Giltis

I ended up getting it on my player skates and I quite like them. Unfortunately I ran into an issue when I got them for the old holder SB4.0, the blade would not hold an edge (I still have the blades somewhere). I ended up swapping the holders and trying them one more time.

One explanation that I heard was that the gloves back then were very oversized, heavy, and didn't have any internal strappings. So if you were to keep it flexed back like how you are supposed to now it would slowly creep out of position and because the gloves were heavy it wasn't comfortable to do so anyway.

They are pretty different in terms of feel. They do chip and crack at the holders if you play a lot of high level, which is pretty much impossible to repair from what I understand. They also howl when you brake, which some can't stand (which I kinda love), and they come with 4mm, which some don't like at all. Folks who get them like how stiff they are and how lower than most it feels (not sure if it actually is).

Metallic helmets are a bit ick, except for when that Euro league used to do it for their scoring leader. That was cool. I don't like matte helmets either, I don't know why. I'm turning into an old man maybe.

I have both a TF9 and a True Custom, the TF9 is a goalie skate and the Custom is a player skate. I had gotten the Custom when it was the only option, and hesitated going back to retail fit but my skate guy at ensured me that he was confident about fitting me in a TF9. TF9 took about a month to really break in even after a proper wrapped heat mold, at first I thought I had made a mistake but two games in and they were 80% there, and six games in and they felt pretty good with zero pains (except for 1 issue which turned out to be my fault entirely). I still prefer a Custom but the TF9 is pretty close. My feet have a half size difference too. I think I will get whatever replaces the TF9 if these ones fail.

yeah show us a pic of your weird knob

You're not wrapping the laces around your ankle are you? Either way, just start from scratch as they are new skates with new geometry. Just lace them up normal, and then experiment with one thing at a time. I would try normal, then skipping the top eyelet. Although I am having trouble what you are wanting. Do you want more forward flex or less? Also if you want more flexion, your skate tongue might need breaking in too which will come with time.

Yeah I have the clear plastic one because of the True blade spike, and it's a bit hard to ensure that the blades are sitting properly at the toe.

You're going through exactly what I went through ~7 years ago with my CCMs, I almost hung them up because my feet would be numb and needing to deal with constant blisters. I tried different socks, footbeds, lacing methods and whatnot, and some days I would skate without pain, but then the next game it'd be worse. Got them punched twice by professionals, but because of the way my arch collapsed it was impossible to pin point exactly where I needed to get punched, if anything the first punch made it worse because afterwards the bottom of that punch would rub harder whenever I put weight on my feet as my arch collapsed. In the end, I got custom Trues although my next skate purchase after that were non-custom TF9s as they had better moldability (they are comfy but not as comfy as my customs of course). I really hope it goes better for you, but you may have to go custom if it doesn't work, or at least have a look at non-custom Trues and have them baked by a reputable store.

This is probably the best idea if you are going to keep the skates long term (and if the skates were expensive). But in the end when you skate, that area is going to go through a lot of stress while flexing and for that the blockers will not be able to stop any of the force. I don't know 100%, but I have heard that like @Sniper9 said punching out modern skates is quite different than how it used to be, and it's more about compressing the inside foams than pushing out the outside.

So this is what I'm using to sharpen loose blades https://ca.sparxhockey.com/collections/accessories-es300/products/universal-blade-holder I'm not a huge fan of it, it's a bit flimsy and kinda hard to get my blade to sit properly. Are there any other choices for True Shift blade? I know VT Sharp sells an incredible looking one, but they're in EU and the cost/shipping is just too much.

So my Sparx gen 3 is here and the machine is incredible. I tried the BEAM, but the machine didn't need any adjusting. I've done about 8 pairs of skates/blades now and all are within .001 of an inch or perfect. Four have hit the ice so far and they all have reported perfect feeling edges. I came home after a game one night saw that I had a super minor nick from a post, did one pass and then played the next night. I've had a few issues figuring out how to deburr properly and everyone does it differently but I think I have my technique down. I may introduce Chromium Oxide for the last step, I dunno though, probably overkill. Wipe down the blade with towel Run the gummy/regular stone flat along the side Leather block at an angle Leather block flat along the blade Wipe down the blade with leather chamois

I have both of these and I don't like them either, that top one folds oddly making creases that feel weird at times. The second one doesn't fold well at all and is too stiff causing a rebound when I flex down.

Way back in 2016 I wanted one so badly but I could not find my size in person. I think through trying on other skates, we were like 80% confident in the size/width/style that I needed. The retailer said that I could order one directly through the, but if it didn't fit I could not return them and so I didn't feel like chancing it. Years later I found a 2nd hand pair, and I think other than the wide volume and the footbed nails poking through, the fit was pretty good.

The D3O softens up a bit after it warms up from your skin

I like Aycane stuff, but shipping to me is terrible. I'm gonna give Aegis a go, I like it well enough for my goalie gear, so I hope I will be okay with the bib type as a player.

I love my CCM JetSpeeds, super comfy and protective enough for my play.

My last stick that I loved was the FT3 before trying different brands. I guess I should have stuck with CCM. I might try the newest Trigger though, I didn't quite like the first one so I went JetSpeed.

I've been hearing from some Sparx FB groups that they are being told that there's an unforeseen delay with the manufacturing, does anyone else have clarity on the issue? It is Facebook so it's full of FUD and I won't really believe it without checking.

If you had to pay full price, what would be your stick of choice today?

Honestly I think this is to make use of a pro team's equipment budget.

I've heard of some guys who get 1" rings for their Sparx as a way to do a pseudo-Crossgrind. Anyone else done this?

Been awhile since I've lurked and posted here, but I caved in finally and placed an order for the version 3 and I can't wait. Too many little events in the past 6 months, there's 5 sharpeners here locally: Sharpener A is amazing but 45min away each way with a 30min wait because of how good he is (I've been desperate at times and taken days off of work to get his sharpens before a major tourney) Sharpener B is decent but a few times now they've ruined the edge or gave me the wrong cut depending on who's working (I've asked for 1/2 and gotten 3/4 and vice versa) Sharpener C has been gone since Covid Sharpener D no longer works at the place and now is ran by teens who aren't very good, but even then it was a crapshoot and the most expensive of them all. Sharpener E will complain if you bring two skates wanting different cuts, and he doesn't deburr the skates well somehow? So the first little bit of a fresh skate always feels weirdly sharp which goes away after 10 mins. I don't know how else to describe this but my 3/4 cut feels like a 3/8 for the warmups, and then dramatically changes to 3/4 for the next 6 skates.

Fully agree, it's like nothing else. They are more comfortable than some of my work boots that I've had in the past.

Having recently got my TRUEs fitted properly, they feel initially a bit tight on the sides with the toes touching the front. Then as it moulds your ankle gets pushed back a bit, and everything kinda relaxes a bit. My feet were still a little uncomfortable until I got my first skate in. I don't believe the skate that fits well will break in and then be too big, as skates break in they usually form more to your feet to my knowledge.