sturdy22

I had two power skaters for the high school team in Alaska I coached between 2002-2013. We never used them. The team got more out of hockey specific strength training, sprints and playing other sports outside of hockey. stride boards are good, they have been around for a long time and I still have the boards from the same high school team. While not specifically for stride work. stability ball balance work is great also. Developing the stabilizer muscles while kneeling or standing on a balance ball and stick handling is a great indoor exercise and a component of my training program. For off ice skate training I recommend the Marsblade O1 to all my players (high school varsity/18AAA/AA). I’m in California now and there is plenty of pavement to skate on. Having used the power skater the Marsblade O1 is a far better investment.

I haven’t used the Red lines, but I like the third line sticks, I have two. A PRO97 77 flex and a PRO28 85 flex. I have had them since October. The sticks are well balanced and perform as well as any other high end OPS I’ve used. I have a pro stock p28 85 flex CCM super tacks 2.0 and the PRO28 feels and flexes the same. I grew up playing with heavier sticks and I like that these are a little heavier at around 425g, I have found some newer sticks to feel too light. They have held up well and have been the only sticks I’ve used for coaching and games for the last couple of months. For $109 I probably won’t be looking at another stick unless it’s a good deal.

I was thinking the P106 might be in between the P88 and and P92. But those are hard to find. I still have several P106 blades, when I compare to the P92/W03 blades I have been using, the P106 aren’t as open at the toe as I remember.

My club uses hockey wolf for team equipment, helmets, gloves, pants even helmet decals, and there has never been an issue.

Innovative made a bunch of sticks for other companies. Trilage shafts come to mind.

Yes I use the 3mm shim on supremes but I am also using steel with a forward pitch, 3mm is all I have ever used. But a 5mm shim on a supreme with stock steel might work.

I find the O1s to be closest to the feel of ice for me. I have had the O1s for going on 5 years and I use them regularly. I have R1s that I don’t use. I don’t play competitive roller hockey and I found that the R1s make me feel like I’m on rails no matter which insert I used. I just prefer the movement in the O1s. My sons both use the R1s for roller hockey and swear by them.

I have made my own shims using a sheet of 3mm HDPE I got on Amazon and a dremel tool. I used the heel of the holder as a template and cut it out. They don’t end up with as clean a edge but work as well as the other stamped shims I have. I have also tried pro sharp profiling but in my personal experience I haven’t found a profile I like and it has been expensive trying profiles. Everything has been too flat, (quads and duals). I ended up going back to a single 11’ with the heel shim. I have my own riveter so I can reattach my holders and the shims give me close to the forward pitch I’m looking for but not exactly what I want. there was a guy selling 3d printed shims online and on SidelineSwap I think they were called skate crowns but I can’t find the Website now. edit: found it. https://crownredesign.com/

Yup, my bad I missed that bonez05 tried on only the 7.5R with the R, EE and W sizes in his post. I had the same problem finding the right size and lost the nail on my big toe twice. I personally couldn’t go down to a 7W in my TF7s but the inner padding is different between the 7s and 9. My size 8R TF9s are comfortable for coaching but would be too sloppy to play in. The 7.5W TF9s would probably be perfect for me. The trues are still the closest I’ve found to the makos. I am interested in the catalyst line. I have put the flex tendon guard on my TFs and the added flex is nice.

I have a pair of 7.5W TF7s and a pair of size 8R TF9s. For comparison I also have Mako 2s in size 8EE, 8.5D and 9D. I have changed out the holders on the Trues to Easton CXNs and Marsblade i2s so I can’t comment on the shift holders. The 7.5W TF7s are closest in size to the 8EE makos. The 8R TF9s are considerably larger and are definitely closer to the size 9D makos. This is all after baking and considerable time skating in them so they do loosen up a lot. I think you will find that after baking and wearing the 8W TF9s might feel too big/wide. Did you try the 8R? You only mentioned the 7.5W feeling too small.

My son, 16 playing 18AA, and I have both versions. My son loved the first version and likes the second version more. The I2 has a better build, blade release and is made from material similar to Tuuks and CCM holders. The first edition was great just a clunky/heavy design. I like the I2, but I have had problems dialing in my profile. This is not a holder issue, it’s the guy who’s doing the profiling and the fact that I’m just not on then ice as much anymore after 40 years of playing. I was considering buying another set of steel and starting over. So getting the holder and steel for $89 + shipping is a tempting offer.

I don’t know anything about the insoles but I did order a set of the flex tendon guards and installed on my TF9s with a copper rivet. These flex guards are noticeably more flexible and I have found them to be an improvement over my originals. Something to consider if you do order the flexible guards is they did not come with a screw or nut for install. It might be possible to reuse the original nut and screw, but since I have my own riveter I went that route.

My first thought also

I still only use two piece sticks. I can’t tell you if the intermediate TPS shaft will work with a senior blade but the intermediate warrior shafts we have use senior blades. Putting the stick together is easy. Heat the glue on the blade and then heat the bottom 2-3 inch’s of the shaft evenly. The concave sides of the shaft will expand to fit the blade tenon. Just remember to let the shaft cool before flexing. If by chance there is some movement of the blade tenon in the shaft put some tape over it before reinserting.

I have the R1 large measurement at just over 10 3/4” in length. I can’t get a pic to load but the one skate with the over hang is a mounting issue. if the chassis was moved back about 2mm the R1 would cover the entire outsole of the boot.

I’ll measure when I get home and I’ll see what I can do for a pic. I prefer the O1 as I don’t play competitive roller and have my set to my oldest son. Both of my sons have both the O1 and R1 and they only use the R1s for anything competitive. The best way I can describe is the R1s are very smooth in turns and not as “on rails” feeling as traditional chassis’. I just prefer the extra motion I get from the O1s but I also prefer ice over roller.

I have a pair of Large R1s on a size 8.5D vapor APX and I have a slight overhang not really noticeable. I think you would be ok with a large on a 8.5EE CCM. I can put a tape measure on the R1s when I get home if you would like an exact measurement.

If you don’t plan on returning the boots just drill the vent holes. I’ve added vents to my trues, just use a bit that’s the same size as the vents on you other pair. Use a bit for composite materials that is sharp to avoid splintering.

I have 4 vent holes in my skates, a pair of converted ice Vapors and a pair of APXR. I have never run into a problem with sweat dripping onto my wheels, chassis or the playing surface. I go barefoot.

Coming from makos I am interested in the flex tendon guard. there is next to no flex in the TF9/7 that I have.

Correct

Yes I’ve studied all the available documents on here and gathered as much info on the new Catalyst. The softer boot and flexible tendon guard is what interest me the most. In comparison I prefer the tech mesh vapors vs the full composite offerings from Bauer. I still wear my x7.0/X90s. it is the eyelets that are cutting into my feet when putting them on and I’ve resorted to using duct tape. Wearing even thin skate socks don’t feel right. In reality I am not skating much outside of coaching and running hockey camps so I don’t really need a high end skate I just want something to eventually replace the makos that I can wear for multiple hours a day. I’ve had three pairs of Trues (customs, TF7/9) and they just might not be the skate for me.

I go barefoot, almost 30 years now, and yes I’m twisting the boot. Spots are the same on each foot specific to putting on. No problems once on my feet. These TF boots may just not right for me.

Yes I flared at the top and also at the 5th/6th eyelet where I’m getting the most trouble just putting on.

I currently have two pairs of Mako 2s. A pair of 8 EE on E-Pros and a pair of pro stock 8.5D left /9D right on CXN holders. The makos are the perfect skate for me in terms of fit and stiffness. I don’t know what the steel is profiled to on the EPros but they are pitched forward and comparable to the CXNs. I recently picked up a pair of 7.5 Wide TF7 and a pair of 8 TF9s on sideline for real cheap in hopes of having a skate that will replace my makos. sizing is all over the place. The 7.5W are perfect after the bake but I have a high instep and they tear my feet up putting the skates on when they’re cool. And they are so stiff. The 8 feels too roomy in comparison and they’re also tearing up my feet putting them on. Lacing is also a pain in the ass due to the stiffness of the boot. I have CXNs on the trues and they don’t feel like the makos. I have my own riveter so I am able to swap holders around. I am hopeful that the catalyst are a little softer of a boot and I am interested in the flexibility of the tendon guard. The TF7/9 tendon guard has no flex.