smcgreg

I would echo Chippa, MoJo and Broadstreet. Out of the box, I couldn't get mine on. Actually, I had a hard time with a 1/2 size too big out of the box. Once warmed up though.. they slip right on. So, I went down a 1/2 size and voila... Importantly, I echo Chippa. I made that mistake (top eyelets too tight) and tried to skate through it. I paid the price for a good 3 months while my achilles healed. I still have a bump on it. That being said, I wouldn't go back to my Total Ones. They feel like wearing a brick now in comparison.

Actually, if I bought an Italian sports car, handmade or otherwise, I'd expect it to breakdown before I pulled into my driveway. And yes, I'd expect imperfections all over the place. That's not a comment on evidence of care that is taken in custom products in general, but more a comment on the work ethic and care taken (or lack thereof) in Italian-made products in general. Some are getting better, but it's a slow process.

I didn't have the specific problem that has become known as the Mako Bump. I noticed the potential in a couple early skates, but the way I set mine up probably avoids this. I don't lace the top two eyelets on mine and then tape the top with clear tape. This allows me to get a good snug lower fit, and in particular, heel lock and still have good flex at the top. This probably is a bit like the 55 Flex thingy. Anyway, mine are not very tight where those who get the "bumps" have the problem, but are quite snug in the lower.

I came from Supremes. Didn't do my top two eyelets in Supremes, but don't do my top eyelet in Makos. Granted, I do tape loosely just for some lateral support (I didn't do this in Supremes) When I laced all the way to the top in Makos, I couldn't get good heel lock and not as much forward flex.

I stuck with the stock profile. There's a long back story, but the 11 ft profile I was on in my Tones is not the stock profile. So, I wanted to stick with the stock Mako 9 ft. It works well for me and was immediately better than the 11 ft in my view. The mako ES4 is pretty good steel from what I can tell and the stock profile works well for me now. If you have a profile you are comfortable with, you probably want to use that profile, though. It may or may not be the same as the Mako, so, eliminating one variable would help if there is an adjustment period.

It's hard to say. It was a biggish adjustment, but I came from an 11 ft radius with a -1 pitch to a 9 ft radius and +2 pitch. Never even considered the blade length. On top of it the boot fit so much differently and I messed with that. So, all in all, I can't comment specifically on blade length and adjustment since there were so many things that contributed to the adjustment. Sorry.

As is often remarked by others, the aggressive pitch is a relatively easy fix. If the boot fits better than anything else, then if you try the pitch and don't like it, you can get the steel profiled to essentially, exactly match the pitch of the Bauer skate of your choice. Alternatively, lifts could be used as well. In both cases, a relatively simple fix for the skate the fits your foot the best.

Right. When I bought, the salesperson used the Brannock and wanted me in 7.5. I told him I was in 7, so, I put those on and they felt "ok" without a bake. he told me I could bake them, so, I said, let me try a 6.5. I could barely get my feet into them without the bake. It was very tough and uncomfortable. After the bake....... fit like a glove. So, that's why I say if they feel good out of the box, I am afraid you might be disappointed. A lot of money to spend to be disappointed. If you went online, you could probably bake and try them and as long as you don't sharpen, send back if they don't fit. That might be the way to go if the shop won't bake and you don't have the size you think will work.

I was in 7 E Supreme Tones and I ended up in 6.5 D Makos. I even feel like I could possibly go to a 6 in the Makos, but the 6.5s are immensely better than the 7 E Supreme Tones. Still, they are so moldable and can open up soooo much, I'd be wary of buying without baking. The shop really shouldn't have a problem with baking, the reps recommend it.

I've not seen a shop that won't bake them before selling. I wouldn't buy without trying on baked. They will change a lot and if they fit out of the box, I am guessing you need a different size. For an $800 skate that's intended to be baked multiple times, I'd try and convince the shop to let you bake them. Have them call the Easton rep, he'll tell them to go ahead.

Had mine since the second week they came out. I skate 5-7 times per week. No durability issues other than a well worn tongue. I will probably need to do something about it soon, but given the amount of time I spend on them, I'm happy. Stock holder/runners. I came from Supremes, so, the pitch was an extreme change. After a couple months I was very close to at least having JR change the profile on the runners for me, but after about 6 mo, I finally started adapting and benefiting. Let me say, I had no knee problems other than a bit of muscle soreness around the knees (vastus m. and rectus fem.) for the first few skates, but it was more a matter of adapting to the skating style required by the extreme ptich. As I say though, have finally adapted and think now I have benefited as a result.

I believe, on the Makos, the holders give you a +2 and the runner gives you around a +1, so, collectively ballpark +3. Some of the experienced profilers might indicate otherwise though.

Same here. That footbed is pretty minimal, but with a good bake, the underlying structure of the skate outsole should conform pretty well. If not, maybe spot heat. Then the foot bed is just some thin cushion on top of the formed skate outsole. This is great for control. I tried my Sidas insoles and felt I lost all "feel" for the ice that I got with the OEM footbed, plus it introduced more volume issues.

I couldn't even get my feet in before baking. If they fit decent without bake, they should be great after baking.

It would be easier to comment on if the source was cited. I realize the article was from the VH website, but it doesn't state what research is being used as a basis for the statement.

Thanks. Guess I'll go elsewhere.

That's why I asked Jimmy further up the thread how the stock Mako compared to noicing's pitch ratings. I want to get less aggressive, but don't know what the existing pitch is, or how much to "back off". I'd like to do it in a somewhat standard fashion, so, that's why I asked Jimmy and was planning on using their profiled steel. I haven't gotten an answer yet.

Jimmy, I've been on my Makos since Apr, 4-6 x/week. I really think I need to back off the aggro pitch. I've given them time and there may be some advantages, but I'm not sure. Since you guys have replacement steel in, I was thinking about getting some new profiled steel from you. Then I could swap my old steel and new steel to compare. How would you compare the stock Mako pitch to the Aggressive, Medium and Minor forward pitch you have? I am guessing the Makos would be "Aggressive"? I want to go to less forward pitch, but not necessarily to neutral. At least I don't think.

You won't know if they fit unless you bake. I couldn't get my foot into the 6.5 Ds I got and the brannock said I should be 7.5 wide. Baked em and I was sold. Plus, dealers are baking them all before sale, to convince people they will fit. So, if you bake yours it shouldn't make a difference for resale. You really won't know for sure unless you bake though. Shouldn't need to sharpen.

Considering they can do this.. http://www.hockeymonkey.com/easton-hockey-skates-mako-jr.html I suspect they can offer a lower level skate that isn't too far off the idea of the top level. The Sr model goes down to 6 and the junior goes up to 5.5. A 0.5 size difference for $300 tells me there's some room to work with on price. Maybe I'm wrong though.

Took the words right off of my keyboard. That being said, I'm still very interested. Especially considering Giancarlo is coming from Makos, which I am currently on. Achilles area is such a cluster on the Makos, I'd like to hear how the VHs look/feel.

I'm a E/EE in the TotalOne. I went with a D in Mako and I wouldn't want to go wider.

Ironically, I had the same thing happen and was planning to post about it just so others would be aware if they weren't sure what was going on. I actually was considering selling them and getting the next size up, but I couldn't figure out why they fit perfect for a couple weeks then I had this issue. I thought maybe it was because the warm weather came and my feet had swollen or something. Then I realized had not been tying them as tight as when I first got them, so, I tied the lower eyelets tighter again and that solved the problem. Buzz suggested in his response tying the top eyelets tighter, but I was tying them pretty tight the whole time, so, that wasn't it for me. I still need to find that sweet spot where they are tight enough in the lower eyelets without making my feet fall asleep. Still, numb feet are better than how bad my toes were when they were sliding down. My one toenail will likely be falling off soon. Totally black. Hope this helps.

OK, so, I'm a "true EE" then and weaking a Mako D. Not "recommending" it to anyone, but just presenting my experience. I don't think I need anymore width in these.

Not to be contrarian, but I have a Bauer E foot. Supreme EE are too big and sloppy. Supreme Ds are too narrow and make my feet cramp. I have a pair of Tone E's from prostock that fit "ok". I went with a Mako D to make sure they were snug enough. They fit well. The only issue I have is in the heel, which I have addressed in the thread several times. So, in my experience, with a Supreme E foot, the Mako D works for me.