Warrior Ritual X3 Chest Protector Review
Warrior has always been a leader in creating some of the most protective and comfortable chest protectors on the market. The Ritual X3 is the first in a new line of chest guards that combines what was great about the G5 and GT2 to offer a line of units that appeals to every goalie no matter if they’re looking for something that maximizes coverage and protection or a unit that is streamlined for less weight and mobility benefits. The Ritual X3 line has two different silhouettes within it, the X3 Pro+ and X3 E+ are designed for those who want maximum coverage and protection in the net while the X3 Pro and X3 E feature a slimmer, more streamlined shoulder and arm design perfect for goalies who prioritize weight and mobility.
Body
The body of the Ritual X3 uses a construction similar to that of previous Warrior chest guards with a main belly pad and segmented padding on the sides of the body allowing for superior mobility no matter if the goalie decides to tuck in their chest protector or leave it out over their pants.
The sternum along with the belly pad of the chest guard is reinforced with pro level internals to boost the protection in vital areas while reducing the risk of premature breakdown. The kidney padding on the X3 has been extended wrapping further around the goalies’ sides to reduce the risk of stingers during plays off the post and in tight. All units are highly adjustable to ensure the best fit and the most protection in any save scenario.
Arms and Elbows
For the X3 chest, Warrior redesigned their AxyFlex arm design to provide best in class mobility and protection. This resulted in a new design that offers protection of the G5 but in a more approachable package that goalies are sure to love from their first icetime. While previous generations of Warrior chest guards that featured mechanical arms boasted some of the best protection and mobility available on the market, some goalies felt like due to the construction their arm was floating within the unit rather than being snugly wrapped inside.
Warrior addressed this problem in the X3 by creating a hybrid arm that features AxyFlex technology along with their tried and true Hypercomp material and Shockshield design. The AxyFlex system is a T shaped elbow floater with a reinforced bar and an X-foam pad that runs nearly the whole length of the arm. When the arm flexes, the X-foam pad pushes up against the bar which pushes the whole T shaped elbow floater forward creating a bridge that keeps the puck impact away from the arm meaning no matter how hard of a shot they face the goalie won’t feel any sort of stinging.
The biceps of the X3 Pro+ are made of Warrior’s Shockshield design, reinforced with Hypercomp creating a large and squared off upper arm minimizing the holes normally found near the armpits that ensures stingers are a thing of the past. Much like the biceps, the wrist area of the Ritual X3 features a Hypercomp forearm that tapers towards the wrist allowing for great protection and integration with gloves. On the back of the arm, there are many similarities to the GT2.
The elbow cap itself is still the same comfortable and protective one used on the previous generation however, the triceps area of the X3 wraps around much further than seen before offering superior protection for the back of the arm. The wrist area of the X3 has been retouched with added padding wrapping around the underside of the wrists to completely protect the goalies’ arms from errant pucks.
Between the X3 Pro+ and the X3 Pro there are a few notable differences. As previously mentioned, the arms of the X3 Pro+ are widened in order to offer superior coverage. The same is not true in the arms of the Pro which are slightly more tapered in order to offer superior mobility. That being said, the protection of the Pro model is similar to the Pro+ meaning goalies have the option to get into an elite level Warrior chest protector without sacrificing protection.
Shoulders
Departing from the rounded, segmented shoulders of the GT2 chest, the X3 Pro+ features Hypercomp reinforced one-piece squared off floaters that give goalies a bigger profile without sacrificing vision or mobility. A max coverage shoulder design uses a wide shoulder cap with a floating pad underneath that is far more pronounced than that seen on the GT2 offering maximum protection against quick rising shots.
The X3 Pro on the other hand is designed with a slightly more rounded off silhouette giving goalies superior mobility without all the added bulk that's seen in the X3 Pro+. This is especially noticeable in the shoulder padding where on the Pro+ the two floaters are much more upright and pronounced whereas on the Pro they sit flatter and tighter to the body giving it a more sweatshirt style fit.
Strapping and Adjustment
For those familiar with Warrior chest guards, the strapping of the Ritual X3 will be very much like what they have previously seen. The use of the double velcro straps on the backplate allows for easy chest height adjustment. Rather than using velcro, the arms are laced in giving a more traditional and solid feel while still being somewhat adjustable.
The shoulders also have multiple adjustments for the floaters, chest height and shoulder width. The X3 units have removable extensions along the bottom of the belly and sides allowing goalies to get a more customized fit that works for them.
Final Thoughts
All in all, Warrior brought a lot of features and innovation from other units to the Ritual X3 creating a chest guard that offers superior mobility without sacrificing coverage and protection. The new arms seen on both the X3 Pro and Pro+ are a great upgrade over the mechanical style arms in that they offer an equally protective and mobile package that's much more approachable and is sure to be a favorite among those who try it on. The two different styles within the X3 line mean there’s something for every goalie no matter if they’re looking for maximum coverage and protection or a streamlined design that provides excellent mobility and reduced weight.
Reviewed By: Cedric Hastings
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