VegasHockey

Thank you for sharing. Very interesting. Might have to get some steel coated and try this out. I found someone who does PVD coatings but the cost is high and turnaround time is very long. I would have to do big batches of steel in order for it to be profitable and make sense.

How easy is it to scratch off? Did it add any thickness? Is it a type of PVD coating or something else?

Interesting, DLC? What specifications did he use?

Flare can do DLC coating on the steel, they did this specifically for Andrew Cogliano before. If there was enough demand for it they would consider making it a standard offering instead of a custom order.

I can send you a pair. You need the blue and red?

The profit margin on all custom skates is very low. If a manufacturer has to make more than a single pair of skates you can assume they are likely breaking even or losing money.

I have seen True make toe caps from carbon for feet that specifically needed it that would not fit within the specifications of their standard toe cap design. They do not do this very often.

I can agree with that 100%

Not trying to pick on any specific stores, but when I had my first pair of True skates made (before we were a custom fit center) I had my feet scanned and completed the order through a Pure hockey. Similar to you, my first pair of skates fit poorly. I think a lot of problems (not all) that people have posted have been associated with big box stores. My experience was similar, the manager did the scan was not sure about options and the store had only done a couple other scans before and those scans were for goalie skates. My first scans submitted were rejected by True and I had to go back for a second set of scans. When the skates arrived they were also longer than I expected and didn't have the proper fit with the heel lock and such. I specifically use the word expected because I have always skated in a very tight fitting skate since my right foot is a 3/4 size bigger than my left and I didn't like having too much slop In the toebox on retail skates. I tried a few things like stuffing the toe box to take up space but in the end, I had to have them make a new pair of skates. I made sure to note everything in very specific detail for the new pair they were making to get them to fit exactly as I was expecting. This includes providing them with notes on length, width, adjustments to the facings, liner changes, among other things. I am sure if you work with Pure and True they will get you taken care of, neither of them have ever failed me in the past.

Unfortunately, the Sparx edge checker won't work properly for checking edges on the Flare. Flare usually only provides the edge checker to dealers but you might want to email them and ask if you can purchase on directly, I am sure they will sell you one.

ROH Sparx works. Fire ring (FBV) does not.

Did you specify these specifics of how you wanted the skates to fit when you were getting scanned for the skates? What skates did you have before the True skates?

The difference is minuscule so it doesn't matter. What matters most if the main surface area stays consistent and not so much the toe and heel. I have some pics of profiles Flare and regular Flare, new just outside the box. I can post it later tonight.

Yep, LOVE their steel. Any players who come into our store looking for replacement steel I always recommend to try Flare. Its amazing to me how many prefer to stick with Step/Tydan/Byonic/Massive and such. All of those other steels are nice and very good quality but once you skate on Flare it hard to change back to anything else.

Agreed. WIll not compromise the structural integrity of the holders but I can understand how it can be annoying visually especially on a new pair of skates. You can always email True and ask them if they will send you a replacement holder. The downside would be needing to get the holder swapped. Personally, I would just leave it as is.

Edge checkers can be found for very little money online and for the small investment its worth it.

I also go through phases like this and force myself to keep skating. I just consider it a type of funk that I end up going through. I have terrible anxiety and also have mood instability as well, so I assume this is what is part of the problem and not hockey itself. I should also note, I sometimes get this way with other things too. So I know its not specifically related to hockey and hockey only.

I dunno about the suit thing, when I get a suit done at a professional tailor I never need to alter it unless I put on a few lbs 😉

You get the customers, mindshare, and the subscription service which is where the actual money is made. I doubt they make much of anything in the manufacturing and distribution of their machines.

Have to agree with this as well. We have done plenty of fittings and also have never had this significant of a problem.

I am so confused, are SMU and Sniper9 not talking or blocking each other?

I still see quite a few pros going tongue out.

This is the one downside about custom skates. Some players like less room in the toe area and others like more room. Without having the ability to at least try on a generic skate for size you are entirely at the mercy of those that are manufacturing your skates. My shop sells a lot of True skates and are very involved in the process of getting the skates made to fit the way the player likes the first time, but even we can't be 100% perfect.. There are just too many variables to account for. Heck, I've even had people buy Bauer and CCM customs and they said the skate was too long or too short for their liking. One of the guys has been dealing with CCM for weeks now with no resolution in sight. I am sure the software company that True and CCM license their software from will develop some type or enhancement that can eliminate as many variables as possible, perhaps asking the player a series of fit questions to better understand what fit type they prefer. Personally, I like my toe to brush the toe cap when standing but not touching the toe cap when I am in the skating position.

You can order them through a local fit center and have them reference a previous scan. However, our store always scans the customer's feet again anyway to make sure there are no significant differences.

Not really. You have to remember that you are only profiling a section of the steel. If the steel is shorter the section you are profiling is a shorter as well.