althoma1

Helmets, whatever fits best, but I'd definitely try on the following: CCM Tacks 910 and 710 - I haven't used or tried on either, but I've heard plenty of positive comments from those who have used them Warrior Alpha One Pro - a one piece helmet with a convenient adjustment dial. Also, more affordable than some of the other options (still not super cheap, but less than half the price of some top end helmets). I owned one briefly, and it was comfortable, but I preferred my old Easton E700s and went back to those. The E700 is my favourite helmet, but it hasn't been produced in 5+ years, so I'll have to move on eventually (I do have a few of them). CCM Fitlite 3DS - on clearance now. I tried one once and it felt good on my head. It has a nice adjustment dial. True Dynamic 9 - it's a one piece helmet like my beloved E700, but not as light. I prefer the Gyro adjustments of the E700 to the padding with different thicknesses on the Dynamic 9 though. Plus, the super expensive, if money was no object helmets: CCM Super Tacks X - it looks very interesting and the feedback from those who have tried them is great, but $400US/$500CAD for a helmet is tough to stomach The upcoming Bauer Hyperlite (launching July 30) looks somewhat reminiscent to the E700, so I'd try that on. It's not as expensive as the Super Tacks X, but still isn't cheap at around $350 CAD (assuming $299US) For elbows, I love my 2012 Warrior Projekts and still have two pairs, but if I was looking for new ones, I like the mobility of 3 piece pads and would look at: Warrior Alpha DX on clearance or the new Alpha LX Pro - three piece pad with an elbow sleeve. STX Surgeon RX3 - a three piece pad with an elbow sleeve. You won't find them in stores, but they sell direct on the STX website for much less than the regular price of other top end pads. The Bauer Supreme Ultrasonic - they're pretty pricey at $180 CAD, but it is a 3 piece pad and the protection looks quite good. I'd try it on before making a decision. For shins, I like my CCM RBZ shins, but when it's time to replace them, I'd try on as many as I could. These are a few that have caught my eye: CCM FT4 Pro - the shell design looks somewhat similar to my RBZ's Warrior Alpha DX or the new LX Pro - anatomical and streamlined

Too strong a concentration of rubbing alcohol isn't great for rubber and plastic. Alcohol does kill bacteria and viruses much faster than peroxide (seconds vs. minutes), but can be harsh. Peroxide takes longer to work, but doesn't seem to damage rubber or plastic. Alcohol also evaporates faster; sometimes too quickly for hard surfaces like plastics. Hydrogen Peroxide can kill mold and bacterial spores. Alcohol is also more effective on some viruses and hydrogen peroxide is more effective on others: Isopropyl alcohol is more effective against lipid viruses including hepatitis B and C, HIV, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, whereas hydrogen peroxide – against non-enveloped viruses, like rotavirus, coxsackieviruses, or poliovirus. https://blog.fantasticservices.com/hydrogen-peroxide-vs-isopropyl-alcohol-what-to-use-for-disinfection/ https://www.healthline.com/health/rubbing-alcohol-vs-hydrogen-peroxide#bottom-line https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/difference-between-rubbing-alcohol-hydrogen-peroxide#:~:text=Hydrogen peroxide is another antiseptic,alcohol does to kill germs.

Good point. The Alpha definitely doesn't have the same breaks as the Projekts. I'm going to try to make the pairs of Projekts I have last as long as possible and will pay for strap/elastic repairs as necessary.

My brain says Vegas, my heart wants Montreal to win. I'll go with my heart and hope for the Habs in 6 (Vegas in 5 is what my head says). I think Tampa is far more talented than the Islanders overall, but the Islanders have the defensive structure, goaltending and coaching to put up a good fight. Tampa in 7.

If your stores carry the big brands, I'd start by trying on the Vapor 2X Pros, Warrior Alpha DX (the three piece version - the DX Pro is a two piece pad) and the new CCM FT4 Pro and anything else that looks interesting in store. See if you like the fit and feel of anything your stores stock. If you don't, or they're more than you want to spend, you could order the STX Surgeon RX3's from STX directly. As others have said, you won't find the STX pads in any stores (unless they're old STX Surgeon 500 stock, but those will be fairly rare now) as they only sell direct now.

The Alpha DX pads are three piece like the old Projekts, but yes Warrior did have several Jofa style pads between the Projekt and the DX pads. https://images.app.goo.gl/bLmFW6j5rfovQ7t28 I do see the resemblance of the Projekts in the Sherwood Code V pads, but unfortunately they don't seem to have the same performance. Search for Hockey Reviews Sherwood Code V elbows on YouTube.

I still love the old 2012 Warrior Projekts (three piece, very mobile, stay in place and provide good protection) and fortunately have two new pairs, but if I was shopping for a new pair today, I'd probably look at the following: STX Surgeon RX3 like Stewie mentioned - looks like a mobile 3 piece pad Warrior Alpha DX (or upcoming LX) - seems like the most similar pad to my old Projects, but with an added arm sleeve and a longer forearm guard. Vapor 2X Pro - three piece for good mobility and the forearm guard looks like it wraps well. It also has Curve composite on the forearm guard which should be protective. I'd probably hold off until they were on sale or clearance though as I don't think I could stomach paying the MSRP for them. The new FT4 Pro elbows look interesting and are also three piece, but again, are very expensive.

I think that's a good plan. If you would need to stretch a Fit 2 in the forefoot then I would lean toward the 8W TF9s. The W TF9s have great heel lock and wrap really well for my feet. If you're ordering from IW it's very low risk since they honour the 30 day guarantee.

I have 7W True TF9s converted for inline. The Bauer 3D scan put me in a 7.5 Fit 3 (I think between 7.5 and 8 as the associate brought me those sizes to try after the scan). I wear 8EE Mako II's for ice. I've baked the TF9s twice and have worn them twice. Externally, the 8EE Makos and 7W TF9s look the same and the depth is also the same. On my feet, the 7W TF9s fit my left foot perfectly with my toes brushing and no negative space. My right foot is firm against the cap with the TF9s - I could use a mm or two of room with my right foot, but it's not painful. My 8EE's feel just a touch longer than the 7W TF9s (so about a quarter size bigger). The TF9 locks my heel in really well and the midfoot is even tighter than the Mako after baking. The Mako toe box is more comfortable for my foot. So, if you're between an 8.5 and 9 Bauer, I'd guess that size 8 TF9s would be the right length. For width, I'd definitely say go with the W if you were a Fit 3, but between Fit 2 and 3 is a little tougher. I know my TF9s in W aren't sloppy at all, but there's no way I'd squeeze into a Fit 2. Maybe order an 8R and 8W from IW, bake both and see which feels better for you?

For travel hockey, you'll have two linesmen and either one or two referees. In situations like you described the linesmen go in as a team, but the refs stay back and use a riot pad to write down numbers and infractions. For two official games or men's leagues games, I've been guilty of going in to try to break things up myself in the past and understand the instinct, but I think it's better to just stand back, use a loud whistle and your voice to try to get them to separate and write down numbers and infractions (much like a ref would in a hockey game with a full officiating team). If someone is down on the ice just getting destroyed, then you go in with your partner, but if it's all wrestling or even fights, the better option is to just record the infractions, let them tire themselves out and only go in if someone is at a real disadvantage. When summer/fall hockey briefly returned in my area last year, rules were written that stated referees would not physically engage with any players due to COVID and would use their voice and electronic whistle and record the penalties. In men's league, this is probably how it should be all the time in most situations. In leagues where you have refs and linesmen, sure the linesmen can go break things up (even then you want to wait until they've tired themselves out a bit unless someone is at a severe disadvantage). Calling penalties early can be helpful, but sometimes things will get heated anyway. In hindsight, calling the hook early may have been better. Even if you called it late, you might get some whining over a late or soft call, but at the end of the day it's only a 2 minute minor and may have sent the message that you're seeing and calling infractions.

@marka I think buying a 6.5R from a shop that honors the 30 day satisfaction guarantee is your best bet. If you don't have a shop nearby that does that, Icewarehouse offers that. They will feel way too tight before baking, but from everything I've read, my experience with the TF9s and the data you've provided, 6.5R is most likely the size you'll need. The Trues are very thermoformable and are the closest thing to Makos currently on the market. I think the R's will be wide enough for you after baking if you're in D Makos, but buying from a shop that honors the guarantee would allow you to change sizes if they don't fit the way you like after a good bake. Just have them baked and fit like SVH demonstrates in this video:

I have 8EE Mako skates and scan as 7.5 Fit 3 for Bauer. 7.5W felt like the right size before baking and 7W felt too small, but I went with a 7W based on Hills video and the sizing experiences listed here. After baking, my toes just brush the cap and before baking they were HARD against the cap. Externally, when I put the 8EE and 7W Makos side by side they look like they're the same size. The 7W True does feel just a touch smaller than the 8EE Makos, but maybe a quarter size at most. So I would say the Trues fit 3/4 sizes larger vs. a Mako in the same size. I have only worn the Trues once though and the Makos have been used a few seasons. So, I agree with Miller55. You will need either a 7 or 6.5. The right size will feel too small before baking. You definitely want to drop down at least a half size vs. Mako as the same size will already be too long before baking.

IW is a US site, so it's $400 US. I would guess it'll be around $500 CAD.

Usually height is used to refer to the arch - low, medium and high. With instep, it's also low, medium and high, but it's in terms of the foot volume/depth or the thickness of the foot from the bottom of the arch to the top of the instep. A traditional high volume boot would be the now discontinued Bauer Nexus. Bauer Supremes, CCM Tacks, Alkali and True retail skates are all considered medium volume boots. Bauer Vapors would be an example of a low volume boot. From what Miller55 described, the Tours are high volume and fairly wide through the midfoot, but aren't that wide in the toebox. If you have a skate on hand, you can do a "pencil test" to determine if that skate is the right depth for your foot. To test the depth, have the skate unlaced, pull the tongue out and then lay a pencil horizontally across the 3rd and then 4th eyelets from the top. If the pencil touches both sides of the skate and is just above your foot, that’s perfect. If your feet are more than a cm beneath the pencil then the skate is too deep and if the pencil can’t touch both sides without hitting your foot (meaning your foot is sticking up above the eyelets and the pencil is rocking back and forth on your foot) then the boot is too shallow and you need something deeper. All you need for that test is a pair of unlaced skates with the tongue pulled out and a pencil. It's discussed in greater detail in this old thread and there are good pictures in this comment:

An instep is the top of your foot, above your arches. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instep I really can't say with certainty if Trues or any other skates would work for you. I think it would be worth trying Trues if you can get sized properly for them and buy them from a shop that honours the 30 day guarantee, but you will only know for sure after you have baked and used them.

Yeah, I'd definitely look on sideline if you can figure out what size and model of skate wouldn't cause you pain. After that, it's just a matter of setting up a few saved searches and then you should be able to find a clearance pair or gently used pair of ice or inline boots in your size. It's easier to find ice boots, but if you get ice boots that fit well you can definitely have a chassis put on them. I know finding an inline setup is ideal, but having a chassis put on an ice boot is something most shops can do ($30-$80 is the range I've seen locally for doing that - plus the cost of the chassis of course and you'd need wheels, spacers and bearings).

As far as I know, the Tour skate fit hasn't really changed between the Volt and the Code. Mission FZ-5 is an E skate; so besides Trues in W, higher end used or clearance Missions that come in EE would be an option if you can find them. If none of the stock inline skates fit you well then getting pair of ice boots converted to inline is a great option. That's what I did with KOR and Easton Mako skates - those were the skates that felt best for me at the time and there were no inline versions. If you go the conversion route, you could try on CCM Tacks and Ribcore skates in EE, Bauer Supremes in EE or new Bauer skates in Fit 3. Discontinued models like Easton Makos in EE or just a Nexus D may also work, but they'd be hard to find in your size now. The sad truth is, if you have truly wide feet the cheap skates that come in one width won't work well for you and you'll have to spend more to either go up to a True TF7 in W, a high end Mission in EE or look into an inline conversion with a gently used or clearance pair of ice boots. It's either that or deal with the pain that comes from being in boots that are cheap, but don't fit well.

From what I've read, Alkali's are similar to D width Missions, but fit slightly shorter in the same size; so, people going from D Missions to Alkali often need a half size larger. If you have a foot that needs EE, I don't think Alkali would be wide enough as they only come in a standard width. As for Mission E vs. Tour - based on what Miller55 said, and other things I've read, I'd expect the Tours to be deeper overall and wider in the mid-foot, but narrower in the forefoot and toe box. At this point, I think you need to either go to a shop and try a few on if it's possible or order a few models from a place like Inlinewarehouse that offers free returns and keep the one that fits best and send back the others. If you don't have a shop near you that carries a good selection of inline skates, but they do have ice skates, you can figure out your Mission size by trying on Supreme ice skates and True inlines and ice skates will fit the same. No ice skates will fit exactly like Tour or Alkali. No one will be able to tell you the perfect model and size online - general fit profiles sure, but you won't know what works for your feet until they're on your feet.

I have a pair of converted TF9s in W and have tried on the TF7s. I've also tried on EE Supremes and Tacks. In my opinion, the Trues in W are wider than both EE Supremes and EE Tacks. I have never tried on Tours, but based on what Miller55 said, the EE Missions (which use the Supreme last) are wider than Tour in the forefoot and I know that Trues in W are wider than EE Mission/Supremes. That leads me to believe that Trues in W would definitely be wider than Tours in the forefoot. I'm not sure about the mid-foot and can't make that comparison since I've never used or tried on Tours. The only skates I've ever owned that have felt as wide in the forefoot as the Trues are EE Makos and the only skates I've tried on that have felt wider are the Nexus skates. Before baking the Trues are really tight in the heel and midfoot, and still snug in the forefoot, but really open up after baking. They're more thermoformable than anything else currently on the market. With the Tours, baking would speed up breaking, but with Trues the boot actually changes and expands in certain areas. So you could judge the fit of the Tours before baking, but it's impossible to know how the Trues will fit without baking them first. The right size will feel too small/tight before baking and the size that feels good before baking may be too big after.

There's no harm in trying the Tours on or buying them from an online shop where you can return them for free as long as you only try them on and don't use them (Inlinewarehouse offers that if you're in the US). I just wouldn't buy them if you can't easily return them as they may or may not feel good on your feet. You won't know until you can try them on. As for Trues not being an option, I assume it's because they're more than you can or want to spend? A lot of people think of customs that are over a grand when they think of Trues, but their True TF7s are a mid-range offering with some high end features. They also have a 30 day satisfaction offer with select retailers where you can bake them and wear them and send them back within 30 days for a full refund if they don't end up working well for you. Coast to Coast in Vancouver offers custom Marsblade conversions with the 30 day guarantee and Inline Warehouse has the stock model with the 30 day guarantee. They're definitely more expensive than the Tours, but are much cheaper than high end Bauer, Missions or custom Trues.

Mission skates have been built using the Supreme last since around 2009. So a Mission skate of the same size and product level should be exactly the same width as a Supreme. If you were comparing a high end Curv based Supreme to an entry level Mission, then the Missions may feel wider in the same size due to the softer materials.

I would go with what Miller55 is saying since he has actually used the skates. It sounds like the Tours may be deeper and wider in the midfoot, but narrower in the toe box. If you want something wider than a Mission EE, but an average depth, look into True TF7 or TF9s in wide. You would need to drop down a half size vs Bauer though as the Trues fit longer in the sane size after baking.

I haven't used them myself, but from everything I've heard and read, it seems like they're slightly deeper and wider than a Mission/Supreme in D. The owner of Coast to Coast Hockey (a shop in Vancouver, Canada that specializes in inline) told me that Tours have a reputation for being wide, but he felt that was a little overstated and they didn't really work for people who had feet wide enough to need a Nexus type fit or even a EE Supreme. I believe they also fit a half size shorter than Mission/Bauer in the same size. In other words, most people go up a half size in Tour vs. Bauer, Mission or CCM. Hopefully, some people who have actually used the Tour skates can chime in. Here's what Inlinewarehouse wrote about the fit of both the Volt and Code lines: High Volume / deep heel pocket - wide forefoot - high instep

She's made the Quarter Finals, but is currently behind and needs help. She's facing off against against another Toronto design. To vote for her, you'd press UP this time when you get to her matchup in the Sherwood Hockey Instagram stories if you'd like to help. If you're not an IG expert (I'm not), to view stories, you click on the profile image (the logo in this case) and you can then view the stories. The stories will play and then you vote on each matchup pressing up or down. It took me a few minutes to figure this out during the first round and I've had to explain it to several friends and family members. Some tried to vote by leaving comments in the bracket photos, but that won't register as a vote.

Maybe it's due to the pandemic and the inline shortages? It's definitely weird to see the previous model at full price when a new model is released. Usually the discounts on the old models start before the new models are released and get steeper over time.