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Yay! it finally came, we're allowed to stay.

Updated 3/12/12: Due to new details coming to light, I no longer support this company.

My daughter's Peewee team took 2nd at state. Yes, I married up. Yes, my daughters took after their mother. Yes, I'm a lucky man!

I've carefully punched out the heel area in many skates to accomodate haglunds, spurs or bumps. I identify it as a risky area to punch, and I warn the customer about the risks of creating too much room if/when the problem goes away. At the end of the day, I try to make a best call based on the information I have to help the skater with performance and comfort. Many customers accept any sort of risk in return of the possibility of skating pain-free. On certain cases I suggest they see a doctor or podiatrist before I do any degree of punching, or before I recommend they skate again. It all depends on the situation. Other recommendations may come into play as well, insoles, booties, different socks, etc. Punching or physical modifications are usually a last resort.

Nice Pic, but the glove lol

My RPD Team+. Best feeling skate I've ever worn, on ice or roller. (I've skated Bauer, CCM and Graf)

My RPD Max with Labeda Shooters (my local rink has concrete floor). I'm very satisfied with skates and main reason I chose them was this forum.

So, a forum member PM'd me regarding my experience with Makos, Mako IIs, and the VH Skates I recently got. I thought it'd be helpful to post this information here for whoever would like it. "I was incredibly comfortable in my Makos and Mako IIs, to the point where I actually bought an extra pair of Mako IIs just in case my skates went kaput and I could have a pair on hand immediately. The reason I made the switch was really just because my girlfriend had pre-paid for a pair for me as an anniversary gift as she knew I really liked the way they looked and the concepts that Scott was pioneering. I have a flexible/mobile flat foot, and it makes it really difficult to make a pair of skates for me because I do technically have an arch - it just collapses whenever I put a significant amount of weight in it (such as lifting, skating, running, etc.). The Makos fit me perfectly, but did require a bit of tweaking. I also have a whole host of different foot/stance issues, so that was factored in as well. As with my mobile arch, I did need a stiffer form of arch support that the boot was unable to anticipate as it interpreted my arch as flat, so I put in a pair of Superfeet Blacks and they were perfect (though this is a personal decision and you may not need it). The transition from Makos to VH Skates was interesting, but brilliant. The Boots aren't as "tight" a wrap. I felt minor toe cramping in the Makos, but the VH Boot fits like a sock, with no pressure point, but just the right amount of tightness. I prefer the feel of the VH Boots because it matches my foot shape perfectly (as a custom skate should). The boot is taller, and thus offers an amazing amount of lateral (side to side) support in turns. I did have to drop an eyelet though, because I was used to the shorter boot of the Mako and lacing them all the way up was too stiff. Please make sure you tie all the eyelets up during the bake regardless of whether you are dropping one. This really helped my boot wrap and made me feel like I had all my laces done up, except with an enhanced forward flex from the tongue. If you want a similar range of motion to the Mako, order the flexible tendon guard. It is much less flexible than the Mako Extendon, but I like it. I treat it like a springboard - if you have enough strength in your legs in your stride, it will flex the tendon guard, which will proceed to "snap" back into position, giving your stride a "kick". The flexibility is comparable to the tendon guard of the Bauer MX3. I have been told by Rob that the tendon guard does "break in" a bit, as it was really stiff when I first received my skates. I thoroughly enjoyed this as I could lean back on my skates more during a turn, which supports me where I need it most. The boot itself is significantly stiffer than the Makos and Mako IIs, which I enjoy. I took a hard run from behind into the boards once, and my skate was kicked toe-first into the boards, leaving me with a pretty significant bruise on my big toe. I took a shot off the inner side of my right VH Skate the other day, and didn't feel a thing. Now, I made my own life a little more difficult with the holders. I live in an area where it's difficult to buy replacement Mako steel in my size, and I can't afford to keep shipping in pairs when they break. With Vancouver being a very Bauer-centric city, I chose to go with the LS Edge Holders. They made for a very convenient switching, but I had to get a +2 heel lift installed, and a +1 pitch in my steels to mimic the Mako stance. I have, however, been told by Scott that putting CXN holders on the VH Boot will provide a very close, if not identical feel to that of the Makos. After all my tweaking, they finally feel exactly like my Makos, with no pressure points; a stiffer, more protective outer; and a gorgeous, sleek skate to boot (pun!). I love them to death, and they are spectacular. Three things of note though: - They are incredibly responsive, and thus using your usual hollow may feel too sharp. I dropped a 1/16th from 1/2 inch to 9/16ths. - Probably due to the incredible wrap, I need a lot less lace than I do for my size, so I dropped down one lace length size. (e.g. 108" to 96" laces for skate size 8) - Waxed laces work really well with the customizability of the boot, but baking with the original laces means your wax doesn't melt out and flub everywhere."

P28 is an E28 clone. So more toe than mid, and lower lie.

Definitely go with a size 13. Guys, I love the great feedback and happy to hear the skates are working out for so many of you. Since there so many new guys joining the family, i will do a little contest for ModSquad guys only. Post a pic with something Alkali, and I will pick a winner for a free pair of pants. Post up on this thread, and I will chose a winner next Monday.

Yes, it's an awkward movement if you are new to it. I remember using for the first time in college and feeling the same way. Once your body adapts (which took a few times for me) the movement is effortless.

I received my VH skates and it seems that I am having instep volume issues. I tried them unbaked for the fit and a pencil test and it failed in the instep area. VH said that after baking, my foot should move back about 3-4 mm. I baked them last night, but it seems that I still have instep volume issues. I thought that going custom route would eliminate problems like this with odd feet (in my case high instep). I didn’t have a chance to skate in them yet but I am scared of lace bite down the road. I had a same problem with Reebok Ribcor and it was one of the reasons I went custom with VH. I am currently in Easton Mako 2 skates and they fit me a lot better. I just want your opinion before I contact VH. All the pictures/videos I have seen with people wearing the VH skates have it nicely and uniformly wrapped around their feet. I am including picture before baking (without holders) and after baking. Thanks.

I disagree, the cool-aid drinkers want the popular brand whether it fits or not. We often tell them that the model they want won't fit their foot, but they buy it anyway. Sad state of hockey when popularity and fitting in with the crowd is more important than proper fit and function.