V3 or Smiths?

[bradfield32 0]

Hi Guys

Looking to get some new pads end of the year and I can't decided which ones to get.

At the moment im between the Smith 5000s or some V3s.

Can anyone give me the pros and cons on both pads?

Cheers.

[Law Goalie 147]

Theyr'e the same basic design, as you probably know, but they've developed a little differently.

Smith's come with a sliding toe-bridge (very useful little invention; but you can take it off and use toe-ties), offer more end-user options (extensible thigh-rise, calf-options, leg-channel adjustments) and are several hundred dollars cheaper.

The Vaughn's allow for more customisation at the factory: for example, I've never seen a hard RBK-esque one-piece knee-block on a pair of Smith's, but Vaughn did that for Price and will do it for others. Bear in mind that Vaughn's custom price starts at retail and goes up from there quite dramatically; Smith's cost is the same.

With either one you'll be getting a tried-and-true design; it's just a question of whether you know exactly what you want, and are willing to spend a bomb (Vaughn), or whether you'd rather save the money and have more options to play with later (Smith).

[chshockey30 0]

get smiths and have them custom made to your liking

[Law Goalie 147]

Yeah... but there are things Dr. Smith won't do. He won't for example, make any changes to the internal build of the pad, apart from *slightly* lighter stuffing. His custom options are basically sizing and colours. Vaughn will do anything - for a price. What Smith gives you is flexibility after the purchase - whether or not to extend the thigh-rise, to keep the lateral calf-wedges, lots of knee-stacks and other options on the medial side, quick-change straps, etc.

In no way am I knocking Smith - he makes a phenomenal pad at an unbeatable price, and he's a certified genius - but his business isn't set up to make people copies of the Koho 580, for example.

[bradfield32 0]

Thanks for the replies.

I don't no allot about goalie pads I have been playing for 5 years and I have had Brians Demons for 4 of those years. I really like the pads but they’re starting to get a little old and worn.

I don't know much about the whole customization of pads like the Knee blocks and so on so which ever pads I buy would be standard and the I just try and change them as I go along.

With this in mind I think the smiths would be the best pads. I play mainly roller hockey but I'm starting ice in the next couple of weeks. Look on the smith customizer you can get normal colours or weave. Whats the difference?

Thank you.

[Law Goalie 147]

Weave and normal 'flat' Jenpro are the same material with different finishes. Normal Jenpro has a faint leather-like pattern on the surface; weave has a woven pattern embossed with a light metallic finish. In my experience, Jenpro wears *much* better than weave over time, especially in areas that are in regular contact with the ice.

Your thinking on the Smith pads is probably good. You might want to look into getting yourself some 'slide plates' to protect the synthetic leather on the pads when you're using them for roller. You'll also be able to slide much better.

[bradfield32 0]

Law thank you very much for all the info. Will I be able to get the slide plates from Smith?

I guess now all I've got to do is chose if i want custom graphics and colour.

Also which gloves would you recomend? I have the brians demons blocker and catcher and I'm looking to replace the set.

Thanks again.

[vision 0]

I don't believe that Pete does slide plates but you would have to double check with him about that. The only company that I can think of, off the top of my head, that does them is Battram. That said, I've not had issues, other than normal wear and tear, on the pair of Smith's that I use for roller.

::m

[Law Goalie 147]

Frankly, slide plates aren't *that* hard to make... just plastic cut-outs traced to the inside of the the pad, and a way to attach them. And based on vision's roller experience (certainly more extensive than mine) maybe not even all that important. I've heard some guys claim that slides plates made a huge improvement; others that they didn't do much but protect the synthetic leather of the pads; and some who took them off and never bothered with them again. Another options would be nylon pad-covers, though I can't recall ever seeing Smith's.

As for the gloves, brad, you'll find the Smith ones pretty different from your Brian's. The Smith blocker is basically a refined Velocity; the trapper is a really nice version of the Vaughn 5500. If you can find another pair of Brian's, that might be your best bet. I think the DX series will be closest to your Demon's. It all depends how interested you are in trying new things, or how much you like what you have. If you haven't been 100% satisfied with your Demon gloves, the Smiths would be great to try; otherwise, stick with what you know.

[bradfield32 0]

I think that will just leave the slide plates as I don't seem to have much wear on the pads I have at the minute.

I will probably look in to the smiths cause at the moment my catcher seems to lose shape in the puch. So i was looking for somthing with a deeper pouch.

It seems all my kit needs replacing at the momnet as i also need a new helmet :(