VegasHockey

Pure Hockey, similar to the retail giant Costco, offers a liberal 30-day return policy, which allows customers to purchase, utilize, and return items without hassle. This is due to their advantageous purchasing strategy, whereby they acquire bulk orders and consequently obtain substantial rebates from manufacturers, mitigating the financial impact of customer returns. This policy, however, results in manufacturers suffering financial losses that are subsequently passed on to stores in the next fiscal year. Contrarily, small-scale stores, which account for the majority of retailers, do not receive significant rebates from manufacturers and operate on smaller margins. As a former store owner with sales exceeding 1.5 million USD, I can attest to the limited significance of such stores to major manufacturers like Bauer. Thus, when smaller stores sell high-cost items that are later returned, they incur significant financial losses that impact their bottom line. Additionally, the process of navigating the 90-day guarantee policy is arduous, prompting many stores to sell returned items locally at cost rather than returning them to the manufacturer, further exacerbating the financial impact. Also, many stores will set a minimum inventory value, so when the inventory count dips below the specified value, an order is placed for replenishment. If you sell items, and that item is later returned, this can cause a store to have excess inventory, which also is a financial burden. Like I said, I am providing the perspective of a store owner and not a consumer. That being said, I love Costco and I will use their return policy when applicable if I am not satisfied with a purchase, especially if it's a high dollar item. 😉

Who the heck is using a PM9 pattern anymore? 😛

While I agree with your process from a personal perspective, as a business owner, you are the exact reason why CCM and others are slowly ending their “fit guarantee" programs.

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.