VegasHockey

I like the 2024 Catalyst skate design. Best looking retail skate they have ever made. https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:968e037d-fb71-4110-ba3d-4778ab89e1d1

What is "urinal wear"?

Grit is not the only factor, the wheel composition is even more important.

Always test fit retail TRUE skates with a bake. Trying them on without baking will result in you getting the wrong size.

Oh yeah, I forgot they made that unit. Honestly, it's a toss up, as both machines will get the job done equally. If you are going to be transporting the unit, the Blackstone has an overall better design, IMO.

Are you going to buy this to do FBV? https://shop.blackstonesport.com/spinner-system-adapter/product/convertible-spinner-system If so, that puts the price of the Wissota above the Blackstone machine.

100 grit would be nice for a very fine finishing pass, but you could get the same result with these wheels and using some finishing pass oil or wax. https://wholesaleskatesharpening.com/product/grinding-wheel-wissota/ https://wholesaleskatesharpening.com/product-category/sharpening-lubes/

Not available at retail.

Correct.

They now have stores in every single NHL market in the US. BTM in AZ was the last hold out, but they recently sold too.

Vapor is lower cut than the Supreme.

Not shocking considering Sharks Ice and Pure Hockey own the entire market share up north. It's hard to be a small business owner when the big brands make it nearly impossible to get accounts, limiting your ability to order or carry product.

P14 and P88 are the same lie and overall blade profile. Very flat.

I wouldn't say more padding, just higher density foams. Agreed. Incremental changes.

That's why I use this when I sharpen https://shop.blackstonesport.com/custom-skateworks/product/free-runner

So he is going from youth to junior. All CCM junior skates are 10' but Bauer does 13' https://www.bauer.com/products/bauer-x-ls-skate-junior https://www.bauer.com/products/bauer-x-lp-skate-junior If you get Bauer, you will be fine. If you get CCM, take them to a local store and get them profiled to a 13'. I am a big fan of putting kids of that age on a longer radius.

What size skate is he? Some skated in youth sizes keep the 13' profile.

I would do a 10/13 profile and have the pivot point moved back 10mm.

I have used both and they are somewhat similar. The Quad has an adjusted pivot point, -20mm, so it moves the center of gravity back. The pivot point adjustment and more aggressive toe, 7' radius, pitch you forward. The 10/13 without any adjustment will feel more flat, and you will be less agile. What type of skater are you? Long strides? Short strides? Agile? Powerful? What level do you play?

As far as kits go, the new Bauer kit is one of the best I have seen. For any player under the age of 4 I think it would be more than sufficient. https://www.bauer.com/products/vapor-xtend-youth-kit

They are good for LTP kids, especially at that age.

There is no rocker, it's very flat like a P88. The blade opens a lot at the toe, like the P90. It slightly more open than the P90. It is definitely a curve for a shooter.

Majority of high level players (NHL/AHL/D1) tend to prefer softer blades. Softer blade allows for more accurate shooting; the puck stays on the blade longer for loading, which increases accuracy, especially helpful on one-timer as well. It also makes it easier to receive hard passes. Understand though, what works for Player A may not work for Player B. For example, I got a bundle of pro stock sticks from Mackinnon. Some of them have softer blades, others are very stiff. You can sometimes "feel" how stiff the blade is, which will give you some insight as to the blade construction without having to cut the blade apart. Maybe he uses one stick for PP when he knows he will be taking more shots and the other is for general use. Who knows? He also varies his flex quite a bit as well.

You might be able to get a little more wrap, but it technically defeats the design of those skates, since they aren't built to wrap tightly. That would be a good idea. While you can do it yourself at home, if you damage the skates, then you won't be able to file a warranty claim.