z1ggy

Roenickfan- I have fairly flat feet as well. First time I skated in my Mako's I had the standard footbed in. Felt the arch pain. Switched them out for super feet, and the pain went away. He's right though, you really can't mold the bottom of the skate much, nor would I even want to try. However, the skate is EXTREMELY moldable in almost every other spot. I have an extra large and bumpy 5th metatarsal bone, but relatively narrow feet. I managed to punch the boot out just fine by heating it with my heat gun, and using a home build punch I made. I also heated up the heel area and pressed it in very firmly with my hands for a few minutes and got a better heel lock, too. I must say, these skates are light years better than my old Vapor XXV's. I didn't think they would be that much better, but I was wrong. For me, the incredibly molded fit, plus the steel are the two best feautures. I have been playing 3-4 times a week now since November when I got them, and I haven't gotten them sharped since the initial sharpening. There are a couple dull spots here or there, probably from chipping the steel on other skates, etc, but I see no need to sharpen any time soon.

I'm assuming the new P28 curve is a clone of the E28/W28? Also, if I read correctly, the new top of the line LS4 steel will be on the 1X skate? I believe in the opening post I saw that this will come stock as a 10' radius. That seems kind of odd given that the Vapor line has always been the "agility" focused skate. I could see that on the Supreme/Nexus line focusing on power, but it seems kind of out of place on the Vapor line. Am I mistaken? I know somebody used to a 9' radius like I am could just get it profiled, but it seems a little weird to me.

Anybody have any long term review on the marsblade chassis? Thinking about getting one to mount on my Vapor XXV's for a ice to inline conversion. Want to know if they hold up to the wear and tear of playing in many games, and not just casual street use. Kind of a hefty price tag if they are going to break after playing games.

^ And, to the one poster's statement above... They (the tongue) are intended to be thick.

I baked mine twice to get a perfect fit. Heat spot molded them a bunch too in the rear to get the best heel lock I could. I have a fairly narrow and V shaped back of the heel/tendon and the Mako tends to be a bit more rounded. I absolutely love these skates so far.

@ CTB I came from Vapors as well and am in Mako II now. I don't think the Mako II is any less stiff than Vapors. It's hard to compare though because the boot construction is totally different. One tghing though that is very different, is how heat moldable these skates are. They are like puddie when heated up in the oven, but form fit to every bone on your foot when they set. You won't be disappointed.

I feel like then a "-1" pitch is misleading. It's just a relative number compared to other skates that are more aggressive. I just can't imagine than a Supreme skate, in it's entirety would be a real "negative" pitch, ie, you're actually put in a stance that would put you back on your heels. I'm not equipment manager or hockey shop owner, but I don't see why/how that would be something beneficial, even to a total novice.

I still can't believe a Supreme is a "-1". How could anybody think putting a player in a less than neutral stance would benefit them in any way? PS I just skated on my new Mako 2's this weekend for the first time. Stepped on the ice expecting to feel some massive difference between my old Vapors and the Mako. Turns out, people here blow things way the hell out of proportion. I had maybe 5 mins of adjustment period, then it was like nothing ever changed. Looks like I got worried over nothing...

Did either of you two try heating up that problem area and punching it out a bit? Mako's are very heat moldable.

Problem with C clamps is they only clamp in a straight line, ie, not in the V shape I kind of need the boot to squeeze in as. I think I will honestly just rotate with my g/f holding the boot in place, 30 seconds each for like 5 minutes or so, then pop the boot in the freezer. I'm def going to need to punch out the sides a bit near the forefoot of each boot, definately a bit too tight there. that should be muccchhh easier though. I'll just use the butt end of a screw driver. I'll have good leverage and should be able to do it myself.

Yeah it's pretty much right where the tendon guard and the boot meet, on that back side, between the anke bone area, and the tendon guard. It seems hard though to press and "keep" the mold, due to it looking like it sprung back to position after I let go. I'll have to maybe use some C clamps or something to hold it in place while it cools down? Unless I hold it there with my thumb for like 2-3 minute, then put it in the freezer like you said to try and lock it in. I also have some hot spot on the outside right near the Easton logo, where it's a bit too tight. So I'll prob heat that up and punch it out a bit too. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, thank you!

I will look at the Easton video, thank you. I'm wondering how much pressure and baking it will take. I only have my conventional home oven now, so I hope that's safe to use. I already own Stable 26 socks, and put both the 2 and 4mm padding on the outside, which did not help. Stable26 is good, but the gel pads aren't actually high enough up and don't cover enough area I feel. They work well in my Mission roller skates to fill up some of the void in the heel pocket though.

Sure, it makes sense. But I've already baked them twice. Each time I tapped my skate on the rear of the blade to try and facilitate pushing my heel into the rear padding as far as it goes. I'm saying, there's a lack of padding that forms a "V" shape, up the lateral rear side of the skate, which would be situated along the sides of the Achille's tendon. The V shape is the natural shape that is made due to the tendon popping out a bit. It is not round (for me) like the shape of padding in that area of the Mako. I don't think I am going to be able to just press on that area a bit when it's heated up and literally change the shape of the boot. I understand the skates are heat moldable etc, but there's nothing there for me to actually mold as far as padding goes, if that makes any sense.

I've baked both skates twice now, I'm hesitant on doing a 3rd. Sales guy baked his Mako I's 3 times, so I guess I would be okay, but I don't want to weaken the material by baking over and over. Can you explain further what you mean by "opening up the lower"? How would that benefit me? Similarly, explain what you mean by a better wrap up top? Obviously, I know it implies having a tighter fit.. but how? The skate simply lacks the padding right in that back area, unlikely my Vapor. It's got more roundness in that rear area, instead of more of a tapered "V" fit. If there's confusion, I'll post pics, but I think Mako owners would know what I mean.. I just looked at pictures on hockeymonkey, and this is confirmed.

Optimus & others- I now noticed that there's like some kind of negative space around my upper outside ankle area, which makes me just not feel "Stable". Luckily I haven't skated in them yet, so I don't officially own them out right. I noticed when looking inside the boot, the padding in the ankle area is more "rounded" if that makes any sense, instead of being a bit more triangular, which is actually how the back of the lower leg/upper ankle area is (due to tendon, etc etc). This is how the padding is on my Vapors, and my Mission roller blades. I think that feeling of having a bit of space in the outter back portion of the skate is due to that. Oddly enough though, it still feels solid and firm on my left foot, but not my right. The right foot is so bad, when I walk around with them on, my right foot is kind of wobbly & it's like the lateral support isn't there. Everything else is great though...Shame really. If I can't fix it I'm going to have to return them. Not spending $800 on a skate that gives me less confidence than my 7year old Vapors.

Just picked up a brand new pair of Mako 2's!! Things feel great. Little pressure on my right forefoot because I am slightly wider on that side, but I think I can punch that out a bit with out any problems. Hopeuflly I adjust to the pitch and different skate feel quickly. Makes me nervous people on here saying they don't like it, or they could never get used to it.

Really, negative....?? From what I'd seen from another user here, the Tuuk blade with LS2 steel was basically "neutral", but all that really means is that it had the least aggressive angle of attack of any of the holder + runner combo's. The pitch was still such that it placed you forward a bit. But heck I could be wrong.

Also, curious to people who used to skate on Tuuks.. How much different did the pitch feel? And how long did it take you to get used to it? And now that you've skated both, which do you prefer?

Nothing special as in.. the eBay deal is nothing special, or sharpening them is no different than any other skate? If so, how was the sharpener screwing them up that badly..

Question for any Mako II owners here, and the community in general: Saw on eBay last, pair of never been used Mako II's going for $450. Catch was, there was no warranty because apparently (not sure if true) the original owner sold them to this seller, and the warranty is only valid to the original purchaser. It seems like a great deal, but after seeing all the issues the Mako I had, I worry that this would just be a waste of $450 if anything went wrong. Also, to the user above.... Are the Mako's any "harder" to sharpen or something? My buddy currently does my skates now and I trust him, but I know he's never sharpened Mako's before. Is there something different one would need to do when sharpening?

I'm dying to get a new pair of ice hockey skates because of the above. If I play inline on my hi-lo chasis for more than 3 or 4 games then switch back to ice, I am virtually lost for that entire game...The feel is just to different to me. However, I can't put marsblade on my ice hockey skates until I get a new pair of ice skates. I guess I could use my current inline skates, but then I will effectively ruin them and won't be after to sell them. Sounds like though mars blade helps a lot with the transition between ice and roller.

Inlinewarhouse says though that the fit of the new boot is a medium-high volume, medium-wide width, and medium wide toe box with narrow-medium heel. That doesn't really sound like it would be a "Great" fit, because I lean toward the "medium" width rather than wide. I'll have to go try some on to confirm. Thank you for the reply though.

Hi, I was wondering the fit of the new line up? My best fitting skates are my old Bauer Vapor XXV's...And I'd say I have a narrow to medium (D or just less than D) width foot, low instep, low volume. I currently skate in Mission AC4's, but they are too wide and too high of a volume overall.

Sorry about your dog MThockeydad. I have a 3.5 year old dog, and I live alone with her. She's basically my best friend and we spend almost ever second together when I'm not at work (or playing hockey). It'll be tough for me when she's gone. But, that's why you have to cherish the moments when you have them.

Would be interested to hear from anybody who went from Vapor's with LS2 steel to VH skates with LS2 holder/runner combo.