posted by th954

i was just checking one out today, and the 12.8 has a bigger pocket but not as deep, whereas the RX9 had a smaller pocket but was a bit deeper,overall i liked the rx9 a little better than the 12.8 because of the thickness in the palm, i felt like id get too many stingers with the 12.8 (which i currently get with my old glove and end up with bruises on my hand). But this was only after messing with them in the store for like 15 minutes. does anyone find it hard to open the RX9 fully over the 12.8? i think is just cause it wasn't broken in, but figured id ask.

Tom?

Was the set you looked at red and white? Probably the same ones I saw last month.

[th954]

haha yes they were, they had the full set at the store

[wes782]

Originally Posted by th954

haha yes they were, they had the full set at the store

what shop in fort myers? im moving there at the end of the month