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flip12
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Everything posted by flip12
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Not into the new Avalanche blue helmets and pants. Looks like a set from Blades of Steel escaped from the machine. PS, looks like original RibCor ribs still on MacK's stick, innit?
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I'm sorry, what? I can't see anything in that pic except for how hilariously hideous Matthews' skates are.
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Cool to hear the detailed follow up. Out of curiosity, how much do the Makos weigh compared to the Trues, and how much higher cut are the Trues?
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And back in True skates.
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Yes, lower cuff height on the boot, about 1 eyelet lower than other brands, approximately. I think Makos are about the same as Trues, but I haven’t had my hands on more than one pair of those and can’t exactly recall how they stacked up side by side with my MLX. Trues are the same height as my 703s but more stable in the ankle due to three main factors: 1. Trues are stiffer; 2. Trues have consistent spacing between the top eyelets where Graf had a 1.5x gap between the top and second eyelets; 3. Trues *usually have a closer fit, shrinkwrapped around the ankle while Graf had an extra layer of reinforcement around the collar of the boot, from the top eyelet on one side to the top eyelet on the other, ensuring ample room for ankle ROM. *depending on how they’re molded.
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A longer will likely fix a lot of your stability, since you’re used to longer. I personally prefer 11’ over 9’ or 10’, but I skate ok on the others. I feel more in tune with the 11’ so I know what it’s like to not quite feel right on shorter radii. Another issue of note: The True’s are shorter cut. It could be you’ll have a transition period where you adapt to their level and situation of support. True’s boots are more on par height-wise with classic Grafs like the 703 than what the other brands produce.
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Bingo.
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Gloves have become such a sad joke.
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QRL were indeed nice. I love the concept. But as much as I wanted to love them, the QR1s felt noticeably better side by side. Seeing where they've gone since the QRL, it has tarnished my opinion of that glove.
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No surprise, considering Wheels is wearing QR1 gloves. That’s where Warrior drove over the edge.
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I'm curious to hear if the perceived weight changes once the blades are profiled. I've experienced boots that went from feeling nimble and responsive to sluggish and leaden from swapping out old for new steel.
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Comparing three holder sizes relative to a given boot size--holder one size down, holder standard to the boot, holder one size up--and not changing anything of the steel specs other than the size difference: what would be the most prominent effect, position of the balance point relative to the foot? With the WHL player, how did you adjust the balance point on the 272 set? To match where it was on the 280 set or in some new location?
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Good point. The big CCM! splash on the heel of the AS3 is no doubt infamous. That’s just on the lateral side of the boot; medial has a more moderate logo hit: The lines line up between stock AS3 Pro and the SE AS3 Pro the Swede is wearing.
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On the Swede? I thought they were black & chrome AS3 Pros... https://www.instagram.com/p/CJJg349F7uJ/?igshid=1c1poyfru301b
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Does that hinder forward flex? 🤔
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By the time you’ll have lost that weight you may have wanted to rebake your Trues anyway, regardless of any weight loss. The reason being, once the boots’ foams pack in a bit, a rebake can reset the snugness of the boot, as it can get a bit roomy after some use.
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I'm definitely into nostalgic equipment. It's also a bit of a historical design study for me, dissecting why things have gone the way they have with the industry. We're also alike in our dislike of the stiffness of close fitting boots around the ankle. I baked my MLX several times and the last time got the top quite nice by not lacing the last three eyelets at all. I just let them flare out naturally and I think even pulled the tongue out a bit to force the top open a bit more even. It worked quite well but I still need a thin strip of tape around the tendon guard to keep me from getting "Mako bumps" from the cuff edge. If it weren't for that abrasion I could easily skate in those with the top eyelets unlaced. Making sure to bake in some gap around the ankle has made a huge difference in my enjoyment in those boots. Maybe that could be worth a shot in your Makos. You could maybe even just heat gun the ankle area so you can flare it out without having to rebake the whole boot again.
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I feel you. I juuuuust finally received a pair of like new 707s I found on German classifieds. They fit great except for the heel shape, so I'm not sure how much I'll be able to actually test them. From lacing them up and flexing them, they feel very free. I'm used to that now from skating a handful of sessions in 701s. I've yet to try the no laces thing, but the softer ankle of the 701 diagnosed a few weaknesses I had in my stride. I'm working on how to achieve that perfect Frankenskate like you describe, and I think I'm onto something. I just need to get back on the ice and get some test boots made to try it out. The 703 tongues I've seen and tried have a bit more stiffness to them than Graf's later tongues. I'd bet the flex and balance function will be quite similar to the Mako tongue. Graf were smart enough to soften them up to accommodate the required stiffer quarter panels. I tried an older 703 tongue, probably of similar vintage to the ones you have, in G35s and I lost almost all my agility due to the overly stiff combination. 701 tongues have next to no stiffness in them and are my go to tongues in my MLX now. I also have a pair of near mint 501s that have a plush and very flexible tongue; can't wait to try those boots out. I see why Fedorov cheated on Nike to get back with those, and Leetch still skates in them last I've seen.
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That makes sense. Do you miss the cushy feel just at the top or all along the foot? I only tried on a neglected pair of Makos that were lying around the rink and actually was impressed by the tongue, and I have extensive familiarity with and appreciation for Graf tongues. I can see where, with the idea of the extreme moldability of the Mako, they went with something a little less bulky, but I have tried several Graf tongues in my MLX instead of the stock ones. In my opinion, the Mako tongue was much more reminiscent of what I prefer and usually find Grafs to be quite nice. Which Graf tongues do you have lying around? They have changed drastically over the years and there have been quite a number of different tongues since the mid-late 80's, which is where my collection begins.
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Tongues have a lot to do with the feel of the boot, especially forward flex and balancing over the blade. If you’re not unhappy with that aspect of the Mako tongue I’d first try to add extra felt to the existing tongue to provide the flop you want without messing with other factors that are more integral to skating rather than purely or primarily cosmetic.
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Random thought - Why sticks don't wood ends anymore?
flip12 replied to VegasHockey's topic in Ice Hockey Equipment
I also usually add a wooden plug for balance. It feels like it’s mostly a weight distribution issue for me, rather than a question of material/vibrational medium. I tested using a plastic plug with a bolt fed through it. I loaded it up with washers to adjust the balance and I couldn’t really feel a difference between that and having a wooden plug of the same weight. The only sticks that I’ve tried that have had great feel without having to add a plug have been Trues. Also a Kovalev gamer but his shaft is heavier than normal and the end plug probably weighs 40-50g as well, effectively reproducing the effect of an end plug. -
That’s a great summary, and makes me really want to try the Shift holder.
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How do you mean, the dynamic of the Shift holder and steel is different?
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Ellipse Profiles – The next revolution in skate profiling?
flip12 replied to VegasHockey's topic in Ice Hockey Equipment
I would have, but shipping to and from Europe would have been too expensive for me. I think that kind of program is the future of profiling. -
Elite order volume is probably high right now too.
