I sold a pair of Blackedges to a guy I skate with back in June. He told me yesterday he's ready for his second sharpening. 36 sessions for him. Not bad. Jury is still out on Blacksteel, still too new to evaluate. I do like the extra height on the STEP blacksteel, especially if you are an aggressive leaner in turns. But given that both will withstand many more shapeneings than regular steel, both would be good choices.