Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Pads => Topic started by: six and out on November 25, 2012, 09:07:49 AM

Title: New Softs help please...
Post by: six and out on November 25, 2012, 09:07:49 AM
hi everyone,

i am in need of some help please - i have decided it has finally come the time for me to update my batting pads and gloves after 4 years and it seems as though things have changed somewhat in that time!!

could you please give me some recommendations, my budget is £150 - total for both pads and gloves - below i have put the order of importance i would have for the attributes of the pads and gloves.

Pads -

1. Lightweight - i am not the youngest so need a fairly lightweight pad
2. Comfort - no point in batting in pads that feel crap
3. Looks/Style - i prefer traditional look but i am open to some of the new style of pads looks (however i don't like the Morrant Superlite style of Pad)
4. Protection - this is down the list as i don't have to face the quickest bowling at the level i play at

Gloves -

1. Comfort
2. Looks/Style
3. Lightweight
4. Protection

Any help would be much appreciated.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Vantage_Cricket on November 25, 2012, 09:41:09 AM
I can do you a pair of Vantage Players Gloves and Volt pads for nearly half of your budget. These fit your attributes perfectly, let me know your thoughts.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Buzz on November 25, 2012, 09:41:47 AM
for that budget you would have change for pads and 2 pairs of gloves.

most softs for the big firms are made by SG or SS so are all much of a muchness.

if you want the best deal around at the moment the saf 40% off is probably it. lovely softs.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Nickauger on November 25, 2012, 10:17:39 AM
I echo what hass already been said, you could get a serious set of softs for nearly half your budget.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on November 25, 2012, 10:23:32 AM
I have the volt pads that vantage have offered you and they are excellent pads and fit everything you have requested above. I have not tried there gloves but reviews are available from IJC.

As an alternative Salix softs are IMO the best out there.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: six and out on November 25, 2012, 10:34:42 AM
that's really interesting... so what you guys are saying is that the pads that the likes of Gray Nicolls, Puma and GM are offering for £70 plus are simply not worth buying? you don't get the value for money or quality etc...?
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: FattusCattus on November 25, 2012, 10:39:08 AM
Having messed around with some at IJC the other day, the Willostix and Vantage softs were very nice.

You could do worse than that Blankbats shark tooth gloves and traditional pads combo.

All well under budget, I'm fussy about the straps on pads and the way the pads wrap around, and these are pretty good.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Liam-SCCC on November 25, 2012, 10:43:11 AM
Ayrtek Elites, best gloves I have ever used and kookaburra pads, best I have ever used with TLB pads a close second
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Buzz on November 25, 2012, 10:45:50 AM
that's really interesting... so what you guys are saying is that the pads that the likes of Gray Nicolls, Puma and GM are offering for £70 plus are simply not worth buying? you don't get the value for money or quality etc...?


well there is no doubt that kit like this is lovely

(http://i895.photobucket.com/albums/ac151/buzzrockport/P1010268.jpg)

but the question is do you need to spend that much on your kit? (i certainly didn't pay anything like full price for this kit)
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Number4 on November 25, 2012, 10:51:01 AM
 Is that a youth size protector there Buzz? :D :D :D
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Buzz on November 25, 2012, 10:53:38 AM
Is that a youth size protector there Buzz? :D :D :D

no, it is a full size shock Dr. bigger than it looks on your smart phone! ;) 
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: procricket on November 25, 2012, 10:54:05 AM
The g&m original le thigh pad is on sale at sports direct here for 6 quid
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: six and out on November 25, 2012, 10:56:32 AM
but the question is do you need to spend that much on your kit? (i certainly didn't pay anything like full price for this kit)

I have earmarked the money for new kit - the question is whether i use it for new pads and gloves or maybe can get some other kit as well ie. new bag etc... by spending less on the pads and gloves.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Number4 on November 25, 2012, 10:58:50 AM
I have earmarked the money for new kit - the question is whether i use it for new pads and gloves or maybe can get some other kit as well ie. new bag etc... by spending less on the pads and gloves.

You will certainly get good advice and value for money from here
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: procricket on November 25, 2012, 11:01:14 AM
Do you like twin winged

If your after traditional with a touch of modern

Are you after big brand or a smaller brand

Do you like colour piping or prefer white

Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Spanky on November 25, 2012, 11:33:15 AM
Are you left or right handed? Often seems to be some good deals for left based players on here.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: LDifa on November 25, 2012, 12:06:48 PM
I have the Volt pads which are ace, I also have the Puma ones from the link below, and the matching Puma gloves to match from the same company, they are all excellent and very cheap at the moment.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Puma-Calibre-4000-Batting-Pads-RH-Youth-Small-Mens-And-Mens-rrp-70-/310371482709?pt=UK_Protective_Equipment&var=610048732458&hash=item484394fc55&_uhb=1

Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Chad on November 25, 2012, 01:09:37 PM
I cannot recommend the Vantage Players gloves enough! They are probably the best gloves I have tried on in terms of weight, comfort and have good quality protection. I bought them for my brother, and they just feel really very light and extremely comfortable. You can't go wrong in purchasing a pair of them! In terms of pads, I haven't actually tried or seen the Volts, but they seem very good value for money. I tried my brother's Players pads and they are nice, and have a leather instep!

I use Vulcan pads and gloves, which are great and traditional. I think the best gloves I had before my pair of Vulcans were a pair of Puma Evolutions, probably the lightest I have ever used which were excellent gloves, but I did pay a little more than a tenner more for them, and they were either 3000s or 4000s, so not quite at the quality of the pittard palms I use now. Plus they were pink, so I did get a little chat when batting with them, from both teammates and opposition!

If you hate dragging your kit bag around, you could always go for a duffle bag! :) I use the Shamrock one, and it easily fits all my kit. There's the very last one for sale at £35 on this link:

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=20388.msg323753#msg323753

But maybe you want to go all SAF, which would cost you £97 plus postage for the pads, gloves and duffle. ;)

http://www.safbats.co.uk/Offers/kit.php

From experience though, either Dean at Vulcan or Matt at Vantage will sort you out with very good softs, all within your budget and comfortably meeting your criteria!

Hope this helps! :)
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Buzz on November 25, 2012, 01:13:47 PM
he will need the SAF sleeve too...!!
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Chad on November 25, 2012, 01:16:22 PM
he will need the SAF sleeve too...!!

I concur! I have no clue as to how I could have missed that! Damn, I'm tempting myself just by reading my post haha 8)
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Nickauger on November 25, 2012, 01:48:11 PM
he will need the SAF sleeve too...!!

He will certainly need the SAF sleeve. IMO, the sexiest bit of kit available to own at the moment!
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: six and out on November 25, 2012, 07:14:19 PM
thanks for the advice guys - i have been doing some looking around and have seen a few a like - see links below - what do you reckon?

Pads -
http://www.talentcricket.co.uk/puma_batting_pads_2013/puma_calibre_5000_batting_pads/c203p1371.html

http://www.talentcricket.co.uk/gray_nicolls_batting_pads_2013/gray_nicolls_maverick_elite_batting_pads/c197p1518.html

http://www.talentcricket.co.uk/salix_batting_pads_2012/salix_pod_one_batting_pads/c205p165.html

Gloves -
http://www.talentcricket.co.uk/puma_batting_gloves_2013/puma_karbon_5000_batting_gloves/c189p1076.html
 
http://www.talentcricket.co.uk/gray_nicolls_batting_gloves_2013/gray_nicolls_legend_batting_gloves/c183p223.html

http://www.talentcricket.co.uk/salix_batting_gloves_2012/salix_pod_one_batting_gloves/c191p248.html

http://ayrtek.com/gloves/elite-glove - the LE black ones

What do you think?

Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Nickauger on November 25, 2012, 07:29:06 PM
Could still get far better deals from the forum!
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: procricket on November 25, 2012, 07:39:42 PM
all very nice kit there i would check ebay for puma softs there some good deals to be had

Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: sfa82 on November 25, 2012, 07:40:55 PM
Have to agree. This forum is a wonderful place to get great deals.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: sloggerroz on November 25, 2012, 07:53:09 PM
Personally if you wanted to go big brand i would go puma gloves because they are very flexable and gn legend pads i find are hard to beat.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on November 25, 2012, 07:56:07 PM
IMO Puma make the best softs, although this year there straps seem to be around 2" longer than previous years.
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on November 25, 2012, 07:58:06 PM
Also if you like the look of M&H distinction softs I have an un-used set I could part with ;)
Title: Re: New Softs help please...
Post by: SelectCricket on November 25, 2012, 07:59:25 PM
I will second the Puma option.
Well gloves anyway, softest gloves I've tried on.
They were the top of range ones, can't remember a specific name.
Never tried the pads