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Also, how bad are like the $500 pads on
http://www.thehockeyshop.com/catalog...e=S_LegPads_Sr
Haven't made a choice yet, just trying to get a feel on how much it would cost.
How important is equipment (for both goalie and skaters) ?
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I really can't speak to the quality of the goalie pads. That is a helluva price range though.
I would guess as a goalie protection and durability are the two key factors. What good is it to be replacing $500 pads every couple years. But I'm not real familiar with goalie equipment.
If you are skating out, you don't need top of the line gear. You want a comfortable, quality skate (doesn't mean super-expensive) and a good helmet everything else can be middle-of-the-road.