start_today

I’m 6’1”, 185, 32-33ish inch waist. I’ve worn in large Easton’s and now large Warrior DT2s. I always have to cinch the waist super tight. Same as you, I feel like M+1 would be ideal, but I always give up looking and just buy an L. It all depends on where your height is too... my hip to knee might be longer than yours.

Plus, I imagine Step or other aftermarket steel are extra inexpensive for ls2s, since it’s outmoded tech. Ditch the fusion, which is reguarded by pretty much everyone as the worst possible steel choice.

There was a long unwieldy custom Bauer thread for a long time, when they were the main custom game in town. Theres a long unwieldy Mako thread. A long unwieldy Base thread. There was a long unwieldy Sprung thead in the roller section. We have typically been served well by keeping specific info about a product in one thread. If I’m new to a product, I’d rather have it all in one place, than have to fumble through a million small threads with 4 posts. If the product cycle weren’t so quick now, you'd see long threads on sticks and skates. Products disappear too quickly to build up more involved threads and discussion.

For what it’s worth, I always had trouble finding skates that fit. For a while I was in ccm skates that were probably too wide, but good enough. Makos fit me great, and were the most comfortable skate I ever wore. But, all good things come to an end. Empires crumble, Cliff Burton dies, skates breakdown. Since this summer, I’ve been wearing Vapor X800s, and im REALLY happy with them. I think skates today are so much more mailable during baking, people that have had trouble finding skates have more options because making those fine tuning adjustments are easier. Im not saying there’s always an option for everyone, and, as has been noted, nothing really fits like a Mako, but it’s always worth trying on new things. Im kind of annoyed by companies rolling out a new updated skate line every year, but, in some cases there are changes in fit, so a make or model that didn’t work 5 years ago suddenly works now.

My wife and I drive from Boston 45 minutes up to No Icing once a month, because they are the only place that does a reliable FBV. That plus a fancy espresso from Benson’s, it’s not a bad trip.

Is their “regular” steel worth getting, the non-DLC stuff?

Hey team...topping an old thread here. Anyone have any feedback on Massive blades? I see them lumped in with Step and Tydan, but I can never tell if that’s just because it’s another aftermarket option, or because it’s a good aftermarket option on par with those two.

Haha, I’m definitely waiting for the post that says “True tracking system said my skates were delivered two weeks ago, but they just arrived today and are silver instead of black.”

Sprung, Kor, Miken, Mako Skates... Maybe Sparx and True/VH should be paying us NOT to make long involved threads dedicated to their product...

Harrow was a lacrosse company who moved into DTC hockey sales, and now may or may not still exist in the hockey world. A group of people on here, myself included, were really into them for a few years. STX is more established than Harrow was and has an NHL presence. Harrow supplied a lot of college teams, but never caught on.

When the Mako II skates were new, they came with whatever wrench you needed to remove the steel. If you need one, you could post in equipment sales forums asking to buy one Do you have the CXN holders (holders that came with Makos) now, or considering buying some?

...you can't both compliment STX on "great pricing" for being direct to consumer, and then turn around and say "missed opportunity" for not selling in stores as having stores review them. You can't have both. Gotta pick one.

Apologies for being a negative Nelly, If those were pics of a retail boot, I think the general consensus would be that you need an entirely different model. What did they change between the first pair and the second pair you had made? Did either True or of the shop ask to see your feet in the boots before they remade them? To me, seems like the onus should be on the "experts" (them) to help diagnose the problem, before remaking custom skates. But, being that they have already made a second pair of boots, I wonder if they would do a third pair to address this?

What helmet is this?

I feel you're paying $160 for a garbage stick (twice), you're doing it wrong. Especially if you're able to wait two months to have it in hand. Put in some time on sites that sell used and pro stock equipment, look at the big name online retailers, and close out at your LHS. Current generation midtier sticks from True and Warrior are straight up outstanding for their price.

How many grams are Teslas and Apples? Can I get them in white with a huge tongue flop? I'm not worried so much about fit, but I don't want them to look dusty next to my Vapor Adv.

Ever since I read multiple people complaining about it, and then saw it in person, I can't believe people aren't making an even bigger deal out of it. If this were Graf, people would be killing them for it, but I suspect since its Bauer they are getting a pass.

Can you talk a little about how long you had your original skates, and how many hours you put on them before they broke? Im REALLY intrigued by these skates, but a failed rivet in a tendon guard leading to new skates is eyebrow raising. This thread seems full of people mentioning construction and quality issues, but people kind of bend over backwards to excuse them. I cant tell if the skates are THAT GOOD, or if there's cognitive/emotional bias where people want to like the expensive skates they bought, so they overlook the flaws.

Buy whatevever you want that makes you happy. I think for a lot of people the illusion that "I'm getting an ultra high end Bauer prototype graphicless stick that was never released because it is too durable and shoots too hard," is more powerful than the truth that there are multiple high-end sticks on every internet retailer webpage right now in a variety of curves and flexes for about $120.

If you're spending $100 to buy ABHS or whatever dubious origin stick online, why not spend $100 on a stick from an actual hockey company? If your willing to spend up to $120 like you said, you can easily get last year's (last quarter's?) top of the line or 2nd tier for that price. For instance, go buy the True sticks they're blowing out on every site. You're doing it wrong.

Dear Easton, I got a garbage sharpening job on my M8s, so I went back to my older skates (CCM CLs) until it was fixed. I like the fit and feel of the "traditional" skate so much better. I noticed the negavite space in the toes and in a boot a little bit when I was dressing, but once I was on the ice, I didn't notice at all. Its been a fun dalliance with the Makos, but deep down, I know what my heart wants. I just can't keep doing this, it's not right. I'm going back to regular skates. They may not be sexy and sleek, but they are comfortable and reliable, and we have something together that I don't think the Makos can give me. It's over.

Does anyone know the stock profile on M8s? (I assume the whole line is the same) I felt a little off in my first skate, but I wasn't sure if it was the length of the profile, the pitch, or that I got them sharpened on 12" ROH, rather than my usual FBV 100/50. I've been skating on a 8'/13' profile for a few years. It felt like when I stopped, it would bite more than I expected. It could have actually been biting more because of the different sharpen, or it could have just felt like it because of the other changes. Any ideas or diagnosis are appreciated!

No 8.5s left. "Just like the time I could have met Mr. T at the mall. The entire day, I kept saying, "I'll go a little later, I'll go a little later..." And when I got there, they told me he just left. And when I asked the mall guy if he'll ever come back again, he said he didn't know. Well, I'm never going to let something like that happen again!"

I currently have U+CLs, size 8.5. Anyone know how they would compare to M8 sizing?

JR, You say they don't feel like any other CCM skate. Is there some other skate you would compare them to? What about the feel/experience makes them so different from other CCMs?