helmsy

I bought a pair of Makos on Saturday, and skated in them for the first time last night. In sum, they're fantastic. The fit on the Makos is simply unlike any other skate I've tried. Some folks are saying they fit like sneakers. I think that's exaggeration. But the extent to which the boot wraps around your foot is difficult to describe - once you have them tied up, you feel almost like your foot has been sucked down into the boot. There's almost no room for your foot to move around. Heel lock is fantastic. The overall sensation is confidence inspiring, and I really did feel much better connected to the blades. Just very different than what I've grown used to over the past decade (Bauers and Grafs). As for all the other features that Easton is marketing like mad - the "extendon" guard, asymmetrical design, forward pitch, etc. - you notice them, but for me at least, the difference in actual game play strikes me as marginal. I think the overall skate design does contribute to quickness in lateral motion and efficiency (i.e., getting the most out of) in your stride. But the differences don't seem terribly significant. In fairness, I've skated in them only once, so there may be a learning curve before I adjust enough to get the full benefit. But for me, the fit of the boot is the make-or-break feature. I'm sure there will be feet that just don't work for this particular boot. But after years - literally years - of dealing with one of (a) foot pain, bone growths on my heels and my forefoot, etc., or (b) little or no pain, but feeling like my foot was swimming in my boot, I may have found a boot that really works for me. As you can tell, I'm pretty amped about these suckers. But I'm happy to come back in a month or so and provide an update. My overall verdict / advice: if the price doesn't offend you, and you've had issues with finding boots that fit well, you should give these a long look. On the other hand, if you haven't had fit issues and are considering these solely for the other features (extendon guard, asymmetrical design, forward pitch), the benefits may not justify the costs. Cheers.