The Bauer Vapor X900 blocker follows the same design as its pro counterpart, X900, but is a more affordable option for growing elite goalies. The blocker board is pre-curved for better rebound control, and has a binding for a bit of a traditional look. In combination with the Free Flex cuff, the board shape also allows for full range of motion in the wrist and paddle down play. The fingers are well protected from direct contact with the puck by XRD foam reinforcements. To ensure a comfortable feel, a soft Nash palm is used and has an extra layer of reinforcement to prevent wear.
Goalie Blockers Sizing
More times than not, blockers are often overlooked compared to other pieces of gear where fit is concerned. Perhaps this is a result of the limited sizes available compared to other pieces of equipment: youth, junior, intermediate and senior. The first step to finding the correct blocker is to approximate your size by following the estimated age range and “heel-of-palm-to-tip-of-middle-finger” measurement:
- Youth (age 5 – 8): 4.5” – 5.75” / 119 – 143 mm
- Junior (age 8 – 11): 6.35” – 5.75” / 144 – 160 mm
- Intermediate (age 11 – 13): 6.35” – 7” / 161 – 178 mm
- Senior (age 14 and up): 7” – 8.5”* / 179 – 216 mm
*8” – 8.5” would constitute an XL palm on a senior blocker
Once a size has been approximated it is important to ensure that the fingers tips lie close to the seam at the fingertips or within 0.5” if the goaltender is growing. This is important to ensure that the goalie can maintain control of the stick while making saves in addition to being able to maneuver the blocker when playing the puck.
Another thing to look for is that the wrist strap goes directly across the wrist bone and has little to no interference with the chest/arm. The wearer should be able to swivel their wrist to accommodate a range of save selections without any restrictions from the chest protector.
