Picking a new set of hockey goalies pads is a serious choice, and we’ve gone ahead and broken down all manufacturer specs so you can make the best decision for your game. We have crowned the Bauer Vapor 2X Pro as our champion of 2019 and in our opinion one of the quickest goalie pads on the market. Weighing in at just 4.4 lbs, its not the lightest by spec but the aggressive fit and balance of these goalie pads really stand out. The round it all out, the tune fit system gives you ultimate flexibility to choose and adjust the amount of rotation in the goalie pads.
Our Pick
Best Goalie Pads of 2019!
A top of the line set of goalie pads, the Vapor 2X exceeded our expectations in all categories.
Loaded with new technology , there is nothing not to love about the Bauer 2X Pro leg pads. Just one of the many is the Tapered Flex Core, which tapers the thickness towards the outer edge for a better seal on the ice and slide better. The Curv Composite internal core reduces weight and also gives you better stiffness in the thigh rise. To push it even further, these goalie pads were designed specifically for the goalie who never gives up and demands top level performance.
Runner-Up
The Most Responsive Goalie Pads
Re-engineered with Litecore technology to eliminate excess weight while maximizing stability and torsional strength.
The CCM Premie II pushes the boundaries again on advancing the technology and feel of goalie pads. Designed to be 20% lighter than the previous years pads, these goalie pads are all about making sure your performance game in and game out is superb. Max Rebound technology makes sure there aren’t any second chances, and the litecore technology gives you the ultimate coverage to seal off your five hole.
Budget Friendly
Best Budget Goalie Pads
These goalie pads are a steal of a deal at this price point, with tons of amazing features to help you make the winning save.
When you don’t have top dollar to drop but you need a new set of goalie pads for the upcoming season, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality. Keeping up to the standard of Vaughn quality, these pads offer an extremely comfortable fit with square knee roll design to enhance rebound control. Bottom line, these goalie pads are a deal you can’t miss and our top pick for the best budget goalie pad!
Our Recommendations
When Second Place is almost as good as First
Re-engineered with Litecore technology and 20% lighter than the previous model which was extremely popular, these goalie pads are an excellent choice.
Buying Options
The Best Overall Goalie Pads
A top of the line set of goalie pads, the Vapor 2X Pro pads will literally blow you away with the feel and rebound control. Our top choice and we can safely guarantee these goalie pads will have shooters breaking their stick out of frustration.
Buying Options
Budget Friendly Performance
These goalie pads are a steal of a deal and they’re sure to help you steal a couple wins this year, while still having a little money left over to celebrate.
Buying Options
Research And Findings
As far as stopping the puck goes, the goalie pads are the most important piece of equipment any goalie uses. We are here to go over literally the BEST hockey goalie pads in the game that give you the best value and help you make the right decision. We’re going to cover the top 5 Senior hockey goalie pads, and also give some options on intermediate and youth for the future players. Our review examines all the details such as manufacturers specs, proprietary technology, strengths, weaknesses, and the overall value the goalie pads provide you.
We will be focusing on reviewing top of the line senior hockey goalie pads from all the major brands including CCM, Bauer, Brian, and Vaughn to help you make that backdoor save. We will break down the hockey goalie pads and rank them by feel, responsiveness, rebound control, and cost. You really can’t go wrong choosing any of the goalie pads we are going to review as they are all high quality, but each one is tailored to a slightly different style of goalie and we want you to pick the best goalie pads for your game.
Read on below for our in depth reviews of every top of the line goalie pads you need to know about!
The Best Senior Hockey Goalie Pads
1. Bauer Vapor 2X Pro - The Best Overall Goalie Pads
Specifications and Features:
- Weight (lbs) – 4.65
- Pad Style – Reaction / Hybrid
- Knee Breaks – 2 Internal
- Width (in) – 11
- # of Straps – 3
- Strap Type – Tune Fitting strapping system
- Thigh Protection – 1X Knee Guard
- Toe Attachment Style – Stretch Toe Lace
Highlights:
- Lightweight Flexibility – The Tapered Flex core gives these pads the ultimate in flexibility, as the width tapers to the edges so you have a soft landing area but very lightweight goalie pads.
- Soft Rebound Control – The Vapor 1X OD1N goalie pads use a Curv Composite internal core for better stiffness and greater rebound control.
- Superior Protection – The coverage on these goalie pads is great, they have the back of the calves covered with a AEROLITE foam so you won’t feel any sticks or pucks.
- Great Responsiveness – A big defining feature in any goalie pad is the overall ability to move quickly and stop shots, and these pads don’t let you down.
Disadvantages:
Not really much bad to say about these goalie pads, the bungee cord feeling of the toe strap was different but no impact on your game.
BOTTOM LINE:
If you’re looking for the best set of goalie pads for the upcoming season, the Vapor 1X OD1N pads have you covered in every department. The rebound control on these Bauer goalie pads is so soft and easy to control. The easily customizable Tune Fitting strapping system also lets you control exactly how much your pad will rotate. The responsiveness of these goalie pads really let you meet those cross crease passes and weak side one timers with ease.
2. CCM Premier II Pro - Our Second Favorite Pads
Specifications and Features:
- Weight (lbs) – 4.9
- Pad Style – Blocking / Butterfly
- Knee Breaks – 1 Internal, 1 External
- Width (in) – 11
- # of Straps – 4
- Strap Type – 3 Velcro, 1 Nylon/Buckle
- Thigh Protection – N/A
- Toe Attachment Style – Toe Ties
Advantages:
- On Ice Coverage – These CCM goalie pads were designed for superior on ice coverage and mobility, the perfect pads for butterfly style goalies.
- Max Rebound Control – CCM has gone and added the max rebound technology with has special foams to transfer maximum energy of the shot hard and to the corner, eliminating second chances.
- Responsive Butterfly Drop – Being that these CCM goalie pads are designed for butterfly goalies, the quick motion helps with an aggressive butterfly drop and recovery.
- Lightweight Performance – A huge 20% decrease in weight over the previous model of these goalie pads, these won’t slow you down kicking out the pads and stopping the back door attempt.
Disadvantages:
- There is honestly nothing bad to say about these pads unless you’re looking for a reaction style, these are the premier pads for those comfortable butterfly.
BOTTOM LINE:
Its no surprise these pads are high on our list, we’re talking about the premier pad used in the NHL at almost 50%! There an obvious reason that number is so high, these pads are dominant in the net and should not be overlooked. They aren’t the cheapest pads you could get, but these are one of the best goalie pads and their performance speaks for itself. I would almost go as far to say i GUARANTEE you’ll love them, but i’ll let you decide.
The Hockey Shop has some thorough reviews of different goalie items, check their page on Goalie Pads Reviews here to take a look!
3. Vaughn Velocity 7 XF Pro - The Best Value Goalie Pads
Specifications and Features:
- Weight (lbs) – 4.9
- Pad Style – Reaction / Hybrid
- Knee Breaks – 1 Internal, 2 External
- Width (in) – 11
- # of Straps – 7
- Strap Type – 5 Leather Buckle, 2 Elastic
- Thigh Protection – Attached Thigh Guard
- Toe Attachment Style – Toe Ties
Advantages:
- Flexible Performance – An innovative change in design, Vaughn has used sheet foams for a more consistent shape with perforations to allow for more flex and a 15% decrease in pad weight!
- Improved Rotation – This Vaughn goalie pad features a wider leg channel and knee cradle to increase pad rotation further over previous models.
- Soft Rebound Control – These goalie pads utilize a squarer knee design for better rebound control while keeping the double knee break for flexibility.
- Increased Protection – These Vaughn goalie pads have you covered everywhere including a segmented calf wrap while also keeping the thigh guard for upper leg protection.
Disadvantages:
- Some goalies don’t like the amount of straps included for these pads but it allows for more flexibility and personalization for each goalie.
BOTTOM LINE:
If you want to get the best performance for a good price, these are the pads for you and our recommendation as the best budget pads for 2019! True to Vaughns’ exceptional standards in goalie equipment, the 7 XF Pro goalie pads come loaded with new technology to help you make every save. The change to perforation foam made these pads even lighter and more flexible, with just the right amount of stiffness. We love these pads at Going Bar Down and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend these to any caliber of goalie, regardless of style!
4. Brians Optik 9.0 - The Most Advanced Goalie Pads
Specifications and Features:
- Pad Style – Blocking / Butterly
- Knee Breaks – 2 Internal
- Width (in) – 11
- # of Straps – 4
- Strap Type – Smart Strap
- Thigh Protection – N/A
- Toe Attachment Style – Smart Toe
Advantages:
- Unbeatable Fit – One of the best things about these goalie pads is the comfortable fit you get with the smart strap system, with a single attachment on the calf and a 2″ strap for the knee.
- Lightweight Response – These pads are ready to kick without any hesitation, the lightweight profile modeled off the FLX Core construction give you lightening quick reaction time.
- Soft Rebound Control – These Brians goalie pads feature a flat faced design for exceptional rebound control with great on ice seal and mobility.
- Durable Toe and Boot Straps – Brian has totally over engineered their toe and boot straps to be amazingly durable, using the same material as a seat belt so you can adjust these straps any way you want.
Disadvantages:
- Some goalies have said these goalie pads are a bit stiffer than other Brians models but that is really just a preference.
BOTTOM LINE:
Brian pads have a customizable look from flashy to subtle for any type of goalie preference, 10% of goalies use these pads in the NHL and would never switch. Brian goalie pads have a reputation for quick responsiveness and soft rebound control, and the Optik 9.0 goalie pads are no exception. These are one of the best goalie pads for 2019 and a brand you should definitely look into if you’re a serious goalie.
5. CCM Extreme Flex III - Best Mobility Goalie Pads
Specifications and Features:
- Weight (lbs) – 5.35
- Pad Style – Reaction / Hybrid
- Knee Breaks – 1 Internal, 1 External
- Width (in) – 11
- # of Straps – 5
- Strap Type – 3 Nylon/Buckle, 2 Elastic
- Thigh Protection – Removable Thigh and Knee guard
- Toe Attachment Style – Toe Ties
Advantages:
- Explosive Crease Movement – With an exciting improvement on the III model, the Speed Skin Technology on the goalie pad is designed for quick gliding and explosive crease movement.
- Maximum Flexibility – Just as it sounds by the name, these goalie pads are designed to give you the ultimate flexibility and versatility. The outer flex is just as single pad break for maximum flexibility, while the E-Flex III also has a 90 degree boot with torsional flex.
- Freedom Of Movement – CCM has designed an ultra soft and deep boot channel that gives you greater range for getting to that far side shot. The knee cradle is also quite a bit deeper than previous models and gives you excellent rotational abilities.
Disadvantages:
As you would expect with a softer and flexible pad, these don’t give you the most amazing rebound control compared to the CCM Premier II goalie pads.
BOTTOM LINE:
These goalie pads are build for quick goalies that need to be explosive and own the crease. The E-Flex III system gives you the ultimate in sliding ability and the optimized weight distribution in the O.W.D. core gives you easier movement in the crease. These are the best goalie pads for agile goalies who rely on quickness to dominate the game.
The Best Intermediate Hockey Goalie Pads
1. Bauer Supreme S29 - Best Intermediate Goalie Pad for 2019
Specifications and Features:
- Pad Style – Blocking / Butterfly
- Knee Breaks – 1 Internal
- # of Straps – 5
- Strap Type – C.R.S. Velcro
- Thigh Protection – N/A
- Toe Attachment Style – Toe Ties
Advantages:
- Five Hole Coverage – There is only one internal break on the Supreme S29 pads for a responsive stiffness and excellent on ice coverage.
- Enhanced Sliding – The external material has a synthetic leather face with C.O.R. technology on the knee plates for unbeatable sliding performance.
- Quick Responsiveness – With Pro HD materials decreasing the weight by 10% compared to previous models, these pads respond instantly and let you kick the pads easily.
- Customizable Rotation – An innovative strapping system that has two sizes for each strap, further allowing the goalie to completely customize the fit to their game.
Disadvantages:
- No major disadvantages to note here, these are one of the top intermediate goalie pads on the market.
BOTTOM LINE:
This is our top pick for intermediate goalie pads this year, at a price that isn’t crazy the performance and durability you get is second to none. Designed for butterfly goalies these are really versatile and can play to any goalies style given the lightweight construction. The calf and thigh protection is great so you don’t need to worry about anything except stopping the puck.
2. Vaughn Velocity VE8 - Best Value Intermediate Goalie Pads
Specifications and Features:
- XFP Core – Ultra Flexible Pure Core in the pads for hte ultimate in flexibility and response.
- Magnetic Buckle – The Vaughn magnetic buckle system allows for quick attachment or detachment of the goalie pads.
- Weight Reduction – Reduced weight compared to previous models make these one of the lightest intermediate goalie pads.
Advantages:
- Lightweight Response – The Velocity VE8 pad is even lighter and more responsive that previous models, this pad will make sure the cross crease saves happen all the time.
- Flexible Versatility – Vaughn has used a softer and more flexible material without sacrificing anything in the protection department to give you the ultimate flexible goalie pads.
- Updated Technology – The Velocity VE8 intermediate goalie pads incorporate almost all the features from the senior model, including smoother inside edges for improved seal on the ice and movement in the butterfly.
- Magnetic Buckling – If you’re the kind of goalie that dreads all the strap on some of the other pads, this innovative design makes putting goalie pads on and taking them off much more efficient.
Disadvantages:
- Really designed more for a butterfly goalie but are really versatile for goalie styles especially for intermediate goalies.
BOTTOM LINE:
This is a great lightweight goalie pad option especially for players who prefer a flexible goalie pad, and they won’t break the bank either! This is a extremely versatile goalie pad with reduced weight and XFP core give you peak response and feel with these goalie pads. The protection is top notch and these pads also come with an innovate buckling system to speed up the process! (goalies are always the last out of the room).
The Top Youth/Junior Hockey Goalie Pads
1. CCM Premier P2.5 - Best Junior Goalie Pads
Specifications and Features:
- Speedskin Technology – A proprietary CCM technology the Speedskin enhances sliding on the ice
- Quick Motion Straps – Engineered to remove all unnecessary straps and still offer flexible fits
- Single External Break – Designed to enhance on ice coverage, a single external break improves five hole coverage and on ice seal.
Advantages:
- On Ice Coverage – Specifically designed to help younger players, this pad features SpeedSkin to improve on ice movement and coverage.
- Flexible Fit – The newly designed strapping system as seen on the pro model gives you excellent flexibility to adjust to any desired fit.
- Lightweight Comfort – The goalie pads continue to get lighter and these also feature a soft, shallow boot for easier transition to the butterfly.
- Rebound Control – These were designed to form a nice 60 degree angle to deflect any shots into the corner, and you generate a dead bounce.
Disadvantages:
- The Quick Motion strapping system is a little different from traditional goalie pads but it is very convenient and comfortable when you get used to it.
BOTTOM LINE:
The design made specifically for Junior players helps them move quickly on the ice and get comfortable in the butterfly, these are the best junior goalie pads we could think of. The lightweight nature and flexible design makes these pads a top favorite for all young goalies. Since they are lightweight and quick on the ice, you have no problem moving across the crease and kicking away rebounds. These are definitely one of our top choices for best junior goalie pads so we would definitely recommend taking a look!
2. Bauer Supreme S27 - Best Lightweight Junior Goalie Pads
Specifications and Features:
- Pad Style – Blocking / Butterfly
- Knee Breaks – 1 Internal Below Knee
- # of Straps – 5
- Strap Type – C.R.S. Velcro
- Thigh Protection – N/A
- Toe Attachment Style – Toe Ties
Advantages:
- Five Hole Coverage – There is only one internal break on the Supreme S27 pads for a responsive stiffness and excellent on ice coverage, but less stiff than the S29 Goalie Pads.
- Enhanced Sliding – The external material has a synthetic material for better sliding quickness and also improved durability.
- Top Tier Protection – Excellent coverage on the calves and even up over the thighs, these lightweight pads check all the boxes.
- Customizable Rotation – An innovative strapping system that has two sizes for each strap, further allowing the goalie to completely customize the fit to their game.
Disadvantages:
- A bit more of a stiffer profile than the CCM youth goalie pads but still very flexible for younger goalies to close the five hole and get in the butterfly.
BOTTOM LINE:
With Bauer being one of the most popular pads in the NHL, and most of the technologies on the senior goalie pads are incorporated with this S27 mode these are the best lightweight junior pads on the market. They have a lot of similiarties to the S29 intermediate pads but reduced weight and more flexbility to assist younger goalies. There isn’t anything negative to say about these pads, the material and durabilty is second to none for all young goalies!
Conclusion
There is no right or wrong answer in choosing any one of these goalie pads, all that matter is what they will do to enhance your game. We want you to choose high performance equipment that will make sure you achieve your full potential every time you’re on the ice. For me, that means doing your research and figuring out what goalie pad is going to fit your style of play the best. If you have any questions we’d love to hear from you!
If you are interested in a set of these pads, but want to make sure they are going to fit you well, check out Pure Hockey’s article on Goalie Pad Sizing to ensure you get the best fit possible!
