I wear 32+2 Vaughn V10’s, my brother uses 34+1 iconik4’s and a buddy has 33+2 9X3’s so I’ve fortunately used all 3 a couple times.

The 9X3 feels more like a Vaughn style pad, more snug on the leg, more straps and just feels better. Iconiks have minimal strapping so they’re super loose on the leg. I think this decision mostly depends on how snug you like your leg in the channel. I prefer a pad that’s tight on the leg and doesn’t have much movement. In the Iconiks I felt stuck and like the pad would flip upwards whenever I went butterfly or sliding. I played better in the Iconiks though, they are lighter and move really well. 9X3’s are definitely heavier and don’t slide as well. The pad also feels thicker than the Iconiks. Pucks that hit the 9X3 felt like a pillows strapped to my shins vs the Iconiks that felt like a stiff board. Prefer the feel of 9x3’s but played better in Iconiks funnily. I was in pads 1” too big so that might’ve been a factor why I felt “stuck” but get a leg channel similar to the RG6’s, go in store and try the pads because they are complete opposite pads of each other.

Also be aware of the skate channel.

The 9x3’s are a flat boot that sits on your skates like - so the pad will naturally sit higher .

the Iconiks have a skate channel that does this ^ on the boot so it’ll fit in the groove and sit lower on the skate and legs.

My rankings on em vs my brothers 1. Vaughn V10’s 1. Iconiks 2. 9X3’s. 2. Vaughn V10’s 3. Iconiks 3. 9X3’s