The outer surface, often made of PU leather or synthetic water-repellent materials.
Modern pads are built in layers to balance weight and protection:
More flexible with "knee rolls" that allow the pad to bend with the goalie’s natural leg movement. 🏒 Hockey Shooting Pads
You can make a budget version using a 4x8 sheet of melamine particle board or white "thrifty white" tile board from a hardware store. 2. Maintenance Tips To keep a shooting pad "ice-slick": Clean it: Use warm soapy water and dry it thoroughly.
Protect the chest, back, and shoulders; newer models focus on "Range of Motion" (ROM) to ensure they don't restrict arm movement.
Professional versions like the Bauer Reactor or Extreme Hockey Pro are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and are roughly 3/16” thick .