mission skates

[pizzakid13 5]

i have a couple questions for the mission experts on this board. i currently wear graf 704 size 8. i love them but they are 5 years old and will need to be replaced eventually. i also have a pair of 705s size 7.5 but they feel wider and a bit stiffer. i am not as quick in the 705s.

i have read many of the rave reviews on mission skates and was thinking about giving them a shot. i had a pair of amp3 way back when i was first starting out and thought they were very compfy. what exactly is the difference between the S series and the L series? i visited the mission website and read all the info. supplefit vs. litefit? the difference between the S400 and S300?

i wear a size 9 in sneakers but my LHS does not carry mission anymore so i cant measure to see what size i am or try on a couple different models. i live in phoenix and our selection of proshops is weak at best. the graf shows me a 7.5 and D width. thanks for all the info.

[duch 0]

This is a tough one. The Missions are a great pair of skates and are very innovative in their designs and features. Grafs are what I consider one of the best skates on the market. I don't think you can really go too wrong whichever way you decide. If you buy a high end Mission your get really good value, just as good if you where buying a 700 or G series Graf skate. That means you buy an S-500 or S-400 or high end L series. The higher the number on the L series the more high end the skate. If you can get a deal on the S series Missions I'd go for them because both skates are a fit for a thinner foot. With Missions though you buy your street shoe size, that is to say if you wear a 9 running shoe you buy a 9 skate. With Grafs you can go down a half or full size. With Missions you'll be able to adjust your pitch so you can get the same forward lean that you have on the Grafs but the fit on Missions will be slightly different but not to the point where its a major concern. Both skates are great quality and design so I don't think you can go wrong either way.

[Chadd 916]

With Missions though you buy your street shoe size, that is to say if you wear a 9 running shoe you buy a 9 skate. With Grafs you can go down a half or full size.

Missions are not the same as shoe size and most people I know go a size or size and a half down in Graf.

[Patrick67 1]

Yep, Mission is a size down. Wear a 10 in sneakers, 9D in Misison and 7.5D in CCM/RBK.

[twiztidwrista10 3]

Yep, Mission is a size down. Wear a 10 in sneakers, 9D in Misison and 7.5D in CCM/RBK.

Ill 2nd that, I wear 11- 11 1/2 in shoe and a 10D in mission.

[Project_2501 0]

I have 11wide Saucony running shoes, and 9.5E CCM's, but they're 1/2 size big, so 9E in CCM.

[the_game 452]

I actually just made the swtich from Graf 703 to Mission s400s last week. I tried on a few mission skates, the L7, the s500 and the s400. The L7 was nice but its cut like a Bauer boot and comes up higher then I would like on the ankle. The s500 and 400 are both a lower cut boot and give you a nice forward flex, similar to the Grafs. I was thinking about going with the S500 but they felt a little to stiff for me and my left foot never felt comfortable in the ankle. I tried on the s400 and they felt perfect, didn't even need to bake them. I was able to get these skates for 200 bucks so i thought it was a steel.

On the ice there was really no adjustment at all. The only thing that felt a little different was when I changed the pitch so the blade was like a tuuk. that took all of about 5 minutes to get used but I am not going back, the pitch is really nice. The only real difference I have felt in the mission boot from the graf, is that the mission fits a little narrow towards the toe box. That could be because I didn;t bake them but otherwise its not really that bad.

If you can find the missions for as cheap as I did, its not going to be a bad choice picking them up. I really like what mission is doing with the design of their skates and I think they are on the right track.

[#96 0]

I'm pretty sure I recall Justin saying that the S Series and L series do not fit to shoe size, and that system hasn't been in place with Mission skates (Shoe size = Mission Skate Size) for a few years. I wanna say he said only the Roller boots have been like that, but aren't necessarily anymore either.

[pizzakid13 5]

I actually just made the swtich from Graf 703 to Mission s400s last week. I tried on a few mission skates, the L7, the s500 and the s400. The L7 was nice but its cut like a Bauer boot and comes up higher then I would like on the ankle. The s500 and 400 are both a lower cut boot and give you a nice forward flex, similar to the Grafs. I was thinking about going with the S500 but they felt a little to stiff for me and my left foot never felt comfortable in the ankle. I tried on the s400 and they felt perfect, didn't even need to bake them. I was able to get these skates for 200 bucks so i thought it was a steel.

On the ice there was really no adjustment at all. The only thing that felt a little different was when I changed the pitch so the blade was like a tuuk. that took all of about 5 minutes to get used but I am not going back, the pitch is really nice. The only real difference I have felt in the mission boot from the graf, is that the mission fits a little narrow towards the toe box. That could be because I didn;t bake them but otherwise its not really that bad.

If you can find the missions for as cheap as I did, its not going to be a bad choice picking them up. I really like what mission is doing with the design of their skates and I think they are on the right track.

where did you find the S400 for such a good price?

[the_game 452]

south windsor, in connecticut. all their mission skates are on sale for real cheap.

http://www.hockey1.com, thats their site. I would give them a ring and see what they have.

on a side not they also sell used skates that people trade in. When I was there they had a pair of mission s500 that were custom made for Peter Forsberg. They had his name printed on them and everything. I tried them on but he wears a size 7.5 and they were way too small for me. but it was cool to see what a pro spec skate designed for peter forsberg was like, i am pretty sure he is really picky when it comes to skates.

[EBondo 233]

I use the s400's now, and I couldn't be happy. Besides the fact that the eyelets came off the skate a little bit ago, I've been very very pleased with the skate, and has very much lived up to the expectations

[#96 0]

I use the s400's now, and I couldn't be happy. Besides the fact that the eyelets came off the skate a little bit ago, I've been very very pleased with the skate, and has very much lived up to the expectations

Eyelets falling out would piss me off!

JR has made it known the eyelets on the Nike Flexlite Series are poor and don't get his recommendation because of them.

[Chadd 916]

I use the s400's now, and I couldn't be happy. Besides the fact that the eyelets came off the skate a little bit ago, I've been very very pleased with the skate, and has very much lived up to the expectations

Eyelets falling out would piss me off!

JR has made it known the eyelets on the Nike Flexlite Series are poor and don't get his recommendation because of them.

I had one customer pop one eyelet. He pulled up as hard as possible every time he laced up his skates.

[toroytorero 0]

I have a pair of s400's no problems with the eyelets but the tendon guard area is starting to rip some. Nothing bad yet.. I've had them for a year I skate about 3 times a week.

[Chadd 916]

I have a pair of s400's no problems with the eyelets but the tendon guard area is starting to rip some. Nothing bad yet.. I've had them for a year I skate about 3 times a week.

Take it to a shoe shop and have it stitched up before it gets bad. It comes from sitting back on your heels when you skate. I see it on a lot of guys who play defense and it happened to mine as well.

[pizzakid13 5]

I actually just made the swtich from Graf 703 to Mission s400s last week. I tried on a few mission skates, the L7, the s500 and the s400. The L7 was nice but its cut like a Bauer boot and comes up higher then I would like on the ankle. The s500 and 400 are both a lower cut boot and give you a nice forward flex, similar to the Grafs. I was thinking about going with the S500 but they felt a little to stiff for me and my left foot never felt comfortable in the ankle. I tried on the s400 and they felt perfect, didn't even need to bake them. I was able to get these skates for 200 bucks so i thought it was a steel.

On the ice there was really no adjustment at all. The only thing that felt a little different was when I changed the pitch so the blade was like a tuuk. that took all of about 5 minutes to get used but I am not going back, the pitch is really nice. The only real difference I have felt in the mission boot from the graf, is that the mission fits a little narrow towards the toe box. That could be because I didn;t bake them but otherwise its not really that bad.

If you can find the missions for as cheap as I did, its not going to be a bad choice picking them up. I really like what mission is doing with the design of their skates and I think they are on the right track.

how about the quality of contruction? i am having a lace bite problem lately and the tongue is even more important now. graf has a great tongue and also a great durability rep.

[Chadd 916]

I have yet to have a customer with lace bite problems with a Mission skate.

[thejackal 46]

The mission tongue is pretty confortable and breaks in quickly, though less protective than other brands.

[the_game 452]

the mission tongue is great, no lace bite, no discomfort at all. compared to the graf tongue, I prefer the missions.

[pizzakid13 5]

sounds good.

[djinferno 2]

Going from a 703 graf to a s500 mission, the ajustment is minimal, the mission does not get waterlogged....

The pitch is the best invention since sliced bread...

I wear a 8.5 nike and a 8 between a D and a E in with and a 7.5R in 703's

hope this helps...

[Badger 0]

I'm pretty big 6'1" 225 and I've been using the S500s for over a year and they're holding up great. The quality of the construction seems to be equal or superior to anything out there. However if you are not a big guy or an advanced player don't waste you're money because this is too much skate(incredibly stiff). You will be just as well served by the S400 or S300.

[IGO2XS 0]

I just purchased my S500's and I have had to do some playing with them to get them to fit. I have a wide foot and I had been reading that they fit true to shoe size too but they didnt. I wear between a 8.5 and a 9 in street shoes, so I first went with a 8.5 in the mission. I wore them around the house and they felt just too big, but the width was wonderful. I ended returning them for an 8 and the fit is much better except the width. Because of this, I have heated up the toe area with a heat gun and stretched the toe area a bit. Its not quite perfect yet but they are getting close to perfect. The skates just looked so bad ass, I had to get them. Fit or not, had to have them. G

[pizzakid13 5]

You will be just as well served by the S400 or S300.

yeah, i agree with that. price is a big issue.

[Chadd 916]

You will be just as well served by the S400 or S300.

yeah, i agree with that. price is a big issue.

I always thought there was a bigger difference between the 300 and 400 than the 400 and 500.