Warrior Ritual X5 Goalie Gear Review
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Time to read 6 min
Warrior’s protective line has always been a popular choice in our store. Warrior Ritual X5 gear is designed to maximize coverage and protection while promoting great mobility right off the rack. This year, Warrior has delivered again, making thoughtful updates to improve fit, protection, and movement.
Unlike brands that update everything yearly, Warrior alternates between updating their pads/gloves and their protective gear. While some may prefer yearly refreshes, this approach allows Warrior to focus more on development, leading to more substantial improvements each release.
Previously, the Ritual X4 lineup had four price points (Pro+, Pro, E+, and E). This year, Warrior has simplified the Ritual X5 lineup to just the RTL and Pro models. This review focuses on the RTL line — Warrior’s top-end model — though many of these upgrades are carried down to the X5 Pro line as well.
Ritual X5 Colour Scheme
Before diving into each piece, it’s worth mentioning the Warrior Ritual X5's new color scheme. Warrior moved away from the neon accents of the X4 and embraced earth tones reminiscent of camo. Army green, beige, and grey combine for a cohesive, understated look — one that I personally prefer.
Warrior Ritual X5 Chest Protector
HyperComp Reinforcement
The Warrior X5 RTL chest features Warrior’s HyperComp material for enhanced protection and durability while remaining balanced and lightweight. The addition of HyperComp is the main differentiator between the RTL and Pro chest protector models.
AsyFlex2 Technology
Warriors AsyFlex2 technology optimizes mobility without sacrificing protection on the X5 chesty, minimizing any gaps in coverage through strategic design.
CoverEDGE+ Technology
HyperComp-reinforced shoulder floaters without a pectoral break maximize coverage and stopping power. The Warrior X5 Chest also added a removable foam pad that can raise shoulder height by an additional inch for a customizable fit and shoulder height.
Bone System
The Warrior Ritual X5 added additional padding to the back of the arms for better protection in RVH and on poor-angle shots. Another update to the arms are neoprene connectors designed to close gaps between padding and secure the arm in the sleeve, eliminating weak spots for stingers. I really liked the feel of these updates on the X5 chest; The extra padding doesn’t feel bulky, and the neoprene adds noticeable comfort.
Fit and Adjustability
The Ritual X5 chesty might offer the most Velcro adjustment points of any chest protector, making it easy to dial in the perfect fit. With Velcro adjustments on the shoulders, arms, and sides, I found it easy to get the chest protector feeling right. Warrior also replaced the laced in arm with Velcro on the X5, making it easier than ever to adjust arm length.
Gear Integration
Warrior knows that mobility isn’t simply about how a chest protector moves on its own, but also how it integrates with other pieces of equipment. On the Ritual X5 chest protector, Warrior offers numerous ways to customize the chest around other pieces of gear including:
New Velcro shoulder loops to secure suspender straps over the shoulder floaters.
Belly loops to integrate chest into inner belt systems
Velcro removable side and lower belly padding for customized fit with pants.
Overall Thoughts on the X5 Chest Protector
I'm a big fan of the Warrior Ritual X5 chest updates. It's comfortable, mobile, and offers excellent protection and size in the net. It did feel a bit stiff when trying to reach my ears, but I expect that to break in. Warrior clearly listened to feedback, and spent considerable time thinking about the best solutions to improve their Ritual chesty. While the entire package excites me, I’m most excited about the improved arm protection and customizable shoulder height.
Warrior Ritual X5 Goal Pants
The new Ritual X5 pants are easily my favorite update from Warrior this year. Their pants have always been a top seller at The Hockey Shop, and this year's focus on fit and mobility is a home run.
HyperComp Reinforcement
Once again, the Ritual X5 RTL model features HyperComp reinforcement, providing superior protection and durability without adding unnecessary weight.
Dual Adjustment Inner Belt
Keeping things familiar, the Warrior X5 pants feature a dual adjustment inner belt, designed to help tailor the fit more accurately. I’m a big fan of the Warrior inner belt for how it adjusts, how it sits, and its overall comfort.
Segmented Hip and Kidney Protection
One of my favourite updates to the Warrior X5 pants is the new segmentation along the kidney protection. Instead of one, long piece that wraps around the torso, the new design features 8 segments to better form around your body. I also find that this design makes the pants more accommodating for both tucked and untucked chest set ups.
Internal Hip Padding
The bulky external hip padding feature previously on Warrior pants is gone. The Warrior X5 pants remove this external pad and place it on the inside of the pants, preserving protection while greatly improving flexibility.
Streamlined Thigh Protection
The thigh design is now more curved compared to the previous flat X4 style. While some might worry about coverage, the Warrior Ritual X5 maintains the same width while significantly improving mobility.
AxyCut
The AxyCut design is a cut-out on the outside of the lower leg, designed to reduce interference with leg pads and help promote an easier 5 hole seal.
Overall Thoughts
I'm very impressed with the Warrior Ritual X5 goal pants. They prioritize mobility and comfort without sacrificing protection or overall coverage. The segmented design and inner belt integration make them a versatile option for any chest protector setup. I could definitely see myself picking up a pair of Warrior X5 pants and would encourage anybody in need of new pants to try them out in store.
Warrior Ritual X5 Accessories
Ritual X5 Knee Pads
Warrior’s Ritual knee pads continue to be a fan favorite, combining great protection with comfort — and even adding a little extra butterfly height. There aren’t major changes this year to the Warrior X5 model, but that’s a good thing — they didn’t need much updating.
Key Features
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HyperComp Reinforcement: The Warrior X5 RTL knee pads improve protection while keeping the gear light.
- Shock Absorbing Landing Area: Adds extra cushioning for butterfly drops, while subtly increasing butterfly height.
Ritual X5 Jock
The Warrior X5 jock ranks high when it comes to protection. Offering essentially a double-cup design, the X5 jock is well designed to minimize impact and reduced shock when it sees the occasional puck.
Key Features
ShockShield Technology: Extra layer to reduce puck impact.
Ergonomic Abdominal Pad: Additional protection for the stomach area.
- Removable Liner: Easy to clean by removing the liner when needed.
Ritual X5 Neck Guard
The Warrior X5 neck guard moves away from the hard shell style, using a soft foam design for improved comfort and fit. Warrior’s XFoam Technology helps dampen impacts while allowing better integration with chest protectors.
Key Updates
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New Neck Taper: Slight downward taper improves comfort and mobility when looking downward.
- Reduced Bib Size: The bib is slightly smaller to eliminate excess weight without sacrificing protection, trimming only where the chest protector would already offer coverage.
Final Thoughts on the Warrior X5 Line
Across the board, Warrior has delivered some truly impressive updates with the Ritual X5 line. What stands out to me the most is how intentional every change feels — Warrior clearly prioritized meaningful improvements based on how goalies actually move and play.
The Warrior Ritual X5 Chest Protector impressed me with its balance of size, mobility, and added protection in key areas like the arms and shoulders. The Warrior X5 Pants are easily my favorite update. Warrior made them more mobile, more comfortable, and better-fitting — without sacrificing the protection goalies expect. I can easily see these being a top pick for a lot of goalies this season. The Warrior X5 Knee Pads and Warrior X5 Jock stay true to what worked before, offering reliable protection and comfort with smart minor tweaks. And the X5 Neck Guard now fits better thanks to the new taper and feels lighter without losing coverage.
Overall, Warrior didn’t just change things for the sake of it — they made real, noticeable improvements across the board. If you’re looking to upgrade your gear, the Warrior Ritual X5 line is absolutely worth a look.
