RichMan

Clear lexan thigh boards. Never got used to the idea.

3 hours ago, ThatCarGuy said:

I never could find my stride with that glove. Such an odd closure

True, it felt odd but good all at once. I didn't have issues catching which pleased me.

As some of you might be aware, I had an issue with my JRZ stick I received for Father's Day. While making arrangements for a replacement, I inquired about their demo gear program. My one piece of gear that is a non negotiable "make-it-or-break-it" decision is the catcher. I can fiddle around with mostly any other piece but a glove HAS to fit right off the bat or you're just going to have a horrible time with it.

And so, ten days ago, I received (for a minor shipping to and from fee) the glove you see below. Now the only recent and present gloves I can compare it to are the JRZ Budaj pro-spec Prime/Reactor 9000 (now sold) and my currant regularly used Warrior SR GT.

The glove I received is NHL spec and game ready palm with a 60 degree angle. It is fairly light, not as much as my GT but much lighter than the Budaj pro-return which was pro-palm (I had difficulty closing it). Focusing on the palm, I never really had an issue with my Warrior SR level glove, maybe 2-3 stingers in the past 3 years, but the Fusion's game-ready palm version is more significant. I've never tried a pro version GT glove so I can't really make much of a comparison between a pro GT and the Fusion glove.

I managed to use it for 2 games. It might not seem like much but given the glove was already broken in, it made for a quicker analysis. 

The glove felt nice on my hand, not too big but not impossible to get into like some other big name brands I've tried. Most of my gloves over the years have pretty much been like 75 breaks. This one felt good. They say a 60 break is like a baseball glove feel. It's not so much true. The only glove that really resembled that was the D&R S4D. 

So opening/closing the glove wasn't too much a drastic change for me. (Side note, I also have used a Brian's Altra? in the past, this might relate or not, you be the guess). The Fusion felt well balanced and very well put together. The strapping (forgot to take pics) looks and felt similar to my Warrior with an added over the wrist padded strap which I never used as the over the finger portion was more than enough to keep the glove on my hand just like my Warrior. 

The block on the backhand has a Warrior feel but their own design and is not a nuisance and very well thought out, especially for RVH positions or backdoor efforts. There is plenty of wrist mobility, never got in the way of my c/a arm.

The basket seems soooo huge when looked at online but in reality, it's just right without exaggerating, no bigger than my Warrior GT which suits me perfectly as I prefer a shallow to mid deep basket. The skate lace is a plus as most of you will agree. The T bridge is thick and strong, much more solid than my GT, real pro level. 

This next pic might have you puzzled. Straight to the point, the block is indented?, concave? dimpled? First time I ever see this and I'm guessing it's to help with puck deflections. Can't vouch for its effectiveness but it has no negative impact on its usability. Another nice personal touch of theirs.  

Closure is as best as one can expect I guess. I don't have gorilla grip hands and I really didn't get any pop outs. Thankfully it was broken in. Seal on the ice was good as well. I didn't get to do much puck handling so that part will be absent. 

Now, the big question: would I buy it? Between my Warrior GT (the GT2 felt better in the store) and the Fusion, I would not totally sleep on it. A solid 8/10. 

I wish I could get my hands on a Mckenney XPG1 and a Factory MAD to add to the comparison but Mckenney doesn't have a demo program. 

And don't forget that JRZ is custom made in Quebec, Quebec, Canada.

I'm sure I missed a few things so maybe other users can chime in and if anyone else has questions, I will try my best to answer. 

SOLD!

This is my c/a below. If you blow up the pic of the CKA goalie, you can see a triangle pattern beside the C kinda like on my unit but it seems placed lower and smaller. Can't think of any other model that would ID it.

Got news of it too. Unfortunate.

7 hours ago, coopaloop1234 said:

It doesn't look like you'll get your wish on the calf nylon buckle, but I gotta ask, is that something that has happened to you?

I've been in some good scrambles and that velcro has held on tight and I've never been worried about it coming loose.

It hasn't happened to me as I haven't had the chance to play in a set yet, but we all remember this happening to guys wearing Bauer pads last year and since we haven't seen Warrior pads in the show since Roloson, one (myself) can kinda speculate, whether I'm wrong or not, but your testimony seems to argue against that possibility.

I just hope the catcher has a set angle like the GT line. I'd also love to see the knee strap/buckle from the knee lock added to the calf portion as a safety to prevent the velcro to come undone during scrambling or run-ins. 

@Kirk3190, when will we get the launch info and gear details?

32 minutes ago, WillyGrips13 said:

Bet he didn't know you were hiding in his basement

We all know that in beer league you're on your own, rarely will a teammate help with anything unless on ice injury and even then. My bag is already more than I want to carry at my 6'2 frame L/XL gear. Carrying extra gear doesn't sound inviting to me. I don't even bring a spare stick cause getting through the doors is hell enough as is.

We should start a revolution and make beer league equipment managers a real thing

19 hours ago, Nashton said:

I'd like to add, I fit in a 34+2 CCM pad, but I currently wear a 36+1.5 Ritual GT pad. They were the same height as my Buddys 34+2 CCM P2 pads. IDK why its so different, but if youre looking for a sizing comparison that's what I have. I don't use a bootstrap and I use pro laces and I have a lot of boot flex so that might make a difference, but I think due to having a slightly smaller knee block, they size down. Warrior sizing is weird.

CCM/Lefebvre has always run bigger from the Koho days.

On 4/2/2020 at 10:17 AM, Kirk3190 said:

Sorry, the images didn't post.  Here they are.

@Kirk3190 in reference to the graphs, if I am a 20.5, either of the 34"+ or 35"+ would fit me?

On 3/31/2020 at 11:58 PM, Quadzilla32 said:

This look roughly like your FTK?  I would say I’m between 19.5 and 19.75 

Looking at the pics, I'd figure you more a 20" on the dot. Am I wrong?

Drop the MIC!!  

@Drew37 Be warned that they only have 2 sizes cowlings. From 6 to 8.5 and then 9 to 12, which means that when I bought the GX3s in a size 9, I was surprised to see the boot in what looked like a size 12 cowling. It looked and felt like I was wearing skis. They did this to cut down on production costs.

Now you being in the bigger sizes, that might have little effect but should be considered. I returned the GX3s and a year later got me some GX2s with the intention of transferring the boots in Graf or Bauer cowlings of the appropriate size but it became too complicated for my taste and the boot itself wasn't as comfortable as the GX3 even though it was a pro model.

Make sure you can return them if you do take a shot at them.

5 hours ago, Yzueblin said:

I hate the backplate so much on my rgt2 pro I always have something touch me in my neck ! I know it’s weird haha 

Stop ducking your head when pucks come at you    

Yes, I have the Reactor 9000. Yes, it's a double elastic. I have the elastic velcros as deep as I can to still allow my knee pads to fit and also still allow some good rotation. My toe ties are at least 4" in slack, my boot strap is under but floating, the calf strap (not elastic) is snug. I was keeping the bottom knee strap loose but that wasn't working well. I also removed the upper knee strap altogether. 

I see the CCM and Bauer and Brian's and just wonder how all can stay together and not experience what I'm going through. I do give kudos to Warrior for the knee neoprene strap which has less give. I'm very much hoping to get my hands on a pair of their pads.

I look at goalies like Kasimir Kaskisuo and Bonesy and how loose and simple they wear their pads and seem to have zero issues.

Bringing this back to ask a question:

How the hell do you guys (pros and amateurs) wear your pads with the knee elastic crossed down to the calf area and not miss the knee landing when going into your butterfly or scrambling around or stretching for a toe save? I already have this issue while wearing my knee elastic in the traditional fashion and have to cinch the knee strap close to tight to help prevent my knee from sliding off the knee block to the side.

2 hours ago, bunnyman666 said:

It’s easy to kill one’s faith in a company. Public trust capital is so hard earned and easily spent. With the world seemingly trying to do the least amount of work for the most money being the norm, it can sour you quickly. There are too many examples of cracking workmanship with high value per money spent in the beginning, then trying to figure out how to cheap it out and dumb it down to optimise profits and hope not too many people notice it.

True That!

I find that the T (pocket) of the gloves (GT2/G4/G5) is longer than the original GT. Am I the only one? The GT has a more circular shaped opening to my eyes.

2 minutes ago, RichMan said:

So as per Google pics, he's mostly a Vaughn guy. And I also see that he's in the NHL system at some minor level.

Could it be that Warrior will be entering the show for goalies come 2021-2022? Hmmm....

Scratch that, just saw the KHL hint as per the mask.

So as per Google pics, he's mostly a Vaughn guy. And I also see that he's in the NHL system at some minor level.

Could it be that Warrior will be entering the show for goalies come 2021-2022? Hmmm....

Who's the goalie? 

BUMP!!

I thought Bernier was set to stay in Detroit but I guess they saw a different performance. 

It looks like a cosmetic thing, no actual break underneath. It would be bad for them to state the option of no break and then simply cover up the split with jenpro. Guys who like their plywood pads would be pissed.