VegasHockey

Heel lifts are a good option if you don't have access to a competent shop that can perform and maintain profiles. There are also a solid option if you like the factory steel profile but just want a little more pitch forward. Some people would rather use a heel lifts as opposed to grinding down their steel. Totally understandable. I can't say if one option is better than the other. Too many variables. In fact, we even get people who want lifts AND profile their steel. How bout that?!

Yes, you can add that adjustment but I recommend first finding the profile that fits your skating style and then making changes to pitch or moving the balance point.

Actually, If after 7 days, you may still return, but shipping would then become your responsibility. IW allows 365 days from time of purchase to return items in NEW condition. The CCM satisfaction guarantee is only 90 days

That's awesome news!

Are you using the standard grinding wheels or the commerical ones? Do you use the XG wheels?

I am not sure why manufacturers are going back towards high cut boot when a majority of players are dropping the top 1/2 eyelets in many of the current boots which are not as tall. Seems counterintuitive. Though, if they built flex points into the boot height shouldn't matter in theory.

This is absolutely the way everyone should be approaching custom skates. The scanning and software help but at the end of the day we all have specifics things we are accustomed to or prefer and software cannot take those things into consideration. I prefer to capture as much information as possible to provide when placing custom orders for skates. Information like the current skate model, size, and other specifications are imperative IMO and should never be overlooked. Ive seen too many people come in disappointed with custom skates, selling then for 70% loss and buying another pair of retail skates. I still submit tracing of people feet or use a glass scanner to scanner, if they are local, to capture their feet outline in addition to providing measurements and such.

If Westside did the scan and fitting I dont think they would "mess up" on baking them. They do enough True skates that they know what they are doing, especially if the first pair was not built quite right. However, we are mostly all human and there is always a margin for error 😉 Full disclosure, my first pair of True skates did not fit as I expected. Now, it's debatable if they fit right or wrong, as that could be considered objective, but for MY needs and how I prefer MY skates to fit they had too much volume. The first pair of skates I tried using the red insoles to take up the extra volume, toe inserts to make them snugger in the toe box, and switched to thicker tongues. Despite the changes, they still felt "sloppy" even though they were very comfortable. This led to True making me a second pair. The second pair were closer in proper fit, but still not exactly perfect. I personally had to make adjustments to the facing of the skates and add some foams to get them to fit the way I wanted. As mentioned, I did this myself, it obviously helps that I own a shop and also have experience customizing skates, but the work I did is far more involved than the typical consumer would put into a pair of skates. I am sure many would have considered the first or second pair to be a good fit, but for my personal preferences they didn't fit right and felt sloppy. Our shop does a lot of fitting for players requesting True skates. To be completely honest, there are times that the fit is not exactly spot on, but usually its pretty close. The most difficult players to fit are the ones coming from a skate like the Mako which has zero negative space and fit incredibly close to the foot. Those players usually complain about the fit, weight, or that the skates feel bulky. Usually, we make modifications to the skates for the customer if its easy enough to adjust. Cutting back the facing is relatively easy on the True skates compared to modifying other one-piece skates like the AS1. Have you talked to Westside? Baking them and using ratchet clamps will surely help the fit, and adding red insoles will take up the volume. You can even use a custom insole if you want, we have some players that prefer to do such as they prefer the CCM footbeds, Bauer Speed Plate or Super Feet. Usually, these players have a very high arch that needs more support than the skate can provide.

We do a lot of True skates and I haven't seen a pair fit this strangely ever. There is definitely too much depth in that boot, almost like fitting someone who needs a FT1 in a Ribcor... Have you shared these pics with True directly or only the shop?

The HD tongue sounds exactly like what he wants. Makes sense about the air mesh lining. I dont think he wants that and I always recommend clarino so we will see what he chooses. So the advanced facing would allow the eyelets to wrap over the top of the foot better, yes? Good to know about the toe cap. I think he wants two sizes up, if that's even possible, so I will make a note of it on the order sheet.

Have a customer who is ordering 3 pairs of full custom AS1 skates, two primary and the third as a back-up. He is wondering the difference between the following options below. Help is appreciated since he is dropping some serious cash buying himself 3 pairs of skates and doesn't want to make a mistake when selecting options. Tongue: Pro Tongue HPE vs EVA? He is looking for a thin and light tongue with decent protection. Becuase of the requested protection he wants, I advised against the lightweight molded tongue. Is there a better option? Liner: I have ordered all of the Clarino options before for various customers. He is wanting to know what the Air Mesh option is? Also, he noticed it says "other" as an option, which I have never noticed previously, what "other" options are there? Facing: If he orders the 1/4" advance facing, is that on both the inside and outside, or just the outside? Toe Cap: If he selects oversized, do they just source one size larger for the cap or how do they determine what size cap they provide? For example, if he wears a size 9 skate, does CCM instead use a toe cap for a 10? Again, there is an option for "other" which I have previously never seen.

Makes sense. Thanks for the insight. We have a lot of players with Pre-True skates and lower generation VH skates that are swapping to the Step holders and I have seen a few issues with getting a very flat mounting. Each time we have used a very thin piece of polycarbonate between the skate and the holder.

I noticed the True Gen 1 skates you show dont have the piece under the hell of the skate. I think its only cosmetic and doesn't really add any lift though.

Pretty easy to change out. Our shop does it all the time.

+3mm boot cut, FT1 +6mm, comfort pad +9mm, both

For those wondering what specifics you can choose. Here is the order form.

If it isn't broken, why change? McDavid is just fine in his current skates so I dont see any reason for him to change his equipment.

I'll be honest. I have mixed feelings about the skates. Certain things I love and other things I dislike. But that's the way it is with most things in life. If you want it to be exactly the way you want you need to do build it yourself or find someone to build it for you.

My skates have done that since day one. I only hear it and dont feel anything when on dry land. I dont hear or feel anything it on the ice.

I used to use Pro Stock sticks but with dealer staff discount from manufacturers being so significant there is no a cheaper option for the top of the line sticks.

So I spoke with Rob at True, he is the Operations Manager for True Skates. He mentioned there are a few options to drop weight in the skate. On average a True boot is roughly 10-30 grams heavier and depending on the boot size is sometimes lighter than other brands. 40-50 grams of weight is due to the Step steel and STEP/VH holders so swapping to Tuuk holders and a smaller or lighter steel LS2/Byonic would drop unsprung weight. Shot blockers add roughly 40-50 grams of weight per skate but cannot be removed as they are incorporated into the design. The stiffness he said will break in over time =. It might take a while but it will eventually become less rigid. He said they do have special lightweight tongues that they can supply that will save 30-40 grams compared to the metatarsal ones I currently have. Not sure which tongues those are but I am very excited to see them.

My understanding is the technology the True licenses for use is the same technology that CCM will be using as well. They just perform the scanning differently.

Now that is something I need to see! Haha

Equipment managers typically hack fixes and occasionally make minor adjustments for players when they get new gear. Most of the time when a skate arrives from the manufacturer it's built pretty close to the players requested specification. You might need to punch an area or make minor modifications but I have yet to see an equipment managers add padding (comfort pads) to the top ankle area of a players skate. Again, to me, this is a design flaw. Something. That was just overlooked.

Work is a variable. I wanted to use static values.