Westside

I have tried too many cut resistant socks. If I had to recommend one above all others it’d be cut shield. Unfortunately they’d likely be too big for your 7 year old. They do offer sleeves in youth sizes which would work https://www.cutshield.com/product/footless-tubes/ If you’re adamant about socks and not sleeves. Aycane is my second suggestion. They have multiple sizes to fit just about all foot sizes. https://aycane.com/en-us/collections/youth-hockey/products/a-shield-skate-socks I find all cut resistant skate socks to be far too tall. They basically go to your knee which keeps your entire lower leg warm. I’ve cut mine down so they fall just below my calf. Once you cut the height to the desired length simply fold over the top and stitch em down. Takes less than five minutes. Plus side is you basically make cut resistant sleeve wraps with the excess

Converted a pair of True's 'whiteout' skates. Way too loud for ice, but I've been dying for this roller combo for years. Now I'm just debating between silver or black lowers for my primary wheel setup

Say it ain’t so! Surfside already shuttered their doors? Really liked this place. Had two skate conversions done, multiple sharpenings, and enjoyed their overall setup

I have not. I was offered the ability to purchase one of the preproduction sets, but the price was so absurd I passed. Still holding out hope these will make it to market at a more reasonable price point

When I moved from Bauer to True I also switched from Tuuk to XS. Don’t recall any noticeable difference in the holder and I was using the same type of steel in both holders. The boot made the obvious difference to me. While I never had any durability issues with the trigger, the dial is easier to replace if needed

Disadvantage in terms of weight? I can deal with it. I don’t play roller all that much and am far from competitive. Just play pickup when I’m in town and have the time. I remain a fan of Marsblade. After recently using some kryptonium hi-lo chassis before going back to the R1 with the O2 insert, I’ll double down on my enthusiasm for the product

Eh. They do a great job of eliminating any negative space on the top of your foot/boot, are quite comfortable, and do breathe well. Latest gen of True SVH tongues and the FT8 Pro tongue may achieve something similar with their memory foam minus the breathability

It’s hard to beat the comfort of CCM’s latest offerings. They feel like pillows on your feet. As much as I tried to get myself to adjust to their boots, the Trues just work better for my feet/skating

Yep, R1/O2 upper is the same so inserts and lowers are interchangeable between the two. The O2 insert is pretty great if I’m being honest. It’s what I (personally) always wanted out of the R1. Nothing is as stiff as the TF9. lol! No, the FT690 gives you noticeably more flex. Good or bad depending on what you want out of a skate

Refreshed the R1’s with the new O2 insert which makes the rocker so much better IMO. Keeping them. Sold the FT690’s. They’re great skates for the price. Incredibly comfortable. I simply prefer the R1 chassis.

100% it’s due to tariffs

Been a few months, but another sighting of the upcoming Warrior skates

Go to Michael’s, buy some foam, and do it yourself. The cheapest/easiest thing to do

With the 9x4, it’d be a white toe cap, facing, tendon guard, and the heel cover. I asked True multiple times over the years because they clearly had the parts to do it on goalie skates and was always told ‘no’. But when I inquired about these whiteout and the blackout 9x4 they simple said ‘stay tuned’

Waiting to hear back on when it would be possible to order a pair I, personally, think the FT6 looked better, but maybe another color way of these will change my mind. The new tendon guard seems like a downgrade. The flexibility of the FT6’s was amazing!