Itech 11.8 X Factor Catch Glove

Ok, first review of any equipment, but this glove needed one, as there is only 1 review that I have been able to find online.

This review will be based on using the glove mostly, and some features that I have noticed.

"The Spoiler"
This is a little extra piece that Itech put between the thumb and cuff. It is thin, and I doubted its ability to stop pucks. Though after stopping some close-in shots with it, I can attest to its effectiveness. It's angled in and down for ideal deflections. I worry that over time, due to how thin it is, that it will eventually fold backwards and become useless.

Pros: Extra stopping surface

Cons: Very thin, could become useless over time (Though so far, it hasn't moved from its original position)


Protection
Although anything would have been a step up from my Hespeler catch glove in terms of protection (I'd never seen an actual bruise on a palm until that thing), I can tell you that I don't think protection can get any better than this. I've taken multiple shots directly off the hand, and it does not hurt at all. I feel the shot, which is always a good thing, but no pain whatsoever. Ample protection.
On the back of the glove, again, there is ample protection. The back of the hand has fins or scales, that act like vents almost, and allow you to move your hand to a fingers up position with little resistence. (Refer to pictures...pictures to come later ) I've taken slashes and have yet to be hurt.


Function
When I manage to catch the puck directly in the pocket, the puck stays in. Sometimes I don't even fully close my glove, because I don't need to. They placed squishy grippy rubber ovals on the T in the pocket, which absorbs the impact and stops any spin the puck might have. These 3 ovals are innovative to say the least, and work very well.

The shape of the glove takes some getting used to, as far as funnelling pucks in to the pocket. New gloves funnel the puck for you in to the pocket quite nicely, but you have to do the work with this glove. There is a technique to catching with this glove, but it is not a new technique, and once you have it, you shouldn't experience any pop-outs.

I have fallen in love with the single T pocket because of this glove. It catches pucks just fine, and I'm able to put the puck back in to play so much easier. Of course, the 3 ovals, called "Tarmac", helps with this. Also, I don't have to fight to pull the puck out of my glove for faceoffs. I can even throw the puck at the ref while it's still in the pocket. I won't go back to a double T anytime soon.


Shape/Break
The shape of the glove is nice, and the break is very comfortable. I read somewhere that it is probably a 55 degree break. I don't know much about that, but I can tell you the break is very comfortable for my large hands.

The overall shape of this glove is quite nice in a few areas:
The cuff is a countoured, and gives out perfect rebounds. When the puck hits the cuff in the middle, the puck either deflects to one side or the other, but not once has the puck deflected out in front or right down in front of me. When the puck hits the cuff on the top, it deflects up. Since buying this glove, I haven't had one bad cuff deflection.
When the puck hits the palm, it deflects in a similar fashion, as to not give any sort of opportunistic rebound. This glove has taken care of my flaws in catching quite nicely.
Even though the palm is not funnelled like newer Vaughns, it is not flat by any means. The fingers curve at the tip, and the catching surface is quite large.
This glove also incorporates an integrated cuff design as to make the entire glove one piece. I jumped all over this, because I knew rebounds off the cuff area would be more consistent, and I wasn't disappointed.


Durability
...I don't know. It's a pro-spec glove, so probably pretty good. I'm not even sure what it's made of. I know there's some robo-weave in there, the rest could be jenpro, not sure. But so far, no stitches have come loose, and no string has come undone.
One thing that I didn't know about until reading some glove reviews is that some gloves come with eyelet protectors? Not so with this glove, so eventually you will have to replace the eyelets and string around the palm, if you're covering a lot of loose pucks Not a huge issue, but it would've been nice...


Comfort
It feels like I'm wearing a cloud.
It conforms to my hand, and doesn't put any fingers in an awkward position, even though each finger has its own slot. The glove doesn't make my hand sit in a way that is uncomfortable at all, and the lining is very soft and cushiony. Fingers up glove position was a little hard to do and uncomfortable at first, but since the glove has worn in (And it wore in quite nicely), it isn't a problem.
The glove took about 5 hours of opening and closing it (Luckily the playoffs were on), followed by about 10 games, to open and close comfortably. After about 30 games, it's to the point where I don't need to think about it to keep the glove open.
This glove comes with three hand-sinches: one across the fingers, one across the back of the hand, and one across the wrist. If you like a tight glove, you will like these options. Personally, when I sinch the hand straps down too tight, it interferes with my hand muscles in closing the glove, so I leave those loose, but I tighten the wrist down nicely. There are options.
There is also a thumb and pinky sinch, though I don't use them.
This is in the comfort section for obvious reasons: Airing out. The back of the glove fully opens up to air out (Pretty standard now adays anyways, but though I would put it in). The only problem I have here is that they used velcro to secure the back, but so far, it hasn't shown any signs of giving up. There are two velcro straps holding the back closed as well, a nice feature.
I compared this glove to some newer pro-spec Vaughn and RBK gloves, and they compared about evenly as far as weight goes, so even though it has a larger radius, it's still nice a light.


Price
Well, it's a pro-spec glove, what do you expect? The tag said that originally, the glove was $449; imho a bargain, considering what they're charging for some newer gloves. However, since this glove is already a few years old, I stole this thing for $249. I was going to barter with the local Source for Sports, but decided it was a very fair price, and they probably wouldn't budge. Yes, it's old, but if you're playing in a league that doesn't have NHL spec gear required, you're golden with this glove. Because it was a floor model, I couldn't get the colours I wanted, so it is purple, blue, and silver, which doesn't match anything I own, but oh well. It is still brand new basically.


Puck-handling
As the glove has worn in, the puck has become much easier to handle, to the point where I am once again comfortable passing and shooting the puck. The shape and break are ideal for me for puck-handling, though I am not a huge puck-handler anyways.

Conclusion: 8/10
8/10 might seem harsh considering the love affair I have with this glove, but I will say that there's no way a glove would ever get an 8/10 out of me, or any piece of gear for that matter. There's always something, and nothing will ever be perfect for everyone.

With that being said, I haven't seen a glove that I would prefer over this one to this day.

Pros: Larger size than modern gloves, lots of stopping surface, pro-spec but cheap since it's old (If you can find one), stops pucks dead in the pocket, ample protection, very comfy, pro-materials for long life, one piece glove/integrated cuff, favourable rebounds.

Cons: Will probably have to find one used (Unless you find an old floor model in ugly colours like me), velcro to open up the back of the glove will need to be replaced eventually, no eyelet or lace protectors on the fingertips, "The Spoiler" could break down eventually.

In my humble opinion, the cons are minor issues, but if those are things that bother you, that this isn't the glove for you. Otherwise, it performs above expectations for me.

Pictures to come

I know.
So weird why it wasn't popular. I absolutely love this thing. The one other review I read is positive as well, and there are a few forum posts in other goalie sites of people saying they enjoyed the glovely experience, but just didn't go so far as to give it a review. So I would suggest, anyways, that if anyone happens to see one of these in a used store, or if they happen upon it as old stock like I did, buy it!