beedee

After wearing Vapors for the last five years or so I ended up in a Supreme Mach. I tried on every CCM and True Catalysts but nothing felt as good as Bauer does on my feet. That being said, I went down a half size and up in a Fit. My Vapor 3x were a 7, Fit 2, my Machs are 6.5, Fit 3. They both have the same length runners/holders/footbeds. The boot length feels VERY similar. The Mach having more volume allows my feet to splay properly without any additional pressure on the outside of my feet. The Vapors did have a bit of pressure on the outside of my feet, as well as on the instep, I wore them for over a year. I tried on Hyperlites in a 7, Fit 2 and they felt like my foot was in a cave. Also, when standing in the Hyperlites, I felt like it was easy for my ankles to "rest" outward, no matter how many lacing variations I tried, they seemed to lean towards the outside edge for some reason. Prior to my old x500 Vapors (which I also never loved) I had Graf Ultra G5, never loved them after 3 years of trying. Before that I was in some Supreme ONE90's (which I don't recall hating). Lastly, my foot scanned at a 6.5 and in between E to EE, closer to EE. 6.5, (my previous x500 Vapors were 7EE). 6.5 Fit 2 in either skate had too much pressure in the outside of my feet, elongating them enough to put too much pressure on the toe caps, enough that even after breaking in I wouldn’t be comfortable in them. I have almost 3 months of using my Machs once to twice a week and love them. Slight adjustment period due to the Supreme being more neutrally pitched compared to the Vapors, but its all good now.

Man, this thread takes me back! I had a pair of those Graf Ultra G5's many years ago. Tried to love them and get my money's worth for 3 years but could never get them quite right after multiple punches and what not. Had the worst bunion pain ever right where the boot met the toe-cap on them. Also had issues with the blade loosening up, and like you, tried blue loctite. I also remember them giving off some crazy "whaaauuunnnnt" vibration noises when stopping.

Thanks! Looks like there is ti version coming.

Will that stuff start to turn yellow in time?

Been wanting to replace the OEM cage on my Cascade M11 helmet, helmet and cage are both Mediums. Saw earlier in the thread that a new Bauer Titanium was coming in 2023, any updates on that? If not, the Profile lll in grey looks like it might get the nod.

MLS is made in China, my replacement jersey was straight from China. So was the box our Captain received with the order a couple seasons ago.

If I recall correctly, that area of the skate can still be punched, but it is fairly close to the toe cap. I can kind of relate, as someone who went from 7EE Vapor x500's, to Vapor 3x, 7, Fit 2 and am now in a 6.5 Mach, Fit 3. Most recently foot scanned at a 6.5 and in between E to EE, closer to EE. 6.5, 6.5 Fit 2 in either skate (Vapor or Supreme) had too much pressure in the outside of my feet, elongating them enough to put too much pressure on the toe caps, enough that even after breaking in I wouldn’t be comfortable in them. Like you, I have developed a bunion in the same spot, where the big toe meets the foot. I want to say this developed many years ago when I wore Graf Ultra G5's for a few years, I could never get those to feel quite right. I was in Supremes (I forget what model, as it was a LONG time ago) before I was in the Grafs....mainly wanted to try the Grafs because of how great I hear they were....but in my case, not so much. Anyhow, in the Grafs it literally hurt to walk in them because the bunions were rubbing hard against where the toecaps met the boot. So I was done with the Grafs and moved back into a Vapor (can't remember why I didnt go back into a Supreme). Great move at first as the bunion was a non-issue in the Vapors. However again after 4 years or so in the x500's my feet would ache and even go numb if I didnt lace them just right, it was a very fine line. So last year I was looking at new skates, had my first ever scan that recommended size 7, Fit 2 (most recent scan recommended 6.5, Fit 2..not uncommon to have different results on the scan, and they are just starting points). I tried on a plethora of skates in that mid price-point range, every CCM trim, the True TF series and the Supreme 3s and the Vapor 3x. Long story short, the Vapor 3x felt the best hands down in a 7, Fit 2. A year later I had the opportunity to hop into a top tier skate for an insane deal. Naturally I wanted to try the Hyperlite, being that I was in a Vapor 3x. But I just didnt like how they felt, same size and fit as my 3x. I tried on a Supreme Mach in a 6.5, Fit 3 and wow was I amazed! So much more comfortable to me than the Vapor 3x (for the obvious reasons). For my foot, the half size down, and one fit up did the trick. Allowed my foot to splay properly without any pressure on the outside of my feet that the size 7, fit 2 Vapors had. My bunions are still a non-issue, they aren't huge (compared to a couple guys on my team). Side by side, I give the nod to the Vapor for having more room in the forefoot and toe caps, but I'm really happy with how well the Machs fit me in the 6.5, Fit 3. TLDR; if you an get in a shop and try on a bunch of skates in every brand and trim, you should be able to find something that works. I found the JetSpeeds and Tacks to be adequate in the toe box, didnt bother me at all in the Tacks, only issue was the pinky toe with the JetSpeeds. TF Trues were roomy up front too, Catalysts were more narrow, with more padding up there.

Agreed. I typically wear a L in jerseys and it was next to impossible to get my arms through with elbow pads on. One of their reps saw my rant on Reddit about it and offered to send me an XL free of charge. Arms are slightly better, but like you said, the torso portion is like a bed sheet. Oh yeah, MLS socks suck too. (I use pro-stock socks regardless)

Yup, yup, yup and yup!

If you buy from Pure Hockey, you have 30 days to try stuff out, including Bauer skates.

Yup, I bought one a couple months ago, Covert QR5T with the W02 curve. Cut 5" off of it, so in theory its around the 80'ish flex range. I have been loving it. My other stick I was using before this was an Intermediate CCM JetSpeed FT3 Pro, 65flex, with one inch cut off of it. Wristers and snaps are great with the CCM, but as of late I was struggling with slapshots. After a game or two with the Warrior, I am loving the lower kick point vs the "hybrid" of the CCM. My shots are consistent with the Warrior, wrists, snaps and slaps.

Disregard.

I currently have a size 7 Vapor 3x, Fit 2, and a size 6.5 Mach, Fit 3. They both use a size 7 footbed, and both are comfortable. The Mach feels more "plush" with the thicker padding than the Vapor 3x. The Mach has more volume obviously (allowing my feet to sit nice and comfortable in the boot sans extra pressure on the outside of my feet), but my toes are lightly brushing the cap in the Machs, and in the Vapors, they are more firm against the cap (with a bit of extra pressure on the outside of my feet). Guessing the more narrow Fit 2 of the Vapor is ever so slightly elongating my foot. The Bauer scan has me at a 6.5 E to EE (a prior scan had me at 7 E to EE), but closer to EE than E. My previous skates were Vapor x500's, 7EE.

Vapor 3x, and I only had one set of steel. Machs have one set, Pulse TI.

Is there a profile out there to best mimic the out of the box Vapor profile for a brand new Mach? I love how the Machs feel on my feet, but after being in Vapors for so long, it felt really awkward to skate on them. I have two public sessions on my Machs and still don't feel as confident and solid on them as I do in my Vapors. I know they have a more neutral feel than Vapors, but I still feel like I'm on my heels.

Glad you got a new pair that fit!

I'm a mutt, mix of many brands. Bauer shins, elbows, pro-stock pants. Cascade M11 helmet/cage, CCM shoulders, Warrior gloves. Sticks, CCM and Warrior. But I've always been a Bauer guy when it comes to skates.

Gotcha. My Machs feel way more moldable than my old Vapor x500s and my Vapor 3x. Maybe it’s because they are a top tier skate vs mid tier that my Vapors are?

Show me on this doll where Bauer hurt you. This must be the fifth post or so where you mention the age of Bauers Curv Composite technology.

I know TRUE sizing has been a huge point of confusion, and I recently measured my foot on their brannock at Hockey Monkey and the size it showed was actual .5 to 1 size larger than my Bauer size (7 Fit 2 Vapor 3x and 6.5 Fit 3 Mach), it shows me in a 7.5. Is their brannock sizing to be taken as a grain of salt, and more of a "starting point" (similar to what many say the Bauer scan should be viewed as). Since the TRUE brannock is blue, is it fair to say that this was created for their TF series? Should one subtract 1 full size from what the TRUE brannock says? Most here in this thread understand the TRUE boot (and other brands) will open up a bit after the bake. Do you guys believe brannocks are created with the sizes placed on them prior to a bake? Earlier in this thread (I think?) I shared my sizing experience across the TF and Cat line, and its been noted that many believe the Cat line sizing has been updated to be more in line with Bauer and CCM. Regardless of what a scan or brannock says, I suppose the bottom line to an extent is everyone has their own preference as to how snug or not a skate should feel, with the general consensus of toes brushing the toe cap as the "proper" fit.

I'm not sure I'm buying what the OP is selling.

FT485 I'd imagine would be softer since it is lower on the JetSpeed trim level totem pole. Then again, I'm no expert.

That’s cool man, congrats on the move. My wife and I have been thinking of moving the F out of SoCal sooner than later as well.

Did you find a place to play?

That’s brutal.