Gearbox
Gearbox GBX Power
Gearbox's Gen-3 honeycomb power paddle — a cold-bonded suspended core that stays consistent longer than thermoformed rivals, at a mid-tier price. Solid but unspectacular next to the GX2 line above it.
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The DinkStart verdictRecommendedWho it's for: Power players who want Gen-3 honeycomb consistency at a mid-tier price.
Buy if
- Suspended, cold-bonded honeycomb core resists the crush that kills thermoformed paddles
- Raw unidirectional carbon face with good dwell and spin
- Listed by SmashPoint in Hong Kong in the Elongated shape
Pass if
- Thin community signal on this specific model
- At ~US$180 it competes with better-evidenced paddles, including Gearbox's own GX2
Performance profile
5-axis- Control7/10
- Power8/10
- Spin7/10
- Comfort6/10
- Durability8/10
Specs
- Shape
- Elongated
- Core
- Gen-3 suspended PPE honeycomb (cold-bonded)
- Thickness
- 16 mm
- Surface
- Raw unidirectional carbon fiber
Shape of play
The silhouette shows where this paddle departs from the reviewed field.
What we like
- Suspended, cold-bonded honeycomb core resists the crush that kills thermoformed paddles
- Raw unidirectional carbon face with good dwell and spin
- Listed by SmashPoint in Hong Kong in the Elongated shape
Where it falls short
- Thin community signal on this specific model
- At ~US$180 it competes with better-evidenced paddles, including Gearbox's own GX2
Full review
What it is
The Gearbox GBX Power is Gearbox's Gen-3 honeycomb power paddle, sitting below the solid-core GX2 line. Unlike most honeycomb paddles it's cold-bonded rather than thermoformed, with a suspended PPE honeycomb core isolated from heat and pressure during manufacture — Gearbox's pitch being that the cells keep their integrity and rebound consistency far longer. Raw unidirectional carbon face, unibody construction (handle, frame and face molded as one), offered in Hybrid and Elongated shapes, around US$180. SmashPoint stocks the Elongated.
How it plays
A power-leaning Gen-3 with more dwell than typical thermoformed rivals — the suspended core and unibody build give a smooth, connected feel from grip to face, and the raw carbon face spins well. Community signal on this specific model is thin (it's newer than Gearbox's established paddles), but the construction claims are credible given the brand's durability record: this is a paddle built to still feel the same after a year that a thermoformed equivalent wouldn't survive.
Who should actually buy this
A player who wants Gen-3 honeycomb feel with better-than-Gen-3 longevity, at a price under the GX2 line. Most buyers at this tier are still better served by better-evidenced options — a Vatic V-Sol Power for foam-core value, or stepping up to Gearbox's own GX2 Power for the full suspended-core experience.
Bottom line
Low priority — not because it's bad, but because everything near it is better proven. If the cold-bond durability pitch appeals, compare its evidence and price with the GX2 Power before deciding.
Buying it in Hong Kong
Listed by SmashPoint in Hong Kong — check current stock and price with the seller.
Check current price at SmashPoint ↗ (opens in a new tab)Final verdict
RecommendedGearbox's Gen-3 honeycomb power paddle — a cold-bonded suspended core that stays consistent longer than thermoformed rivals, at a mid-tier price. Solid but unspectacular next to the GX2 line above it.
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