Brian’s Goalie Jock: Shoot here, I dare you!
Written: May 10 '04 (Updated May 11 '04)
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Pros: That didn't hurt, Awesome durability, good for a chuckle
Cons: Dry-clean only? Rising shots might sting
The Bottom Line: The jock and the helmet are two places you don't want to be stingy. You won't likely find a better one than this.
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| puckmugger's Full Review: Brians Goalie Equipment Goalie Jocks - Stitches BC... |
I made the mistake of ordering an Itech Goalie Jock when I first got into this goalie business. It was cheap and that was the only thing that it had going for it. Good fortune smiled upon me however, when the guy taking my order decided that despite this being an internet order, my requests were only vague guidelines.
When I opened up the long anticipated delivery, I found that the glove I ordered had arrived in a slightly different color and the jock I ordered had gone from a $30 model to the top of the line $80 Brian’s Pro Goaler. I called him somewhat upset about the substitution and he assured me that it was in my best interest to go with a real jock. I eventually relented, but told him that there was no way I was going to wear the leopard print one he sent. I was having a hard time imagining myself in the locker room wearing anything with leopard print. He exchanged it for another print. The company emailed me a couple months later to apologize for certain inconsistencies with the goalie orders and to notify me that he was no longer with them. But enough about how I got my first Brian’s Goalie Jock . . .
▪ The Pro Goaler
First, let me point out that the name for this item in epinions is a descriptor not an actual item. Brian’s calls this item the Pro Goaler Jock. It comes in a number of various designs from straight black to the aforementioned leopard skin. It also comes in USA, Canada, Snakeskin, a bull’s-eye, and of course the pictured stitches model. These are all the same jock with the exception of the graphics. The bull’s-eye model replaced the leopard skin model that I sent back.
The basic construction of the Pro Goaler is as follows. The shell of the Jock is a heavy nylon, possibly Cordura, on the exterior. The liner is a soft, almost terrycloth material for maximum comfort. The elastic belt attaches to the front of the Jock with Velcro. Legs straps slide through a single loop at the bottom of the cup and are adjustable with a single plastic buckle.
A large banana style cup offers good protection in the . . . er, main area that a jock should protect. The padding on both sides of the cup pocket is substantial as it should be in a pro level jock. The front of the waist section has a hard plastic insert as well to offer protection to the upper pelvic area.
▪ How well does it work?
Shooters will sometimes hit you in the helmet and other unpleasant places when you are a goalie. Most guys who notice that their shot struck a goalie . . . in the neighborhood . . . will stop playing momentarily to ensure they haven’t maimed the netminder. I can honestly say that normal shots at any speed have not caused any discomfort in that region using the Pro Goaler. I have taken shots that I estimate well in excess of eighty miles per hour off the Pro Goaler and not even blinked.
There is one kind of shot that will cause me to turn purple and hobble away wishing I had the breath curse a little. A rising shot that catches the bottom of the cup will lift it and . . . well . . . make things painful. Fortunately these are rare. Further they have to be very hard shots in order to reek more than mild discomfort. In five years of using the Pro Goaler, I have only had this misfortune twice (both times from the same player, go figure).
The Pro Goaler is comfortable and non-restrictive. Some other Goalie jocks try to cover too much and in the end interfere with leg movements. Brian’s has enough coverage to keep your hopes of reproducing alive, without getting in the way of actually playing hockey.
▪ Final Thoughts
The Goaler Pro is one of the best goalie jocks on the market. It is comfortable, protective and very durable. Mine is five years old and only a little worse for the year, certainly still perfectly safe to use. One advantage that the other models might have over the bull’s-eye that I bought would be the different colors. The primarily white color of the bull’s-eye does tend to look dingy pretty quickly. The black of the stitches would certainly look a little better down the road.
Either way, the look demonstrates one of the other things that makes all of the models of Brian’s jocks a little different that their competitor’s products. Most brands are a simply one or two color design. The novelty prints of Brian’s Pro Goaler line are often good for a laugh in the locker room. In drop in skates, guys have often commented on the bull’s-eye, something to the effect of, “Well, I know where I’m shooting today.” One model that I didn’t mention before looks like a Wrestling, or Boxing championship belt with the text, “WGF – World Goalie Federation” printed on it. Sherwood was the only other brand to even attempt to make a humorous goalie jock with their not so funny text, “Nut Case” printed on one model.
Unfortunately Brian’s recommends that you dry-clean only. Yeah, I can just see this thing coming down on one of the hangers at the cleaner. “Okay, I see $3 to clean a necktie, how much for my jock?” I ignore the advice and toss mine in the wash whenever I feel the need. The only ill side effect is that some of the color came off. My bull’s-eye looks a little weather beaten and the stitches look threadbare.
After a helmet, there is one other item that I feel pretty justified in spending a disproportionately large amount of money on. So in the end, I am not at all upset with the guy who tried to slip a $50 upgrade into my order. Having seen the jock that I almost ordered since, I know that he did me a big favor. The Brian’s Pro Goaler would have ended up being my eventual choice anyway . . . assuming I could still walk if I went with the Itech.
A few of my other reviews that you might find helpful:
Fitting Goalie Gear
Brian’s Demon Goal Pads
Itech Goalie Jock
Recommended:
Yes
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puckmugger
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Location: wandering the fringes of the goal crease
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