radicals goalie 35
07-27-2007, 11:15 PM
Hey gang, I’ve had these pads for awhile and I’ve decided I should do a review. My initial thoughts of this pad were wow! These pads are amazing, just love the way the pads feel on my leg. i feal really confident wearing these pads. Anyway I will get on with the review.
FEATURES:
UPPER FLAP: at first I really didn’t mind this, didn’t get in the way didn’t bunch up, and pucks seemed to get stuck in it. Well after a month or so, it started to break down, it wasn’t as stiff and didn’t overlap. It would bunch up and just piss me off. No goals because of it, I just didn’t like it. I got it removed and it is a little more comfortable, but I could have lived with it still their.
+1 THIGH RISE: I’m fine with it, I can get my 5-hole closed pretty well, and I don’t feel like my mobility has been hindered. I’m thinking maybe a +2 next time, because I don’t always get it closed. also i will get a squared up thigh rise.
KNEE BREAKS: I don’t mind the knee breaks in the pad, I’ve always been used to having 1 break as opposed to 2 breaks, and 1 still feels more comfortable, I don’t know why though, it just does. I think on the next set I order the thigh rise will be thinned out by ½ a inch, and maybe 1 break only. im not sure i like a really flexible pad, but i can get my 5 hole close better witha pad that has one outter break.
LEG CHANNEL: no complaints, I’m thinking of widening it by 1inch for my next set, but I think I can live with the way it is now. I wish they had used a different material for the leg channel (the grey area) it just seems to grip to my socks. I don’t know what material I would change it to, but I would like to.
KNEE STACKS/ LOCK: the knee is very comfortable, no complaint about my knee hurting, only thing is after the pad broke in, the knee became wobblely. Kind of hard to explain in writing, but the landing gear (including the part on the out side of the stacks) doesn’t feel stable. I doesn’t bother me that much, I’m just thinking if it will get looser in the future and I think that would bother me. the knee lock is a knee lock....http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/wink.gif
BALANCE STABILIZER: I like the way I feel in my butterfly with this, but I think the pad could be more flexible with out it, let me explain, the pad could flex more when down, but the knee and stabilizer hit and the pad doesn’t flex any more. I don’t know if on my next set I would want it gone because I can’t tell if it is just a gimmick or if it actually keeps the pad balance. Any on who has had velo’s with out the stabilizer and with it can you tell me.
SQUARE KNEE WING: again, same with the balance stabilizer, it bunches up. When I drop down, only some times, the blocks over lap. It isn’t the fault of the pad, more so my own. I need to get a little more flexible then that would be solved. Anyone else ever experience this problem?http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/smile.gif
FLEXIBLITY: The pads can hold a great cure in them. I keep them up side down every night, so they are prefect. The boot has broken in nicely as well, and it will break in some more. Pads flex great, but I find if I don’t leave them upside down, they stiffena little bit, but not to much.
BOOT: The boot is pretty broken in and it feels good now. The toe bridge didn’t take any time to get used to, but I really can’t tell the difference between using a toe bridge or having it right in the pad (like the KOHO 580’s). the only problem I experience with the boot is on occasion (like once or twice a time I play), when I go for a butterfly slide, instead of my boot dropping a bit, it gets stuck and cause a bit of uncomfortness.http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/mad.gif I’ll show by adding photo’s later. i solved this thanks to memebers suggestions at goalie store, less slack.
BUTTERFLY: I feel very comfort able in my butterfly with these, the only problem I had is rotation. I can guarantee that it is not the fault of my pads, just the way I drop and my lack of hip and knee flexibility. I almost always get a V with my pads when I go down.i find if i wear them tigher they rotate better. I have also noticed something about this pad that is weird, when I first get on the ice, they stick. If I don’t practice butterfly slides or get a good warm up my pads will stick for the first part of the game. Has anyone else noticed that with these pads? http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/confused.gifA big positive I feel in these pads is when down I can move easily. Pushing from side to side on the ice is easy and when I do this, my pads stay square and feel great.
REBOUND CONTROL: This isn’t a problem at all. If the puck hits the top of my pads is drops, dead and can easily be covered up. If it hits the shin section, it almost always goes right to the comer, unless I direct it some where else. The toes also work well. I find if I kick a little, when the puck hits my toe, it goes to the corner. Sometimes it will bounce right back in front, but that happens with any pad.
11Vs 12: I know that this seems to be a big difference but it isn’t. maybe the pad I was in before (Brian’s beast) were justnot bulky . I switch between these and KOHO 580’s for inline and the extra inch is not notice able. But I guess it all depends on what pads you have.
GRAPHIC/ COLOUR COMBO: I really like this color combo and graphic. The next set I get I think I will have less white, and more silver (or a different color) in it. I would like to see a custom graphic like dukes v2 swirl, but done to v3’s. ( outline the tribal thingies). I just think that would look cool.http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/cool.gif
STRAPPING: something I love and hate. With the top 2 nylon straps, I think it is great that I can adjust them to find what works best. The think I hate is I’ve change the top straps at least 10 timeshttp://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/eek.gif throughout the time I’ve used them and I will probably just keep changing them…. Every time I think this is the perfect way, then I change them again and think this is better now and so one. Right now I use the bottom 2 and the top strap is snug and lower strap is pretty loose, border line snug. edit, ive tighend up all the straps and they feel much better.
I would recommend this pad for any goalie, butterfly, or Hybrid, stand up could use it like any other pad, but there are better pads for a stand up goalie. If you have a narrow butterfly like me I would recommend them, and if you have a wide butterfly I would recommend them because they can be used.
MODS FOR NEXT SET:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- +2 thigh rise
-thinned out thigh rise
- Solid upper break (pending on what people say about it)
-wider leg channel (pending on how I feel the day I get a next set)http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/tongue.gif
-different material in leg Channel (nylon)
- Knee pad instead of thigh boards
- No upper flap
- Something to stiffen up knee stacks/ knee wing.
- custom triable graphic (just a dream:D)
I want to thank the dudes at Dukes for being so helpful with the messed up graphic pad and making sure I got what I wanted, plus selling me all the gear I have gotten since February ( v3 pads, 580 pads, nike bauer xxx c/a, and sheer- wood 9950 stick) I’ll be back to get a new mask.
Also I have to thank Vaughn for making my new pads in 4 DAYS!!!!!!!!! They took care of the graphic problem very well and have gotten a customer for a long time. Also I gotta thank mums, she drove me their and listened to my whining about the graphic on the v3’s. I have to say these are the best pads ive ever had, and with the mods i plan to get eventually, i think this will be the best pad ever for me!I'll add more tommmorow
Peace
rg35
FEATURES:
UPPER FLAP: at first I really didn’t mind this, didn’t get in the way didn’t bunch up, and pucks seemed to get stuck in it. Well after a month or so, it started to break down, it wasn’t as stiff and didn’t overlap. It would bunch up and just piss me off. No goals because of it, I just didn’t like it. I got it removed and it is a little more comfortable, but I could have lived with it still their.
+1 THIGH RISE: I’m fine with it, I can get my 5-hole closed pretty well, and I don’t feel like my mobility has been hindered. I’m thinking maybe a +2 next time, because I don’t always get it closed. also i will get a squared up thigh rise.
KNEE BREAKS: I don’t mind the knee breaks in the pad, I’ve always been used to having 1 break as opposed to 2 breaks, and 1 still feels more comfortable, I don’t know why though, it just does. I think on the next set I order the thigh rise will be thinned out by ½ a inch, and maybe 1 break only. im not sure i like a really flexible pad, but i can get my 5 hole close better witha pad that has one outter break.
LEG CHANNEL: no complaints, I’m thinking of widening it by 1inch for my next set, but I think I can live with the way it is now. I wish they had used a different material for the leg channel (the grey area) it just seems to grip to my socks. I don’t know what material I would change it to, but I would like to.
KNEE STACKS/ LOCK: the knee is very comfortable, no complaint about my knee hurting, only thing is after the pad broke in, the knee became wobblely. Kind of hard to explain in writing, but the landing gear (including the part on the out side of the stacks) doesn’t feel stable. I doesn’t bother me that much, I’m just thinking if it will get looser in the future and I think that would bother me. the knee lock is a knee lock....http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/wink.gif
BALANCE STABILIZER: I like the way I feel in my butterfly with this, but I think the pad could be more flexible with out it, let me explain, the pad could flex more when down, but the knee and stabilizer hit and the pad doesn’t flex any more. I don’t know if on my next set I would want it gone because I can’t tell if it is just a gimmick or if it actually keeps the pad balance. Any on who has had velo’s with out the stabilizer and with it can you tell me.
SQUARE KNEE WING: again, same with the balance stabilizer, it bunches up. When I drop down, only some times, the blocks over lap. It isn’t the fault of the pad, more so my own. I need to get a little more flexible then that would be solved. Anyone else ever experience this problem?http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/smile.gif
FLEXIBLITY: The pads can hold a great cure in them. I keep them up side down every night, so they are prefect. The boot has broken in nicely as well, and it will break in some more. Pads flex great, but I find if I don’t leave them upside down, they stiffena little bit, but not to much.
BOOT: The boot is pretty broken in and it feels good now. The toe bridge didn’t take any time to get used to, but I really can’t tell the difference between using a toe bridge or having it right in the pad (like the KOHO 580’s). the only problem I experience with the boot is on occasion (like once or twice a time I play), when I go for a butterfly slide, instead of my boot dropping a bit, it gets stuck and cause a bit of uncomfortness.http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/mad.gif I’ll show by adding photo’s later. i solved this thanks to memebers suggestions at goalie store, less slack.
BUTTERFLY: I feel very comfort able in my butterfly with these, the only problem I had is rotation. I can guarantee that it is not the fault of my pads, just the way I drop and my lack of hip and knee flexibility. I almost always get a V with my pads when I go down.i find if i wear them tigher they rotate better. I have also noticed something about this pad that is weird, when I first get on the ice, they stick. If I don’t practice butterfly slides or get a good warm up my pads will stick for the first part of the game. Has anyone else noticed that with these pads? http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/confused.gifA big positive I feel in these pads is when down I can move easily. Pushing from side to side on the ice is easy and when I do this, my pads stay square and feel great.
REBOUND CONTROL: This isn’t a problem at all. If the puck hits the top of my pads is drops, dead and can easily be covered up. If it hits the shin section, it almost always goes right to the comer, unless I direct it some where else. The toes also work well. I find if I kick a little, when the puck hits my toe, it goes to the corner. Sometimes it will bounce right back in front, but that happens with any pad.
11Vs 12: I know that this seems to be a big difference but it isn’t. maybe the pad I was in before (Brian’s beast) were justnot bulky . I switch between these and KOHO 580’s for inline and the extra inch is not notice able. But I guess it all depends on what pads you have.
GRAPHIC/ COLOUR COMBO: I really like this color combo and graphic. The next set I get I think I will have less white, and more silver (or a different color) in it. I would like to see a custom graphic like dukes v2 swirl, but done to v3’s. ( outline the tribal thingies). I just think that would look cool.http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/cool.gif
STRAPPING: something I love and hate. With the top 2 nylon straps, I think it is great that I can adjust them to find what works best. The think I hate is I’ve change the top straps at least 10 timeshttp://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/eek.gif throughout the time I’ve used them and I will probably just keep changing them…. Every time I think this is the perfect way, then I change them again and think this is better now and so one. Right now I use the bottom 2 and the top strap is snug and lower strap is pretty loose, border line snug. edit, ive tighend up all the straps and they feel much better.
I would recommend this pad for any goalie, butterfly, or Hybrid, stand up could use it like any other pad, but there are better pads for a stand up goalie. If you have a narrow butterfly like me I would recommend them, and if you have a wide butterfly I would recommend them because they can be used.
MODS FOR NEXT SET:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- +2 thigh rise
-thinned out thigh rise
- Solid upper break (pending on what people say about it)
-wider leg channel (pending on how I feel the day I get a next set)http://www.goaliestore.com/board/images/smilies/tongue.gif
-different material in leg Channel (nylon)
- Knee pad instead of thigh boards
- No upper flap
- Something to stiffen up knee stacks/ knee wing.
- custom triable graphic (just a dream:D)
I want to thank the dudes at Dukes for being so helpful with the messed up graphic pad and making sure I got what I wanted, plus selling me all the gear I have gotten since February ( v3 pads, 580 pads, nike bauer xxx c/a, and sheer- wood 9950 stick) I’ll be back to get a new mask.
Also I have to thank Vaughn for making my new pads in 4 DAYS!!!!!!!!! They took care of the graphic problem very well and have gotten a customer for a long time. Also I gotta thank mums, she drove me their and listened to my whining about the graphic on the v3’s. I have to say these are the best pads ive ever had, and with the mods i plan to get eventually, i think this will be the best pad ever for me!I'll add more tommmorow
Peace
rg35