What type of Goalie gear is best for you?

When most goalie's go gear shopping they don't know exactly what they're looking for.  They usually shop for gear that their favorite players wear or based on what a salesman tells them they need.  I know because I've gone shopping countless time for gear and I also used to be an equipment salesman.  So here's a breakdown of gear that's out there.

First decide what level of gear you need.  Usually most manufactures offer a pro level series, an elite level series, and a recreational level series.  Some brands such as Vaughn offer these levels in different pads, and some brands such as Brian's only offer 2 serieses.

Pro Level Series - This series is for the elite netminder.  An elite netminder practicing at least 3 times a week, as well as playing 70-100 games a year.  For someone skating 3-6 times a week, this gear level will last about 2 years, maybe 4 years if the gear is taken care of extremely well (taking it out of the bag to air out each time it is used).  At a senior level, pads run about $1400-1600, catch gloves run about $400-470, blockers run about $300-350, skates run about $600, chest protectors about $400-500, pants about $200-300, and masks run $600+ depending on the brand and paint job. 

Elite Level Series - This series is for a netminder looking for the design qualities in pro-level gear but without the price.  The main difference between elite series gear and pro-level gear is quality and durability.  This gear set is great for someone using intermediate pads and who will grow out of them quickly.  At a senior level these pads are good for someone skating 4 times or less per week, and it should last 2-5 years depending on how well the gear is taken care of.  Pads run about $600, catcher and blocker about $500, skates around $300-350, masks about $400, chest protector about $250-300, pants about $120-180.

Recreational Level Series - This series is good for a goalie just starting out or a goalie skating once or 2 times a week.  If taken care of properly, this gear probably will last 2 years at most.  If you're skating more than once or 2 times a week this gear level is the wrong set for you.  You won't be happy with the performance you're getting out of the gear not to mention the gear will deteriorate quickly.  Usually pads run $300-500, gloves around $200-250, skates around $200, and mask around $200.  (There isn't usually a chest protector or pant offered at this price level)

Now once you've decided what level of gear you want next decide what pads are good for you.  Here's a quick breakdown of each pads out there, usually it's best that you buy within the equipment brand you select for your pads (especially with gloves as they are meant to fit best in the butterfly).

There's 2 exclusive styles of pads out on the market.

There's the butterfly design of gear that is designed stiff that are designed for a pure butterfly goalie, these pads usually flat faced with no brakes in the pads. The leg pads are all flat on the inside of the pad to provide a seal along the ice to not allow pucks to squeak through.  And butterfly pads are designed to give off hard rebounds.  Because of the stiff design leg pads allow for easier lateral mobility within the butterfly. These pads and gear lines take a very "new school" approach and each time something new comes out it pushes the boundries of the old.

Then there's the traditional or hybrid style of pads/gear.  They are very flexible.  They usually fit tight into the five hole.  These pads don't offer the lateral mobility in the butterfly like the previously mentioned style but they allow for better mobility in the goalie's stance when they're standing up.  These pads usually offer soft knee roles along the knee cradle, and some pads offer rolls vertically along the pads. 

Here's a breakdown based on style of play. 

Pure butterfly - almost exclusivly using the butterfly to make saves, usually using a very large stance with a wide five hole.  Examples of this style include Henrik Lundqvist, Roberto Luongo, Carey Price, Marc-Andre Fleury.  The gear styles are usually very squared up and stiff. 

Reebok Premier Series - This pad is the most extreme design for a pure butterfly goalie.  It is the stiffest pad series by far.  It also holds it's "out-of-the-box" shape longer than anyother pads. These pads are very deep in the leg channel, thus those who wear them usually wear the pads very loose compared to other brands.  If you feel comfortable in these pads, and you feel they fit best with your game stick with them because all other pads that are designed similar to the Premiers are designed closer to a hybrid pad.  The Premier is the most customizeable set in terms of what a customer can ask and thus will be produced.

(Each brand on the rest of this list has features that are more alike a traditional style pad.)

Bauer Supreme Series - The front face of this gear series is very similar to the Premier series.  But the gear usually fits tighter to the body than the Reebok series.  This series offeres the most customizable options once the gear is purchased and in the customers hands. 

Warrior Ritual Series - This series is probably the 2nd most customizable series on the market behind the Premier series.  This series isn't yet in the market (Release date April, 2012), but it is peeking it's head out for big retailers.  This pad is designed by Smith Goaltending which never made it to the NHL but produced high quality that was used by college level goalies.  This gear is going to have a similar feel to the Bauer Supremes but it won't look as big as the Supremes or Premiers.

Brian's Sub-Zero - This gear set offers a lot of feel like a hybrid series but it still has a flat face.  Unique for these pads is the strapless design that makes this set of gear the lightest on the market. 

Vaughn Vision - Similar in shape to the Brian's Sub-Zero's but it has the normal strapping systems. 

Hybrid/Traditional Style - This style of gear is best for a goalie that is quick, uses a smaller stance, and uses a variety of saves from their toolboxes.  Examples of this style include Ryan Miller, Jimmy Howard, Tuuka Rask, and Tim Thomas (his style is more of a traditional stand-up style than a hybrid butterfly style)

Vaughn Velocity - By far the best selling gear set over the last 5-6 years.  This gear set offers a moderate flex in the gear with traditional knee roles in the pads.  Vaughn is good too with making custom factory modifications on the gear too to fit a goalie's specific needs. 

Bauer Re-flex - This series is realitivly new to the equipment market but it is gaining in popularity.  It is more squared up than other pads designed for this style.  The gear series often too offers different flex options. 

Reebok Larceny - This gear set was the first hybrid/traditional set created by Reebok.  The gear in this set is very flexible and very well designed for quality. 

There's a quick breakdown of the main manufactures of gear.  If you're going to purchase gear in the next little while and you want the opinion of a unbiased third-party I'm more than happy to help.  Good luck with your future gear shopping as well.