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VegasHockey

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Posts posted by VegasHockey

  2. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, Bizz22 said:

    I personally never liked the felt tongues, they just seemed to break down too quickly for me. I've been using the catalyst pro tongues for the last couple years and never had any problems with them. Switching to the 3D printed tongue made the boot feel better. It's a little thicker than the catalyst pro's I've been using. Lots of air flow while skating, boots dry a little quicker and they have a nice flex when skating. 

    I feel the same. I have always hated felt, so when CCM released the FT6 Pro, I was a huge fan of the newer tongue design. The new TRUE tongue takes that to an even higher level. 

    • Like 1

  3. Posted · Report reply

    23 hours ago, Sghockey21 said:

    Hi, has anyone compared the New Catalysts to the CCM XF skates? I had a pair of Hzrdus 7X skates and the CARVE toecaps were squeezing my last toes even in a Wide. I'm wondering if the Updated Carve toecaps are slightly wider. If not, I might just have to give these a miss. Thanks.

    The toe cap is pretty much the same. 

  7. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, Healthyscratch said:

    There is no reason why a $1200 skate should have tendon guards falling off at the rate they do on True skates. Virtually everyone I know, who has AAA hockey players is looking to move away from these skates - because this has been happening for years. 

    Not only do they fall off, but when you go to have them riveted back on - they don’t last one skate. I’ve reached out to pure hockey - I’ve reached out to True (in the past; now I see they have no direct line; wonder why; sarcasm) and the answer was to send the skates back to True to have the tendon guards riveted back on. Which you can imagine, isn’t reasonable for people playing hockey at the pace some do. Especially if you are in US and the skates have to go through customs.

    Here we are as I speak, at my son’s first junior camp - and dealing with duct taping and trying to screw/nut a tendon guard on. Which is a band aid. 

    This is my final attempt to find some kind of solution to these skates. Pure hockey can’t help, I’ve had them riveted by people who know what they’re doing as well - True seemingly can’t help in a reasonable way..

    It’s been 6 years of various issues, quality issues,  but when they work right - they’re the best… I get that. Simply put, when you aren’t having issues - one of the best skates out there. However… True just can’t seem to make a skate with a tendon guard that’s attached like everyone else has been doing for 15+ years. I’m not being dramatic, even the hockey stores around us are trying to push people away from these skates. 

    The times of dealt with true or got someone on the line  - they’ve never been helpful and they act like it’s a surprise - yet again - virtually everyone I know has been having this same issue with these skates. I know they went from that screw in the last SVH version, to a basic rivet. The guards are still falling off…. And nobody can seem to get them back on right. 

    Do they have enough profit from the pro’s that they can just blatantly continue to sell a defective product to the general public without care? Honest question. Off all the thing that could go wrong with a skate, a tendon guard falling off, then seemingly not being able to be reapplied by anyone but True… is a really stupid way to lose business… 

    is it time to throw in the towel on this company? I was willing to deal with it in AAA hockey - though it’s always in the back of your mind when on a weekend trip…”are these things going to fail” (they do; out of nowhere). With my son moving on to higher levels, these things are just flat out unreliable. Is there a fix? Am I missing something? Is something going to change? Happy to readdress this post if so. 

    Totally understand you are frustrated, but there are plenty of players at all levels, AA/AAA and at the professional level, that use TRUE skates. In all of my years of owning many pairs, I have never had a tendon fall off, though I did have more than my fair share of holders break internally on the first generation SHIFT holders. 

    Sounds to me like whomever has been trying to "fix" your tendon isn't doing a good job, even if you feel they are skilled. 

  9. Posted · Edited by VegasHockey · Report reply

    11 minutes ago, Westside said:

    That is seriously helpful, thank you. Also seriously f-ed up True is not being transparent about this. Whoever handles True’s IG account also informed me the shells are the same. And if the 7x4 shells are not full carbon fiber like the TF9, Cat9, or Hzrdus9, that means there is a 40% markup on price for this generation of skate vs the equivalent previous gen. I agree the 7x4 does seem to be the value play, but I really dislike how none of True’s materials clarify any of this. It’s like they’re trying to deceive the customer. 

    The catalog hints at it:

    https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:968e037d-fb71-4110-ba3d-4778ab89e1d1

    The literature specifically says carbon fiber for the 9X4, but doesn't state the same for the 7X4. 

  10. Posted · Report reply

    8 minutes ago, krisdrum said:

    In the Ice Warehouse Youtube video, the True rep literally says the only difference between the 9 and 7 is the insole and the steel.  Although I'll say I would tend to trust @VegasHockey over a sales rep any day.  

    @VegasHockey when you say "composite" - do you have specifics?  Technically (from my understanding) carbon fiber is a composite.  Basically any material that combines two (or more) different materials (aka - carbon weave and epoxy).

    My kid is in his 2nd pair of Cat9s as well, and I just checked them last night after a weekend tournament and they are cracking and delam-ing again after the first pair was warranty replaced.  With the improvements, I would definitely look at the new Cat line again, as he loves the current skates (durability issues not withstanding).  I would definitely look at the 7x4 is there is really almost no difference between it and the 9, especially since we typically get our own steel anyway (he has been on Bladetech the last few years).  

    It's def a "buzzword bingo" thing. Basically, the 7X4 has trace amounts of fiberglass mixed with the carbon fiber. 

    I argued with the TRUE rep when doing booking for 2024-2025 product because I didn't understand the value of the 9X4 compared to the 7X4 if the boot itself was the 100% the same. If you look at both, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference visually. However, the actual composition is different. 

    I agree 100%, composite = made up of various parts or elements. I hate "buzzword bingo". It makes me die a little on the inside when I see marketecture. 

    • Like 2

  11. Posted · Report reply

    53 minutes ago, Westside said:

    Is it though? Ice Warehouse's photos show 9x4 and 7x4 skates with what looks to be the same carbon shell design and the description lists the same for both models. 

     

    Both are carbon, but the 9X4 is 100% carbon while the 7X4 is a carbon composite blend.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, Sniper9 said:

    They would've had more success if people were able to choose which tongue they wanted when purchasing the skates new, just like selecting what steel... But to have to spend another $100 bucks for a tongue you like and be stuck with the stock one seemed like a deterrent to me. At least true makes decent tongues and I've successfully created a Velcro system on some Bauers to accept true tongues. Did it for a pair of Bauers that I converted to inlines as the stock tongues on those were shot. 

    The argument here would be to order custom as opposed to buying a retail skate. I have always offered CCM custom skates for the same price as retail. 

    • Like 1

  13. Posted · Report reply

    15 hours ago, Westside said:

    So True officially announced the Catalyst 9x4 skates a few days ago, but I’m left scratching my head. The previous Cats as well as the Hzrdus line cost $760 USD for the top of the line model. Pro customs for those models cost $1,050 while SVH customs cost $1,200. Are the 9x4 the off the shelf skate or a custom skate because True’s website is listing them at $1,080; a 40% increase over the outgoing model. That’s insane!! 

    https://www.truetempersports.com/en-us/hockey/catalyst-9x4-senior-player-hockey-skates.html#

     

    The 9X4 is a one-piece carbon fiber shell, while the 7X4 is a composite one-piece shell. The insoles and steel are different, too.

    Overall, I think the 7X4 is the best bang for your buck. I personally like the new shell design more than a carbon fiber shell and in the future I imagine they will be moving more towards this composite design. 

  14. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, Westside said:

    What I was afraid of. Are you aware of any other means of getting a pair? Short of buying skates

    I think equipment managers can get them at the pro level. I will ask around.

    Also, considering CCM has the XS replacement tongues in their retail closeout catalog, I am unsure of the future of the replaceable tongue system. 

    • Like 1

  15. Posted · Report reply

    23 hours ago, Westside said:

    Bringing this back from the dead. Anyone know if the ability to buy tongues has changed? I’m going to guess no since they’re not listed anywhere, but I’m hoping someone *cough*vegashockey*cough* may have a connect 

    At retail, they have not made any new options available for 2024. 

  18. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, krisdrum said:

    Heard some of the box stores are dropping them because of the durability issues and the requirement to bake in order to try on.  

    It only stores that are very loyal to Bauer that usually go this route. Those stores feel TRUE is more difficult to sell since it requires more time. Having to bake the skate and actually spend time with the customer verifying proper fit seems to be too much work for those retailers. The 2024 Catalyst has significantly better step in comfort compared to the previous model, so we will see if that changes the retailer thought process. 

  19. Posted · Report reply

    On 7/1/2024 at 6:21 AM, krisdrum said:

    Thanks @VegasHockey I figured you'd or a few others would have the inside scoop.  So - the marketing material says complete redesign.  Based on what you've seen/heard how confident are you they've actually addressed the issue?  Or is this a wait and see situation?  

    All the demo pairs I used and have seen others using had no durability issues like the previous generation. 

    • Thanks 1

  20. Posted · Report reply

    21 hours ago, iceman8310 said:

    I’m having an issue of Tydan blades not fitting into 288 edge holder.  There’s a sizable gap between the blades and the holder in the front.  I tried other steel and that was fine.  The steel says 288XL and  the holders are 288

    XL steel is a few mm higher in the front and back, compared to the regular Pulse TI steel, otherwise it is the same. You might want to use a heat gun to lightly warm the holders and try to the XL steel in. 

  21. Posted · Report reply

    On 6/27/2024 at 6:10 AM, krisdrum said:

    Shifting topic a bit... anyone with an inside track seen or heard anything about the Hzrdus and '24 Cats solving for the heel cracking issue?  I'd heard they re-engineered.  But yesterday a guy at one of my LHS said they hadn't yet and the improvements would be seen in the 2025 models.  

    My kid cracked the heels on his Cat 9s, got them warranty replaced and is already seeing damage and cracking on the new pair.  So he'll need new skates in the next 2 months before the season and I'm concerned with sticking to True and having the same issues pop up mid-season.  

    The 2024 Catalyst is entirely new. Not sure why the store would have given you incorrect information.  

    13 hours ago, Sprungdownunder said:

    I need advice on sizing as I am thinking of moving to the Hazrdus or the soon to be released 9x4's.

    I always fit comfortably with my big toe just brushing up in the toe box in a 9 regular fit in a Bauer or CCM, 8.5's get uncomfortable on the big toe & they go numb.

    Would I be right that in Trues you need to size down because of the moulding process? Also I have always skated on 280 size holders going down to a 8.5 would put me into a 272 size holder which is a bit of a concern.

    Lastly is the Hazrdus more durable then the Cat9 to carbon cracking?

    Thx for the advice modsquad community 👍

    The fit of the 2024 Catalyst and the Hazrdus are similar.

    Are you saying that you go with a 0.5 size larger to accommodate your toes? If so, you have probably been in skates that are too big for you. Can you go to a store and try on the 2024 Catalyst and the Hazrdus? Thats the best way to find a good fit. 

  23. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, Sniper9 said:

    Anyone try the new insoles? I saw them in store and they felt pretty floppy like neoprene. Even the arch support was flexible and not firm at all. Like rubber. But I do realize once inside the boot the arch will press against the boot and provide more stability. Just curious as to whether anyone here actually tried them inside a skate. They also seem a bit thick, but not as thick as the true genetix which I didn't like. 

    I have tried them and was not impressed. I still think the Bauer Speed Plate is the best hockey insole I have ever used. 

  24. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, drmFF33 said:

    Ahhh. I know, it definitely seems like the best bet. 

    I had a pair of TF9s and I killed them in a season so I’m worried about durability. I put Tuuks on them as well and was constantly replacing rivets. Eventually had them done in all coppers and I think it was starting to deteriorate the drilled holes at that point. Was always diligent about pulling insoles and airing them out properly too

    Go to a shop that uses stainless steel oval head semi-tubular rivets and all of those issues should go away. 

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