Sniper9

How are you dropping sizes when the Bauer toecaps have been getting more anatomical and less volume? Or is it bc the longest part is now in the big toe area and tapers shorter whereas before the longest area was like where ur third toe would be? If that's the case then I can see your point. For me I wore 7 catalysts, Bauer, and CCM. But that's just me. You do bring up a good point regarding the toe caps if someone has their longest toe being their big toe or second.

If you were a 9 in Bauer you should be a 9 in true. I'd try a 9 wide before going to a 10 wide. Why did you jump from a 9 to a 10? Also you said catalyst pro, so does that mean they are pro stocks? If so, then they were made for another players feet so certain areas could be adjusted accordingly. True skates have quite a lot of padding in the heel pocket unlike other brands. So that area does break in and get thinner after baking and after some ice time, and will create a couple mm if additional length once settled.

There's one store near me that's has one pair of machs left. And they are my size. I've been humming and haaing over getting them since they fit so good.

I think looking at it in terms of the "fit" system may be the wrong angle. I know what you're trying to say when you say fit 0 as you want something with slightly less volume than a fit 1, but with custom pro, the fit system goes out the window as they use c d e with sizing etc. I would assume it would work for you since you can get different heel pocket sizes in relation to forefoot width and even toecap sizes. Females generally have narrower feet and pro female players are getting custom skates from Bauer CCM true etc as well. You can even see some specs on hsm where the skates are and a heel c width etc. I'm pretty confident that the process in which they make their skates for the pro customs will cater to what you want. The curv composite shell can be manipulated quite a bit during the manufacturing process, way more than simple baking. It's literally pressure molding the shell to shape around your foot last. But I get the hesitancy as there's no refund if they don't work out, and I have heard some people being SOL with Bauer customs.

For the vast majority of people the pro custom option from ccm and Bauer work. CCM tends to make their pro customs like how they do for actual pro players but I'm still a bit skeptical about bauer. I'm sure NHL players can get whatever they want that us peasants aren't privy to. As for true, I've never had issues with the three pairs that I've had in terms of fit, but you hear some real horror stories. However, sometimes there's scanning errors etc. The thing about true is they are way more likely to help you resolve your issue than ccm or Bauer. Currently I'm using retail machs and I love em. I'm hoping next year's Supremes will go back to a more normal ish toecap and the fit doesn't stray much.

From what I understand, whatever shell Bauer decides to use, the fine tune fitting will come down to the commercial molding process the shell is undergone to wrap around your 3d scanned last. Custom pro mic uses the traditional c d e ee width measurements/shells. Not sure if they will adjust the facing to be optimal after this process so you don't have either too much or too little wrap after the shell has conformed to the last. On a side rant, their retail custom is such a joke since you are strapped to their fit system. Like for me, my left is a 7 fit 1, but my right is a 6.5-6.75 but in the same volume as a 7 fit 1. I've tried a 6.5 fit 3 and 2 and both don't work as the fit 3 is too much volume and the fit 2 is too tight. But I digress.

Did you find the vf whippy. My 70 flex felt like a 65 maybe even a 60. I've read elsewhere the same thing where it's easily 5-10 points whippier than it's listed flex

I regret not doing this. Ft5 pro was great. I did however get 4x trigger 7 pros at 199 cdn recently. But I prefer the jetspeed

I go outside in on the one row of eyelets where a lace lock would typically go on the old CCM/rbk skates. That would it keeps my heel pushed back into the heel pocket and creates better heel lock for me since the over under lacing stays snug.

I understand we have our own experiences and I even said it's probably different in Canada in one of my first replies. But I would question how much easier it is to find a pro stock stick in a Specific spec you like over a discontinued retail stick. And with pro stock you actually don't even know the exact build sometimes.

"Scouring" the globe is really doing a 15 minute Google search. I've used top end for years and just recently started to use second price point and it's little to no adjustment. Some second price points are better than others so i try to stay under 415 grams and it's been fine. Balance actually feels better when sticks are in the 380-400 range. Conversely, once you start using something in the 400-415 gram range you actually start to realize how pointless it is using a stick sub 380 grams and start to realize there is such thing is too light. Prices are only gonna go up. It goes up every year and now with the tariffs it's getting worse.

Maybe in the US. But in Canada, the trigger 7 pro was available up until earlier this year in terms of decent selection of specs. Most recently they've been cleared but that's because prohockey had them on clearance for $165 cdn. You can still find a few trigger 7 non pros. Like I said, might be a difference between Canada and US, but I've never had issues getting older top end or second price point sticks for no more than $220 cdn. A second price point sticks doesn't feel bad. I've used them and they have the same pop and kick etc. The only difference is they are in the 400-415 gram range vs 380. 400 grams is already pretty damn light. And tbh, I'll gladly accept the added durability of a 400 gram stick... Not to mention the large price difference.

Just get previous models on sale. Or second price point. The ft7 is only 395 grams

Use a heat gun on those problem areas with them laced up. That targets the area better. Baking instructions for skates are meant for skate ovens and not home ovens. If you aren't familiar with baking at home I'd suggest looking online for videos regarding that.

This. Just get some Eva foam. They come in different thicknesses on Amazon too. Also, they aren't 3m, as far as I know.