Brian’s Optik X4 Goalie Gear Review

They have too much fun over there. Like, every time, something pops up on my social feed, they're having a blast. They're they're doing something unique, and I think, jeez, I'd like to work there. Is that what every day is like over there?

Every time we're there, they're running around filming things. So pretty much, I think so. You should get a job there, Daren. They'd love to help

love that. That would be amazing.

Well, we're we're going back next week to film some more segments of the Cam. And I don't know that it's like, this is the time of year where it's maybe a little less fun and a little more stressful because he was like, oh, really this week? It's it's easily their busiest time of the year as all the kids and parents head to the store to get geared up for next year's season, it can get crazy in there. So a little patience if you are checking in with them. They might be running around in a very busy section for the next couple of weeks.

Alright. Set up what we're gonna talk about today and listen to in your conversation with Cam.

Well, I mean, speaking of second price points and not necessarily always needing the most expensive gear depending on what levels you're playing at, we're gonna check-in on the second price point from Brian's. We've been doing that. This is the time of year where you're quite often just going in and buying off the rack as opposed to custom ordering. Because, obviously, if you custom order now, you're not getting it by this by the start of the season. So, you know, along the lines of things where, hey.

Do I need the top of the line, or can I go with the second? This is the second price point from Brian's. Cam breaks it down for us this week on the gear segment. Brian's optic x four primo, NHL, level sliding, or a second price point pad? Sicker knees there?

What else is new in this second price point offering from Brian's? We'll get into it with Cam here at The Hockey Shop Source for Sports and Goal Utopia with another new offering a little bit below the pro. But they don't I mean Yeah. Everybody else. We'll just stick with second price point.

But they don't about that. They don't actually call this pro, do they?

No. Just Optic X4.

Bing. Win for brands. Automatically, my favorite second price point just because they don't call it pro.

Just kidding to everyone who does. Welcome to the Optic X4 leg pad. So new for this year. First of all, graphic. I know I chose an all white pad because that's all I've got it currently at the moment.

However, I actually really, really like the graphic of this pad and we showed it off with the actual optic four.

Good for you for wearing all white then.

Yes. Classic. Right? Hey. All white goes with everything.

It's fine. Big things that kinda jump out. Hey. I like that graphic, but the profile of the pad. So for the first time, that optic series mid range price point now matches the profile and some of the stiffness profile of what we would find in that pro top end price point.

Which is? So Stiffer. Stiffer and more of what we'll call that zed shape kinda style. So much more aggressive curvature and the break at the knee, for example. No real break at the knee, but there still is some flex to the pad itself.

Boot, nice and soft. So still get that mobility there. Moving on to the back of the pad. Before we go, I

I did mention it. This isn't first for the second price point, but I would like to call it out. Primo is not only a high wear material, that's how they sort of discovered it as a high wear material. Yes. But it slides like a hot dang, and so the fact that they've included them a second price point in that sort of stiffer profile to help you slide, I think, is a real bonus.

Yeah. So, I mean, calling out that landing surface as well. They've stiffened up the foams on that inside channel as well. Feel that's good

for you. Yeah.

Almost So that is gonna help to improve the slidability of the pad but also long term longevity of your pad as well.

Durability. Durability. We like them both and they're both available in the optic x four so I had to call that

out sorry to interrupt. No worries. Thicker knee stack that we saw in the iconic x pad carries over. Now added to the optic series. The Optic X3 did not have this.

Optic X4 now does. Speaking of durability, nylon through here

tends to be a little

higher wear as well. But also better for overall rotation of your pad in combination with because that doesn't catch on anything. Exactly. Exactly. So let's open up the pad a little bit more, have a look at the strapping.

So a nice feature that we see added is lace tabs for their version of the upper control strap and or a k a Progressive strap. Yes. So so it's available after marking. Can be ordered from Brian's. No problem.

A nice additional feature there, that wasn't, you know, something we could get in the past. Okay. Smart strap. Makes its return. Nice and easy strapping system.

Easy adjustable. That's a big call out.

Pillow. Cat pillow. You can take it out and have a little nappy nap.

Now it that's this day. This is a wholesome moment brought to you by the guys at the Hockey Shop here. Okay. Cat pillow back in. Obviously, removable.

Outer calf strap does adjust. Can close off that overall calf a little bit more.

So Cam Cam, what's this? That is You don't see that very often anymore. Their smart boot,

which they still have on here. Stock. Yes. Easily removable if you choose not to go with it. Yeah.

Again, of almost like that seat belt material. Yep. Just held in by pockets, can be pulled out, easy to take out.

Yep. So rather again, like, we've seen other brands bring back the tabs for a bootstrap. What I what I to me with the benefit of a bootstrap, especially if you've a young growing goalie, if you tend to size up a little bit in the early stages, like you wanna leave room for some growth, the bootstrap can help sort of hold that pad down when it may be a little

too. Walk a fine line between Yes.

And then grow into it a little bit. Correct. That's that's one of the areas that I think it's it's beneficial and with Brian's, you don't have to go out and buy it. Yes. Smart toe.

Like it. Adjustability, you can adjust this tab to give you a little bit different range in terms of you know it's the equivalent of doing knots when you adjust that tab. Still elasticity which you know know gives you more give than you would like off the post but it's a good setup.

Exactly and if you choose to swap it out easy removal. Alright. Blocker. Blocker. The blocker.

And now we'll go to the glove. We'll save the glove for last.

So X4 blocker. Very mobile, very open at the actual cup piece itself. I do find that my hand position is mounted up a little bit higher, say even versus give you a little more reach down low. Exactly. But I really have good balance and mobility out of this for a mid level blocker.

Tight ish fitting palm not the tightest More one we pillows. Stealing the thunder today. He's falling asleep again folks. Oh stay Velcro, there we go. Is there two pillows?

Two removable pill oh, I'm gonna have

the best nap ever. At some point, you know, I'll be able to let you know that also there's a removable sidewall pillow as well. Two removable pillows. Give me the pillows. So if you were to take that off, the one thing I do notice though, it would aid in the mobility of the blocker on the side.

Can really feel like it's a side butt that is gonna bend in as well. You can potentially You

finally have shoulders for the first

A little bit of coverage. Alright.

Love. I'm all about the removable pillows. Okay. Gloves. Look at that.

No pillows. X4. So what kind of a break are we looking at here, Cam? So this is closer to a May ish style little break. So they again don't follow the same nomenclature between their gloves, but it's getting closer to that index finger to the base of your thumb style closure.

Big open presentation,

nice and steep from the thumb here, so a lot of pucks funnel to the pocket. I will say the off the rack closure on this one, she's a little funky. There might be a little break in period here to sort of get everything closing in straight lines. Know just honestly folks right like it matters these that little sort of reverse almost like a reverse five eighty closure there but with a little work and a little break in you'll get this closing in a much straighter line but a nice big open presentation opens and closes quite easily out of the box we just need to do a little break in work on that pocket.

Yes so available intermediate junior price points colors if you wanna talk more about it, give me a call. (604) 589-8299 or 1-800-567-7790, or you can check them out at the hockeyshop.com. Brians off

the X4.

Second price point, lots of pro features. Give them a call if you want to find out more or if you just want to have them pull out the pillows and have a nap.

Ever told you you guys have great chemistry, Woody?

Well, I appreciate that. We've been we've been told to mellow out the chemistry at at times in the past. You know, I've I've been a little critical of Cam in in some episodes, a little harsh with poor Cam in some episodes. But the truth is, we we kid and we tease because we love. He's a great guy who knows his job really well.

And oh my god, his head's gonna be huge if he hears this. I better just back off right now.

I think it's Cam's wife's burner account that keeps criticizing you.

Was I was more meaning chemistry as in, like, every now and then, there's a big blow up in the lab.

That's Abbott and Costello type chemistry? Like

like, sometimes there's there's an explosion in there, and it's not pretty. That's what I was meaning about great chemistry.

Well, that's what it looks like after every time we leave. It looks like there's been an explosion because there's, like, five or six segments worth of gear scattered all over and poor Cam has to clean it up while we try and pack up all the audio and video and lighting equipment and get out of there before the store opens.

You gotta do like a a pan over from where Woody and Cam are sitting and then give us a look at the pile of equipment that you guys have just run through or you're running through. Give us some perspective on it.

Little bit of BTS action this week.

I love that.

Let's see what we can do for you. And maybe You'll have to text me early. Text me early on Monday.

Alright. And and maybe we can get what do you give Cam a little PDA. Just just just a little warming up some some bonding. Make sure everybody

If I put on if I put on a big enough chest protector and make him wear one too, we might get a hug in.