VegasHockey

They are definitely more forward flexible with the standard eyelet system as copared to previous models but they still feel very much like a Supreme MX3/1S/2S, just more refined in some ways. Dont hate them. Dont love them. Im just waiting to finish this last conference call of the day and then I am heading into the workshop to tinker.

Mako.

Had my third skate with these today. The overall review would be, meh, at this point. Maybe I am just used to TRUE but these still don't give me that connected feel with the ice. I have pain points and discomfort in multiple areas that I am going to have to work out. My profile doesn't feel right, the boot must be pitched differently or Bauer mounts there holders more forward or back than my TRUE ones since I feel very off balance. I dont really care for this flexible tendon guard but the new toe cap is nice. Ankle padding is very comfortable and the clarino liner actually extends all the way into the toe cap with the toe cap having a little bit of felt on the top which is also nice. I think I need to spend a little more time trying to tweak them before I can give me full official feedback. As of right now, they seem decent enough to wear in a low-end drop-in or pick-up hockey but if I was skating with the usual group of players I would definitely use my TRUE skates. I feel like I am playing C-league with these on. I am much slower and unsure of my edges due to the balance-related issues. I am going to spend the day messing with them and then will try and get some ice time tonight.

I havent seen a custom glove order in a very long time, other than team gloves.

I know most bigger stores arent even aware that they can still submit a full custom order via the excel document and instead only sell the general retail custom build. Both CCM and Bauer have a full custom spreadsheet that has all of those options that you wanted, and more. I know a customer that ordered a cery custom pair of FT2 skates recently. He requested 3mm extra height + 3mm extra comfort pads on one skate and 6mm extra height + 3mm extra comfort pad on the other skate due to ankle surgery. He needed some extra volume on the one foot. Different size skates, different widths, selected a tan clarino liner, and went with oversized ankle pads with poron. He also requested the standard tongue instead of the removable/replaceable tongue and went with oversized holders. Added extra stiffness to the ankle area as well. These suckers were about as custom as you can get. I guess some of the smaller more specialty stores are more aware that they can do these types of orders for customers while others either arent aware or just dont care.

Not sure if all dealers can but I do know some (other than myself) that have ordered full customs with and without a scan. I imagine it depends on the Bauer rep.

Not retail custom. These are full custom. At full custom you can request standaard tendon guards.

I do 🙂

They are only 1/2" taller than standard but I went with the low boot cut so the boot itself is also 1/2" shorter than standard. Makes those tongues look huge. lol

Correct, -0.5 size compared to CCM/Bauer for the TF9. Same size as CCM/Bauer in the TF7.

Pure is not going to stock or order the TF7, only the TF9.

A combination of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence could easily make sense of all of this. It's actually not that complicated of an algorithm to get a "standard foot" sized properly. The problem is when players have "hot spots", sensitive areas, or bone/muscle/cartilage protrusions that cause issues. I imagine in the not so far off future that stores will be provided these tools or at least these tools will be made available at a lower cost than currently. The cost right now to get a custom scanner from CCM or Bauer is absolutely ridiculous. Especially with hardware like the iPad evolving so rapidly. No we just need the software to catch up.

My customs arrived today. Overall nice fit and finish. Disappointed they didn't do them in gunmetal as I requested. They got all of the fit specifications correct including oversized ankle pads, clarino liners, longer tongue, extra width at the pinky toes, oversized holders, among other things. Gonna give them a skate tonight to see how they compare vs my TRUE customs.

The point I am making with that blog is that shoes can be very expensive. We are talking about retail shoes, not even custom shoes or shoes that offer performance benefits. Pricing is all subjective to each consumer. What is costly to me might not be costly to others, and vice versa. I think we all agree that players should wear a helmet that fits them best. Too many players wear a helmet that "feels good" on their head or provides lightweight or good airflow but does not properly fit them. I have also seen players also pick a helmet based entirely on its looks ignoring the functionality. This issue becomes even more complicated for younger players. They don't know how a helmet should fit or feel and many times the pro shops don't fit the younger players properly. For example, there was an association that I did team sales for that would only offer one brand of helmets in a single specific model. They didn't want their kids wearing anything other than that specific brand and specific model. The problem is that the helmet brand and model likely doesn't fit every single player. Even after trying to educate them on these facts they didn't care and wanted only one brand and one model made available to the kids. I don't think the price should be the main concern if you provide a helmet that checks off all of these boxes. I also am not going to worry about pricing until CCM releases such. For all we know the helmet might not be that much more than a standard 910.

Unless you have an extremly wide foot I would go with a regular width TRUE skate. I am a genuine E width foot and the regular width TRUE skate fits nicely. The wide was a bit too much width and volume. Most people have gone down half size in TRUE skates vs Bauer and CCM, thus if you are wearing a 8.5 you might want to consider a size 8.

Decided to sell the WA stores. The deal will be closing this week. Ever since I relocated from WA to AZ its made operations overly complicated trying to manage multiple locations remotely. I feel the stores really need an owner who is local to make sure the staff and customers are getting the support and experience they need and deserve. The new owner is a good guy and has multiple stores in the WA area already so I feel everyone is going to be in good hands. Who knows. Maybe Bauer + CCM will eventually let me open a new store in AZ. I have been asking them for the last year to let me open a location in AZ, but they keep saying the market can't support any more stores. Anyway, this is quite bittersweet for me....

I got the 910 helmet this year and it was $210 USD and I feel it was worth it. I haven't had a helmet fit as well since the E700. Plus it breathes nicely and looks good too. If this helmet fit even better, was lighter and is likely even more breathable I would happily spend the money. In a world where shoes can cost thousands of dollars and not even be custom, I think a fully custom shoe for $450 isn't nuts. https://www.footshop.eu/blog/the-worlds-17-most-expensive-sneakers-2020/

The 4D printed Adidas shoes are about $450 which I dont think is ridiculous. Not saying that is super affordable but for a nice fitting helmet that also breathes well and lasts 4-5 years, I would gladly spend $450.

Well, CCM already confirmed they are going direct to consumer just like Bauer did.....

I havent seen CCM really advertise this. Not sure specifically how it works but the premise is interesting. https://ccmhockey.com/en/virtualskatefitting

Very cool. I love the 910 so if they can make it fit even better, decrease the weight, or make it have a higher level of protection, I am stoked.

Does anyone remember this video? It popped backup in my YT feed today randomly. What shocked me watching it is that these shoulder pads weighed in at 750 grams. This was in 2012! So have shoulder pads really advanced that much in 8 years? I guess not.

3-4 hours wait time.

Go back and have them flare the eyelet cuff:

It feels like a ProSharp Quad profile without any pitch. I suggest looking at the ProSharp section and reading the reviews people posted about the Quad 0 profile.