Best Hockey Goalie Full Sets

Crafted by the legendary Lefevre family in Montreal, the Catalyst PX3 builds off the unrivaled success of True’s traditional pad design. True has developed a pad with a softer rebound pattern and a flexible profile. The PX3 pad is catered towards a goaltender with a standard butterfly who wants a flexible pad without sacrificing seal on the ice.

The Mach took what was on the Ultrasonic ( an integrated knee, a very flat face, predictable rebounds, and a simplified strapping system) and then also added an internal calf bracket to give a lot more support underneath the leg. Basically, the internal Stabilislide knee block was added into the calf providing the same support. So the Mach is known for having a great seal and awesome rebounds. It also has an excellent slide and a very square butterfly. The only potential downside to the Mach is because of the extra internal calf bracket, the pads are too square and supportive and the feedback I’ve heard is, "My body hurts; I can't use these."

Bauer’s Vapor Hyperlite 2 pad is designed to provide the goalie with ultimate flexibility, controlled rebound patterns, and great seal and coverage on the ice. The gloves are the lightest Bauer offers, with a comfortable full-hand closure, and are game-ready right out of the box.

CCM’s Extreme Flex 5 line is designed for the traditional goalie who appreciates a softer-built pad with game-ready gloves. The EFlex 5 is a traditional knee-rolled pad with a special strapping system to reduce weight but increase leg connectivity to the pad. It's very light, has great rebound control, and gives a good seal to the ice. Some goalies say they can feel a quality loss now that these pads are no longer involved with Lefevre.

The True Goalie Pad has a simplified strapping system across the back of the leg. So for players who want a pad that's connected to their legs, True came out with this strapping system and nicknamed it the FRS or the "fast rotation system". They're very light and have a great feel on the body. The main selling point of True is that it's made in one factory in Montreal. Some people like to know that, say, Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, his gear is being built directly next to theirs by the same designers. People are willing to wait longer and pay more for that kind of craftsmanship.

The V10s are designed with more core stiffness to help you move confidently on the ice. They have a special Quick Slide material that makes it easier to slide, no matter the ice conditions. The design is made to be comfortable and keep you secure. These pads are great at sealing the five-hole and keeping the puck from bouncing back, giving you good protection from all angles.

The Supreme Shadow is a game-changer for high-level competitive goalies. It's lightweight, and the pad’s mobility enables goalies to make difficult saves and recover quickly. I really like the customization options that come with this pad. You get lots of cool colors and designs. If you're a goalie seeking top-tier equipment that can elevate your game, the Shadow set is a must-have.

The EFlex 4 is the updated version of the III and has very notable changes to how the knee block is integrated into the core of the pad. Many goalies really liked the EFlex 4 because it has a better feel on the ice. You feel supported in the butterfly, and the pad feels very comfortable on the leg when you move. The 4 features almost 30 colors of Speed Skin and has a traditional vintage pad look. Many big-name goalies wore the EFlex 4, which was extremely popular when it came out.

Just like with the Ultrasonic, how it has an integrated knee block to the core (which looks like a book and is attached to the inside of the pad), they made the same thing for the Hyperlite, but a little bit softer and a little bit more forgiving, this design is known as the Vapor Stabiliflex. The glove and blocker are also incredibly light, well broken in, and durable. Many professional players jumped into the Ultrasonic, but if they felt it was too stiff, they switched to a Hyperlite.

The Ultrasonic is super popular amongst pro goalies. It's probably the most popular line to date and holds its value over time. It's known for having an integrated knee block. Basically, Bauer took a bookend and put it inside a goalie pad, across the face and the inside of the knee, which is known as the Supreme Stabilislide. It was revolutionary for goalies to drop down in the butterfly and get a good seal and great rebounds. This knee block design leads to consistent sliding throughout the life of the gear. The Ultrasonic is known for having excellent durability, a great steal, and great rebounds. Bauer introduced digitally printed graphics with this pad, so you'll see some crazy custom graphics.

The CCM Axis 2 Pro is my favorite set to use. They have a solid inside edge, so you visibly can’t see a gap between the inside gusset and knee block; It looks like it's all one piece. It helps in sliding, and it has a very flat face as well. They redesigned the glove and blockers, making them a lot lighter. They have a very unique strapping system across the back of the hand. Instead of having individual finger stalls where you put your hand into the glove, there are no individual finger stalls but ratchet straps across your hand (I call it an oven mitt glove). Not everyone likes it. This specific strapping is found on the 591 break option. I had a really bad tendon surgery, so I don't have the best hand strength. For me, the "oven mitt glove" works well.

CCM’s Extreme Flex 6 line is focused on agility, mobility and technical skill without sacrificing seal or slide. The EFlex 6 is a traditional knee rolled pad with a unique inner sliding edge that aids in the butterfly technique. Just note, there are new finger and pinky loops in this glove to improve traction, but some goalies might miss the finger stalls that were present in previous models.

The SLR3 is a spinoff model where, instead of having softer foams and a softer knee block like the Velocity counterpart, it has an extremely stiff knee and a very stiff thigh. The SLR3 also has a highly simplified strapping system. Looking at the back of it, you almost think something is missing. It's that reduced. Vaughn strategically places the straps to make them easier and faster to put on. It also has Quick Slide on the entire pad, including the blocker, the backhand of the glove, and other high-wear areas. It's really fast and durable.