I lost my AviarX3 in a pond. Could not find one anywhere online. So I thought I would give this and the Knife a try. Wouldn’t you know it, my X3 was returned by the time these arrived. Science time. I took just the 3 discs  all 174-175 to a local 9 hole (2 different days). Trying a variety of "upshots" and "drives"  that emphasized my LHBH hyzer. Because they are relatively over stable. On most holes the shot group was beyond the marksman level. Of course a putter should be a good putter. None of these are my primary putter (Aviar). I always liked the X3 for my "wind" putter. What I found with the Crater, was very pleasing. It performs as expected into the wind. It also performed very well when driven or thrown as an upshot (it never flipped on me, the Knife did). I got more distance (barely) than the X3. I also got the added value of having a nice gummy, that not only sticks to chains, but grabs a hard surface as well. The knife is a good disc and I won't be getting rid of it or the X3. However, both have left my bag (and my gummy) in favor of the "quiver killing" Crater. A fabulous disc for sure..

I think the crater is a very underrated disc. It is very similar to that pig, zone, harp, or caltrop having a very overstable flight that is super dependable. It is a very comfortable feeling disc with its thumb track that is the perfect size and the slight puddle top. The category 1 plastic is super nice, it is very tacky and gripped super well even in wet conditions which is really nice for a throwing putter. I think thats where this disc is utilized, it would not be the best putting putter because of its low glide and tendency to get to the ground. But for a throwing/upshot disc this thing will elevate your game and give you consistency in a backhand or forehand approach game. My only issue with this disc is the less amount of glide compard to a zone, if you try to put any turn on it it will just fight out right away instead of having a full flight while its fighting out of the turn. But some players might enjoy the plastic or feel of the crater over many of the other overstable approach discs. I would highly sugget giving the crater a try if you are missing that overstable approach disc in your bag or want to try more options.

The crater (formerly the gateway warspear) is an overstable approach disc. It's in the realm of the Dynamic Discs Slammer and Kastaplast Berg. I'd say it's right in between those 2. It's a very consistent disc. It does not glide a lot, and it has decent fade. Unlike the berg, I can get the crater to go further than 200 ft. I think the hand feel of the crater is excellent. It's not super low profile, but it is easy to grip. It flies good both forehand and backhand. The prototype craters I have have a pronounced puddle top. Some of the warspears I have had (and I believe some of the 1st run craters) have a milder flatter top. The super puddle top prototype has more fade than the milder topped ones that I have had. But both of them have a reliable flight that is exactly what you're looking for in an approach disc. Distance control is superb, and the flight is very consistent. If you want to have a lot of short putts, grab the crater and you'll finish close to the basket.

I contacted Gateway looking to buy a new War Spear. They told me that the War Spear was now Storm's Crater. I purchased one, and I can confirm they are the same mold.

I have to admire Storm Disc Golf for putting out a completely unique putter as their first putter in their lineup. The thumb track on the top of the disc works great with the very grippy plastic. I like the feel of it. The "crater" top, which is a puddle-top design where the middle of the flight plate sinks downward toward the center, is very different when paired up with the thumb track. 

As far as the flight goes, it is an overstable putter without a lot of glide, so you really need to know how it flies and not choose it as a "finesse" putter. This is one that you need to throw with authority. On longer putts, I found myself adjusting to put to the right side of the basket so that it could fade in, toward the chains. I think that the Crater is best as a short-range approach disc. You can count on it to make the overstable fade and sit right where it hits the ground. I would say that the closest thing I've thrown to a Crater, in terms of a putter, is the Berg. Definitely a unique putter-- probably not the best starting putter, but fun for a change-up in your bag for special situations.

The Crater is a unique putter, it has a raised edge around the outside, sort of like a thumb track. It was comfortable though! It is overstable to some degree, which I always had to remember when putting with it. It will always fall into a hyzer before it hits the chains.

For driving it was particularly fun because I could put a lot of heat into it and it wouldn't really turn over. It did a little, but fought out quickly enough that it wasn't an issue. I ended up using this disc a lot for upshots and driving short holes off the tees. I preferred it for driving more than for actual putting. The plastic feels good for a putter too- nice and tacky.

The Crater is a different putter. Like the name says, it's kind of like a crater with the outside rim providing a thumb track and the interior flight plate being almost concave. It's a very different feel that I really liked for spin putts. This is one of those discs that just provides a different feel. If you're struggling with your putting game, I'd highly recommend the Storm Crater as a way to mix it up and start over fresh as it will likely force you into a new feel and release. I really like the plastic blend of the prototype, it is very grippy and soft on the outside while still firm enough to feel confident.

For driving this disc doesn't glide a lot and stays pretty straight. This is a great driving putter for guys who throw really hard and need a really slow disc to actually tone don the distance on shorter holes.

I got to try out the Crater at a 3 disc challenge shortly after the first run of prototypes.

I liked the tackiness of the plastic. For putters, I like that extra little grip, and the sunken plate and thumb groove help with that too. It is also very reliably overstable. I knew exactly where it would end up as soon as it left my hand. Flat release? You bet that thing will "crater" at the end of its flight. Little bit of anhyzer? It will hold juuuust enough before flattening out and settling into its natural hyzer. Once I figured it out, the Crater was very easy and predictable to throw, it felt a lot like throwing an Innova Rhyno.