Interesting thought on synergy skates

[CaptainZbubble 0]

I do have questions about the longevity of these skates. One concern is that much like a composite stick, there will be no warning when they give out. Traditional skates lose stiffness over time. This gives players plenty of warning before it’s time to buy a new pair.

While the Synergy seems like it will last a great deal longer than a traditional skate would, there is the question of what happens when defenders take shots off of the foot. Granted, it will be a lot less painful in a skate this hard. But I wonder, will things crack in an invisible manner and one day while skating with a little crunch will the heel counter just completely give out?

I read this on e-opinions.com and its got me thinking about the statement above. Im currently searching for new skates since my 727's are seeing thier final days. Synergys have caught my eye and i read this and it made me wonder. I realize that composite sticks take numerous slashes and have much more force placed on them every shot,pass, slash's.

The force of a shot every practice and game is greater then a puck to the foot every now-and-then. I was wondering if over time the wear and tear would do the same to the skates

Any thoughts?

[headonaswivel 1]

I've seen a few pairs of my friend that have daily use in the AHL. They were sound, but the toes were cracked and peeling like a bad sunburn.

[Rustybender 0]

I have no experience with carbon fiber anything but I do have experience with fiberglass and kevlar canoes and kayaks. I'm not positive but I think they use similar fabrication techniques, so I would guess that they would have similar failure properties.

When a composite kayak or canoe begins to fail from damage (rocks, drops on concrete, etc.) my experince has shown that it the failure is not a sudden catostrophic failure. It usually starts with an invisible crack which over time becomes a visible crack, but the surrounding material supports the damaged area. Even if the crack is caused by severe trauma, the boat usually holds together. If the damaged area is ignored (or goes unnoticed,) the crack will grow anytime it is stressed.

I don't think a skate would behave much different from that.

If you see a crack that looks like trouble, you probably have time to get some new skates. I wouldn't wait too long, but I would guess you have some time.

You can repair fiberglass and kevlar boats, but I'm not sure if the same is true for carbon fiber skates.

1000 pardons if I'm way off base here...

[Chadd 916]

I've seen a few pairs of my friend that have daily use in the AHL. They were sound, but the toes were cracked and peeling like a bad sunburn.

How did the Kor's the other guy is using compare in terms of wear?

[headonaswivel 1]

Mike Browns Kor's were in great shape. He was saying he gets them a bit less flexy, and was on only his second pair all year. Compared to Elly's 3 Synergy's.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/longback//Norfolk-trip-117.jpg

[Sticks of Fury 0]

Mike Browns Kor's were in great shape. He was saying he gets them a bit less flexy, and was on only his second pair all year. Compared to Elly's 3 Synergy's.

http://premium1.uploadit.org/longback//Norfolk-trip-117.jpg

Nice thick eyelets. Looks like a moonboot!

[Keith 0]

That Kor boot sure seems to crease badly. This isn't the first boot I have seen that looked that way.

[Chadd 916]

That doesn't look bad at all

[sherwood21 0]

That Kor boot sure seems to crease badly. This isn't the first boot I have seen that looked that way.

Remindgs me of those pictures that I saw of He950's, but those you could see more because they were white.

[sogaduch 0]

i know that ive seen the synergys kinda crack and fray at the bottom of the boot, i remember seeing the kor awhile back. the boot had a sort of a ski boot lining in it, seemed like a good idea but never got to try it out

[Keith 0]

That doesn't look bad at all

The creasing looks more serious to me than you make it out ot be. Thing is, I don't know where the materials begin and the composites end in that boot so it may or may not be so big of a deal.

[Keith 0]

I am of the opinion that if any company wanted to make a 100% comp boot, they should have ripped off the graf 707 design and built the stiffness/flex into a "spine" that connected the ankle area which would be free floating. That way, you would get the weight benefits, the stiffness around your feet, as well as the ability to get a real good knee bend.

[CaptainZbubble 0]

Anyone currently in synergy's wanna give an opinion? Also, for those who gave them a shot and hated them, please explain why

CaptainZbubble

[sogaduch 0]

Anyone currently in synergy's wanna give an opinion? Also, for those who gave them a shot and hated them, please explain why

CaptainZbubble

the ankle padding was very hard on my ankles and the fact they couldnt be heat molded worsened the ankle slippage

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

They bruised my feel really bad. Damn boot doesn't flex.

[Chadd 916]

That doesn't look bad at all

The creasing looks more serious to me than you make it out ot be. Thing is, I don't know where the materials begin and the composites end in that boot so it may or may not be so big of a deal.

The only creases I see are in the nylon where the eyelets are sewn on. That material has a lot more give in it than the areas with the hard composite shell under it.

[CaptainZbubble 0]

Was the brusing caused by stiffness or by your feet being unfit for easton design? I had 03 Z-air's. I would assume that synergy's would have a similar fit which would eliminate the biased attitude from people who just shove the skate on their foot b/c synergys are cool looking and light. Its a expensive cometment to have the heel crack on me or whatnot. I loved z-airs but couldnt stand getting a shot to the foot in them cause the protection wasnt that hot in select areas.

Solution: Z-air fit + Sweet protection= synergys?

Thats just my thinking, any thoughts?

CaptainZbubble

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

If you read my previous opinions on the matter, I really liked how the skate fit. THe bruising was caused by the way the boot flexes. I spoke to a competitor's product manager and they did experiments which verified my theory.

[Edge 0]

I never got bruises on my heels from the skates. I got scabs on my ankles on the origionals, but no bruises.. :(

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I didn't get them on the heel. It was the top of my foot/ankle...

[Rustybender 0]

The Synergys caused scabs and bruises on my ankles; but that was minor in the grand scheme of things. What was worse, they caused me major pain in my arches. Over 2 months of 6+ hours a week skating and I still couldn't stand to wear them for more than an hour without hobbling to the bench unlacing them and giving my feet a break for 10-15 minutes before I could continue.

I kept telling myself that a little more use and I would finally have them broken in. I finally gave up. As far as I can tell, there is no breaking them in, they either fit or they don't.

My new Bauer 6000's felt better on their first skate than my Synergys did on their last.