VK5 catch compared to the VK7

[goaltendah1]

I just wanted to post a little information about these two gloves.

My friend Sean just got his VK7 gloves and pads recently and I got a chance to see them last night for a little while.

My immediate impression was very favorable to the new products. I think Glenn has made some very positive changes to the product line. I haven't seen or held any of the early VK7 products that came out when Dave was still with Vortek, but the VK7 glove is definitely not the VK5 anymore. The break is different on the glove. Sean's VK5 glove had more of a finger break and was pretty much game ready when he got it. The VK7 has a palm break and is very similar to the Vaughn Vision. The thumb also angles into the pocket much more than the VK5, which seems to have a flat thumb like the Velocity.

Other changes are the backhand pad, which Mark explains the difference in this thread: Coldaccord's new gloves!

Another favorable change is the top of the t-trap. Before it tended to flex back more and would sometimes invert in towards the pocket. Now it is much stiffer and rigid, which should prevent the pocket from caving in.

The glove is a lot stiffer out of the box, but I think after a good break in period the protection should be much better. It almost feels like the stock glove is a pro palm from the stiffness.

I also like the new VK7 pads; there are definitely a lot of positive changes to the pads. There is still the issue of the inside seam stitching that I have seen worn through on numerous VK5 pads, but overall the pads look great and have a lot of great aspects to them.

Jeff

[Colonial]

Sorry, to make the following corrections in your post.

The VK5 and the VK7 have exactly the same breaks. They also use the same dies for the internal plastics. There are two breaks in the glove and over time the break will conform to the catching style of the Goalie. The glove can be broken in as a palm or a finger break.

The glove is not pro-palmed, what we changed was the thickness of the Plastics in the Glove. The plastics in the VK7 are 25% thicker to add more protection and longevity to the product. The Tee is smaller therefore it feels more solid. It again has not been changed in design. The plastics are made from the same dies as the 45" VK5 Glove. Plastics like anthing else reform shape over time, the lighter plastics did so more readily. The VK7 glove will also change a bit, but not as quickly as the VK5.

The outside stitching is meant to wear away. It is initially sewn into the pad to force a slight S Curve. After a few weeks the foam is trained to the curve and the stitching serves no other purpose. It wears away to prevent snow build-up that can slow you up in down movements situations.

The glove is stiffer out of the box, but we can make it game ready also. That will now be an option the customer can decide. Again, a game ready glove may not last as long as the standard production model.

Thanks for the positive review,

Marc

[goaltendah1]

Thanks for the follow up Marc.

There was one thing that looked different on the T-trap. On the tip that connects to the palm side there seemed to be a more ridged piece of plastic or HD foam. I don't think I noticed that on the VK5, but you can correct me if I am wrong.

Perhaps most of the differences I saw were due to the VK5 being well broken in and perhaps due to the way it may have been stored. I'm not too sure.

Great products for sure though.

Jeff

[Colonial]

Glenn, may be using a different foam in the Tee. I will check with him on that.

I really appreciate the review.

thanks Marc

[Rayzilla]

Just wondering if there were any other feedback from others that have owned or tried both the VK5 and the VK7 gloves. Given that the 7 has more protection than the 5, is it possible that the 7 can be lighter than the 5 (maybe because of changes in other materials)?

Can you feel the difference in coverage between a 45" and a 42" glove, or is most of that size difference lost in the partial closure of the glove in its natural position?

Any other comparison tips would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Raymond

[Rayzilla]

OK, so since no one responded to my question above I went ahead with a purchase of a used VK7. (I recently bought a used white and silver VK5 and am in love with the glove, it didn't come with a VK5 blocker) Since I loved the 5 so much, I wanted to get a back up glove so when I saw this 7 set for sale, I went for it.

I tried it out on the ice for one session. I know that's not enough time to make a conclusive decision, but personally, I know I like my non-NHL spec VK5 better. So I am bucking the trend in wanting to go back to a 48" glove instead of the current trend towards NHL spec gloves.

So this is simply my experience, others may feel that they felt no change in going from a 48" VK5 to a VK7. Maybe I should give it a longer trial period...

[bc30]

You like your old glove because it is your old glove.

Give the new one more time before making a decision.

[wpgmax]

I have no idea why anyone in there right mind that play's beer league (ASHL etc..) would willinging want to play in smaller gear. I keep hearing about guy's that order NHL spec pads to play rec hockey. Why? They're more expensive and cover less net. I've heard the arguement that they improve your mobility. Seems to me NHL goalies moved extremely well with 12" pads on too. I'm thinking the 1/2" on either side of the pad really isn't making that big a difference. Sounds like sales propoganda to help sell 11" pads to people that don't need it to me. (is there a difference? maybe but I don't think it offsets the goals you would have stopped with the extra equipment size - just my opinion)

I am patiently waiting for my new 48" VK5 to arrive soon and will enjoy the hell out of the extra catching area.

[MrMikeEMike]

My pads (which will be replaced if Marc let's me order the gorilla graphic ) are 12". Took advantage of the clearance sale last year. My gloves I actually preferred the smaller gloves for shooting. Before I had no passing ability at all, but when I switched to the NHL-spec Vorteks I had no issue at all. I'll never score a goal, but there was marked improvement.

So for me, it wasn't about the rules. (Heck, I wear OD's, think the rules concern me?) It was more a personal preference.

[bc30]

The current NHL spec on trappers was a godsend to me - up to that point, every glove since the Heaton 3000 was just an oversized peach basket that gave me no feel for catching or controlling the puck. (but then again I wear a baseball sized glove to play softball too) I was working on getting a pro glove in the smaller size when suddenly it was mandatory, saving all that modding effort.

A 45" perimeter glove is plenty large if you aren't treating your trapper like a second blocker and actually catching the puck.

I got 11" pads early on, partly for the mobility, since I was going to a much taller pad and didn't want to have issues with that, and partly because I possibly would be in a situation where I was forced to be in compliance. - for that reason my prior set was true (old) pro-spec and were 11.5" wide to account for future settling. Taking off a half inch in width didn't seem like it would be an issue, blocking wise.

After all that, I figured I might as well just get the pro-spec blocker, too.

[wpgmax]

I can see the need if you have small hands. A new pro spec glove is essentially the small size as the old Intermediate sized gloves. I have small hands and it took me a long time to find gloves that still maintained the 48" size I wanted but didn't feel too large on my hane. I was unable to wear the Smith glove because of this and many others. I've found the RBK (koho 590) as well as the Vorteks just seem to fit my hand well and didn't feel sloppy even at the non NHL spec size.

[bc30]

I don't have small hands and gould handle the size of the glove - the problem with the larger glove was handling the puck. It would just get lost in the webbing, not drop where I wanted it to, and sometimes not at all, forcing me to take whistles where I didn't want them.

While other guys were ordering 50" XLP's and asking for two extra inches in the Tee, I was relacing mine two holes up and tightening the webbing.

If you are catching the puck, you don't need extra blocking surface.

Maybe I'm just old and remember when a Cooper GM21 with no cheater bar was the largest glove on the market.

[wpgmax]

Hey I was born in the 60's too. I grew up using the same type of gear. Wasn't until I was about 12 that they started to make them with the cheaters. I have a very above average glove hand so I don't have any issue with catching the puck. The only glove i've ever had trouble with getting the puck out of ironically was my Silver and white VK5. I think it was due to the way the T twists. For you it works. I just prefer to have the extra blocking area for the odd ones that don't find the webbing...

[bc30]

I moved the anchor point on the Tee so it doesn't twist.

At least in the VK5, the main difference between the 48 and 45 is the length of the tee and the width at the very top of the tee, and of course the cuff. The actual palm portion is not much different - maybe a slight contouring of the outer edge.

Other brands may have arrived at their size reduction by different means.

[bc30]

Hey I was born in the 60's too.

Barely

I was in college before they had cheaters, and I didn't get one then because my gloves were ordered too soon - I think I got mine from the last batch that didn't have them