Padded Goalie Undergarments Reviewed: Vaughn & Bauer Options

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Padded base layers with Woody and Cam over at The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, thehockeyshop.com.

Puffy shirts. Puffy shirts. Padded shirts. Okay. Pat but I like you know, like, I'm a I'm an old school Seinfeld guy.

So, like, I'm thinking, like, I guess those were kind of pirate shirts. Puffy shirt. Remember the puffy shirt episode? I look like a pirate. You know what?

For a show that was about nothing, this is a show about something, and today we are talking about padded undergarments. Face slayers, folks, with padding for goalies. We got a couple different options here. He's Cam. I'm Kevin.

Welcome back to The Hockey Shop Source for Sports. We're just gonna update you on sort of what the latest best options are. The most popular options that I see in National Hockey League rooms when it comes to base layers for goalies. So, Cam, do you wanna start with the Bauer? Bauer.

Bauer Elite Padded Pants. Yes. We have talked about this before. But, yes Cam just wanted the Bauer because it's called Bauer Elite, and it's the only time he's gonna be elite in this entire segment. You're gonna need some of this extra PORON pretty quick between me and you.

Is that PORON or have they changed what It is PORON. It's a great little call out. So with their Elite padded pant, you're getting that PORON impact protection at the knee, which Kevin is going to need a little bit later on. So what it's going to do is provide you a little bit extra cushion as you are dropping down into your butterfly. This is not not to replace a knee pad.

No. No. No. No. Poron is very good.

And it stiffens upon impact. Nice and soft, especially when you're wearing it. It stays really soft as a as a base layer. However stiffens on impact, which gives you a little bit get that under the knee. It's just like you make it that much taller.

Yeah. That might be the difference between getting a piece and not getting a piece. Game of inches. In this case, less than an inch. So Velcro attachments for your socks.

I don't need those, but that's good. Yeah. You do have that option. Other than that, just their standard Bauer base layer. Okay.

So we got shirt to match? We do. Let's see the shirt to match. Go. Bauer Elite padded shirt.

Go. Bauer Elite padded shirt. Shoulder area with that pour on, very common area where you're getting that extra stinger. Sometimes catches you in between your neck guard and your actual shoulder photos themselves. Even if you don't get it in the seams, it's just a nice extra layer of protection underneath your chest protector and underneath your neck guard. Yes. Exactly.

Even if you don't get it in the seams, it's just a nice extra layer of protection underneath your chest protector and underneath your neck guard. Yes. Exactly.

And secondary ribs. Yes. In particular. So especially in reverse VH situations, some chest vectors don't fully wrap around enough. This just gives you that extra little bit.

Again, you know, we're not 100% relying on this to stop a puck by any means, but something is better than nothing. Although, again, don't just wear this instead of knee pads, please. Also, because this wraps over the shoulder, again, just another little layer and a pump that just protect your up between this and the knees. Hey. You're gonna butt.

Now we're talking half an inch of extra coverage, Cam. But speaking of puffing that up more Before we get to the puffy shirt, I wear this top and bottom Bauer base layer. Really like it. Heat to durability on this, especially with the Flexorb Pour On protection inside out cold water wash, hang to dry. It's got a little tab in there, makes it super easy to hang it to dry.

And it for me, like, I think the when's the last time I bought one of those from here? Like, we're well over three years. Well over three point. If you don't take care of it, this these will start to fall apart a little bit on you, but if you cold water wash it actually, you know what? I don't even know that I cold water wash it.

I don't. I actually warm water regular wash it. Key is hang dry. Don't put it in the dryer. It lasts a lot longer.

So there's public service announcement from somebody who really likes the Bauer under layers. Okay. You heard it here? Over to my puffy shirt. It looked like a pirate.

Maybe not a pirate, but you are gonna look bigger in this. And I am seeing a lot more of these in National Hockey League rooms. We had Alex and with the San Jose Sharks last week. He was wearing it. I'm seeing a lot more of this even in guys that are head to toe other brands otherwise.

I think I think it's the fact that this one, when you put it on, it kinda really does pirate puppy up. So what he means by that, the Vaughn on the inside has these removable foam pads. So there's gonna be areas where you might not necessarily need that extra, we'll call it protection, beef up so you can remove it. However, when you remove it, you could add it back to the shoulders and continue to puff that up another extra layer if you really, really wanted to. Yeah.

So what he means by that, the Vaughn on the inside has these removable foam pads. So there's gonna be areas where you might not necessarily need that extra, we'll call it protection, beef up so you can remove it. However, when you remove it, you could add it back to the shoulders and continue to puff that up another extra layer if you really, really wanted to. Yeah.

And again, like so it does two things. Right? Like, it's gonna when we see I see guys in the room with it, you can see how just sort of how much bigger it is than their actual natural profile. We all can't be as broad in the shoulders as Cam is. So it gives you that extra again, your chest protector is gonna sit a little higher off the shoulders up here and maybe even width wise with this on.

But don't forget, like, that's a protection thing too. Like, as much as this is, you know, it's it's it's not pour on like like the power one. It's just sort of a standard SD foam. Correct. But air gaps are protection.

Like, creating a little bit of a gap between you and your chest protector, that's that much more space for the puck impact to be absorbed before you sort of feel it. So there is a protection element to this as well. Foam helps to reduce that impact. Yeah. Yeah.

And a little the air gaps never hurt. I mean, that's why you can't shrink-wrap a goalie even with all the padding and equipment. That's gonna hurt, and that's always been one of the debates with the NHL and the goalies about how tight you can make this stuff. So knees, pants, same as the I've never worn these Cam. So, again, you've got the sock tabs.

Are these removable as well or no?

They sure are.

[crosstalk] So this kinda comes down back to both. We go to go wash these. It is recommended to take the foam out. Now when you can actually throw this in the dryer, then when you take it out of the dryer, then you pop your foam pieces back in. But much like the Bauer one, I mean, this is designed to be, you know, a breathable base layer underneath.

And if you hang dry it, if you're worried about durability and you don't wanna take the foam out, hang drying because of the nature of the material is usually pretty quick. Exactly. So there you go. Got the Vaughn base layer with removable padding. You got the Bauer base layer.

[crosstalk] Cam, if they've got questions about sizing, availability, sizing probably in particular on this, where would they get you? So check it out at the thehockeyshop.com or (604) 589-8299 or 1-800-567-7790. Do these come in different colors? There's a blue one too, but for the most part, you're gonna find it in this red trim. So it's there's no different models and different color.

I just happen to see different colors in the room. There's different colors. Okay. I like different colors. It's like a rainbow and a pirate.

I look like a pirate. Yar. We like a some side, though.

Do do you have a preference when it comes to the padded base layer? I've been people people don't like the the chest padded, but they don't want their arms. Other guys, little less than the arms, but they they want that support on in the chest.

Definitely, that power product we just talked about is something I've worn for years and talked about some of the wash care advice during the segment there in terms of inside out cold water and just hang dry. I think if you do that, it lasts a long time. If you were to throw it in the dryer or not inside out or maybe add a little heat there, some of the padding will start to peel off sooner. I've had good success with with it lasting. I I love the padded pants in that case.

Just a little extra cushion on the knees when you're dropping into the butterfly. It wraps around the inside of your knee. Not for for protection for me. It's not like, you know, I mean, it would help you on a puck impact. But as I've gotten older, I've somehow, thanks Maria Mountain, managed to widen my butterfly enough to actually not take pucks off the knee very often.

And it's more about sort of the impact of landing and then maybe a little extra height. Right? Like that that foam stiffens on impact and, you know, if that's that's a quarter of an inch taller in my butterfly on my knees, the odd puck catches a piece of the shoulder rather than going over it, I'll take it. And if the padding over my shoulders also adds a quarter of an inch to my chest protector, that's a half an inch, Daren. I'll take that.

And I think that was one of the biggest points of the conversation with Cam is that Vaughn, you know, it may not be the same type of high tech, so to speak, foam. It's just, you know, standard SDHD foam. But the way it sort of puffs up, not only does it make can it help make you present bigger, but it creates a bit of an air gap between you and your equipment, and that is an element of protection in itself.

And, again, if you're playing at any type of level and you haven't worn when I say any type of level, a higher level, even a higher level recreationally, and you haven't experienced the use of a of a padded base layer, check it out because it does make a difference. Gives you a little more confidence, and there's just the odd stinger, whether it's off your elbow, your forearm, your your shoulder. It's it's good to have that backup. The the Bauer one with the hips or the ribs, that protection, that's huge with with you would know that more

than anybody. That's the shirt I have. That's the shirt I have. It's got it all over the shoulders around collarbone area and then over the rib cage. And I gotta say, just a little tease for the folks out there.

It's not public yet, but there is a brand we work with named CCM that's got a really good shirt coming out. I see most often the NHL, Bauer and that Vaughn one has become increasingly popular, but early adoption from this new product from CCM pros are getting it, and they are not giving it back. So I'm starting to see it circulate in locker rooms as well. And I think that'll be a big hit when we get out of the launch season later on this spring.

Good stuff. CCM is, the brand that I wear. I've got a bond too, but just, I've had it forever to worn out, so I replaced it with the CCM, and I love it. Vizual Edge ProReads, Cam Talbot, coming up as we, acknowledge our great partnership with Vizual Edge.

Well, do you want the puck to look like a beach ball, Daren? I know it does for you, buddy, but for the rest of us, it it takes work. Every goalie has that night here and there where the puck looks huge. You're ahead of every play. You feel calm, patient.

You're in total control. Then there are the nights where you're a half step late. You see it, but you don't really see it. You're reaching. You're guessing.