krisdrum

IW's YouTube channel posted their typical product spec videos for the Cat 5, 7, and 9 skates a few days ago. No mention of flex profile or anything like that compared to the TF series. Not sure I love the yellow, but if they mold and fit somewhat similar to the TF series and have better forward flex, I might have to pick a pair of these up. @Hills I hope you can get your hands on a pair to give a comparison for us. Looking at the size charts on IW, doesn't look like they adjusted the fit length, but not sure how accurate that is.

Order it. He is direct to consumer only. No retail presence.

I had lacebite issues for years, as I have high arches/high volume between my heel and top of foot where ankle meets. The True TF retail skates have been the best for me that I have tried, including Graf, CCM, Bauer. They are sized a bit bigger to begin with (rule of thumb for most people has been dropping a 1/2 size from CCM/Bauer) and are incredibly moldable, which should help accommodate the added volume it sounds like you have. On a side note - I've found Graf to be only slightly shorter than a CCM/Bauer boot. I had almost identical fit in a Graf 5 and CCM 4.5. Going 1 full size up from your current Bauers into Grafs is likely too much.

Food for thought. I have found VERY little difference between the 7s and 9s. I originally purchased the 7s and skated in them for a few months. I originally had no intentions of even trying the 9s, but a really good deal came my way and I pulled the trigger, which allowed me to convert the 7s to roller. The 7s are a bit heavier and maybe ever so slightly softer. Obviously there is the tongue difference, but those are easily swapped. The steel are different, but I haven't noticed any additional glide or durability from the black coated (they are NOT DLC) compared to the bare SS. I've seen/felt no difference in fit or performance.

Second @althoma1 input. I would start a half size down from Bauer/CCM and see how that does for you. Assuming you are sized well in your CCM and Bauers, you will probably be good. With the 30 day return policy, there is no real risk by ordering them online, getting them baked locally and skating in them for a few weeks. I was in size 5 Grafs and 4.5 CCMs. Used to be in size 5 Bauers but in hindsight realized I should have probably been in 4.5. My Bauer scan put me in a size 5 fit 3. I have both TF9 and TF7s. 7s converted to Marsblades. 9s are my ice boots. I am in a size 4 in both and I've replaced the thin TF9 tongue with a standard felt tongue from True as I liked the snugger feel of the thicker felt. Both True skates were bought used so the padding was already somewhat compressed for me. I did try on the TF7 new in store with a bake and they felt ever so slightly short, so I knew as they broke in (or if they were already broken in for me) they should be good. I've debated the merits of trying a 3.5, but I think they would be uncomfortably too small even after a bake or two. These are the most comfortable skates I've worn. No real hot spots, nice conformed fit. Really a pleasure to wear and I've had issues in the past with discomfort. My normal skate is 1.5 hours non-stop (no refs or stoppages) with just shift changes as rest.

Isn't that a description of the SuperTack girdle? Besides some of the adjustment bells and whistles, it is my understanding the SuperTack "upgrade" hits your needs.

I've had similar issues in most skates I've been in over the last 5+ years. True retail skates (TF7 or 9) have solved that for me. MOST comfortable skates I've ever worn. I also sized down 1/2 a size from what I was in with CCM. BUT, they MUST be baked to get the fit right. Trying them on cold is useless. I believe they are still running their 30 day no questions asked guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.

Not entirely true. You can reject an item and send it back, but hopefully that is used for instances where something was clearly misrepresented, as opposed to something not fitting exactly the way you had hoped.

And you are using the "turn the boot sideways and twist your way in" method? Or are you trying to go straight in and down? They are a bit more difficult to get on and off, but I've never had an experience of "tearing up my feet". You wear socks? Or barefoot?

those are for junior sized skates. Sr size Cat5 is $299.

VH/True offered tech that differentiated it from its competitors. 1 piece boot and very heat reactive materials for an enhanced/superior fit. For Warrior's sake I hope they have a similar tech advantage in mind for whatever they are doing. If not, I don't see it being a good move for them. They will need to differentiate their product from the rest to stand any chance.

My post was more a reaction to the OP's statement. "Meant to be"

Looks like 2S Pros to me based on the shape and breaks.

Is any curve "designed" to carry a puck a certain way for every player? There are too many factors involved for that to be a hard and fast rule. In the picture of Johnny, remember he is one of the shortest (if not THE shortest) in the league. With a higher lie curve (P92 for example), the toe would be even further off the ice. I'm about the same size as Johnny. I like the P88 because of the lower lie allowing me to keep more blade on the ice most of the time. If you are taller - I doubt you'd have much issue keeping the toe down.

Agree, I took a big leap of 1/4" from 5/8 to 7/8 with very little adjustment. Another 1/16 or more might be even better. Personally, I could maybe go shallower, just haven't had the time / desire to experiment further yet. Although I am probably at my upper limit. I'm only playing once a week in a game situation, so I'd hate to go too shallow and ruin my night.

If you prefer ice, the O1 is probably a better option than anything else currently on the market. Definitely not cheap but there are ways to mitigate the added expense. They come up used pretty regularly.

I also think the hollow is the right place to start. I dropped from my standard 5/8 (even 9/16 sometimes) to 7/8 with very little adjustment and no loss of control and the skates are much easier to "slide out" now, but still plenty grippy when I need/want it. My nephew who is in custom Trues went all the way to a 1 3/8 cut and loves it. Granted his edge work is impeccable, but I think that also says something about how effectively the boot transfers body movement into the ice. I was in Ribcor 76Ks just prior to getting the Trues and I didn't feel much of a change pitch-wise. But I didn't go down a runner size in the Trues. And I second the "behind the tongue" lacing approach for the top 1-2 eyelets. So much easier than trying to cram it through in front of the tongue. I'm surprised the shop you bought them from did not give you this tip at purchase.

Still there. Last post here:

Didn't you just post on the other thread that they fit perfectly and you were selling your Bauers?

Resurrecting this for a related question... my biggest reason for using non-tape is to save glove palms, with the main offender being the top edge of the stick/buttcap digging into the palm and wearing a hole. My son usually gets 6 months if he is lucky out of his palms before he has worn a hole through 2 layers of nash on his top hand, even with the "won't wear your palm" materials like Lizardskinz. Anyone find a solution for this? Is there one? I've tried taping the edge and then covering it with a non-abrasive grip material. Eventually it wears through and exposes rougher materials or sharp edges.

6.5 is nothing. I'm in size 4 Trues. 4.5 in Bauer/CCM just like @puckpilot. I'm a bit lighter at 170-180lbs, but have had no issues with junior/intermediate skates at all.

Ah, I see it now, looking at the most recent pictures. I'd be surprised if something is bent - all those components look very beefy.

That is my assumption as well. So you are seeing information that it should look more like the top images?

I'm a total layman - so take this with a HUGE grain of salt. But the dressing tip location looks right to me. Isn't the whole idea of the dressing tip to make a convex shape in the edge of the grinding wheel so you can use the wheel to make a concave shape in the blade? It looks like the swing arm just needs to be positioned closer to the wheel, so as you swing it up from the very bottom of the wheel to the top it creates that half-circle radius in the edge.

Can't comment on durability yet, I just converted mine a few weeks ago. The roller boots might be beefed up in those high wear areas with wear pads and such. Just a word of caution on fit - if the roller boots are built and sized like the ice boots (I have no reason to believe they aren't) - expect to go down at least a 1/2 size from your normal skates, they will likely feel too short at first, but as they break in, they give quite a bit. And make sure the shop bakes them prior to try-on, or you won't get an accurate idea of sizing. For example - I was in Graf size 5 and CCM size 4.5 with just about a perfect fit. CCM and Bauer/Mission should be about the same sizing. I ended up in True size 4 and have often debated whether I could go down to a 3.5. The 1 piece boot and extreme moldability of their materials and construction make them pretty different from just about anything else out there.