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I just got my tickets in for the Flyers Kings game on the 28th which is pretty sweet but not the reason for my post, After the game we have a men's league game on the ice at the Wells Fargo Center. Pretty pumped for my chance to play on the ice

Shift+ Newer skate, new materials...looks soo dope :P

You would most likely be a 7.5 in our skate. For $299 you can pick up an older Shift skate or the new RPD Team+ skate. Both are good skates and you can't go wrong with either.

My 13 year old son was outgrowing his Reebok 14k's (size 6.5, toes touching the front but not cramped completely). We ended up with getting the Mako 1's used from a local PIAS store. The original owner of the skates was an NHL ref who only skated in them 2X - in a size 8. They were basically brand new and only a couple hundred bucks (actually after I traded in some old Kor's, one 90 shoulder pads and a kids snowboard, I ended up paying $65). After my son skated in them or the first time, I had a couple impressions (which he stated agreed with - I did not prompt him to answer in favor of the Makos as i wanted his true impressions without my leading him into any answers): PERFORMANCE: 1) He seemed to skate better backwards for some reason 2) He "seemed" faster skating forward 3) His turns were more agile and tighter 4) His stopping was much more precise 5) Stop and go direction changes were faster and more precise with a noticeable sound difference when hard stopping, nothing like a T-Blade sound but something. 6) The Makos are completely different than all other skates and skating styles show it. All the other players were skating with seemingly the way they have had to adopt due to the nature of Bauers, CCM's, etc... They all skate with almost loose ankles and sort of clunk into the stride...like the skates are these clunky stiff things which work but you almost have to throw around to work. In fact, it seemed (whether this was my brain wanting to see this or not) that the typical skates (total ones, vapors, etc) seemed to make transitions and edge control sort of it own style of skating in reaction to the boot as opposed to the boot being made for the best skating style. Most skaters have adapted and use the traditional boot just fine but I couldn't help but notice how much more agile and flowing my son was skating compared to his last pair. Then I noticed how it seemed like most skaters in stiff bauers, etc seemed to be fine but limited to what they could do in such a stiff boot. My other son is on APX's which I think are great but I cant help wonder what more agility and skill he could maybe get with the Mako? Maybe I was seeing things. 7) Son said he felt like he was skating on much more precise blades like "scalpels" and had finer control than his old skates. LOOK AND FEEL: 1) It was obvious these skates do not look like any other skate being used by 99% of other players. If fitting in is your style, then you may not like them. 2) It struck me for the first time that all other popular skates have gotten to look and function like mini ski boots and we have been conditioned to like that style, it works but the Mako's are not the norm. I come from a ski racing family and the parallels with ski equipment, marketing and technologies between hockey and skiing are interesting. Skiers are way more conditioned to try new things for performance than hockey players. It seems hockey players have BIG hangups on how things look, even if it limits performance. Then again, skiing is 100's of a second between winning and losing. 3) Son said he had no issues with the fit and feel of the skates...no rubbing, pinching, sore spots, etc...said they "felt great" (he normally would not complement anything so that was a good sign). 4) He said "other kids didn't like Makos" probably because 13 year olds are conditioned to fit in and do what is cool. Glad he doesn't care about that. But everybody cares a little at least. 5) I gotta admit, being open minded and more about performance than looks and I still thought they looked a bit odd from afar - due to the shape and tight fit at the ankles, they looked a bit like clown feet. The orange colors just attracts the eye to them so I can see why players might want to make them a bit more inconspicuous. 6) I cannot see the mako's overcoming the tidal wave of models and looks of the more notable brands (bauer, etc). I also have to admit, we tried on some MX3's they had from the same guy ($399 and looked almost brand new) which looked much better aesthetically than the Mako's. If price were no option, he probably would have grabbed the Bauers. VERDICT: There is definitely something in this Mako design that allows more precise control and performance than the "traditional" type of skate. If you can overcome the look (which really is not that bad), then I cannot see a reason to not use the Mako over other skates. Durability is my only concern..with some of the problems mentioned on this board and the seeming lack of service response..Easton is only going to shoot itself in the foot by coming out with a great product if they don't 100% stand behind it. Easton has to be known as the company that stands 100% behind its products. If I were paying top dollar for the Makos, I cannot say I would have made the leap of faith these require to buy them. I definitely think Easton should stick with the Mako skate and maybe seed the market with the youth players (like the CCM skills camp idea to generate demand and demonstrate how good these skates are). They will also have to account for the "leap of faith" factor which I don't think the 30 day guarantee will do. Something to make them more affordable than the competition. Maybe a free stick with purchase or free sharpenings for a year (1x a month), something to get people over hump and buy the Mako. I just don't think they can overcome the inertia of Bauer unless they do something major marketing wise and creating a real value for hockey families and players. Easton may not like to hear it but when you spend your credibility on poor products over the years (whether that impression is true of not...it is still an impression in my hockey community)...then you need to eat some crow, take a bit less profit, go the extra mile to get back that credibility. It would be a shame to have some a great product as the Mako which so many skaters could benefit from, and having it fail due to an unwillingness to do something different than Bauer. Well right now Bauer is kicking your arse and you have to do something different, the Mako is a good start - now back up the people who took the chance on Makos with great service. Mind you, I didn't even buy them new or at full retail so I shouldn't talk, but now that I have them...I probably will buy them again for all 3 of my skaters. UPDATE 11/10/2014: All I can say is WOW! about the Mako's!!! I know this will sound a bit overdone, but I am almost speechless about how my sons (aaa Bantam) skating has improved with the Mako's. Perhaps a natural progression of his ability but as soon as he started on the Mako's, his game changed. Coincidence? Not sure but his speed, turning ability, agility, etc is so much better I don't really know what to think. of course, it is hustle but I gotta think the confidence these skates give him has a lot to do with it. He had no adjustment period when switching to the Mako's. One big difference, no slop in the skates, around the ankles, etc. It seems every ounce of effort goes directly through the skates without a lot of wasted energy. The reason I say this is his speed has gone WAY UP, this all within a couple weeks of starting to use the Mako's, For example, in his last game, he was on the PK and after and after his D man cleared it all the way, the opposing D skating to get the cleared puck near his own goaline...race was on and my son beat him to the puck starting from his own blue and the opposing D started between his blue and centeline. He would NEVER have made that fast of an attack before. He ended up catching the D in the corner, checked him, took the puck and scored a shorty. After the game, he mentioned how much faster he feels the skates are compared to his previous pair. It is pretty interesting to watch ho much better his skating is on the Mako's...maybe it is his effort, but I gotta believe there is something seriously beneficial in the design of these skates. I am totally SOLD. On another note: My older son (aaa Midget) was complaining about the lack of confidence in his skates turning, edge hold, etc - and I could tell, His skating was getting worse and his turns were more like short steppy crossovers instead of full force flowing pushes. His coach suggested a 5/8" hollow and maybe a 3/4 to an inch. I always had him on 1/2" (he is 200lbs, 6'3"), So I took his skates to the best setup guy I know and after measuring found his radius was wayyy off ...One skate was a messed up 9' radius and the other an 11', balance points way off, etc. A bit of background: I got these APX2 skates used from a friend/PRO who skated them only 3x... then gave them to my son as they are same size. ... Well apparently something was changed on the steel and they were not matched. My profiling guy did his magic and changed each to an 11' radius, fixed balance points, etc switched him to a 5/8" hollow. Next practice, WOW faster, stronger on edges, tighter turns, much more stable, almost a different skater. Coaches noticed. I think we will try the 3/4 hollow next. So I have learned a lesson here...while equipment is not Everything..it is a HUGE part of the equation. Gone are the days of trying to make inferior stuff act like the good stuff because I want to save a buck. Depending upon your level of play, you really should use the stuff appropriate for your level and ability. And make sure it is tuned and checked by a competent professional who can give you suggestions to help improve. It pays big to skip the teenager giving a quick sharpening and find the pro who knows your player style and knows how to get the most out of your equipment.

I suspect that then we'd be reading your vents about people who don't read the signs.

^^^ Seconded.

new RPD+ range is up on inlinewarehouse! exciting times!! roll round Nov 19th for uk release!