Vaughn ION Pro Senior Goalie Leg Pads – Special Edition [Pre-Order]

Pre-Order for a Mid-June delivery

Vaughn ION Pro Senior Goalie Leg Pads

New for 2026 is the all-new ION Pro Goalie Leg Pads.  The ION Pro is a new name for Vaughn but is built off the SLR lineage. Although it is built off the SLR family, the ION is an almost completely new pad for Vaughn.  The ION Pro leg pads have been dramatically thinned out compared to the previous SLR4 pad.  This makes the ION leg pads the lightest pad Vaughn has ever made and also helps reduce overlap interference when a goalie is in their stance.

The Goalies Plus Special Edition Pads have added an extra break in the vertical roll of our Ion Pro pads.  This allows for extra flexibility in the pad that most goalies need.  The pad will still have the stiff upper thigh rise but the added break will allow the pad to flex at the bottom of the knee better. This will help a goalie close their five-hole along with adding more torsional (twisting) flex to the pad when a goalie is skating and moving around the crease – giving the goalie better overall coverage and mobility. Another Special Edition spec change is an added leather boot strap.  Some goalies still prefer to anchor the pad off the heal of their skates.  An elastic or no boot strap does not allow this.  If a goalie does not want a boot strap, simply cut it off.  It is much easier to build a pad with the boot strap then try to add one later.  The leather boot strap can also be used as a sizing tool.  By anchoring the strap under the goalies heal, it pulls the pad down.  By putting the leather boot strap behind the Achilles tendon on the area of the skate commonly referred to as the Lundy Loop on the skate, this pulls the pad up.  This is extremely beneficial to a growing goalie as they can change the size of the pad in these two locations with a boot strap.

Goalies Plus also had a new toe tie system put on our Special Edition Ion pads.  Since almost all pro and high-end goalies use a skate lace toe tie versus a bungee cord, we had a new toe tie installed.  This leather tab toe tie with skate lace running through it eliminates the need to knot out the skate lace to allow the pad to rotate properly.  This naturally creates the gap needed to accomplish this while also protecting the skate lace from accidental skate cuts.

The ION Pro leg pads have a distinct L-Shape profile as opposed to an S-Shape profile design seen on the VX1 goalie leg pads.  In the shin area of the ION Pro leg pads, Vaughn uses a high-density foam core to provide the most explosive rebounds a Vaughn pad has ever produced.

The knee block itself has also been redesign for performance and more importantly – comfort.  Many companies are making the knee blocks very stiff.  This has a negative effect on the knees, hips and back.  Every time a goalie goes down, it is a jarring like blow on the goalie’s body as there is no cushion in these knee blocks.  Vaughn has created a 3-layer knee block design.  The two outer layers have a stiffer material, and the inner layer has a softer material.  This helps cushion the blow that a goalie takes every time they drop into the butterfly technique.  It may seem minor, but this can go a very long way to help goalies protect their bodies over a long season.

The calf cradle area of the ION Pro goalie leg pads has a dual calf strap design.  Today’s goalies want to be able to customize the leg pads to their exact needs, The ION Pro pad can be customized for a tight leg channel fit or for a loose leg channel fit.  There are tabs in the inner leg channel that allow the goalie to change the strapping position based on their preferences. The tabs are Velcro’s in for a simple quick change from the narrow position to the wider position. These two calf (professor) straps – one at the top of the calf and one at the bottom of the calf inner calf can be worm snug or looser on the goalie’s legs (if preferred). This strapping system does not compromise pad rotation in any way.  Some goalies even have one in a tighter position and one at a looser position – often seen at the top (tighter) and the bottom (looser) which allows for a snug fit with more ankle mobility.  The choice is yours, that is the great thing about this additional customization on the ION leg pads.

The Vaughn ION Pro leg pads will continue to use the Quick Slide material on the inner edges and wear areas.  The Quick Slide material is coated with powered glass which gives this material the best slide available in the goalie industry today.  The Quick Slide material makes bad third period ice feel like a fresh clean sheet of ice.

Goalies Plus will be offering six unique Special Edition Ion colors:

• Black, Red & White
• Vintage Tan
• White & Pink
• Black, Powder Blue & White
• All White
• White & Navy Blue

Vaughn ION Pro Senior Goalie Leg Pad Features:

• Model Year: 2026
• Special Edition: Six custom colors
• Special Edition: Single break vertical roll
• Special Edition: Leather boot strap
• Special Edition: New skate lace toe tie system
• High-density front surface on inner core for extra active rebounds
• Enhanced stiffness in upper pad core
• Easy-flex lower scoop section of pad and inner core
• Beveled outside roll with low profile
• Quick-slide inner edge material reduces friction on ice for quick movement 
• Flat smooth inner edge provides for faster on ice motion
• Inside edge designed for superior pad stability on ice
• Rebound-positive design and construction for active rebounds
• Inner knee block integrated into internal pad core for added pad control
• Open knee cradle for quicker pad rotation 
• Wide leg cradle provides firm leg support in butterfly position
• Inner leg support cushion distributes body weight evenly along the inside edge of pad 
• Wide outer calf coverage for increased protection and comfort
• Pre-shaped design for a precision fit and pad control 
• Scoop area with larger angle for better post interaction and push off
• Smooth flat instep area for increased pad rotation 
• Thin top pad profile reduces bulk and allows for quick pad rotation