Couple of interesting notes - My team are using Alpha LX gloves that were ordered as a team set (so have the foam package from one step down , the LX20 I believe) but these have a shorter cuff on the underside of the glove. Still fixed on the top of the cuff, and it can lead to a gap in protection, but is nowhere near as stiff or restrictive on the underside. Also, the one thing I've noted with these team gloves is the thumbs are sewn SUPER TIGHT. Could be a manufacturing tolerances thing but it's nothing like the DX, QX or AX1 gloves that I've used in the past. Thumb palm section was way tighter, to a point of discomfort for some guys. These team orders were made in Vietnam.
I'm debating the Pure exclusive Alpha Pro version of these gloves vs the previous Pure exclusive based on the DX's. Would you say the new style of backhand foam shape and cuff protection (with cutting the seam) make the 2021 worth $60 extra, or save the money and get the 2018 model? Is there any difference in fit?
Honestly... I can't say if I'd recommend one over the other. If you can spring for the new ones I'd always say look for Pro Stock gloves instead. I haven't worn a DX in long enough to remember what the fit is like compared to the LX sorry. I never did the 3D hand test on them to be able to compare the 2 gloves either.
The CCM jetspeed FT4 are for sure among the best retail gloves right now. The new jetspeed gloves are really nice!... put it this way, the new jetspeeds are so good that they were able to get both Mcdavid and Taveres out of the CCM HG55s they've been wearing for years now. Matthews is also in the jetspeeds this year and im sure many other pros around the league are sporting the new jetspeed gloves too. I've got a pair of prostock CCM HGQL-XP gloves (retail version was the CCM quick lite gloves) which are one of the predecessor gloves to the new jetspeed gloves (I believe it goes, quicklites - ft2 - ft4 gloves) The quicklites are an amazing glove! vary high dexterity, great looks, and highly protective... personally all ill be wearing for the fore seeable future are the prostock quicklites and prostock jetspeed gloves, imo they're nearly perfect gloves. Bauer 2s gloves are quite amazing too! and might still be found on some great clearance deals. Next to CCM prostock gloves, Bauer gloves are easily my favorite... and excluding prostock gloves, bauer might be my favorite retail gloves, I tend to like bauer retail gloves more then CCMs retail gloves. The bauer 3s, 2x, ultra sonic and 2x pro gloves are all great looking gloves and the few I tried on in store felt great to me. between the top end retail gloves from CCM, Bauer and True, I dont think you can really go wrong... these days your gonna find great dexterity, protection and nice looks among all the brands top end gloves... so get whatever you feel looks best! and ideally feels best to you personally.
So, this answer isn't as simple as it seems to be. The Jetspeed pro stock is based off the FT1 but has a totally different foam package than any of the retail Jetspeed gloves so the comparisons are a bit unfair. The FT1 and FT4 Pro are still solid gloves but they aren't a stand out like they could and should be. All of the other gloves you mentioned (besides True) have taken a step BACKWARDS compared to previous versions so I have a hard time recommending them to people. The 2X Pro gloves are one of the best examples of cost cutting and a glove actively getting worse over the years with the 1X Pro being the ultimate version of them.
It is a hard question to answer because while the Ultrasonic and FT4 Pro are solid gloves they both have had cost cutting efforts into them which makes them either worse than the predecessors or just not as good as the Pro Stock versions. The True Catalyst is really the only glove that improved on the predecessor and didn't suffer from cost cutting decisions that hamper it. So I have a hard time recommending anything else over the True simply because those business decisions should be supported and the glove is solid.
Agree with you on the cuff design. I believe this design has been around since Alpha line was introduced and I always hate it. I wish that gap was not stitched together at all, or they can just use a piece of elastic strap to connect both parts.
I used a seam ripper and undid that stitching we all hate and it’s a thousand times better. Looks factory, better cuff
Couple of interesting notes - My team are using Alpha LX gloves that were ordered as a team set (so have the foam package from one step down , the LX20 I believe) but these have a shorter cuff on the underside of the glove. Still fixed on the top of the cuff, and it can lead to a gap in protection, but is nowhere near as stiff or restrictive on the underside.
Also, the one thing I've noted with these team gloves is the thumbs are sewn SUPER TIGHT. Could be a manufacturing tolerances thing but it's nothing like the DX, QX or AX1 gloves that I've used in the past. Thumb palm section was way tighter, to a point of discomfort for some guys. These team orders were made in Vietnam.
I'm debating the Pure exclusive Alpha Pro version of these gloves vs the previous Pure exclusive based on the DX's. Would you say the new style of backhand foam shape and cuff protection (with cutting the seam) make the 2021 worth $60 extra, or save the money and get the 2018 model? Is there any difference in fit?
Honestly... I can't say if I'd recommend one over the other. If you can spring for the new ones I'd always say look for Pro Stock gloves instead.
I haven't worn a DX in long enough to remember what the fit is like compared to the LX sorry. I never did the 3D hand test on them to be able to compare the 2 gloves either.
Is the alpha lx pro more protective than the qre 10? In terms of foam/plastic thickness
It should be basically the same. Ignore the QRE 10 though. Terrible backhand design.
I have a question, what do you think about the qre pro gloves
QRE Pro are alright, nothing special. Unfortunately the QRE gloves have better foam package than the QRE Pro did iirc.
What glove would you recommend if I like a very snug (contoured) fit?
Supreme or Jetspeed, but try to get the pro stock versions
What is best retail glove right now in your opinion?
True Catalyst Glove
The CCM jetspeed FT4 are for sure among the best retail gloves right now.
The new jetspeed gloves are really nice!... put it this way, the new jetspeeds are so good that they were able to get both Mcdavid and Taveres out of the CCM HG55s they've been wearing for years now. Matthews is also in the jetspeeds this year and im sure many other pros around the league are sporting the new jetspeed gloves too.
I've got a pair of prostock CCM HGQL-XP gloves (retail version was the CCM quick lite gloves)
which are one of the predecessor gloves to the new jetspeed gloves (I believe it goes, quicklites - ft2 - ft4 gloves)
The quicklites are an amazing glove! vary high dexterity, great looks, and highly protective... personally all ill be wearing for the fore seeable future are the prostock quicklites and prostock jetspeed gloves, imo they're nearly perfect gloves.
Bauer 2s gloves are quite amazing too! and might still be found on some great clearance deals.
Next to CCM prostock gloves, Bauer gloves are easily my favorite... and excluding prostock gloves, bauer might be my favorite retail gloves, I tend to like bauer retail gloves more then CCMs retail gloves.
The bauer 3s, 2x, ultra sonic and 2x pro gloves are all great looking gloves and the few I tried on in store felt great to me.
between the top end retail gloves from CCM, Bauer and True, I dont think you can really go wrong... these days your gonna find great dexterity, protection and nice looks among all the brands top end gloves... so get whatever you feel looks best! and ideally feels best to you personally.
So, this answer isn't as simple as it seems to be.
The Jetspeed pro stock is based off the FT1 but has a totally different foam package than any of the retail Jetspeed gloves so the comparisons are a bit unfair. The FT1 and FT4 Pro are still solid gloves but they aren't a stand out like they could and should be.
All of the other gloves you mentioned (besides True) have taken a step BACKWARDS compared to previous versions so I have a hard time recommending them to people. The 2X Pro gloves are one of the best examples of cost cutting and a glove actively getting worse over the years with the 1X Pro being the ultimate version of them.
It is a hard question to answer because while the Ultrasonic and FT4 Pro are solid gloves they both have had cost cutting efforts into them which makes them either worse than the predecessors or just not as good as the Pro Stock versions.
The True Catalyst is really the only glove that improved on the predecessor and didn't suffer from cost cutting decisions that hamper it. So I have a hard time recommending anything else over the True simply because those business decisions should be supported and the glove is solid.
Just a unrelated question. Will you ever be doing a review on the hyperlite player stick?
Yes, it is coming up hopefully soon. Have a couple of glove videos to come out and then I am getting to the stick.
Agree with you on the cuff design. I believe this design has been around since Alpha line was introduced and I always hate it. I wish that gap was not stitched together at all, or they can just use a piece of elastic strap to connect both parts.
At least with the previous Alpha they had spandex under the cuff roll so the cuff flexed with your hand more, now this is just super restrictive.