Soft Goalie Pad versus Stiff Pad - Goalie This v. That 

Im a lacrosse goalie and I don’t even play hockey but these videos are entertaining

Hey Wayne, got a couple video comparison suggestions. 1) Paddle length short vs long (i.e, 24" vs 27") 2) Cats eye cage vs standard goalie cage 3) Suspenders or not (and if so, over or under chesty) 4) Standard laced glove or skate laced glove 5) Dogs or Cats

I always suggest that younger goalies up until junior or high school wear a soft pad, This way they can learn to feel the puck better and control rebounds. As they get older some stay in a soft pad and some go hard. Once a goalie levels off and adapts to that level of play then they can place a rebound with a hard pad wherever they want. I find this to be a little more difficult for goalies playing two years at each level as they move up. Thoughts?

Thank you!! So happy I found your channel.

I’m a forward but I still love watching these videos. Honestly surprised you don’t have even more subscribers

Really enjoy your down to earth and informative videos Wayne. Keep up the great work. :)

I love the Brian’s Netzero pro’s

Hey Wayne, I ve been watching your vids for a while now. I am not gonna say your the reason I bought the warrior G4 set up, but after watching your video I felt pretty good about my purchase.

cool details! just bought some new Bauers...will check out your other videos, thanks for making them!

your quality and personality is awesome

I'm a skater but I genuinely love your vids!

Really good video.

It's a treat to see a goalie that knows what they're talking about with good video and editing qualities... Too many decent goalies using a potato for a camera with no editing abilities. Well done VOGoalie.

Hey man I love your channel! I started playing inline this year and I'm loving it! I play goalie and I was looking to buy some equipment and I really don't know what to chose. This far I like the Bauer S150 as it has a good quality/price relation (I'm in uni and I can't afford really expensive gear) Anyway, do you recommend me some kinda begginers gear? Than you very much!!

congrats on 2k!

Great video

Another great video. Thanks

:) Man! Just want to thank you for the idea of changing up the velcro strapping format! I tried it today, my pads never felt so good!

I love this now series

right now i wear soft pads i was looking in to buying stiff pads a while ago this video really gave me a good idea thank you much and keep up the great work

I’m getting back into goaltending, and just found your channel a couple weeks ago because that. It’s been about 8 years or so and I’m still debating to go to back to roller or go to ice for the first time regularly. I did Brian Hayward’s goalie camp in Anaheim yearssss ago I think at 11 yes old (that’s the last time I was goalie on ice lol). I’m 22 now and am trying to get all the padding for my frame, so these videos are great! I bought some Simmons ultra light 1 (yes the first generation lol) for $80 and they’re practically brand new, I’d say they’re on softer side haha. I’m probably a soft pad guy

I can relate to this video. My Reebok Revoke pads that I used in the past are a lot more flexible and softer due to the double outer break, and I would have the Velcro straps pretty snug and the buckle straps fairly loose...but ever since I switched to Bauer’s Supreme line, they are a lot stiffer with no breaks and with only the use of Velcro straps, I find they feel a lot better where they’re loose instead of being snug to my leg like the Reebok’s!!

I like a stiffer lighter pad, I have the Bauer Supreme 1S OD1N pads. The leg channel is also basically the width of my hand and I have a pretty decently sized hand.

Soft, currently in CCM E-Flex3.9 with a double break. Great video, really like your content.

I love both. I have a stiff vaughn v7 rx iceberg set. Most underrated set for a blocking style. They are unreal. I love them so much. I love my rx10 set. Best soft pads that I have ever worn. I love both because it gives you different perspectives.

Wow great video. I have been in the market and plan to upgrade from my old Vaughn V3s. I really like what warrior has done with the G4s along with Vaughn with the V8s. It's overwhelming how different the new pads are and how much they have changed. Thanks for the very detailed breakdown!!

Hi Wayne, Thanks for all the hard work you have been putting in. I'm in the Vaughn Ventus LT98's and came from the Vaughn 2200 Pro Carbon pad, I fell in love with the lightness and superior ice seal. But the softer pad was a lot more comfortable to play and practise in. This year I'm experience minor knee and hip problems and I'm thinking of going back to a softer pad, probably the CCM platform. Because I've heard that CCM does a lot of anatomical testing on there products. My hip issue could be the result of old age or over use as I put in a lot of time practising and playing. Also, I found I had to put a lot of effort in widening my B-fly, in order, to close up the 5 hole on the LT98's. An interesting research, topic that you may be interested in, is whether the gear companies design their products with consideration of reducing stress in the knee and hip joints. It seems these days, it's all about stopping the puck. And I also cant help but wonder, how messed up the pros get from decades of repetitive work. Thanks again, keep up the good work.

Great to see u back on the ice. Hope U can give me an advice. Iam looking for some new pads. Iam looking between Warrior G4 and Bauer 2x (both Senior not pro) and maybe 2s. Most time of the year playing Inline-Skaterhockey with few ice sessions. Which pad would u recommend? Greets from 🇩🇪

I don't know any more Wanna see reviews on Vaughn SLR 2 come out, the little I've seen looks very promising, also, Vaughn kicks ass!

I play a warrior Ritual 1. With 2 breaks. I like the stiffness for the rebound control . But i need 2 breaks for the style i play. I also removed all straps except for the top 2. And have velcro for the knee and calf. I use flex toe on the sliding bridge and removed the other skate strap (i like my heel to be free). I also added 3/4 " stiff foam to the knee landing. So i sit higher up when I land. GREAT VIDEO as always!!!

I’m 5’10” and weigh 185lbs. I wear CCM E-Flex III (Pro model). I have modified the pads a bit. I replaced the two laces with CCM Elastic & Velcro Toes (much more responsive give me more freedom but bringing the pad back into position more precisely). I removed the boot strap entirely (With elastic velcro cradles who needs a boot strap?) I do the elastics medium snug, and run the knee elastic down to my calf. The two calf straps are done loose, and I removed the outer wing of the knee cradle as well. I wear Bauer Supreme Knee pads underneath socks to give a little extra protection at the knee and to lift my knee a bit as well relieving torsion on my knees when i go down. This also allows for a wider butterfly. The E-Flex pads are a softer pad and keep rebounds closer allowing me to play the puck and have more control. This is a matter of taste. As you pointed out a stiffer pad is going to punch the puck farther out on a rebound. Which you like is a matter of preference. I like to be able to grab it and play it, but at the same time that means that if I can’t play it I may end up a little more vulnerable. The inverse of that is that with a stiffer pad that punches the puck out further. One can actually put the puck into play in a dangerous place. Both are viable and both have their drawbacks, the important thing is to know what to expect and play to your own strengths as a goalie. Cheers,

CCM P2.9 pads and Warrior Ritual CR2 Goalie Stick

That's exactly how I wear my Warrior G3s! The elastic toe and heel straps make the pad feel responsive, even when I strap the calf and knee very loosely. One day, I'll work up the courage to try the Lundy Loop, too! I'm in love with stiff pads now. Having a stiffer pad lets me kick out rebounds further, which in turn gives me more time to recover and react to the next shot. It seems like rebounds from within 3 feet in front of me are the hardest to stop, because there is no time to respond.

Vaughn V6 2200 Pros. Soft-ish pads, but they are still “stiff” and since they have no knee rolls, they play like a stiff butterfly pad. Another great video by the way!

Great job Wayne! Love your channel! Back into the pipes after a 20 year layoff. Knees and hips aren't what they used to be, and when i played years ago butterfly was not common. I've been working on the butterfly challenge 3.0 from Maria Mountain (top pro goalie) exercise psychologist London, Ontario Canada) to improve my flexibility in both my hips and knees to become more hybrid I guess. Do you have any vids or can you do one on toe strapping or lack of toe strapping for decrease in knee and hip strain. Just an idea. I found leaving a 1" to 1½" space from toe bridge has helped me. Thanks for your time! Always look forward to your content.

I just started goalie at at age 22 and play with a stiff pad but this is to be able to keep the play going and I love taking as many shots as possible

I am wearing custom Vaughn v6 pads with a v2 channel. But I am probably going to change to ccm e flex cause they aren't as tight

Reebok Primers 4 Pro Custom. Love em.

I feel like I have soft pads (Reebok) I've had them for a while now and I will gotten so used to them it's just what I'm comfortable with. I'm seeing a lot more goalies in my league switch to the velcrow stiff pads (because they're newer and more available) but I find they actually open up your 5 hole more so I'm going to stick with my pads lol.

Vaughn VE8s here, definitely soft for me. I like to compare my playstyle to that of Lehner or Fleury, very agile so I need the most comfortable pads possible.

I loveeeee the x900s

A problem I've noticed is I don't have a ton of hip flare in my butterfly. So with a softer pad, that S curve helps to close my butterfly. With a harder pad, they kind of converge out in front of me in a triangle in a butterfly. It's why I don't want to go from the Bauer Reactors up to the Vapors or the 2s line. I'd love a harder surface to get those faster rebounds, but still be able to have a little S curve, so I'm thinking of trying CCM, or any other pad that I can have a strap up higher on the pad, and a double break.

I’ve been thinking about getting a stiff pad this vid helped. I’m convinced

Me personally I like more of a softer pad. I’m currently using CCM extreme flex 3s. I like my pads to be tight to my leg.

I just started playing again after almost 19 years. The set of pads before i stopped playing were the Louisville tps cujos, they were both alot softer and not nearly as tall as the set of ccm premier 2`s i bought back in november when i got back in net. The new pads felt really akward and weird the first 2-3 practices. But now i absolutely love them! They seal the ice alot better, and the rebounds go flying away every time. I still havent found the perfect way to strap them yet, still trying to figure out what works best for my style of play 😊 but holy sh*it do they slide!!! I am still trying to adapt my style so i utilise the potential of the butterfly crawl, that wasn´t a thing yet when i stopped playing in the year 2000 even tough i was kinda ahead of my time back then the way i played using the hybrid butterfly style before it really took off 😊

I recently bought a set of v7s. And coming from the s29 it was like learning a new, old, skill. After trying them both I like the v7's better.

I have Bauer Supreme 2S Pro pads. I wear them as loose as I can get them for the leg channel. I find them a lot easier to close off the 5 hole either when going down and when in full butterfly on the ice.than my old Reebok 7K's that these replaced. Have you compared foam core vs composite goal sticks yet?

New to the goalie racket this year. Got over 20 games punched, enough to buy new pads. Got the new pads, went from a 31+1 to a 34+1 (to close up my 5 hole) played a game with them and was very difficult. I was fighting them on the top. After that game I found out about breaking them in. The video said break them in for 30min. I wasnt sure how I would find it so I only did it for 15min. Found it better but I really had to find out alot of things about the pads. Tightness, and toe attachment. Since loosening the pads and changing the toe laces the pad is at a spot now where I am not fighting them and they are actually cormfortable. I went with ccm 2.5 Extreame pads.

I used to wear the softest pads I could get. With that being said, the only pads left on the market by the time I stopped playing (early-mid 2010s) were the Don Simmons Hybrid pads which were designed as a modernized version of the old Heaton pads. Was probably the only guy in their 20s who preferred that style, plus I wore them with toe buckles instead of a lace -- such a throwback. Tried the harder pads once, someone else's, and found I couldn't move.

Thanks

tight leg channel 1 calf strap no knee strap. 2 inches of play in the toe tie.. 3mm blades, no cowling with a 5/8 sharpenning... good shufle great bite in the butterfly. knee pads are a must

I personally got around the fact that you need to wear a pad loose if they're stiff by adding a professor strap and also using shock cord toe ties. Keep to my leg but also highly responsive and don't flop around. But every time I land their flat as hell.

I use Bauer vapor x900 pads and i love them

My personal favorite flavor of pads is vanilla also an idea for a video is for pads Velcro or straps

CCM P2.9 All white set, love it. Stiff but not straight

I love my pads being stiff. My pads are 2 by 4s. The pads I wear right now are CCM premier 2s.

Yay im totally awesome

I havent played in 8 years. This is the biggest dilemma Im having as a goalie coming from KOHO 580 pads 😫 trying out the CCM Premiers as I do play a blocking style 🤷🏻‍♂️ wish me luck 🍻

As a hybrid goalie, I always lean toward softer pads. They feel much more fluid for movement and leg control. I don't butterfly, even if my life depends on it lol, so I can't get comfortable in those stiffer butterfly style pads. I've always been an itech fan but now since they were bought out by Bauer, I use the rx line. They're as close to that itech feel that I love. #90sGoalieTraining #AntiButterfly lol

I went from a stiff Warrior pro pad to a softer Vaughn Ventus SLR pro pad. Both only had 1 break below the knee but the Vaughn was still softer. I find I like the extra flex. I know a lot of people say the SLR is stiff but compared to the Warrior it was softer. The Vaughn pad isn't a huge difference in softness but it's enough that I feel like I can get into my proper stance easier and I can make sudden movements much easier. I was also having pucks skips under me in the Warrior pad but never in the Vaughn. Not sure why this is but I assume it's the strapping and the way the pads respond to my movements. Both are great pads but I much prefer the Vaughn.

I wear 34+1 Brian G-Netiks 5.0 Series, I’d say they are between stiff and loose at the same time, and I enjoy them a lot!

i did pretty much the same change. from an RBK xpulse i strapped pretty snug, to a Warrior G2 that's pretty loose. The interesting thing is I don't feel any less "responsiveness" or control, in fact I feel more connected to these pads than any other pad I've used.

Currently in G3's, came frome Vaughn Velocity 2's. I love the G3's, but am curious to try a softer pad again to see which I really prefer. Do a vid on trapper break angles if you could. Thanks.

i like them soft, but i want harder rebounds. switched from premier to Eflex4. from feeling the pad out it seems like this might be the perfect combo (kinda)

Wood vs foam core vs composite sticks. Also, if you do a sick video, it'd be cool to touch on the different blade curves as well.

Hey man great vid. I use a stiff pad

I like the stiff pad because in my first game wearing them I got a shutout 8-0

Right now I’m using ccm Eflex pads but I’m thing of using true l20.2 or ccm axis 2.9

Nice video

Hey Wayne you think you can make a video talking about toe straps or toe ties..For months ive had several break on me while playing and i would really like to know what may help

I wear Brian’s optik fly (which is the stiff one) because I have a very wide stance, and normally crouched down a bit because of my height

I’m wearing Brian’s Gnetik 5.0 with a vintage stitch graphic👌🏼 Double break

Are all Brand the same? What is more important? The Hype or Personal Preference?

I used to use CCM premier 1, now I use warrior R/GT pro. I have found that a harder pad is better for me because I'm tall enough (6' 200#) that I can afford to sit deeper in my crease; therefore, I prefer the rebound to go as far as possible so that I am not fighting for uncontrolled pucks in a danger zone. As far as the fit, I have to vary that with the team that I'm playing with. If I'm playing with a team that has a strong forecheck but is going to give up a lot of break aways, i play with a stiffer fit (knee strap behind the knee) to allow for fast response particular for 5 hole shots. If I'm playing with a team that has a strong backcheck, I tend to play with a looser fit (knee strap behind the calf) which will allow the pad to be more on the ice as im further sprawled out during one-shots.

So I have a pair of old Reebox revoke pros and I cant figure out what they are. They have 2 breaks, but they have leather straps. And from the feel, they kick put rebounds pretty hard. I’m a bit on the newer side of being a goalie but my 5 hole is terrible. Im about 5’9 and they’re 33+1 and they honestly feel too long. Any thoughts?

Dude, I'm so confused haha. I've had a set of old Reeboks. I think fleury/Luongo used them in 2007 or so. Anyways, they look like a "stiff" pad by your definition. So last year I got a set of Bauer RX pads which seem like soft pads since I'm a little old school and probably more hybrid, but they felt like bricks. I couldn't move well, and they rubbed my shins pretty bad. I adjusted em to same same tightness of the old ones. So not sure if its just because my old ones are broken in really well haha or what I should do. I had to go back to my old ones because I was getting killed with em.

Stiff pad. I rock the Bauer gsx pads

I have a soft pads. Always wore them. I really can't say a stiff is better because I have never tried them. Given the narrow fly I play not sure stiff pad would work for me.

What kind of pads do you recommend for a young starting out goalie eight years old in his first year being a full-time goalie.

Ok I've got a question for you. My pads are from the 90's. Heaton z90. I've got a pair of TPS summit but I just cant seem to get them to feel and move right while I play. I always had my old pads tight and one of the things with the new pads I'm having a hard time with is that it has no top strap. Do you have any suggestions on a new pad that would feel closest to my old ones. I play a hybrid style.

Do you have a video on measuring a pad

I’m 5’8 with 34’ +2 pads what size should I get cuz these are way to big I got them my first year not knowing it was very odd for someone my size to have these huge ass pads

I had Bauer 1s senior small. Mobility good, semi loose channel, 5 hole BAD. Went to CCM Eflex 2 pro 34+2. Had to wear them Super loose to be comfortable, mobility average, 5 hole Good, butterfly wide. CCM E3.9 33+2. Medium tight. Excellent mobility, 5 hole good, wide butterfly but slightly smaller then 34+2. Now i have my Godly Bauer 1x Mediums. Superior Mobility, excellent 5 hole, little narrower on Bfly then ccm but better then 1s. The soft boot and stiff upper is a huge win for me! 1x pads I wear then leg channel with large straps about half way on velcro. Id say its on the looser side. I am also 5"9 with longer legs build.

Could you do a video on wide butterfly VS a narrow butterfly? I like a wide butterfly but I feel a lot less mobile down in the butterfly. In a narrow butterfly I feel very exposed.

Also hows that warrior ritual g4 glove i have a bauer reflex thats 7 years old we got used and its falling apart im gojng to check it out at my local hockey shop and see how it feels but does it funnel into the glove or bounce out

In my childhood in the 90's we used soft pads. After a short (15 years :) ) brake in my carreer, i tried a stiff one. The difference is awsome. It is much better for me. I like it very much. More accurate and faster rebounds, easier movement, and it seems lighter to me.

The Warrior pad looks thinner in width. Can you measure those 2 pads across the back side of the thigh rise across width?

I have a pair of CCM Reto Flex

Can you still curve a really stiff pad? I want to get the L20.1 stiff no break option. Will I be able to curve it

you should do a cage comparison. cross bar to cat eye

CCM vs Bauer skates??

How about cowling skates vs non-cowling skates?

Here's a theory question for a possible episode. I've been pondering lately whether or not I should play Shinny (pickup) games during the league season. They are SO different in that there is almost zero defense at pickup games, and would I develop bad habits that translate to league games. I found myself having to really think about it mentally switching back and forth. Cheers.

My pad is vanilla flavored... yum

For a beginner goalie, what is the best stick for a grandma?

I own a pair of s190 bauer supreme and they are some of the best pads ive ever had got them to weeks ago stell getting used to them but thoughs babys slide

Im 36 just started playing hockey a cpl years ago...ive tended net a few times using CCM Flexpro500 Currently using sherwood gear from former Islanders goalie

Barrel (c/a tucked) vs tapered (c/a outside) pants!

Floorball goalie here but these r really interesting

I was just wondering about whether I should consider buying the stiffer SLR2 or softer PVE 2019...currently in VE8