Hey Puckmugger--What size and brand of goalie pads should I buy?
Nov 08 '07
The Bottom Line Buying your first pair of leg pads can be daunting. It's a big expense, so consider size and style carefully.
Hey Puckmugger,
First of all I'd like to say how much I enjoy your reviews on ice hockey goalie gears and especially your tips on being a goalie.
I have recently started playing goalie for my college team and thinking of getting my first sets of leg pads with blocker and catcher. Unfortunately Ice hockey is not particularly big in the UK so finding shops that sells wide range of goalie kits proved to be particularly difficult. Although I am thinking of buying those sets of RBK Sr 5K leg pads as my first pads.
I was wondering if you could tell me more about those RBK 5Ks. I have read your reviews on the higher ends RBK pads (Premier Pro) and those seem to be very good pads so I was wondering on how the 5K pads are compared to the premier pro? The level of hockey that I am playing at the moment is at recreational level but there are some guys that really do whack on the pucks and giving me some hard times on my knees. So I was wondering if those 5k pads would be enough for my level? Are there any other pads that you would recommend to me? My style of play is quite butterfly orientated.
I was also wondering if you could tell me about the pads sizing. I am about 5'9" and using pads of size 34" from my club at the moment. I am not sure if it is the right size for me as some of my friends who are roughly the same height as me are using 32" pads. Does that mean that I should be using 32" instead of 34"?
Thank you very much for you help
Kindest Regards
Seni
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Seni,
Thanks for your email. I’m glad that you’ve enjoyed my articles.
The RBK 5K probably isn’t a bad choice for a first pair of goalie pads. I’ve always said that all but the worst goal pads on the market will protect you from a shot. It’s what on the goalie side of a pair of pads that normally makes or breaks a pair, not what’s on the shooter’s side.
The RBK 5K is very similar in design to the previous year’s RBK Senior. It’s definitely an entry-level pair of ice hockey goal pads. The major differences between the 5K and the Premier Pro are in the materials though, not the design.
The 5K uses low-end materials one the face. It also features nylon leg channels instead of Clarino. RBK did put synthetic leather on the ice side of the knee and calf wrap which will assist in lateral mobility while in the butterfly. The older models had nylon which tends to stick to the ice. The fill is also a slightly less high tech material and rebound control won’t be as good as that of the Premier Pro.
However, for a pad that sells at ¼ the price of the Pro version, the 5K is a pretty good pad. I’d say that at $300 to $400 they are a great buy for novice goalies. You might also consider the Itech 4.8 X factor pads in that price range. They are very similar in design and construction although I prefer the 5K’s design. Further, if you can get the newer 6K pads that hit the market about 9 months ago, they are an improvement in both price and quality.
As far as sizing goes, the length comes down to a couple of main factors. First, you want to make sure that your knee is in the cradle on the pads. That’s a pretty important aspect of sizing as having your knees smack the ice rather than land in the knee cradle will yield some serious bruises. From there you can go as long as you like on the pads, but need to find the appropriate combination of agility and coverage. Shorter pads make it easier to move. Bigger pads cover more of the net. For most adults, a size 33 to 35 pad is a pretty good choice.
There is an old formula to figure out the appropriate size of pads. Add your skate size to the measurement in inches from the top of your foot to the middle of your knees and then add the number of inches you want your pads to rise above your knee (halfway to your inseam if you don't know). It doesn't always give you the perfect answer, but it's a starting point.
I’m 6’-0” and use a pair of 38-inch pads right now. I have a friend who is my height but uses 33-inch pads. While another goalie I know who is about 5’-8” uses 35-inch pads. The point is that there isn’t really a set correct size for a certain height. As someone who plays mostly butterfly goalie the longer pair will typically better serve you as long as your knee is in the proper place. If you’ve been comfortable in the 34-inch pads, it’s probably a good idea to stick with that size.
Best of luck,
Scott
© 2007 Scott Noble – All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
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