Vaughn ION Pro Goalie Knee Pads Review: What’s the New Extra Knee Flap?
Goalie knee pads with an extra flap for double coverage over the knee
The new Vaughn ION Pro goalie knee pads add something we haven't seen before: an extra flap under the main knee piece, so there's double coverage over the kneecap when you drop into the butterfly. Kevin Woodley and Cam Matwiv from The Hockey Shop Source for Sports go through the new flap, the fit and where it sits between protection and mobility, plus Cam's case for wearing your socks over your knee pads.
The ION Pro keeps a single hard plastic plate across the front of the kneecap, with softer padding below it. That softer section is where the new flap sits, so when you get caught upright in a scramble, or don’t lean back far enough as you drop, there is a second layer of coverage where it counts. It is rounded to the shape of the knee, so it doesn’t dig in or get in the way. The senior and intermediate models carry the flap; the junior is a traditional two-piece design.
Protection or mobility?
Some knee pads are built thick and bulky, others are stripped down for movement. The ION Pro lands in between: it wraps down around the bottom of the knee and stays very protective, but it is streamlined enough that you won’t notice it much on your leg. Cam calls it a happy middle ground.
Straps and fit
A four-strap design includes one just below the knee that grabs the top of the calf to help stop the pad sliding down, and there are attachment points for a garter belt. Every knee pad needs to shift a little to work, so resist cranking the straps as tight as they go: that is usually why one slides. Pulling your socks up over your knee pads also keeps the Velcro from tearing up the knee cradles in your leg pads.
Sizing
The ION Pro comes in senior, intermediate and junior sizes, so goalies can find the right fit at every stage. Questions on sizing or fit? The goalie experts at The Hockey Shop Source for Sports can help at 604-589-8299 or 1-800-567-7790, and the pads ship across the border from thehockeyshop.com.
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