HotBranch!
10-08-2008, 07:11 PM
After 10 years, it was finally time to retire my Brian's Ridge goalie pants (due in part to wear and the pants being too large and offering spots where the puck was sneaking in and causing bruises). I had been considering the change since last year, and was looking at the different options on the market. Last week, I decided it was time to go from browsing to actual shopping.
I did a bit of research online and saw that choices in my budget (sub-$300) were limited. I would have loved to get a pair of top-end Brown pants, but they were out of my price range and would have been a custom order.
I looked at some RBK pants, and liked the Sr Pro model with the dual belt system, but RBK does not cater to the middle aged goalie market. The say that the Xl pants fir a waist size of 36-38, but they fit like spandex and I wear a 38 waist. The price was right at $160, but the largest size didn"t feel comfortable. The inner thigh padding is probably the best of all the pants I checked out; standing with my feet at shoulder width, my five hole was closed, and I was a bit concerned about my mobility.
I saw a pair of CCM gatekeepers at $250, but they were as snug as the RBKs; the difference being that the CCMs were Large, while the RBKs were an XL. Gotta love the different sizing standards!
Went to a different store and tried on a modern set of Brians Ridge pants (at a bargain $170), but they somehow felt "off". Not what I had grown used to over the last 10 years.
Tried the Itech XPRX9 pant ($250) and the fit was good (in a Large). Didn't really like the graphics stitched into the thighs, but these were the best fitting pants I had tried so far. I liked the high back padding, but the thighs were the longest of all the pants I tried. I felt that they would probably interfere with my pads, so I told the guy I would be back after checking out another store.
The fourth store was the charm. There were Vaughns (outside my price range), Bauers (didn't seem all that protective), RBKs that I had already seen, and some Itech HPElite pants. I tried the HPElites in a Large and they fit great. They have two outer belts, a decent rise on the back, and "scalloped" padding between the waist and thigh boards. They also have integrated knee protection that protrudes below the thigh, but I don't feel they offer sufficient protection to give up wearing my knee pads. The best part was they were the cheapest of all the pants I tried at $150! :D
The biggest change I have to get used to is not having suspenders and wearing my upper body on the outside of my pants, but these new pants are lighter and I was able to make a few saves that I probably wouldn't have made with my other pants. They fit more snugly, but it seems to have helped my mobility. I only have one game under my belt (pardon the pun), so I will update my review as I use them more, but I am pretty happy with my purchase so far.
If anyone is looking to buy some used Brians Ridge pants (royal blue with lace-in red knee/thigh pads), drop me a line. They are still in good condition and can easily accomodate a goalie with a waist of 44 (I was considerably larger 10 years ago), maybe even 46, with room to tuck the chest pad into the pants. There are some duct tape repairs on the inside, and one of the suspender buttons has been replaced with a bolt, nut, and two metal washers. There is a nylon belt that could stand to be replaced, but it's not vital if you use suspenders. Unless I get action on these right away, they'll be in the marketplace forum within a week.
I did a bit of research online and saw that choices in my budget (sub-$300) were limited. I would have loved to get a pair of top-end Brown pants, but they were out of my price range and would have been a custom order.
I looked at some RBK pants, and liked the Sr Pro model with the dual belt system, but RBK does not cater to the middle aged goalie market. The say that the Xl pants fir a waist size of 36-38, but they fit like spandex and I wear a 38 waist. The price was right at $160, but the largest size didn"t feel comfortable. The inner thigh padding is probably the best of all the pants I checked out; standing with my feet at shoulder width, my five hole was closed, and I was a bit concerned about my mobility.
I saw a pair of CCM gatekeepers at $250, but they were as snug as the RBKs; the difference being that the CCMs were Large, while the RBKs were an XL. Gotta love the different sizing standards!
Went to a different store and tried on a modern set of Brians Ridge pants (at a bargain $170), but they somehow felt "off". Not what I had grown used to over the last 10 years.
Tried the Itech XPRX9 pant ($250) and the fit was good (in a Large). Didn't really like the graphics stitched into the thighs, but these were the best fitting pants I had tried so far. I liked the high back padding, but the thighs were the longest of all the pants I tried. I felt that they would probably interfere with my pads, so I told the guy I would be back after checking out another store.
The fourth store was the charm. There were Vaughns (outside my price range), Bauers (didn't seem all that protective), RBKs that I had already seen, and some Itech HPElite pants. I tried the HPElites in a Large and they fit great. They have two outer belts, a decent rise on the back, and "scalloped" padding between the waist and thigh boards. They also have integrated knee protection that protrudes below the thigh, but I don't feel they offer sufficient protection to give up wearing my knee pads. The best part was they were the cheapest of all the pants I tried at $150! :D
The biggest change I have to get used to is not having suspenders and wearing my upper body on the outside of my pants, but these new pants are lighter and I was able to make a few saves that I probably wouldn't have made with my other pants. They fit more snugly, but it seems to have helped my mobility. I only have one game under my belt (pardon the pun), so I will update my review as I use them more, but I am pretty happy with my purchase so far.
If anyone is looking to buy some used Brians Ridge pants (royal blue with lace-in red knee/thigh pads), drop me a line. They are still in good condition and can easily accomodate a goalie with a waist of 44 (I was considerably larger 10 years ago), maybe even 46, with room to tuck the chest pad into the pants. There are some duct tape repairs on the inside, and one of the suspender buttons has been replaced with a bolt, nut, and two metal washers. There is a nylon belt that could stand to be replaced, but it's not vital if you use suspenders. Unless I get action on these right away, they'll be in the marketplace forum within a week.