Mission D1C

[dgaronzik 1]

Mission D1C

Background - 5'8 185, moderate arch, wide foot.

Skate size - 9D

League - Men's League, A division (highest level, some MLRH and PIHA players) and C Division

Fit- The boot has Mission's DNA technology which creates a stiff lower boot followed by increasingly softer areas of boot so that the shell wraps around you foot as you tighten the laces. Instead of the whole skate being uniform stiffness and being a box around your foot, the shell of the boot basically conforms to your foot creating a better fit. Also, the DNA system frees up the ankle more so then normal skates to allow for a more free skating stride and more ankle snap. This new freedom of movement did not take me long to get used and I noticed the increase in movement and range of motion as soon as I stepped onto the rink with the skates. The only drawback to the DNA system is that it is based on reinforced cloth eyelets to pull the skate around your foot, this creates the possibility of ripping and also makes it harder then normal skates to get the right tightness of your preference. Switching to a wax lace might help this issue from the start but you will eventually get used to it. The liner is soft and compliant, the tongue is thin but more comfortable then my previous skates (Bauer Vapor XV). I did not get my skates baked and it took around 3 games for them to feel broken in. They got even better for the next 3 games after that. In the past, the stitching where the ankle pads and liner meet have caused me rubbing/blister problems on Mission skates. I did not have that problem with the D1C's. Rating - 9/10

Chassis/Bearings/Wheels - The stock chassis is made out of 7000 series aluminum that is heavily extruded and also angled to limit the weight of the chassis. While the chassis does feel light, one can only imagine that if some of the thickness of the walls was taken out, it could be even lighter. The axle system is a double axle system with a locking nut on one side that is held in place by a recession in the frame. Ive always prefered single axle systems but the recess to hold the nut is much better then past Mission attempts. I can not comment on the bearings and wheels since I swapped them out immediately. Rating - 8.5/10

Weight- While not the lightest skate Ive owned, its definetly the 2nd lightest Ive owned. I think most of the difference is in the chassis. However, the weight of the skate is not something I noticed during games. Rating - 9.5/10

Protection- I play defense on one of my teams and offense on the other team. I tend to try and block shots when I can for the most part the protection of the skates is pretty good. However, in one game last season I blocked a shot off the tongue of the skate and immediately got a stinger. If you get these, you shouldnt try not to block shots with that part of the skate. Rating - 8/10

Durability- One of my main concerns was how these skates would hold up. Ive owned a handful of Mission skates, taking some time between my last pair and this pair to skate on Bauer Vapor XV. After about a year on the XV's, they started to get softer and were showing signs of wear in several places. Also, my past Mission skates have all had problems with the outsole staying connected to the main part of the boot (Justin has said on many occasions in the past few months that this issue has been addressed and fixed). Ive been on these skates for about 3.5 months and they show no signs of wear or outsole seperation. For me, Ive always searched for a skate that would give me the performance I demand but also have a good amount of durability so Im not changing skates every year. Im hoping that these last. Rating - 9.5/10

Intangibles- One of the things I take into consideration when buying a skate is the company's customer support and support for the game. Mission has incredible customer support and Justin is an active member of this forum. Also, Mission is a very active supporter of the game and has been since day 1. Always support the companys that support your game. Rating - 10/10

Conclusion- This is the best skate Ive ever owned, whether custom or stock. The increase in range of motion in my foot has given me an extra pop in my stride and the overall fit has kept me skating comfortably for hours on end. Im hoping in the future that Mission can address possible durability issues with the DNA strand system (kevlar perhaps?) but that is the only real issue I have with the skate and its not even a pressing issue at that. Overall Rating - 9/10.