Westside

I’m not a wide fit, but wear an 8.5 Regular in True 9x4, 8.5 Regular in CCM FT6 Pro, and 8.5 Regular for the Warrior Alpha Pro. So for my feet sizing has been consistent. IMO, the Warrior foams conform to your feet after baking but it doesn’t open up 1/2 size in the way True skates do

But now they’re EVERYWHERE. Every retailer seems to offer new or used pro stock sticks and the term is definitely more mainstream than it was 10+ years ago. Then there’s my SEO comment about how generic ‘pro stock hockey sticks’ is if you simply typed it in google. Results inevitably return every single manufacturer’s pro stock sticks out there. If you’re a business and you’re trying to maximize online marketing spend, you would want better name recognition for your product so it doesn’t populate competitive results

Agreed. I thought Geppetto was going to change it to ‘Pro Reserve’ when they relaunched the other year. Feels like a missed opportunity. PSHS has always been too clunky with PSH and is even worse with the increased popularity of pro stock sticks in general. I have to imagine his SEO is terrible since the current brand name is basically a generic search term

New PSHS Onyx stick coming? Hybrid like the VF, but different? Also strange the post doesn’t have PSHS tagged? https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaV-VoAzBLe/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Well when spending a grand on skates that extra $3 for laces makes an impact 🙄

Backhand breaks remind me of the Bauer Machs

Saw this YouTube short and squeezing the ankle opening looks a lot closer to the softness of my 5x4 rather than the 9x4 https://youtube.com/shorts/j_Hs6Y7Fcng?si=V-RNOfanq3akiiuf

I agree that we’ve been brainwashed and I’m not saying carbon is the best option. As someone who owns both the 9x4 and the 5x4, the difference in stiffness is substantial. Not to say True can’t stiffen up the shell somehow, but does that mean their SVH customs will also transition to poly fusion? If not, the perception will remain that carbon is superior for their boots. If they do transition everything I hope they have some great marketing to explain why the shift is superior

Interesting. The downside is since True came out with retail skates, the plastic/polyfusion shells have always been the lower tier skate. ie TF7, Cat5/7, etc

I agree that the shell looks like printed carbon fiber vs actual carbon fiber. The liner does look like their standard hydrofoam. Check out the pic here (2nd to last): https://www.purehockey.com/product/true-catalyst-nitro-ice-hockey-skates-senior/itm/70603-41/?mtx_id=466158&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23278049189&gbraid=0AAAAADzbbUfI6HQ4xvk66PuVPV9dka_o2&gclid=CjwKCAjwgO7RBhBKEiwAZNP85geZMns9Kk78H_3bBRLKB7-HzcG9dVSQDZs3VePJxqxW64NuPVUeBRoChvMQAvD_BwE

These are hands down the stiffest skates I’ve used. Can barely squeeze the ankle opening with one hand compared to other top of the line skates. But I still have great forward flexion without dropping eyelets or skipping the second eyelet like I’ve done with other skates. Not sure how much is actually due to the tongue or if it’s because the boot is cut lower. I agree and find it funny that the tongue and stiffness was the topic of conversation among influencers on the preproduction skates and now it’s all about comfort and lack of stitching

That’s what she said. sorry , couldn’t help it

I have never used Powerfeet inserts, and while I put the Alpha Pro on one foot and True’s 9x4 on the other, there is a bit more room at the top of the toe box of the Warrior, but it’s nothing like Bauer or CCM toe caps from 7-10 years ago. That said, I did pick up these foam pads from Amazon and now the room is much closer to each other. We’ll see how durable they are and I’d imagine if you wanted even LESS space, you could double them up. Or if you’d prefer something thicker like I think Powerfeet inserts are, here’s another option. For $9 you’d have the ability to create inserts for 10 pairs of skates. Originally I purchased them to put a strip at the tip of the toe box because there is no padding at all there and I’d like a little something for when I inevitably get hit with a puck. Unfortunately I can’t contort my bigger hands to get a strip along the toe box so the top Powerfeet wanna be insert will have to do

While I agree with you, sadly, we’re in the minority. People just want to be fed information which is why the average consumer will hear ‘explosive speed’, and think ‘that’s what I want so I need to buy those skates!’

I don’t hate the black and gold colors for protective. Curious to try out the shins if they offer similar protection compared to Tacks but are more streamlined

1/2 was not enough bite?! Eesh. I was at 3/4 and felt like I was getting just a little too much bite (felt like 5/8). Goes to show how personal hollow preferences are

Correct

Bauer , CCM, and Warrior all have the same hole patterns so you can easily swap the holders without drilling new holes. Have you considered adding a shim? That might solve your issues if you’re looking for a more forward pitch without profiling. This is very easy to add/remove, is not permanent, and can be adjusted larger or smaller to dial in exactly what you want. Look at CCM’s new Vizion skate if you’re not sure what I’m referring to. Talking about shims always reminds me of this video:

I used to drop the top eyelet but for the last year and a half or so I’ve been skipping the second eyelet. Prefer how that feels on the Trues

Well I’m no longer young and am far from a pro, so I’d say they work for the lazy old man stride. lol! I’ve been spoiled with how True skates fit/feel and these are similar. When I tried FT6 Pros after they were released they never felt ‘right’ even after months of skating on them. With the Warriors I just needed to tweak the lacing a bit and I was good to go. The boot is definitely stiff and I can barely flex the ankle opening but they do allow me to move easily when wearing them. Not exactly sure how they’re doing it, but CCM is claiming something similar with flex zones on the Vizion skate so like you said, manufacturers seem to be figuring this out. Height of the boot is also on the shorter side. Measuring the inside of the boot to the ankle cuff without an insole my True 9x4 are ~6.5” whereas the Warrior Alpha Pro are 6”. One less eyelet as well

I’ve been in a pro stock pair for a month or two at this point. Very comfortable and feel a lot like the True skates I’m used to. Since I have a lot of CCM Step steel I already swapped holders which was easy since the hole pattern is the same. Time will tell how they hold up although certain elements of the pro stock version (that may be tweaked for the retail version) felt a little cheap. As in, not a $1200 skate, but maybe an $800 skate

Oh man, too loud for ice, but I may have to pick these up for roller… https://www.instagram.com/p/DY5Y-LGkria/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Interesting that CCM is going with an integrated toe cap. Reminds me a lot of True’s design, specifically on the TF line

Man, first Per from Marsblade and now Keith from Sprung. Hope both companies can continue forward for both of their legacies to live on

Pro stock hockey had a bunch of P88 curves recently (I bought two QR6 pros) and of course pro stock hockey sticks also had them in various kickpoints. Hockey stick man had a few at higher flex points recently. whenever I find a stick I like in specs I prefer I’ll buy 2-4 to have as they’re not as easy to find anymore