True Catalyst Catalyst Nitro Pro
FlagshipNew 2026 Catalyst flagship; SCF foam, PCS toe bridge, adjustable knee stack
Base price: $2199·Style: butterfly·Level ceiling: College·Sizing: true
The Catalyst Nitro Pro is True's 2026 flagship — the most expensive pad in the Catalyst line, replacing the PX5. Senior-only. It sits at the top of True's softer, hybrid-leaning Catalyst line (separate from the stiffer HZRDUS line).
Construction is the most technically specified pad True has released: SCF foam for lighter weight and harder rebounds, Post Connection System (PCS) toe bridge for RVH integration, and an adjustable-stiffness knee stack that can be tuned without tools. The PCS toe bridge is notable — True designed it specifically to improve ice contact during reverse-VH saves, a position increasingly common at AAA and College levels.
True's overall build quality is currently the highest-rated in the goalie community. The Nitro Pro gets True's full attention on materials and fit. At $2,199 it's the most expensive pad in this catalog. Whether the SCF foam and PCS bridge justify a $700 premium over the 9X3 Pro below it is a real question for most buyers.
Best for: College-ceiling butterfly or hybrid goalies who regularly work RVH and want the PCS toe bridge; senior goalies who want True's best build quality and are equipped to dial in the adjustable knee stack.
Not ideal for: junior or intermediate goalies (senior-only); anyone who'd get the same game from the 9X3 Pro at $700 less; goalies who don't play RVH frequently enough to use the PCS bridge.
Scores
Score breakdown
durability
4/5True's build quality is community-rated highest of any brand. SCF foam is a newer material — proven in principle, but multi-season Nitro Pro data is limited. Score reflects high confidence in True's manufacturing, medium confidence in the new foam specifically.
mobility
5/5SCF foam reduces pad weight over prior Catalyst generations. Combined with True's slim profile, puts this at or near the top of the catalog for mobility. Faster than Bauer HyperLite 2 by most assessments.
rebound
5/5SCF foam delivers harder rebounds than the standard Catalyst soft core. Closes the gap between Catalyst's hybrid feel and HZRDUS's butterfly output.
sliding
4/5True's slide system is solid — slightly behind Vaughn QuickSlide and Brian's Primo-Slide in community rankings. Consistent across the True lineup.
comfort
5/5Adjustable-stiffness knee stack is the standout. Being able to tune stack height and stiffness without tools is a real fit advantage. PCS toe bridge adds RVH comfort.
value
2/5At $2,199, the most expensive pad in the catalog. Value requires justifying the full feature set — SCF foam, PCS bridge, adjustable knee — versus the 9X3 Pro at $1,499.
resale
4/5True's brand is growing with an increasingly active used market. Flagship-tier True pads retain value better than they did three years ago. Still behind Bauer's resale dominance.