Which skates are the best threads

[Johan Santana]

Thank you both. What about Tuuks?

Tuuk is the name of the Bauer skate-holder Chasis and runner, that's why you will see almost all Bauer skates have "Tuuk" on the chasis. It is one of the best chasis out there and alot of people will buy skates from other brands and put the Bauer Tuuk chasis on them. It is the most popular chasis in the NHL currently.

So to answer your question in short, Bauer makes the Tuuk chasis, almost all Bauer skates will come with the Tuuk chasis.

Different companies have different holders/runners and some companies have multiple, some examples:

Bauer: TUUK
Easton: Razor Bladz
Graf: NT/Cobra
Mission: Pitch
etc.

 

[CanFan05]

I have the Bauer X40 and i'm really satisfied with the performance I get from my skates. Quality/Price, i'm more than happy!

 

[mexicohockey]

why not try it at a LHS and then order that size from the internet, I am sure you could try a similar skate like the AG 100 and order that size?

They will love you when you show up with your brand new skates got get them baked and sharpened. And next time you might want to do this your LHS could have disappeared....
Skates are to be bought locally, for many reasons.

 

[Johan Santana]

They will love you when you show up with your brand new skates got get them baked and sharpened. And next time you might want to do this your LHS could have disappeared....
Skates are to be bought locally, for many reasons.

I do buy alot of my stuff from the LHS, but they carry very few skates in stock and they carry either really high end skates or really low end ones

my next pair will be bought at LHS though

 

[The ORB]

I do buy alot of my stuff from the LHS, but they carry very few skates in stock and they carry either really high end skates or really low end ones

my next pair will be bought at LHS though

Well if they dont stock the skates you want, then you obviously can't try them on there. Or am I missing something?

IMO skates are one item that should always be properly fitted and purchased at a good local hockey store, even if it costs a little more.

 

[Johan Santana]

Well if they dont stock the skates you want, then you obviously can't try them on there. Or am I missing something?

IMO skates are one item that should always be properly fitted and purchased at a good local hockey store, even if it costs a little more.

oh i never tried my skates at a lhs, i just bought them blind and they happen to fit great

 

[Johan Santana]

What kind of CCM skates are these? And why are they priced so cheap?

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/ccm-hockey-skates-vector-u-plus-pro-sr-blem.html

Thanks

 

[nystromshairstylist]

What kind of CCM skates are these? And why are they priced so cheap?

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/ccm-hockey-skates-vector-u-plus-pro-sr-blem.html

Thanks

Your answer is on that page, they have "cosmetic blemishes"...

 

[thedonger]

Your answer is on that page, they have "cosmetic blemishes"...

not only are they cosmetic blems, but the first release of the u+ pro's were notorious for having no durability. that's why ccm had to come out with the "reloaded" version 1 year after the initial release.

 

[RJC]

vapor series

 

[Caeldan]

yup, the only place in my area that had them was SportsChek for like 150-160$, by the time i found out and got there they had none left.

I dont buy off the interwebs, i prefer LHS's so im SOL

National Sports in Cambridge has Mission AGX and AG90's in stock still if those are equivalent to what you're looking for...

Just picked up some AG90s, felt good in the store - but after getting them out on the ice, not so sure about them... gonna go in and see about getting a proper bake maybe.

 

[CanadaBacon]

National Sports in Cambridge has Mission AGX and AG90's in stock still if those are equivalent to what you're looking for...

Just picked up some AG90s, felt good in the store - but after getting them out on the ice, not so sure about them... gonna go in and see about getting a proper bake maybe.

Wasnt a big fan of the 90, not much difference between the 90 and the 70 beside the Pitch.

For me personally, it is either the 120 or the 70

PS the AGX is craptastic

 

[Persuasion]

I currently use Bauer Vapor I skates. Thats right! Vapor I's. It exists people and I use them. I bought it years back to learn skating and now I am playing in rec leagues getting better by each shift.

Its quite clear that the worst part of my game is my skating. I am pretty proud of my stickhandling and hockey sense and I feel my skating is just holding me back. For example: When I intercept a pass on a forecheck or a goalie playing the puck I would try to do a sharp turn and head to the net but somewhere in the transistion I would lose an edge and fall or even wipe out.

I am positive my skating itself needs a lot of work but I think the skates themselves should take some of the responsibility (they are Vapor I's after all). I am not sure if it's my current skates not fitting correctly or the quality of the skate but I think an upgrade on skates could help me out a bit, and i have a few questions before I really decide:

1) How often does a skate need to be sharpened typically? My edges wear out in about 5 skates.

2) How much do the RBK pump and skate lock help with the fit and comfortable feeling? I have friends who swear by it and say it improves skating dramatically.

3) Can new skates improve skating or does the player need to be good enough to use the skate?

EDIT: 4) Do Superfeet really make a difference? I purchased them for a trial run and so far its pretty good. Its slowly reshaping my foot and I got them in a really good deal ($15) so I think I will keep them.

I am not looking at the top of the line skates (unless I can get a great deal). Maybe something around the $200 range like Easton s11's or 6K pumps.

 

[CanFan05]

Once again, advice like this is BAD.

The majority of guys should not be wearing high end skates.

Go to your LHS, talk to the skate guy about your weight, skating ability and strength. He will show you which skates will work for you. They may be novice, int or high end.

Too many guys go out and buy high end skates because they are told that they are the best skates for anyone, like what dude above told ya. High end skates can hurt your skating abilities ALOT if they are not the right skate for you.

It really is no different then telling people to go get a stiff stick because they are the best and not even bothering to know the guys strength or shooting ability.


But im pretty sure this guy is talking about roller blades so all this is moot

+1

I had to try a bunch of skates to find the perfect fit. I finally bought a pair of Bauer X40 and i'm REALLY happy that I tried them on first...Same thing with my stick. I find that I like a lower flex than a high one and my game is a lot better with my 87 flex than a 100 flex. Maybe my shooting mechanic is flawed but I feel more confortable with the whip.

 

[Hfboards2010]

I have been shopping for a pair of skates for a few weeks now. I went to 5 LHS, I have tried a few Vapors and a few CCM U+ but I did not like them. I am not really interested in RBK.

So far my best fit are Graf 705 (Size 9) $500. They feel the same as the Micron 10-90 I had before. However, they are beyond what I budgeted for skates $200-$400 and I may be looking for something stiffer near/around the ankle.

I have not been able to try the following (Did not have my size):
Bauer Supreme One55
Bauer Supreme One75
Bauer Flexlite 4.0 (? Could not find them at all)
Mission Fuel 120AG

Most of the LHS were trying to get ride of their inventory and pretty much said they were not ordering anything new in the near future. There are no other LHS in the vicinity of my place.

Are there good Internet stores in Canada with flexible return policy? (The way I understand it, I cannot order Bauer (and likely Mission?) from the US).

Will Bauer Supreme / Flexlite be similar in size to Bauer Vapor? Are they narrower (I thought the Vapor were quite wide).
What about Mission skates, should I just go with shoe size?

Thanks

 

[Madvillain27*]

I have the Bauer X40 and i'm really satisfied with the performance I get from my skates. Quality/Price, i'm more than happy!

Im thinking of getting the X40s. So what is the heat-moldable thing? Do they fit them to your feet at the store or how does this work?

 

[cmdrdredd]

I currently use Bauer Vapor I skates. Thats right! Vapor I's. It exists people and I use them. I bought it years back to learn skating and now I am playing in rec leagues getting better by each shift.

Its quite clear that the worst part of my game is my skating. I am pretty proud of my stickhandling and hockey sense and I feel my skating is just holding me back. For example: When I intercept a pass on a forecheck or a goalie playing the puck I would try to do a sharp turn and head to the net but somewhere in the transistion I would lose an edge and fall or even wipe out.

I am positive my skating itself needs a lot of work but I think the skates themselves should take some of the responsibility (they are Vapor I's after all). I am not sure if it's my current skates not fitting correctly or the quality of the skate but I think an upgrade on skates could help me out a bit, and i have a few questions before I really decide:

1) How often does a skate need to be sharpened typically? My edges wear out in about 5 skates.

2) How much do the RBK pump and skate lock help with the fit and comfortable feeling? I have friends who swear by it and say it improves skating dramatically.

3) Can new skates improve skating or does the player need to be good enough to use the skate?

EDIT: 4) Do Superfeet really make a difference? I purchased them for a trial run and so far its pretty good. Its slowly reshaping my foot and I got them in a really good deal ($15) so I think I will keep them.

I am not looking at the top of the line skates (unless I can get a great deal). Maybe something around the $200 range like Easton s11's or 6K pumps.

1) Sharpening is preference. That is to say that no two skaters will notice the loss of edges in the same time frame. Some players like a lot of bite and really notice when they start to lose that initial bite their 1/2 ROH used to give. Some skaters like less bite so they don't tend to notice when a 5/8 ROH gets a little slippery. Your style of skating matters too. Some guys like to really dig into their turns hard and fast so they will notice the loss of bite more that someone who keeps more upright and doesn't turn as tightly. If you feel uncomfortable on the ice and slip a bit more than you'd like go ahead and get a sharpening. There is no rule of thumb, but 5 skates seems about average in my experience (depending on ice surface as well).

2) The RBK Pump is a good feature for skates that sometimes does not work as advertised. What do I mean? Well sometimes it pumps up great in about 6 pumps and you feel awesome, well locked down and all the space taken out of the boot. Next time maybe 6 pumps doesn't feel the same. It's a little inconsistent in my personal opinion and from talking to some guys who have the older RBK skates, was a problem. Sometimes the left skate would feel good and the right not. The newer models have a more refined pump and seem to work better than before from what I've heard. Granted I've never tried them personally, but you can get a real sense of how they work from guys who play seriously at College level and beyond. Crosby uses them which might sell a lot of them just for that fact, it's not to say that having it will make you a great player but many guys like it and claim it helps. As for the Lace Lock on them, that's something I dislike, I do notice that Crosby doesn't have it on his and has standard eyelets instead. I don't know what that means, but it's worth noting anyway just to spark up the question of whether or not they help.

3) This is a question with two answers. New skates CAN help you skate better. When skates get old and broken in they stretch out a bit. The fit gets worse and worse as time goes on. The Boot can lose stiffness, the tongue get worn down, eyelets become loose and the padding deteriorate over the course of a year or more of hard use. Now, new skates might not help you if you are generally a weak skater to begin with. What I mean to say is buying the latest $500+ skates might make you feel good and they will be top quality products, they might not be quite what you need as a skater. They are stiffer and you might not be able to flex them on the ice the same way a pro level player would. You do want rigidity in the boot structure so you get power transfer to the ice, but in transitions and turns you do also want to be able to flex the boot. Honestly the whole thing comes down to feel. Put the skate on and lace it up. If it feels right then it's right regardless of price point. I won't say that Alex Ovechkin could put on any old pair of Bauers and do the same things he does on his CCMs because his skates are tailored to his style of play and the grind is how he wants it every time. However, a good skater will still be a good skater in lower priced skates and a weak skater will remain weak in many of the same areas even with top of the line skates.

4) It's often overlooked and can make all the difference in the world. Superfeet, Shock Doctor, and even custom orthotic insoles could help you more than you might realize. They won't make you the next Gretzky but they might make it more comfortable and more stable to skate on.

Go to your LHS and talk to the guys there, get a sense of what works for them and what they like. Then try those skates on and see what they feel like ON YOU. Lace them up, walk around a bit. Feel them and don't just look at them. While I really love the CCM U+ Reloaded skates that form to your foot from the toe to the heel, some guys are more comfortable on Easton skates because the boot fits differently and is structured a bit different. Good Luck to you and I hope I helped somewhat.

 

[CanadaBacon]

I have been shopping for a pair of skates for a few weeks now. I went to 5 LHS, I have tried a few Vapors and a few CCM U+ but I did not like them. I am not really interested in RBK.

So far my best fit are Graf 705 (Size 9) $500. They feel the same as the Micron 10-90 I had before. However, they are beyond what I budgeted for skates $200-$400 and I may be looking for something stiffer near/around the ankle.

I have not been able to try the following (Did not have my size):
Bauer Supreme One55
Bauer Supreme One75
Bauer Flexlite 4.0 (? Could not find them at all)
Mission Fuel 120AG

Most of the LHS were trying to get ride of their inventory and pretty much said they were not ordering anything new in the near future. There are no other LHS in the vicinity of my place.

Are there good Internet stores in Canada with flexible return policy? (The way I understand it, I cannot order Bauer (and likely Mission?) from the US).

Will Bauer Supreme / Flexlite be similar in size to Bauer Vapor? Are they narrower (I thought the Vapor were quite wide).
What about Mission skates, should I just go with shoe size?

Thanks

You will probably have a hard time finding any Mission AG's or XP's these days.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I have been shopping for a pair of skates for a few weeks now. I went to 5 LHS, I have tried a few Vapors and a few CCM U+ but I did not like them. I am not really interested in RBK.

So far my best fit are Graf 705 (Size 9) $500. They feel the same as the Micron 10-90 I had before. However, they are beyond what I budgeted for skates $200-$400 and I may be looking for something stiffer near/around the ankle.

I have not been able to try the following (Did not have my size):
Bauer Supreme One55
Bauer Supreme One75
Bauer Flexlite 4.0 (? Could not find them at all)
Mission Fuel 120AG

Most of the LHS were trying to get ride of their inventory and pretty much said they were not ordering anything new in the near future. There are no other LHS in the vicinity of my place.

Are there good Internet stores in Canada with flexible return policy? (The way I understand it, I cannot order Bauer (and likely Mission?) from the US).

Will Bauer Supreme / Flexlite be similar in size to Bauer Vapor? Are they narrower (I thought the Vapor were quite wide).
What about Mission skates, should I just go with shoe size?

Thanks

Just a response to the bolded part, did you have the CCM skates baked before trying them on? From the factory (out of the box) they don't lace up well and feel like a box. I was wondering how anyone skates in these. They do require baking prior to fitting so you can see the size that works. They can be bakes an unlimited number of times, the foam reacts to heat and will form to every bit of your foot. Just wondering if you did get them baked and still did not like them? They aren't for everyone I will admit, but out of the box they are sloppy to say the least

I don't believe Mission still makes Ice Hockey skates, at least nothing super new. I am not positive on this so please don't bite my head off if I am wrong. They are sized according to shoe size. A 10 shoe is a 10 skate. I do not know if the Other Bauer lines are similar in fit to the Vapor line, I have not tried them on. I would like to think they would fit close because they are the same manufacturer, but you'd have to lace them up to be sure of that.

There isn't many LHS around me either. I know of 2 who are pretty well stocked, one specializes in hockey equipment and skate gear so they pretty much have all the latest models in various sizes and will order just about anything. They have even ordered custom skate boots for a young man with special orthopedic needs (has to use special supports in his shoes to avoid intense foot pain). The other has a good lineup of skates, but only carries the more popular ones and typically doesn't have a huge inventory. The other couple stores around are more for trading in used equipment and don't have much of a selection. If you do find a LHS that is well stocked, and with knowledgeable staff, give them business as much as you can. It's sad to say but a lot of Hockey retailers are going away as the internet takes more and more business away. I don't understand it as skates have to be fitted to you as an individual, that is not possible when ordering online. Finding somewhere to have new skates baked and sharpened has become problematic in some areas too.

 

[CanadaBacon]

Missions for me are two sizes down.

They did make skates for this year but they were crap (the Pure was brutal)

 

[cmdrdredd]

Im thinking of getting the X40s. So what is the heat-moldable thing? Do they fit them to your feet at the store or how does this work?

There is a special skate oven that is heated up and your skates placed inside. They are left to "bake" for a few minutes depending on the skate type. This makes the foam and padding on the inside of the boot very pliable, almost like play dough in a way. Then when they are removed from the oven you lace them up tightly around your foot and sit in a chair with the runners flat on the floor. You're just supposed to wear them in a seated position not walking around etc for about 15 minutes. As the padding cools it retains a memory of the shape of your foot and keeps that shape. Every time you lace up the skates after baking them they will go to the same position you had them in when they were hot. This gives a more customized fit and helps lower break in time with new skates. Many skates such as the CCM U+ line come out of the box very ill fitting with a lot of gaps and space. The boot and foam is so stiff you cannot lace it up properly to size them. So the shop will usually bake them before you try them on to allow the foam to mold to your foot and you get an accurate sizing of the boot. I'm pretty sure that all hockey skates regardless of brand can be baked achieving good results. The CCM U+ line can be baked over and over as needed. So if you get a spot that puts pressure on your foot or ankle in a somewhat uncomfortable way, you can just get them baked again and let it mold a little better.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Missions for me are two sizes down.

They did make skates for this year but they were crap (the Pure was brutal)

Well, there you go

I learned something today

 

[Superstar Treatment]

Missions for me are two sizes down.

They did make skates for this year but they were crap (the Pure was brutal)

The NME skates are actually really good, that's the last ice skate they'll be making.

 

[CanadaBacon]

The NME skates are actually really good, that's the last ice skate they'll be making.

they were not +600$ worth of good and them getting cut from the Bauer lineup was done for a reason.

 

[thedonger]

they were not +600$ worth of good and them getting cut from the Bauer lineup was done for a reason.

they weren't cut because they were "bad" skates, if that is what you're insinuating. they were cut because bauer decided to place mission as their inline-only company. they'd been getting excellent reviews from the people who's feet they actually fit properly.