malcb33

2 years ago, I picked up playing roller hockey again after 20 years, and landed the Marsblade R1 roller frames as I wanted an ice "like" feel. I ended up really enjoying the R1, and reading more about the Marsblade I2 ice holder, so I decided to give it a try as well. HOLDER For those who don't already know, what makes the Marsblade I2 holder unique is that it offers variable pitch, which helps maximize blade contact on the ice. They do this in two ways: the blade is fixed at the front tower of the hold (like normal), but offers about a 1/4" of movement (up and down) at the back. This movement allows the blade to stay on the ice longer as your weight shifts to the front during a stride or turn. Moving blade, sounds weird and hard to get used to, but from my experience, there was no alien feeling on the ice the first time out, everything felt natural and smooth. Of course, there is a slight adjustment period with anything new (it took me about 10 minutes), but the benefits of this extra contact are well worth it. With the Marsblade I2, the differences I found were, - A notable improvement in stability in turns, you feel more locked in and can push harder into the turn. - Because of the extra blade contact, you have much more grip. This allows you to go down several hollows, improving your glide while still getting the grip you are accustomed to (3/4" to 7/8" for me) The I2 holder also offers a changeable rear profile, which is the second part of the variable pitch. It's a plastic profile bar which sits under the rear of your blade (inside the holder) and allows customization for how sharp you want your turns. They give you 5 pairs of profiles to try from a 23' (longest) through to a 14' (shortest). This doesn't replace your steel profile (which you still do as normal), it just helps further customize your holders, giving you more stable or sharper turns when your weight is on your heels. It's recommended to start with the 23' as it has the least amount of rocker, and work your way down incrementally until you feel comfortable. Personally, I ended up on the 14' but the 17' felt good too. Holder 10/10 STEEL The Marsblade steel is quite good IMO. Seems to hold a good edge and the guys at the shop like sharpening it. I've tried both their regular and V-edge plus (coated steel). Both are good. The regular steel is shorter in height (older style) while the V-edge plus is the current standard height, similar to Step etc. They do have a new premium Swedish steel option too, which I haven't tried yet. I would absolutely love to Marsblade work with a company like Flare, as that would be the ultimate combo IMO @Marsblade. Steel 8/10 DURABILITY Seems pretty good. Been using these for 2 years now. No major issues, but they are getting a little dinged up and could use replacing if I was being picky (I am lol) Durability --- 9.5/10 --- INTANGIBLES Going into using the I2 holders, I have to admit I was pretty skeptical about the claims at first, but I am sold now and recommend them highly. I honestly think these holders are the single product that has improved my game the most, as I just feel more confident on my skates, faster and can push my limits harder in turns etc. What's funny is that for the price, they are extremely reasonable IMO compared to buying the latest tech in sticks or skates. Buying both the holder and steel is around the same price as new steel these days, so well worth trying them out, I think. They also seemed to be catching on in high levels of play, with a number of players in the NHL, NCAA and CHL now using them. Maybe there's something to these...? Conclusion 27.5/30 (92%) Love this product. There's a thread already on the I2 holders here, but feel free to ask any questions if I can help.

You can tell it's straighter in the heel (which I love), but the toe looks like it's lacking from the picture, compared to how it's described. "A P92 that is flatter through the heel and better for backhands, then has more toe but not as much toe as the Benn, and then the blade shape should be shaved down like P28"

Thanks for this. It really doesn’t look that much different from the p92 there, which is pretty disappointing.

Thanks for the feedback. I guess it depends on the curve you're coming from, but personally, I enjoy the P28 toe shape, so that shouldn't be an issue for me. Can I ask how you found the lie played? Similar to the P92 or more like the P28?

Has anyone tried the Pro34 (Geppetto's Masterpiece) curve? Sounds pretty interesting, not sure about the 6 lie though, as I prefer a 5/5.5

Seems like they have a very similar holder to the new Warrior skate. I wonder if they come from the same factory?

Not sure about you, but my finger tips don't really sweat; my palms do, though for sure.

I just ordered a couple pairs of these to try. Cheap and made from the same material as a baselayer, so very thin and have a little more grip. I wanted something as thin as possible, so fingerless is even better IMO.

Glad you found a solution. Aquaseal does have a pretty good tack to it. All I’ve every done was use weights or clothes pins while curing, and never had an issue.

Thanks! How did you find the racquetball glove? It looks a little thicker, but the silicone grip might be nice.

I was watching a game the other day and noticed a player (Kiefer Sherwood, maybe?) had a white, spandex-looking glove on, under his regular glove. I've seen goalies do this too, and I assume it probably helps wick away moisture, similar to wearing a baselayer. Has anyone tried it before? If so, what's your thoughts? I rotate gloves, because I can't stand wet gloves, which normally isn't really an issue apart from when I'm playing tournaments. But recently I started playing Roller again, which is way warmer, and noticed my gloves getting soaked by the end of a game. This option might make sense for me, but I'd like to gather some thoughts and feedback if anyone has tried this before. I'm guess it probably impacts your feel a bit too After a quick search, I saw these: https://wickerssports.com/products/wickers-glove-liners Seem kinda expensive for what they are, but might be worth a try.

I don't know if it's the best option, but I've had success using a urethane based glue like Aquaseal. It's waterproof and stays flexible, and bonds pretty well to foams and plastics. https://www.gearaid.com/products/aquaseal-repair-adhesive-shoe

I haven't used the later Vapor models, but the KYC Skyline might be what you're looking for. Super light, low kick, rounded shaft shape like a Vapor and very stiff blade that feels more "pingy" than the Ribcores I'm used to. They have the 91A curve too, but it's a custom order, unfortunately.

Not sure how/ if you can link IG posts, but Coast to Coast Hockey store in Canada recently posted a mini update on the frames

I saw a teaser for Tydan x Marblade. Are they doing their own Marsblade steel @Marsblade? If so, it's cool, as their steel seems decent and I'd like to try the Skatescribe profiling. Would be even better if the deal were with Flare or XC