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I wish I could find a link to back this up, but I’ve read that shoe and boot companies see less online returns from shoes that fit too big, as compared to shoes that fit too small. So, they tend to error in oversizing, to process less returns. I’d imagine skates are the same way. The average person (not the hockey equipment 1% elite that is modsquad) is wanting out-of-the-box comfort. So, if companies put them in something a half size bigger, they’re not going to feel pinching and pressure and be happier with their purchase, even if it’s not the optimal fit. You definitely see that a lot in snowboard boots. People are looking to buy boots that are sneaker level comfortable, and don’t consider materials breaking in, or heat molding, or that something designed to be relatively stiff and responsive probably shouldn’t feel like a pair of broken in shoes.

...and then the Lindros turned into the p88 and the Warrior's version of the p88 is also called Zetterberg which for a bit was Easton's pro name attached to their version of the pm9... best curve ever. F your toe curve with a kink and half twist or whatever nonsense high school kids use to pound shots into the glass.

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

Pro tip: when you're learning to put in contact lenses, drape a hand towel across your sink. That way when you drop them, they are easier to find and not touching your dirty sink. I wear soft contact lenses just for hockey (and rowdy punk shows), and didn't start wearing glasses or contacts until 28. I had consistent problems when I first started wearing them. Like, full adult tantrums. I had to start putting them in 45 minutes before I had to leave, in case I had troubles. But, with practice it got way, way, way easier, and now I have a soft touch and good finishing skills We all have different bodies, so consistent practice might not work for everyone.

I've never tried the EQ line, but I'm pretty sure those and Makos are fundamentally different skates. I don't know anyone who described Makos as "stiff," which is one of the adjectives you used to praise the EQ4s. Makos are certainly stiff in some areas, but noticably softer in others. They had an absolutely different fit and feel than other retail skates. If you want to try them, go for it. Like others have said, you can probably sell them for what you paid. But, don't use "I liked X Easton skates so I'll like Y Easton skates." Any of the more "traditional" skates from Bauer or CCM are probably going to fit and feel more like your EQ4s.

Was anyone else confused by the names on these? I feel like the "pro" nomenclature is usually attached to the 2nd tier equipment, or SMUs that are a mix of flagship and 2nd tier. This thread is the first time I've read about the skates, and I struggled figuring out which was which. Haha.

If it was last winter, they could be the original AK27s, not the alpha "throwback" graphics. Does it say "alpha" anywhere on it? Doe it have a vaguely soviet-looking eagle in the front of shaft, about 1/2 way down?

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.

They don't even offer the p40 anymore, do they? I thought that got phased out for the p30, which is basically a p88 with a noticeable toe curve.

I wear a sleeveless wicking shirt and sweat on my arms/hands isn't a problem. In the locker rooms I play in, I'd say 90% of people or more are in short sleeves with no wristbands. Personally, I question the gospel that the evaporative cooling of wicking shirts does anything in hockey, since you have layers over it and I'm not sure it actually evaporates. But, we all have our own experiences for what we like.

A lot of companies are more responsive on Twitter, because they are being called out in a public forum, whereas your emails are all private, so no one else can see. Maybe try contacting them publicly on Twitter or Instagram and you see if you get a more palatable response that way? I'm sure they are also aware it's like $100, and there's only some much time and energy you can invest into it, so they can just wait you out with the "be happy you're getting anything" response.

Is this for the same guy who was in a tizzy about wanting black holders, or someone else?

I assume this is the step before they keep prices as they are or increase them, but quit offering warranty replacements all together. I know other companies are gaining in market share, but this move makes it seem like the underside of your sticks are about to say "Warranty: haha, jk, ya burnt. Suck it, we're Bauer, do something about it."

That looks like the result of a contest where they allowed some lucky 8th grader design Marner's skates.

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?

Would be a cool retort if the Sharks made a jersey in the Ducks colors, and put their own logo on it.

Not sure if this is even an option- My friend has a pair of Tackla Air 9000s that are in fine condition, but the plastic thigh pad on one side is cracked. Anyone have any idea who he'd contact to see if he can get a replacement pad from Tackla?

What helmet is this?

Get him those plastic toe covers that came with the Bauer inline skates in the 90s. Since their inline skates had the same cloth as the ice skates, rollers came with this plastic cover that fit over the toe, and hooked through laces. He can put those on when he plays, then take them off for when he displays the skates over his mantel or uses them as a dinner table centerpiece.

What curve are you looking for? Juat curious because you said it wasn't on ribcore at the time, but you found it in the RBZ.

Beaten to the punch by Steewie. No reason to call people out for being interested in a new stick, particularly if you have a habit of getting lost in curve/stick minutiae yourself.

Well, it's green, so maybe it's weighted differently. It seems very technical.

If you have dubious technology, you might as well spruce it up with a chart with a bunch of nonsense that doesn't mean anything.