VegasHockey

I recently moved to AZ and have been struggling to acclimate to the temperature difference int he rinks vs Seattle. It's just too dang hot and humid. Anyway, I am looking at maybe moving from full shoulders (STX RX3 and Vapor 1x Lite) to maybe a padded shirt, like this: https://www.icewarehouse.com/Tour_Code_1/descpage-TC1PSS.html Does anyone have any experience with padded shirts like these? I know it's not going to provide the same level of protection but I am also not planning on blocking shots and such. Is there some other shoulders on the market, current or even older, that I should look into? I have tried almost every brand and model of current shoulder pad on the market and they are either still too hot or I find them too restrictive and/or heavy. I need something that provides decent protection, is light, and allows me to be mobile. I absolutely hate tall shoulder caps and anything that is bulky. If I can't find something I might have to start modding the RX3 shoulders cause they seem to be the best option I have used. I just need to increase the ventilation and maybe trim back some of the protection so I dont die of heat.

It's brand new, just released. I haven't used one myself but our shop has sold a few and the players seemed happy.

No cup holder in the girdle? Damn, that sucks. I was looking to grab one of these for crazy cheap.

Makes sense. We have two units at our stores and we get between 44-65 skates sharpening sales per ring.

Does it say this on the website or the box itself?

That's weird . Maybe a typo?

So with Bauer University doing all of their testing/certifications online and all EPP orders now going through Bauer.com instead of filling out the typical spreadsheet form, then emailing it to your rep, and him submitting it, they now give you a promo code. The problem is, I don't see a way for him to use this promo code when ordering full custom skates. I have a staff member who wants to use his significant discount on a pair of custom Bauer skates and there doesn't seem to be a way to do it anymore. I guess they don't want store staff to get discounts on customs anymore. CCM and TRUE still do things the old-fashioned way. Fill out a form and send it in to your rep. While I appreciate Bauer making the EPP ordering process easier, I now how a staff member who has to pay full cost, no discount at all, for skates, and he seems pretty annoyed.

Ah, that would epxlain it. Thanks!

I don't understand the naming logic but my CCM rep confirmed it's the CCM AS3 Pro and told me to stay tuned. He said he had a chance to try them in Montreal this past week, and they were fantastic.

They don't make that option available for pro custom orders it seems

the TRUE foot beds themselves are not custom to a personal foot. The arch of the boot matches the players foot, but even then sometimes you need to use a heat gun to add more arch or to flatten in a bit depending on the customers needs. I find the Speed Plate gives me a more responsive and direct contact to the steel allowing me to feel my edges better.

Most people looking to go custom are already looking at buying a $900 skate so the price difference is minimal. Again, even with a custom skate, you are going to have to adjust things. I don't understand why people cannot comprehend that even with 3D scanning and such that doesn't mean you will need to make adjustments for the skate to fit YOU the way YOU want it to. I also added foam to the top of the toe cap on my TRUE skates and also use Speed Plate foot beds. That's because of my own personal preferences. Not because what TRUE made didn't fit me properly.

Bauer custom pro stock sticks allow you to select between medium, stiff and x-stiff blades. They list them as follows: Medium: A lightweight, stiff foam core with a thick dampening layer. Used in the Nexus 2N PRO and the #1 Bauer blade in the NHL. For versatile players that like to handle the puck and be able to shoot in any situation. Stiff: Lightweight, stiff foam core with a thin dampening layer used in the Vapor FLYLITE. Gives a quick release with added features to help with puck feel. This core releases the puck quickly rather than maximizing energy into the puck. X-Stiff: Bauer’s lightest blade with an extremely stiff foam core. Maximizes the pop of the puck (release speed) off the blade when shooting. Puck control may be more difficult. They don't specifically list the weight difference between the blades. Do anyone have a clue what that might be?

There is still decent margin in top end skates but it seems silly to stock a $900 retail skate when you can go full custom for $200 more. Ya know?

I understand that, I own stores, but my stores don't do this. In fact, we spend a majority of our time talking people out of buying top-level skates as it's a huge waste of money for a majority of players.

Agreed, like these: https://www.ebay.com/sch/888/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=XL+2000+Laces

This is actually a problem that CCM and Bauer are specifically trying to fix. Players getting skates that are too stiff for them and their skating ability because they either have the money to spend or think that buying a more expensive skate will either last longer or provide better performance. The most expensive skate is never going to be the best option for most people. Modern skates are way too stiff for a lot of players and unless you are a very big guy or you skate 7+ hours a week its likely that choosing the most expensive skate is actually hampering your abilities. CCM is now publishing the flex rating of their skates and has a ton of education for retailers attempting to educate them to not always push the top tier skate. Bauer is also doing the same this with Bauer University. I don't lump TRUE into this specifically because their skates aren't designed in the same manner as Bauer and CCM. I have never had a player tell me their TRUE skates don't allow them enough forward flexion and such. The only complaint I heard more than a few times was the skates are heavier than the players current skate. My reply to them has been "don't skip leg day" because there are plenty of players in high level hockey that have no problem with the weight of the TRUE skates. While they may be heavier than retail skates, take any Bauer or CCM with a pro specification and you will see the weight difference is negligible at best.

Woah woah woah. I don't know about you but I was drafted first overall in my fantasy league. 🤪

I had one player who went from CCM custom skates, to TRUE custom skates, and finally ended in a Bauer retail Vapor 2X Pro skate which he said fit him best. I think that's the main problem with custom skates is the manufacturer has an opinion of what really is defined and how the skate should fit, but the customer, for better or worse, has their own opinion. A scan can only tell you the foot shape, it doesn't account for how the player prefers the skate to fit and such. It's all very tricky. Not to mention without having direct interaction with the customer there have to be some decisions the manufacturer has to make. Sometimes those decisions turn out good and other times the customer doesn't like those decisions. I read too much about people thinking custom skates are the holy grail and for the price the end result should be X and Y. No one is taking into consideration that all of these offerings and the technology behind them are fairly new to the hockey market. I consider all of this an alpha or beta phase.

Ok. Thanks.

I spoke with our Bauer rep and he didn't really know who took/processed the payment and order. I am only familar with how TRUE and CCM handle orders as we dont do custom Bauer skates.

I noticed one of the guys I was skating with today had these. I didn't get a chance to look at them too closely but looks like there is some significant changes. Has anyone else seen them in person?

Meh, I know plenty of people that would hammer on Bauer, and people who pick on TRUE and others that think CCM is crap. Its just a matter of opinion. In the end, people should go with what works best for them. There is no one thing that is "better" than another. It's the same with sticks, gloves and other things. I mean, lets be real. Is Tesla better than Jeep? Maybe, depends on your needs and wants. If I want to go driving off-road you surely are not going to buy a Tesla. I think all of this back and forth is silly and draining. I like all the different models and brands of skates and think they all have pros and cons.

My opinion. I think any issues with QC for most players are quickly ignored, unless they are a structural deficiency, because the skates are going to get beaten up playing hockey. If its anything that is only aesthetic most people don't really care all that much. I mean, I play with guys that have their hockey pants falling apart, gloves with holes covered in tape, shin pads held together with gorilla glue, and helmets that the liner wont even stay in. Most people aren't going to care about a little glue or whatever if the skate performs well and the cost for a full custom skates is significantly less than other brands.

The comfort edge is something I have been wanting for a very long time. To a point where I actually had spoke with a store that could fabricate and add one. I still don't understand why they don't add one.