VegasHockey

I also wear a regular in 100K and FT4, but a tapered in the AS-V as well. It's the new last that the skates are being built on. I like it much better. FWIW, in the new FT6 Pro I wear a tapered and 0.5 sizes smaller in the retail model.

Almost all brands use a very long profile on youth skates. Bauer uses the LS Balance blade on youth skates which is 13' and CCM has the Jetspeed Youth skate which comes with a stability blade and an agility blade.

I would say most players age 14+ are skating on 5/8” or flatter in North America. Those players also prefer profiles that are shorter. In Europe, it's pretty standard to skate on a much flatter hollow and longer profile. Tydan sells pro stock steel, you can see the different profiles, and it's always the European players that have a much longer profile and flatter hollow. Example, Nils Hoglander and Elias Pettersson skate on a 13/26 profile and likely a very shallow hollow. Willian Nylander skates in a 15' profile and likely a very shallow hollow. https://tydanblades.com/collections/pro-stock-blades

For beginners or amateur skaters, I usually recommend an 12', or 13' single radius profile. This will give you more contact with the ice, allowing you to focus more on using your edges while helping you worry less about balance.

If you are spending that kind of money, just go custom and request an oversized toe cap.

For custom skates? There is no D/E/EE, the skate is built to the width needed.

Those look great!

There was a few. One that is still around is the Torch Hockey grip : http://www.proxrtorch.com/

I actually liked this and wish it would come back.

Correct

I'm excited about the I2 version personally.

Catalogs can be found here:

I haven't seen helicopter tape in person, I will have to order some

YMMV. For example, I don't even us 3/4"on standard 3mm steel, I use a 1" or shallower. The XC Blade is 3.4mm in the middle, so you definitely want to adjust the hollow. When I tested it on 3/4" I almost killed myself catching edges on skating transitions.

Yup

You need to go with a more shallow hollow.

I use this: https://www.amazon.com/CloudBuyer-Universal-Protection-Anti-Collision-Transparent/dp/B08535P2QH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1WVZTDEQTQBTI&keywords=clear%2Burethane%2Btape%2Bprotection&qid=1678856344&sprefix=clear%2Burethane%2Btape%2Bprotection%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-1&th=1

Maybe his new skates are too stiff and inhibit forward flex. He also doesn't lace the top eyelet. Also, looking at his KHL pictures, it seems he always used semi-small tongues.

They need to get some better ambassadors for hockey, Elliott McDermott is not an ideal "poster boy." 3 points in 35 games.... Maybe get Bedard to wear it 😉 Overall, I cannot disagree with what it does and the science behind it. Seems pretty straight forward.

I personally Iike the way it looks.

We are just comparing steel brands. Nothing specific to any holder type. Agreed. Finish is great but not durable.

Yes. It's not very durable compared to the DLC process used by others.

Agreed. Better quality steel is going to yield more ROI than any coating.

Maybe this means CCM will finally start to trend, lowering the cost of their skates 😉 Fingers crossed!

IMO, the coating all don't really add much, if any, performance value overall. Its more aesthetic. I would rather have 2 sets of stainless instead of one pair of DLC. If money is not an issue, then just get the DLC.