chrisg19

Mine are ordered !!! I have been a long time MLX user, and have refrained from writing anything here about them because of the fiasco with their employees postings. I have to say that once you get used to the MLX, and now I assume Easton skates you will not want to go back to conventional skates ever. I recently heated and tried on a pair of CCM U+ CL skates, and could not believe how boxy they felt after heating. There is no other way to describe it for me, the skates may have conformed slightly to my feet, but it does not even come close to the customization you could recieve with these MLX inspired skates. Range of motion is another area you will not believe. The cutaway, and flexible tendon gaurd is something you won't believe you lived without after using it. Lastly I have taken some major slapshots off the skates, and never felt a thing, they are ultra protective. Hopefully the Eastons continue, and refine this technology because it has been really good in use. Very excited to check these out....

This is not my listing, but saw a pair posted on Craig's, thought someone might be interested here. If this is against the rules feel free to delete, was just trying to help hook someone here up....

My experience could not be more different from Optimus Primes when it came to ordering Jerseys. Chris J answered every email in a timely manner, and the jerseys were done right on schedule. I was very happy with both the customer service, and the products. Sorry you had such a bad experience, but it was just surprising to me, because my experience was 100% opposite of his.

I have been a big proponent of the Reebok 11k Skates. These have been a fantastic skate for me but unfortunately I believe the skates have a serious structural flaw. I bought these skates back in May of '10, and have had nothing but praise for the performance of the skates until about 60 days ago. First I noticed that in my left skate the pump began losing air, it was intermittent, sometimes it held air, other times it would leak, and be flat by the end of a game. They were not inflated during heating, and have always been taken care of. Before anyone asks, these skates were heat fitted at the dealership I purchased them from. I contacted customer service, and the person I spoke with was very nice, but informed me that I was outside the warranty period, and the pump issue was mine to deal with. Not too pleased with the answer, but the skate fit so well, I figured I would just over look it, and deal with it. I am 46 years old, and play 2 -3 times a week, and Ref on weekends. My skates get a lot of use, but the reality is my playing days are a lot slower than they once were, and there is no way I put these skates through what a competitive athlete would. A little while ago I read a review of these skates on Hockey Monkey, and I came across the following: Wasn't really sure what he meant by that, but unfortunately now I know.... The above is a photo of my left skate with a crack in the same location as the reviewer described above. I attempted to epoxy the skate so I could continue to use them Reffing, but the epoxy was not strong enough to hold it. This is a photo of my right skate. The crack is present on this skate also. Although it is tough to see in the photo, it is there, though not as fully formed as the left skate. Bottom line, this is not how a top of the line skate should look after 7 months of use.

*****UPDATED******** When I first wrote this review I had maybe 10-15 skates in them. Since then I have had the chance to log quite a bit more ice time, and I have edited this to reflect the additional time. Still very impressed with the skates..... *** Final Update 1/17/11- Doesn't look good - changes are bolded Foot spec - Wide forefoot, average heel, high arch, high instep Last skate worn - Nike/Bauer Supreme ONE95 Size - 8 E I have worn One95s, and Reebok 9k’s in the past 12 months, with the One 95’s seeing the lions share of the ice time. I would not have changed from the One 95’s except that I had ankle surgery in November of 09, and the Bauers were no longer as comfortable as before. I wanted to try something different and went with the 11k’s hoping the pump would give the ability to customize the boot to the ankle, and still be comfortable. I play mens C league hockey, referee, and pickup. Usaully a minimum of three times a week. Fit - For anyone who has worn the Reebok 9k’s in the past, the first thing that is evident upon trying the skate on is the more snug heel. Since these are an E skate the heel is Reeboks standard B heel. Even though it technically is called the same size heel as last year, there is definitely a tighter feel, and the heel does not feel nearly as sloppy as the 9k of the same size. The tongue has been completely reworked into what Reebok calls a hybrid tongue. The 9k tongue was a real let down for that skate, and with a high instep and arch, lace bite for me was a real problem with it. As bad as that tongue was, is as good as the new 11k tongue is. The new tongue combines the form fitting tongue of the past with a new thick felt lining. The result is that all the lace bite, and weird fit of the past is gone, replaced by a thick, and comfy tongue. Reebok continues to use the “skatelock”, and while this seems like a great idea on paper, it doesn’t translate well in real world use. I find it is easy to over-tighten the laces, locking them in place, and that creates a snug point that is sometimes uncomfortable. I much prefer a straight lace setup, and this year Reebok offers an adapter to eliminate the “skatelock”. I need to locate those, as I would much prefer to not use the lacelock. When you first pick the skate up, you notice it doesn’t feel as stiff as other top end skates. It is comfortable out of the box, and you notice the new liner immediately. The liner is a new two piece tacky nash and clarion, replacing the fabric like one of the 9k. The liner is more grippy, and adds to the feel of locking your foot in place, it also shouldn’t tear as easily as the fabric one of years past. Once heated up the skate really shines. It molds willingly to your foot shape, and once cooled seems to gain stiffness. The ankle area remains a little more flexible than the vice like One 95’s, but after skating in them for a year and a half, the ankle flex afforded by the 11k’s is a welcome addition. As with past Reebok skates the pump allows a customized fit for the ankle, and was immediately helpful for my post surgery needs. Most already know the benefits of the Pump system, and I don’t have a lot to add. It does what it says, allowing customizability. I have not had any issues with the bladder leaking, but I followed the directions of not inflating while heated, and always deflating prior to removing the skate. The new pump mechanism is much more streamlined with the skate, and just looks better. The boot is about as deep as the One 95, and my high instep foot just barely fits. Every foot is different, and as such each users needs will vary, but for my particular foot shape the 11k’s are a nice comfy fit. Update - I have come around to accepting the "skatelock". Initially I was making them to snug when I pulled them to lock, but now have figured out the proper amount of pull so they are not overtightened, still a gimmick for me, but I am no longer looking to change them. 10/10 - A very comfortable, highly moldable fit, that improves on the Reebok shape. Performance - I am completely impressed with the way the skate reacts on the ice. It flexes when need be, yet transfers energy with the best of skates I have used. Perhaps it is the freedom of the more flexible ankle, but I feel as though the skate allows me a quicker step, without giving up any of the holding power of the One 95’s. 2nd Update - After some more time with the skates I am still thoroughly impressed. These seem to have a perfect balance of stiffness and flex, and for me at least the additional ankle bend afforded by these skates has been a welcome addition, and I honestly feel as though my skating has improved because of it. These skates have enough stiffness to corner and stop with complete confidence, yet allow a range of motion that allows for a deeper knee bend than I had been used to as skates got more and more stiff. 10/10 - These skates have done everything I have asked and more. Blade/Holder - The blade holder combination is the often used E Pro holder from past CCM / Reebok skates. These holders put you a little more on your toes then the LS2s I was used to in the past, and the first few skates were awkward for sure. You adapt quickly though, and I actually like the pitch towards the toes more than the neutral LS2s. The holders seem stiff, and I really have no complaints with them. The steel is the scalloped steel which saves a little bit of weight. The steel holds an edge well, and so I have not needed to sharpen them as often as the stock Bauer steel. One thing I noticed though is that they seem to “click” as though they are loose, even when they are not. Not a big deal, but I am constantly checking them because I hear them clicking as I walk to the ice. 9.5/10 I took off a half point for the clicking… Weight- While I haven’t weighed them or anything, you can notice immediately that they feel lighter than the 9k’s of the past, and in fact feel very comparable to my old One 95’s. They feel like a top end skate should in terms of weight, and finally match up with the other light skates in this price range. 10/10 Protection - The lower half of the boot is greatly improved and is like a rock after baking. The tongue is a thick felt, and should stand up to shots much better than the old Reebok tongues. I got in the way of a few shots, which were more like hard passes, and barely noticed them. I finally took a a really hard shot to the skate last night. It hit me in the sidewall of the skate right at the area where the toecap meets the body of the skate. A quick sting of the pinky toe, that was gone a few minutes later, was all I felt, never missed a shift, and the skate looks fine. I am not saying that taking same shot with a different skate, I would not have fared as well, just that these were proved to be protective, as they should. Durability - The 9k’s of the past had a few issues where the liner would tear, and the quarters would kind of delaminate. I am happy to report that both of these issues look to have been solved, and neither is showing any signs that these areas are wearing. The skates still look pretty new even though I am on them about three times a week. I expect these to be quite durable over time, and representative of a high end skate. 12/16/10 - Left pump slow leak 6/10 Intangibles – This is one of the best looking skates Reebok has ever manufactured in my opinion. I have never been a fan of the Reebok CCM look, but this one looks great. Conclusion - Reebok went about the task of improving the successful 9k skate, and in my experience they really succeeded. Every area that needed improvement was touched upon, and each area is a nice improvement. This is not a revolutionary skate, but rather the evolution of a very competent top end skate. If this skate were released a year ago, I am certain it would have made a bigger splash in the market, but now it has been overshadowed by the launch of the Total One. That’s a real shame because Reebok really nailed this skate. If you liked the 9k’s at all, you will love this new 11K skate. Personally I was not a big fan of the 9k’s, I liked some of the ideas behind it, but the wide heel, and questionable liner left something to be desired. I am happy to say all that has changed with the 11K. The quality, and attention to detail shows this was a well thought out skate design. I was sure I could not be swayed away from the Bauer brand, but I am happy I gave these a shot, and will not be returning to the One 95’s. No change in my conclusion. This is the best skate I have ever owned. Overall – See my post below If you have any questions I can try to answer, feel free to PM me. I will do my best to get you an answer.

OK, so I read this whole thread, and am definately interested in ordering one of Blackstones portables. I went to their site, and see a place for entering contact info for pre orders, but I don't see any info at all about the fbv. So I have just a few questions, does either Blackstone portable come with the FBV, or does it just come with a "standard" cutting spinner. I am just a little confused as to what is included. Also I couldn't help but notice JR's comment about "Well stay tuned" a few posts back, does that refer to the post about the cost of the team sharpener?

The S15 skate looks pretty much unchanged, which is really not surprising. Does anyone know if the last, pertaining to widths is also unchanged on this skate? I have pretty wide feet and the 07 skate fit very well even in the "R" size. I was thinking of getting a pair, and if the sizing is the same I will wait for the 08's, but if it has narrowed, I'll probably grab an 07 before they are hard to find. Thanks for any info...

Reviewer: 5'9" 208 lbs. League roller Hockey A and B divisions on Sport Court. Price: $89.99 Test Blades: Inno Robitaille retail - Right Usage: Approximately 35+ league, and pickup games. Shaft shape/Flex: 100 Flex. I really like this flex, coming from the more whippy 85 flexs. It is still flexy enough to get off a quick wrister, but really shines above the 85 for snap/slap shots. I find it hard to go back to the more flexy sticks after playing with this for awhile. Shaft feels the same as an M1, which took a little getting used to for me when I switched to the M-1 from a Biomorphic Dangler a long time ago. Difference between M-1, and M-2 is negligible however. I would rate this a 10/10. Stickhandling/Passes: I like the way the puck feels on this shaft/blade combo. Feel is transmitted well, but truthfuly I think that has more to do with the inno blade than anything. I have had no complaints with either stickhandling or passing. Again a 10/10. Weight/Balance: Now I have not measured the weights or anything, but it feels very comparable to my M-1's. Really like the balance of the whole combination. 9/10. Shooting: Shots fly right off of this shaft. The 100 flex has given me the exact performance I wanted, and has remained so since day one. My M-1 has sat on the bench for 2 + seasons because I prefer this combo so much. 10/10 Durability: This is where the M-2 impresses me the most. This shaft has been hacked, slashed, and abused by opponents, and while some paint may have been chipped off, the stick is as solid as ever. I am very impressed with it's durability. I am not normally easy on shafts, but this one has taken everything I have given it. 10/10 Conclusion: I would recommend this shaft to anyone without hesitation. It has held up very well to the abuses of league hockey, and appears as though it will do so for some time to come. I like the feel, balance, and way the shots come off of the shaft. I really have zero complaints, and this combo has kept my more expensive ops's relegated to the bench, and will for some time to come. 10/10. chris