For a correction. The material on the knee block on the Ultrasonic forward (Hyperlite, Mach) isn't Jenpro but to me feels closer to Jenpro than what was on my 2X Pro. You can notice the "grain" in the material more than I did on the 2X Pro which felt more like a vinyl than Jenpro. According to Bauer, they should all be the same material as what is on the face of the pad.
Really appreciate your dive into the knee block and talking about durability on older pads, or well worn sets. I've noticed recently how flimsy my knee blocks are, especially compared to anything new in store and I feel like it contributes to under rotation and losing balance when my weight is forward.
Very comprehensive review and awesome seeing the comparison across the lines. Couldn’t stand the ultrasonic calf slide plate, would have thought the Mach shape would have been an improvement. I agree the 2XPro was the sliding gold standard for Bauer, although I feel like the Hyperlite still tops the Ultrasonic for me. I, too, don’t understand why Bauer went away from offering the long strap replacement elastic straps
I think the calf plate is going to be a very love and hate thing. I barely noticed the Ultrasonic compared to the Hyperlite, and personally prefer the Hyperlite to the Mach but I am sure people will like this one. I just never really saw the need for it
I think StabiliSlide is a huge game changer. Pad is rigid and no energy or effort lost in the butterfly slide. Also, no chance of the pad flopping face down or rolling over. For example I switched to a rigid nylon strap on my L20.1s. Making the knee block stable solved all the issues I was having with that pad. Pad slides better and eliminates the boot break gap that people were noticing with Lefevre pads. I’ll post a video on this soon Great content as always. I always check your reviews before buying a piece of gear.
Interested to see what the nylon strap does on your pads! The break below the knee and boot design are what causes the gap at the boot than something the rigid knee block fixed. I've never had issues with any of Bauer's previous non-fixed knee blocks, and Varlamov (who had issues with the True boot) had that hole completely sealed in 1S pads. media.gettyimages.com/photos/colorado-avalanche-goalie-semyon-varlamov-watches-a-shot-sail-wide-of-picture-id630326970?s=2048x2048 Lefebvre has had the boot gap for a while, you can still see it in Smith's 4.1. But the rounded medial roll mitigates it more than the flat edge 20.1. media.gettyimages.com/photos/edmonton-oilers-goalie-mike-smith-makes-a-save-on-los-angeles-kings-picture-id1240590178?s=2048x2048
Nice review. I'm currently wearing Warrior G4s and looking at a new set. I like the Bauer Mach, but I also am interested in the new G6s. I can't decide! I wish I could try them on, but the closest place is about 6 hours away.
With the middle strapping on Supreme Mach, I 100% agree with you that the back leg channel calf protector was an overdo in my opinion. with the fact that it has 5 straps instead of 3 is a bit too much at the same time. That's why I would want a Vapor Hyperlite one over the Mach. Hyperlite has 3 straps that's doable to strap up. With the angle part of the middle strap, I haven't noticed much of that when I tested it at Goalie Plus factory. But yea I wasn't a fan of that middle strap on the Mach "Tune-Fit+". I just that a bit more strap wasn't necessary. The other 2 strap is what you mentioned a little bit in the middle back calf velcro.
Great content as always. I'm looking at ordering a pair of custom pads and I would like them made in Canada (or USA). I play dek hockey (ball hockey) and I currently have Bauer 2x pads which I love for how stiff they are and how the rebounds are hard. I'm wondering #1 if pro custom Bauer pads are made in North America, and #2 would you go with the pro custom Bauer Mach or pro custom True 12.2 made extra stiff if looking for stiff and hard rebound pads. Your review of the True 12.2 pads made me really consider them, except for the long wait time. Thanks Matt!
Thanks for the kind words! If you want Made in NA you have to go: True, Kenesky, JRZ, Passau, Vaughn, or Brian's. Bauer is Thailand now no matter what specs you get and they have been for a while now. I think it really depends on what you are looking for but I also think you should factor in the dek hockey part. I'm not sure if you wear sliders or not? I feel like compatibility with that would be very important. Bauer simply have the biggest rebounds there are and nothing is really close. Bauer also has been basically the best for stiffness and how well the pad seals, I haven't found a pad that is really close to feeling as stiff as Bauer are. I have no issues with True and would love a pair and would love to use them, but they just can't compete with the Bauer rebounds.
@@HockeyReviews I do wear sliders (attached with velcro) and that has worked flawlessly with my Vapor 2x non-pro pads. I don't think that would be an issue with True pads, but the Bauer Mach sliding plate my be weird with sliders. Knowing that Bauer makes everything in Thailand, I'm edging towards Lefebvre as I've seen your impressions on the quality of their gear. At first I was looking at Passau (and I love their glove), but their quality issues make me nervous about buying a set of custom pads.
I think you should take a look at the Hyperlite or 3X than if the Mach plate makes you question things. If you went with Hyperlite you can order the stiffer options, get the pillow in the calf, and have the flat calf plate.
It seems these fit slightly larger because of the new strapping, am I getting that right? Currently in XL Ultrasonics but they are slightly/ slightly small on 5 hole closure. Just ordered Mach XL and hoping they cover that slightly small gap in my 5 hole? Thoughts? Also I assume you didn’t get any full game action in these? Loved when you wear new gear and talk about their performance within the game and game footage! As always thanks for the content Matt!
Unfortunately there aren't really any leagues running this year in the summer, so I was only really able to get the shinny and training sessions in with these. I found they do fit bigger if you use that strapping system since it pulls the pad off your skate and higher up your leg. But they might play a bit bigger in the thigh as well as they are a straighter shape and have less of a curve that the Ultras had.
Because these videos were supplied from Front Row Sports I have to say that.... But personally I have had great experiences ordering custom Bauer gear from Just Hockey.
Not sure if you covered it in the video, which was amazing!, are the knee blocks the same from the older ultra sonic to this Mach or are they different heights
Great comparison. What are your thoughts on the Mach vs Hyperlite blockers? I'm hoping the one that is lighter/thinner also feels the most connected to the hand, if that makes sense.
I will have a video of the Mach blocker soon but unfortunately didn't have a Hyperlite to do a direct comparison. I don't really feel there is a big difference between the two in terms of "connected to the hand" since the board thickness where your hand connects is very similar if not the same. The Vapor lines just slim out towards the bottom. I feel the biggest piece that would affect that is basically how snug the backhand padding is and how tight the palm in the glove is. The difference of feel between my 1X and Hyperlite 2 piece is a lot because the palm is so much looser on the Hyperlite.
@@HockeyReviews That makes sense, thank you. Which do you prefer, the snugness of the 1X or the two piece? (My assumption being that a one piece Hyperlite would feel kinda sorta like a 1X).
I like my 1X better, everything feels more controlled. I wouldn't say the Hyperlite feels like the 1X though. The different hand position makes a lot of difference in balance. 2X Pro, and Hyperlite just really felt like a lighter Supreme.
You can custom order them through any store now, I believe the stock retail sets will be available online Friday but if you go into a store they will have them for sale now.
There isn't a "best pad" on the market. Everything is personal preference and you have to find out what feels and works best for you. Unfortunately that means you have to try stuff on and see what feels comfortable on your leg.
Did you wear size for size to your Ultra sonics, with the new boot I feel like it fits small like the hyperlite did. If i wear 2x pro in M, should I get LG? I need a lg in hyperlite, had to sell my M HL after I got them, to short
While I talked about this to you in person, I used a sized won in this video and would if I kept using the new TuneFit Connect strap. If I wanted to wear them looser I'd wear the same size I did in Ultrasonic. Just depends on how you strap them. Length and everything fits true to size to old Bauer pads.
@@HockeyReviews Confirmed! I bought Med and they fit a touch large then old 2x pro's. Fit me perfect with floor to knee at 20. Def need a large Hyperlite, Medium Mach/M5 pro. I need the new strapping very loose but its comfortable and better then the stupid professor strap they tried to make. 100% agree the new knee strap is much better sized now.
According to marketing yes. But it doesn't really matter, just know that they are generally stiffer than what "hybrid" pads are. Cam Ward wasn't really a purely "butterfly" goalie and he wore Bauer pads at the end of his career.
Tiny Asian legs fit in there, what’s the problem? But seriously, it’s the same issue with clothes made overseas. I don’t think they know how larger humans are built.
I wouldn't say it has anything to do with where the gear is made. Bauer is sending the specs for each piece to their factory. The people overseas aren't designing them.
@@HockeyReviews I would love to believe that, problem is durability issues only tend to follow brands that tend to outsource labor. Now, it could also be they're speccing cheaper materials and the actual build using those materials is a secondary thing, but the evidence tends to track.
Except it doesn't... Warrior has basically had 0 durability issues and their gear has been made overseas for years. Brian's, Vaughn's, and Bauer's senior level gear is made overseas and those don't have durability issues. Bauer had durability issues in the past because of the different materials they were trying, when they made gear in Taiwan with the Nike Bauer era they also didn't have durability issues.
For a correction. The material on the knee block on the Ultrasonic forward (Hyperlite, Mach) isn't Jenpro but to me feels closer to Jenpro than what was on my 2X Pro. You can notice the "grain" in the material more than I did on the 2X Pro which felt more like a vinyl than Jenpro. According to Bauer, they should all be the same material as what is on the face of the pad.
Really appreciate your dive into the knee block and talking about durability on older pads, or well worn sets. I've noticed recently how flimsy my knee blocks are, especially compared to anything new in store and I feel like it contributes to under rotation and losing balance when my weight is forward.
Nice video. Waiting for the glove and blocker reviews to come up.
I'm working on it!
Very comprehensive review and awesome seeing the comparison across the lines. Couldn’t stand the ultrasonic calf slide plate, would have thought the Mach shape would have been an improvement. I agree the 2XPro was the sliding gold standard for Bauer, although I feel like the Hyperlite still tops the Ultrasonic for me. I, too, don’t understand why Bauer went away from offering the long strap replacement elastic straps
I think the calf plate is going to be a very love and hate thing. I barely noticed the Ultrasonic compared to the Hyperlite, and personally prefer the Hyperlite to the Mach but I am sure people will like this one. I just never really saw the need for it
I think StabiliSlide is a huge game changer. Pad is rigid and no energy or effort lost in the butterfly slide. Also, no chance of the pad flopping face down or rolling over.
For example I switched to a rigid nylon strap on my L20.1s. Making the knee block stable solved all the issues I was having with that pad. Pad slides better and eliminates the boot break gap that people were noticing with Lefevre pads. I’ll post a video on this soon
Great content as always. I always check your reviews before buying a piece of gear.
Interested to see what the nylon strap does on your pads!
The break below the knee and boot design are what causes the gap at the boot than something the rigid knee block fixed. I've never had issues with any of Bauer's previous non-fixed knee blocks, and Varlamov (who had issues with the True boot) had that hole completely sealed in 1S pads. media.gettyimages.com/photos/colorado-avalanche-goalie-semyon-varlamov-watches-a-shot-sail-wide-of-picture-id630326970?s=2048x2048
Lefebvre has had the boot gap for a while, you can still see it in Smith's 4.1. But the rounded medial roll mitigates it more than the flat edge 20.1.
media.gettyimages.com/photos/edmonton-oilers-goalie-mike-smith-makes-a-save-on-los-angeles-kings-picture-id1240590178?s=2048x2048
@@HockeyReviews To throw in here: I've never had this issue on the boot with a Brian's pad (GNetik 3 and onward).
amazing job, getting the digi print on the mach's and this video really helped. Great video!
Glad it helped! Thanks for watching
Nice review. I'm currently wearing Warrior G4s and looking at a new set. I like the Bauer Mach, but I also am interested in the new G6s. I can't decide! I wish I could try them on, but the closest place is about 6 hours away.
It sucks that G6 are so hard to find too!
With the middle strapping on Supreme Mach, I 100% agree with you that the back leg channel calf protector was an overdo in my opinion. with the fact that it has 5 straps instead of 3 is a bit too much at the same time. That's why I would want a Vapor Hyperlite one over the Mach. Hyperlite has 3 straps that's doable to strap up. With the angle part of the middle strap, I haven't noticed much of that when I tested it at Goalie Plus factory. But yea I wasn't a fan of that middle strap on the Mach "Tune-Fit+". I just that a bit more strap wasn't necessary. The other 2 strap is what you mentioned a little bit in the middle back calf velcro.
Great content as always. I'm looking at ordering a pair of custom pads and I would like them made in Canada (or USA). I play dek hockey (ball hockey) and I currently have Bauer 2x pads which I love for how stiff they are and how the rebounds are hard. I'm wondering #1 if pro custom Bauer pads are made in North America, and #2 would you go with the pro custom Bauer Mach or pro custom True 12.2 made extra stiff if looking for stiff and hard rebound pads. Your review of the True 12.2 pads made me really consider them, except for the long wait time. Thanks Matt!
Thanks for the kind words!
If you want Made in NA you have to go: True, Kenesky, JRZ, Passau, Vaughn, or Brian's. Bauer is Thailand now no matter what specs you get and they have been for a while now.
I think it really depends on what you are looking for but I also think you should factor in the dek hockey part. I'm not sure if you wear sliders or not? I feel like compatibility with that would be very important.
Bauer simply have the biggest rebounds there are and nothing is really close. Bauer also has been basically the best for stiffness and how well the pad seals, I haven't found a pad that is really close to feeling as stiff as Bauer are. I have no issues with True and would love a pair and would love to use them, but they just can't compete with the Bauer rebounds.
@@HockeyReviews I do wear sliders (attached with velcro) and that has worked flawlessly with my Vapor 2x non-pro pads. I don't think that would be an issue with True pads, but the Bauer Mach sliding plate my be weird with sliders. Knowing that Bauer makes everything in Thailand, I'm edging towards Lefebvre as I've seen your impressions on the quality of their gear. At first I was looking at Passau (and I love their glove), but their quality issues make me nervous about buying a set of custom pads.
I think you should take a look at the Hyperlite or 3X than if the Mach plate makes you question things. If you went with Hyperlite you can order the stiffer options, get the pillow in the calf, and have the flat calf plate.
I love your vids and thanks for helping me because I’m getting new gear next year and if I’m gonna spend the money I want to know what I’m getting
Thanks for watch and for the kind words ♥️
@@HockeyReviews ya man
Thanks for always making vids and giving me insight into what I should put my money into
It seems these fit slightly larger because of the new strapping, am I getting that right? Currently in XL Ultrasonics but they are slightly/ slightly small on 5 hole closure. Just ordered Mach XL and hoping they cover that slightly small gap in my 5 hole? Thoughts?
Also I assume you didn’t get any full game action in these? Loved when you wear new gear and talk about their performance within the game and game footage! As always thanks for the content Matt!
Unfortunately there aren't really any leagues running this year in the summer, so I was only really able to get the shinny and training sessions in with these.
I found they do fit bigger if you use that strapping system since it pulls the pad off your skate and higher up your leg. But they might play a bit bigger in the thigh as well as they are a straighter shape and have less of a curve that the Ultras had.
Nice pads . I'd like to see um up close .
Hey where would you recommend buying a custom pair from
Because these videos were supplied from Front Row Sports I have to say that....
But personally I have had great experiences ordering custom Bauer gear from Just Hockey.
Just spray your pads with silicone waterproofing spray (it’s not expensive) and works great. Spray it, let it dry overnight & good to go
Just use PPF
Finally those are a good pads ?
Not sure if you covered it in the video, which was amazing!, are the knee blocks the same from the older ultra sonic to this Mach or are they different heights
I never measured, but they felt the same with all of them (including Hyperlite).
Great comparison. What are your thoughts on the Mach vs Hyperlite blockers? I'm hoping the one that is lighter/thinner also feels the most connected to the hand, if that makes sense.
I will have a video of the Mach blocker soon but unfortunately didn't have a Hyperlite to do a direct comparison.
I don't really feel there is a big difference between the two in terms of "connected to the hand" since the board thickness where your hand connects is very similar if not the same. The Vapor lines just slim out towards the bottom.
I feel the biggest piece that would affect that is basically how snug the backhand padding is and how tight the palm in the glove is. The difference of feel between my 1X and Hyperlite 2 piece is a lot because the palm is so much looser on the Hyperlite.
@@HockeyReviews That makes sense, thank you.
Which do you prefer, the snugness of the 1X or the two piece? (My assumption being that a one piece Hyperlite would feel kinda sorta like a 1X).
I like my 1X better, everything feels more controlled. I wouldn't say the Hyperlite feels like the 1X though. The different hand position makes a lot of difference in balance.
2X Pro, and Hyperlite just really felt like a lighter Supreme.
You tried them with the tune fit strap removed right? How did it feel?
Are the bauer m5s good?
YES, The knee is awsome. They are lighter then my 2x pros. materials feel premium. Everything but the bauer logo on side of pads is top notch.
When are you going to review the Mach chest?
Probably not going to happen sorry!
Do you know when I can get them
I’m wondering because I have camps in August and need new gear desperately
You can custom order them through any store now, I believe the stock retail sets will be available online Friday but if you go into a store they will have them for sale now.
Are the bauer Mach pads the lightest pads you have tried?
Mach were a size smaller than most pads I have. So I couldn't directly compare them to my other gear.
So I’m debating between the optik2 or the machs what do u think I should do
Or what do u think would be the best pad available rn
There isn't a "best pad" on the market. Everything is personal preference and you have to find out what feels and works best for you.
Unfortunately that means you have to try stuff on and see what feels comfortable on your leg.
Did you wear size for size to your Ultra sonics, with the new boot I feel like it fits small like the hyperlite did. If i wear 2x pro in M, should I get LG? I need a lg in hyperlite, had to sell my M HL after I got them, to short
Hrmm, in the video you show how it still sits higher, I should be good with a Md to match my 2x med?
While I talked about this to you in person, I used a sized won in this video and would if I kept using the new TuneFit Connect strap. If I wanted to wear them looser I'd wear the same size I did in Ultrasonic. Just depends on how you strap them.
Length and everything fits true to size to old Bauer pads.
@@HockeyReviews Confirmed! I bought Med and they fit a touch large then old 2x pro's. Fit me perfect with floor to knee at 20. Def need a large Hyperlite, Medium Mach/M5 pro. I need the new strapping very loose but its comfortable and better then the stupid professor strap they tried to make. 100% agree the new knee strap is much better sized now.
so these are butterfly pads, not hybrid
According to marketing yes. But it doesn't really matter, just know that they are generally stiffer than what "hybrid" pads are.
Cam Ward wasn't really a purely "butterfly" goalie and he wore Bauer pads at the end of his career.
Tiny Asian legs fit in there, what’s the problem?
But seriously, it’s the same issue with clothes made overseas. I don’t think they know how larger humans are built.
I wouldn't say it has anything to do with where the gear is made. Bauer is sending the specs for each piece to their factory. The people overseas aren't designing them.
@@HockeyReviews I would love to believe that, problem is durability issues only tend to follow brands that tend to outsource labor. Now, it could also be they're speccing cheaper materials and the actual build using those materials is a secondary thing, but the evidence tends to track.
Except it doesn't... Warrior has basically had 0 durability issues and their gear has been made overseas for years. Brian's, Vaughn's, and Bauer's senior level gear is made overseas and those don't have durability issues.
Bauer had durability issues in the past because of the different materials they were trying, when they made gear in Taiwan with the Nike Bauer era they also didn't have durability issues.