Vortek pad break-in time?

[bean]

Okay so I've had my pads for 9 months but I have only used them a total of 10 times for practice. I've sat on them, stuck them under a computer desk....but my mobility has been cut in half EASY by getting bigger gear....

Old pads - 32" INT brians demons (more of a 31"+ 1) 10"

New Pads - 32"+ 1 Vortek vk5's 11" NHL spec...

the inside corners of the pads keep hitting when I skate.. the boot channel is sr my skates are jr so I'm working on a piece of foam that I can stick in there to raise the pad a bit as the toe-tie thingy is about 1cm above the ice... (this was my fault, I should have asked for an int boot channel) I can't push off in butterfly because my skate barely touches the ice (due to the boot channel)

My actual butter fly is wicked, but my stance is all messed up now because I have to widen it about 8" total and I'm only 5"1! I can't bring my knees in close because the outside of the pad hits the ice and I fall!! SO my main fear is the gear is just too big for me!

So I look like this but it WAY nicer gear! lol!



So here's my problem... because I do play in a competitve women's league as a starting goalie, they want to me to keep using my old stuff, until my new stuff is broken in... but I can only wear it in practice... we only have three practices scheduled until christmas.. so my gear is never going to get broken in...

how long does it usually take?

If it's going to take too long, I'm going to have to sell it and re-order INT pads. No point in having brand-new gear sitting and do nothing!!! (My gloves are awesome though... I've never had to break in new gloves and these are amazingliy easy)

[Doc Holliday]

So your new pads are effectively 2" taller and 1" wider. That really shouldn't be enough of a change to totally ruin you.

Sounds like more of a case of not having enough ice time to get used to the pads. I'd do the boot channel mod and keep them personally, try to get some ice time or wear them to some public skates so you can practice moving in them.

[bean]

for someone as short as I am even 1" is a big change! I want to keep trying them but I really don't have time to go to open skates. I coach twice a week play ball hockey 3 times and play hockey 3 times... no spare time to myself!

[Doc Holliday]

So you don't have time to break in pads properly because of how you've set up your schedule then?

I have a distinct lack of sympathy.

Wear the new pads in practice then and the old ones in games if you're worried about it. 3 practices in 3 months for a "competitive" teams sounds silly anyway.

[bean]

I know it's weird we usually have atleast two practices a week.. but because of a late start to the season and lack of ice availible in edmonton we're finding it hard to get any more then 3! As for lack of time... that's what winter brings... no free time and I'm okay with that! Keeps me busy, I get lots of hockey in, stay in good shape and have fun! so I'm not looking for sympathy! lol!

I love these pads, don't get me wrong, they are by far the best pads I've owned... I just cannot figure out how to make them work...and I don't want to be here two years later with pads I've just been wearing in practice and still look new!

It doesn't help that the coaches keep telling me they are too big! yes they are new and it's going to take time to get used to them, but I've never had to change the way I play because of a pad.

I know I'm slower with them I can feel it... but I know it's because they are new... I'll try and find the video of me in them!

[MadMax31]

Well, my Team never dictates what gear I wear.... Baptisism by Fire has given me the right to pick and choose who my friggin defencemen are.

I would say you need to play pick-up games with your new gear, old gear your no-doubt use to, so using those in the games wont hamper you.

I take shots at my pads in the driveway with anything that will hit em hard. Bend them in S shape under tables, Carpet-flys at home. Hell hit em with a bat, sides too.

Bottom line is, you gotta use em to break-em-in... I took a "Leap of Faith" by selling my old pads to pay-off my untested new ones. Im happy with them, but every pad is different.

I thought the Vorteks were a stiff box pad? Meaning the thigh rise wouldnt flex much anyway??

[Doc Holliday]

Video? Right on, then we can tell you how much you suck. j/k

[bean]

the thigh rise is the only part of my pad that bends! (okay the knee has some flex too!)

I think a big part of my issue is just the sizing... I hummed and hawed about it for a while... I think I'm going to steal my little goalies 31"+1" vorteks and use those for a game and see how they feel...if there isn't much difference I'll just stick with the 32"+1's....

Any idea of how I can make a piece of foam stay between my pad and the boot.. there isn't anything I can tie it to.. until I make loops and put it through the skate strap...?!

[bean]

I wish I could get a bewfore and after.. I'll have to go through the video's that I have!

[Doc Holliday]

Duct tape works for everything, seriously.

You could contact cement it into the boot channel as well

Or contact cement then duct tape.

[cRoy]

These concerns might be something to bring up with Marc. I am sure they could work out a solution to help you out.

[bean]

DUCT TAPE.... why didn't I think of that!





these are old but my pads are about the same.. tonight I'll find the newer ones!

[Doc Holliday]

You suck

It doesn't look that bad really, more than likely you need ice time to get used to them, going to have to make time somehow or get used to the fact you're going to have a longer adjustment period.

[Foxton]

They do look somewhat wide for your height but how tall they are looks fine. Really put em side by side and you could probably hide behind them.

Nothing really that looks like you play bad with them. I'd say play more with them in a game setting, knowing how you'll feel in a game using them is different than a less stressful practice.

[ScJeff]

Sara(Protectiveathleticwear.com) Could make a boot raiser that attaches via velcro to ur pad. Or she has many other ones if u still need that fixed.