i agree. It takes some getting used to, but the thing with these skates are that they are all about free range of motion. My first couple skates had me worried, but now I dont think I could ever go back. Its gonna take some big sponsored athletes or bauer cloning it to really catch on, but I have no doubt that if bauer had made this skate, and called it the "new bauer odin skates" people would be shitting themeselves over these, and it would start a shift towards more skares designed like this. Because its Easton, and people like what they are used to, it might not catch, or if it does, itll take much longer. I know im a bit biased, but I truly believe the Easton mako/custom skate with an aggresive pitch is the best skate out there by far.