krisdrum

Thanks for the input. Why would my son need to use a different boot? My plan would be to get a pair of used Vapors (his normal ice boot) and mount the O1 chassis to them. That way, he has a similar boot fit and I can use the same chassis as his feet grow and boots change. I did a rigid chassis conversion on a pair of skates for myself awhile back and have plenty of spare nuts and bolts to do the conversion for him.

Wasn't sure where to put this... admin, please move if you think there is a better spot... With no legal ice available in our area... nor are we really too keen to use it if it was (wife is high risk due to chronic health issues)... I'm looking for alternatives to help my 10 y.o. son keep up his skills. For context - top D pair last season, skilled skater that does a lot of agility work in addition to regular practices, etc. His team finished top 20 last season. He loves this sport and works his tail off to get to where he is. I'd hate to see 3,4,5 months off the ice impact that. And yes - he plays other sports and has other hobbies, he's 10. I can make space in the basement or garage or driveway for synthetic ice or I can get him on rollers. Looks like Can-Ice is the best of the bunch of synthetics based on my research. Great glide, no shavings to deal with, etc. He's used rigid chassis rollers before and isn't thrilled with them, finds them too different from ice. So considering Marsblade 01 in hopes they would get him feeling as close to on-ice as possible. He's a size 2 skate, so he just makes the size minimum for a Small chassis. Obviously one choice is thousands of dollars, the other a few hundred. If I boil it down, the question is... are Marsblades close enough to the feel and motion of an ice skate to be a sufficient alternative.

This is super helpful. Thanks for sharing the inside scoop. Curious what you'd suggest for someone with a narrow heel and wide forefoot? Ribcor D to get the narrowest heel and let the boot mold in the forefoot to get the width? Or maybe a Jetspeed EE? Maybe in a 1-piece boot to take advantage of the more moldable heel? I've had decent success in the Vapor line in a EE width. Had to punch out a few spots on the sides of my foot, but heel lock was pretty good. In Graf 535 Wide right now, but miss the stiffness of a modern boot. I'm not sure I want to spend the time building up all those tiny muscles to get the stability and performance I got in the Vapors. There is appeal to something a bit more point and shoot.

Sorry Greg, wasn't trying to stoke the fire. You mentioned the USHL combines and I took it on a tangent. To some extent, I get the position you are in with your son. My nephew just had his U16 season on a team that was top 10 the last 2 seasons, on the road to nationals and made it last year. He's hoping for a local NCDC contract for the fall. Plus, we've been billeting the last 4 years. Our latest "son", who lived with us the last 2 seasons, will be playing for Dartmouth in the fall. Those experiences have given me a preview of what we could be in store for with my 9 year old if he decides he wants to pursue things to that level. I don't envy the position you and your son are in, the tip of the needle gets pretty thin. Hope you can figure out a solution for him and he rocks his upcoming season, whatever it may look like.

Not to go completely off topic... but do we really think the USHL and NAHL are going to have a fall/winter season? Don't those programs depend on ticket sales to give kids their tuition-free opportunity? What about billets? Are these programs going to be able to attract enough households to house the players? Are people going to send their kids to live with strangers? I'm sorry, I just don't see it happening. I'm not even sure I see a way for USPHL NCDC to have a season. Less from ticket sales (as they mostly depend on the tuition of their youth programs to fund the NCDC program), but definitely from a billet perspective. Sorry... back on topic... maybe a stupid question, but why does it even need to be a hockey-style lace up boot? I've been given advice on this site before that roller-blade type skates are sufficient for most applications. Granted, I am NOT a U15 trying to make a spot in the #1 league in the country. So... what are you hoping your son can continue to work on in his inlines? Fitness and the general skating motion or more specific technique that may not translate in a different boot?

Similar to what I have (I have the older style tiles that don't puzzle piece together), works for me and my 9 y.o. You can find the old style ones much cheaper, about $8 a 18 x 18 tile. I highly doubt the new versions are significantly better. Our set-up is 12 feet wide (8 tiles) by 24 (16 tiles) and sits in our driveway. Son uses it all the time for stickhandling, shooting, battle drills, etc.

What size space are you looking to cover? What other activities do you use this space for? Maybe we can help suggest some things that are more DIY. Unfortunately a $20 can of paint from Home Depot isn't going to get you the results you are after. Epoxy or something similar might, but will require significant prep work and likely won't save you much compared to a plastic purpose-built product. Either way you are probably looking at a few hundred dollar investment if you are looking to cover a decent sized space. If the Stick Wrap Around is more your speed, I've seen folks do something similar using thin sheet metal. This would allow you to customize the fit to the curve of each stick. Some Tin Snips, a sheet of metal and some hockey tape would be a small investment to protect your expensive sticks.

Shooting pad/tiles? Either purpose-built or DIY? I've seen folks use plexiglass or melamine boards that are relatively cheap compared to the poly boards/tiles sold specifically for hockey.

Thanks. The Nash helmet foam suggestion is interesting. But sounds like it does not stick and stay in place well, unless I add additional adhesive, and even then... who knows. Barge sounds a lot like the mastik I used to use to glue up tubular bicycles tires. The 3M 77 sounds a lot easier to work with. Maybe I'll just suck it up, cut my loses and get a different pair of gloves.

Aren't all the Tacks the same basic fit and design? If you liked the AS1, why not look at something 1 or 2 levels down? Or do you need absolute bullet-proof protection?

Anyone ever re-padded the backhand of their gloves? Bought a pair of used Vapors off SS. Previous owner cut the backhand pad out of them. Didn't realize until after I received and approved. I like a tighter fit on the backhand, anyone ever used thin foam or something else to tighten up the backhand of their gloves?

Seconded. A few years ago when I was skating more and pretty comfortable, was at stick and puck (all ages) with my son, who was 6 or 7 at the time. We got a little cross ice game going, dads vs. kids. Was going after the puck with a kid, who was maybe 8 or 9, didn't want to crush him, ended up falling awkwardly, caught an edge on the way down, and dislocated my knee cap. Luckily it popped right back in, but the inflammation after had me in an immobilizer brace for a few weeks and knee brace for awhile after that. It was a tough lesson to learn.

Interesting findings. I'm really curious now, maybe I need to try on some Jetspeeds again. I gave them a try like 3-4 years ago, but think it was a roller boot. Couldn't even get the tongue to lay inside the boot they were so shallow on me. Pencil test would have failed from down in the forefoot. And older Vapor 5EE I was able to get to work pretty well for my foot. I should have stuck with those, but got crazy and got some classic Grafs. Sold the Vapors before really seeing if I liked the Grafs. Basically exact opposite boots (one low and flexy, the other tall/normal and stiff). Don't get me wrong, I like the way the Grafs fit my feet, but feel and performance wise (at least for where my skating is at), is completely different. I'd like to get back to a stiffer boot, as they felt much more point and shoot to me. The Grafs are much more nuanced.

As a guy in a similar spot (never played growing up, not a great skater), I have to agree with the last few posters. It is one thing to be out there at an open skate and be responsible for yourself, it is another to be out there and responsible for yourself and 15-20 kids. I've started the process of getting my Level 1 USA Hockey coaching cert last month. And that is really just so I can be in the locker room and help run a door when needed. I ran the clock and scored a few times this year as well. All of that is fun, appreciated and helpful to the coaches. At some point I'd love to be in a position to help out on ice, but need to really work on my skating before I'd truly be comfortable in that spot. Nor do I hold any delusions about being on ice with my son in that context. I could skate 5 hours a day, every day, and maybe catch up to their level of proficiency. He and his team has a serious head start that will be tough to overcome (he's 9, but has been skating since 2.5 and playing since barely 4). And I've taken skate lessons, was getting pretty decent for a bit, before life took over and I wasn't able to make the time to keep working on the skills. In that time off, a lot of what I gained left me. I am in the process of trying to build that back up. Point is, this sport is about skating. If you aren't comfortable with that skill, work on it. OP - don't be discouraged, but find a way you can help that everyone is comfortable with and start there. If there is more you want to do, start the process of getting those skills together while you help out another way short term.

Fair enough. Just frustrating as a consumer who doesn't seem to fit nicely into the "3 fits" approach the big boys are taking. And I get why they are reducing their SKUs and keeping the lines simple. Hopefully the new approach will have a bit more flexibility to accommodate the fringes of the fit profiles.

That sucks. As that doesn't provide an option for folks who have a "non-traditional" fit. Like me. Supremes are a good width, but too big in the heel to provide good lock. Vapors are good in the heel, but too narrow in the forefoot. Having a EE available in the Vapor line provided the right heel lock and a forefoot width I could work with.

Oh, for sure. Too many SKUs. All the classic models (703, 705, 735, etc.) came in Narrow, Regular, and Wide. Then they tried modernizing with the G75 and X035 series (carbon uppers, taller boots, different flex ratings) and lastly the Peakspeed. All of which had a pretty middle of the road fit, which sucks for people like me, as those heel pockets are too wide/roomy, I don't get nearly the heel lock I get in my 535. Seems the Canadian arm post resurrection is more or less a custom shop with limited retail offerings (Peakspeed).

Not sure what their retail presence is like these days, but the thing I like about Graf is their variety of fits. I have a pretty narrow heel, wide-ish forefoot and medium-ish volume instep. That puts me somewhere between a typical Vapor and Supreme fit. Neither of those boots had the right combination of features for me and I tried them both for awhile. The Vapors in a EE were the best, but even with those I was making some concessions. The only retail boot I was able to find that fit my feet everywhere, was the Graf 535/735. Wide forefoot, narrow heel, enough volume to get good wrap and limit lacebite. If I'm being honest, I do miss the responsiveness of the taller/stiffer Vapors, but the comfort of the Grafs outweighs that minor edge for me.

Why are you only trying Bauer products? At this point, I'd be trying all the CCMs (especially with their no questions asked return policy) and getting a full assessment of your foot dimensions to see if anything retail will work for you. Have you done the Bauer or CCM 3d scanners some shops have? If you have a shop near by that specializes in high end fittings, I'd be talking to them as well. Sounds like you are trying to put a band-aid on a deep gash. Better to address it head on.

I don't have nearly the experience as most of you guys, but I started on 1/2" also. Took the step "down" to 5/8" and saw/felt a difference, but it was relatively subtle. Not long ago went down to 3/4", which I'm finding to be as far as I'd want to go at this time. It forces me to really focus on getting on my edges, because if I am sloppy, it will slide instead of grip. I've been toying with going up slight to 11/16" to see if that is a bit easier to deal with.

Women do tend to have calf muscles that are lower and larger than men. The anatomy is not the same. This is why women's alpine ski boots are typically a lower cut, to accommodate the calf more comfortably. I have found my Tacks to be a pretty tapered/anatomical fit, although not necessarily "low profile". I think you need to try a bunch of stuff on and see which pads have an internal shape that most closely matches your lower leg.

STX would be risk free, as they can easily be returned. I'd go with the Stallion/HPR line given your issue. Outside of that, go to the best stocked LHS in your area and try EVERYTHING on. This is what I did. Ended up with a pair of Tacks (not the Supers, as I couldn't justify the cost for my usage). Looks like most of what you've tried are a pretty tapered profile. A more traditional Nexus/HPR wide fit might be better. I've lost the thread a bit, but are the shins interfering with your skating? Or is it more aesthetic/looks?

A bit more detail would be helpful. What kind of "help" do you need? Buy/sell? Sizing? Advice?

Your definition of "snug" sounds a bit different than what I picture. Given the heel seems to feel a bit tight in the Vapor, assuming you can get good heel lock in the 9EE Supreme, I think you'll be more comfortable as the depth should be a better fit. The width should be a I know some would disagree, but I'd prioritize heel lock over forefoot comfort, so curious how the EE Supreme trial goes for you. Did the scanner only return a Vapor EE as the fit for you? Haven't tried one, so not sure if it spits out alternative choices.

It does induce skepticism. Which is a bit of a shame, as I like some of their other products. I have one of their 6oz training pucks and one of the balls and have found them to be solid. At least on par with green biscuits for performance on various surfaces.