Vaughn Ventus SLR3 Junior Goalie Leg Pads [Special Edition]

Vaughn Ventus SLR3 Junior Goalie Leg Pads – Special Edition

New for 2022 is the third generation of the popular Ventus SLR line from Vaughn.  Goalies Plus will provide our customer base another Special Edition version of the Ventus SLR line.  The Ventus SLR3 Junior line has some major changes for 2022.  The most notable change is that the SLR3 junior line will size up to a 31+2in. pad.  In the past, the SLR2  junior line ended at 28+2.  Now with the expanded junior sizing, there will not be a SLR3 intermediate line.  We feel that the expanded sizing is great for younger goalies (and female goalies) that may be tall but not ready for the stiffer and wider high density foams of an intermediate pad.

As for the SLR3 Junior Special Edition offerings, Goalies Plus will have in stock – ready to ship five special colors.   Along with these special colors that are unique to Goalies Plus, we have added a few spec changes.  The first and most notable spec change was adding a break on the vertical roll (outer roll) below the knee.  This break along with the pre-molded shape of the SLR3 goalie pad allows the pad to flex more in the butterfly position.  This is crucial for a goalie with a narrow to medium width butterfly. If the pad is too stiff, the pad will not seal in the butterfly technique and the five hole will always be exposed.  This added break allows the pad to naturally roll around the goalie’s knees and seal the thigh rise together in the butterfly position. The single break was a huge success with the SLR2 junior leg pads so we feel that the SLR3 Special Edition will also have a huge following.

Another great thing about the added break on the vertical roll is the added lateral flex of the pad.  This provides the goalie more mobility when moving around the crease and recovery from butterfly techniques.  We have always felt that for a majority of goalies, it is better to have the extra flex and mobility in a goalie pad (it is better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it). For younger goalies, mobility is probably the most important factor in determining success and failure.  This pad allows a young goalie to wear a high-level junior goalie pad without sacrificing mobility.

Another spec change on our Special Edition version is a leather boot strap.  We felt that the elastic boot strap had two flaws based on our constant feedback.  Number one was the elastic boot strap doesn’t lock the pad in place the way goalies who prefer boot straps would like.  There is no denying many goalies are going away from boot straps, however the ones that still use them want the pad to be held firmly in place.  If you do not want a boot strap, you can simply cut the strap off with scissors.

The last spec change was relatively minor.  We choose to use a skate lace toe tie strap instead of the Vaughn bungee system. This was not because we do not like bungee systems, it just seemed that many goalies didn’t like the Vaughn style and wanted either skate lace or an after market bungee toe tie kit.  Junior goalies in particular struggles with Vaughn’s bungee clip system because the clips on the end were too big to weave in and out of a small skate.

Vaughn Ventus SLR3 Junior Special Edition Leg Pads Features:

• Model Year: 2022
• Special Edition Spec: Five unique colors
• Special Edition Spec: Single break vertical roll
• Special Edition Spec: Leather boot strap
• Special Edition Spec: Skate lace toe strap
• Full foam core internal structure
• Full flat front blocking surface
• Flat inner edge with higher density foam
• HD foam internal core front panel for superior performance
• Quick slide inside edge material
• Wide knee cradle with angled adjustable strap
• Wider leg cradle design speeds pad rotation
• Deeper inner knee side panel for added balance and coverage
• Firm front pad surface for more active puck response
• Tapered outer edge on knee cradle for added pad rotation
• Rotation control strap
• Top thigh rise creates increased blocking surface
• Very light weight
• Pre shaped pad structure for precision fit
• Available in sizes 26+2″, 28+2″, 30+2″, 31+2″