A comprehensive hockey skate review

[MLSman 22]

Well, I had some discretionary income this summer, and I was interested in getting a new pair of skates. It turned into quite an exhaustive and costly experiment to look for the best fit and feel. Here are the skates I used and tested:

Easton Z-Air Comp SE Pro stock (2003 skate)

Easton Synergy 1500c

Nike/Bauer One90

Reebok 9K pump

CCM Vector 10

Here is some information on my foot: I wear an 11.5 shoe, and a 12 Nike sneaker. I have a pretty high arch and a very narrow foot. For the Eastons, a 9.5 D was the best fit. The One90s run big, so a 9D was the best fit. The Reebok 9ks were also a 9D and the Vector 10s are an 8.5D. Just goes to show you how different skates can be in size.

Easton Z-air Pro stock - These are the stiffest boots I have ever worn...even when comparing them to the 2000 Nike Ignite 1 pro stocks. I happen to like stiff boots, so these are a real treat. They were not unbearable, however, and an extremely durable skate. Replacing the Easton Bladz with a set of TUUK LS2s made them an extremely responsive lightweight boot. I would recommend this skate to anyone that can find it. They run somewhat narrow, and the toebox is built narrow. Due to the stiffness, they were way too much work to get used to for someone that does not bake skates, and because I am very light (140 lbs) I just could not break them in for the fit I wanted.

Easton Synergy 1500c - This is a great lightweight skate and VERY responsive. This skate is unique in that it is a carbon one piece design with no separate outsole. I liked the fact that the boot at first use was extremely comfortable, with no break in time. Some people may bake these, but I just don't understand why. They only take one session to break in. My only complaint about the boot is the blade. I just can't get used to the Bladz. They made my right foot turn inside, and it just didn't feel like a TUUK does to me. I also heard of some issues with the carbon outsole cracking.

Nike/Bauer One90 - Wow....what a skate. I happened to have some bad luck on mine, but the fit and weight of this boot make it one of the most amazing boots I have ever worn. Skating on the One90 felt like wearing a Nike running sneaker, and was simply explosive. Every stride felt more powerful with less effort. Man, do I wish I had a good pair, bacause the review would have stopped here. I absolutely loved the skate....but after one wear the outsole began to separate at the rubber part of the back of the boot. It could have been a bad batch of glue from the supplier, but I was just disappointed....so I decided to look further.

Reebok 9K pump - yet another comfortable skate. It is good to see that manufacturers have focused on lighter weight and comfort. The custom ankle bladder with the use of the pump is unique and much better than the original Reebok pump skate (no bladder in the tongue in this skate). All in all, I would say the boot is a very well constructed boot, and has average stiffness, similar to the Vapor XXX. The only negative to this skate for me was the width. Reeboks, like traditional CCM tacks, run pretty wide. The skate felt a little too big in the toe for me, so the fit was just not quite right for my skinny foot. I would definitely recommend this skate to anyone with a normal to wide foot.

CCM Vector 10 - last....but definitely not least, the review ends with the Ovechkin boot. I can see why he wears it. From the first time I put the boot on, there was something different about the feel of this boot. It is much narrower than the traditional CCM skate, like the 05 Vectors. It is a very stiff boot, which I like, and quite light. I wore them for about an hour, and they seem to set right in. I felt a lot of power and control in my stride, which I missed since I shipped my One90s back (I really hope this is not a big problem, because I really want another One90 boot). I was able to make my quick turns and feel like I had the boot I was looking for. Skating should not require a lot of effort, and the Vector 10 was just as explosive as the One90. It is a very well made durable boot, and I think my search is over.

I have worn Bauers since 1983, and it is with regret that my number one skate is not a Nike/Bauer. Of the skates tested, here is my order:

1. CCM Vector 10

2. One90 (would be #1 if not for the outsole separation worries)

3. Easton Synergy 1500c

4. Reebok 9K (would be higher if my foot was wider)

5. Easton Z air Pro comp SE

Just one persons opinion, after going through the effort to buy and test them. I still have two of them on ebay (Reebok 9K and Easton Z air).

[cobrAA 0]

i just dont get how can you adjust to a rbk/ccm skate and then come back to one90 and skating in bauer since 83.... These are all different fitting skate...I really don't get it!

[tsanga 0]

Wow...140 lbs with a size 11.5 shoe. Beanpole.

[Patrick67 1]

Glad to see my skates are #1 (10.0's), nice review btw.

[MLSman 22]

The CCM Vector is a narrow boot compared to the CCM Tacks. They feel a lot like a Bauer on my foot. I was very suprised when I tried them on, then skated on them. I hated the width of CCMs, until these Vectors. The RBK boot was too wide....it did feel very different, and just not my type of skate.

The fact is that skate fits change from line to line. I had not tried a Vector before and I had heard that they run narrow compared to CCM tacks. I could never get a snug fit in Tacks. I have learned from this experience that you just can't go by what people say about what they think about skates. It is really an experiment of trial and error in some cases. In the case of the Reebok 9K, the fit was confortable, but too wide for my foot on the ice.

There is a real difference in the feel of the boot when you buy it and the feel when you skate on it.

[MLSman 22]

Wow...140 lbs with a size 11.5 shoe. Beanpole.

Heh....I resemble that remark! :P

I never claimed to be Chris Pronger's size.

[EBondo 233]

Wow...140 lbs with a size 11.5 shoe. Beanpole.

I got a 10.5 shoe, I'm 125 pounds.

[Shane_e_19 0]

Ever tried missions? I have a nice paycheque coming and am looking into either one90's or mission 110-AG's, I really liked te feel of the mission this year and have never liked them in the past.

[Ivan 1]

The following skates could be gotten in a C width:

CCM Vector 10

Nike Bauer One90

RBK 9K Pumps

No knowledge- about the rest

[Ivan 1]

Forgot to make sure - you didn't bake the Vector 10s, did you?

Why don't you get them in a C width. I did for my narrow feet.

[MLSman 22]

No one at LHS I know have C width skates...they all had Ds and wider.

I did not bake my skates...I understand the process for getting skates to form much quicker, but I have seen too many instances of baked skates losng durability.

[Next Sakic 0]

I was given the chance to demo alot of the new product for this up and coming season to. i work at sports chek i was send to play hockey and sit in a class room and learn about the gear then try it. i skated in the 9k pumps, vector 10.0, synergy 1500, mission fuel 85, my own 8090's. i also go to use the vector 10.0 stick, new stealth, new sl, new st, 7k. and wore the mission intake, 8k, 6k, and bauer 8500. i was going to write up a huge tihng on all them too but i havent had the time. but ill gladly answer any questions on the products.

[Nick411 0]

what is your foot type and how did you find the fuels

[sabre09923 0]

I'm surprised you fit in the Vectors correctly. I have a pretty narrow foot, so I guess I'll check them out once I need a new pair of skates. Nice mini reviews.

[MLSman 22]

I was suprised myself. I would have never thought any CCM would fit on my foot, but I did hear that the Vectors were narrower than traditional CCM skates. I tried on a pair of Vector Pro (2005) skates and the width of the boot made me wonder if the new Vector 10s would fit. I tried them on and was pleasantly suprised. I skated on them yesterday, and they were great.

Just goes to show you that some of the traditional opinions on the brand of skates can vary from one line to the next.

[KYHockey3 0]

i was told that the 05 vector pros were wider then most skates

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

I am still trying to figure out where you are getting your miss information from?

As I had posted in another section about CCM skates the Vector is in the middle of the RBK CCM line.

Now this is directly from the assembly line not some humm I think this theory.

Now that being said some might FEEL that it may feel diffrent but the facts are as follows.

CCM Pro Tack Narrow Heel Med to High Arch

Vector Pro Mid Heel Med Arch

RBK 9K Widest heel (but able to make smaller with pump) Flat Arch

[Ivan 1]

No one at LHS I know have C width skates...they all had Ds and wider.

I did not bake my skates...I understand the process for getting skates to form much quicker, but I have seen too many instances of baked skates losng durability.

No LHS would normally have skates in a C width. Same goes for online stores. But they could be spoecial ordered. Lot of stores I contacted won't do that though, some (like Hockey Giant) said it'll be a custom order (!) upcharge of $100 (it's not custom order but special order since the manufacturer makes them a stock model). Danny Luongo of myhockeystore.com ordered them for me without me prepaying, gave me the best price around and gave me a free CCM V10 stick off the rack instead of having me mail in the coupon to CCM (knowing I am international). I wish the skates were coming in other NHL colors too, not just San Jose:)

[MLSman 22]

I am still trying to figure out where you are getting your miss information from?

As I had posted in another section about CCM skates the Vector is in the middle of the RBK CCM line.

Now this is directly from the assembly line not some humm I think this theory.

Now that being said some might FEEL that it may feel diffrent but the facts are as follows.

CCM Pro Tack Narrow Heel Med to High Arch

Vector Pro Mid Heel Med Arch

RBK 9K Widest heel (but able to make smaller with pump) Flat Arch

I can say from wearing the 9K that I did not notice a change in the heel of the skate. They are definitely wide, but the air bladder tightens the ankle. The heel itself still felt big. I would also agree that the arch is pretty flat.

As for the Vector 10s, I would have to say that the heel is similar to a Bauer heel - mid (borderline narrow) would be about right. The arch might be a mid, but I use a Shock Doctor insole to increase the arch a bit.

What I am confused about, however, is the Tacks. When I tried the boot on, I made sure my foot was snug in the boot (both foot and heel pretty tight in the boot. My foot absolutely felt like it was swimming in the boot. The front of the boot felt wide in a D width, and the heel did not feel narrow. I am used to my corner toes brushing aginst the sides of the boot, and I had to do some serious wiggling to feel them. Mind you, I have a very narrow foot.

[Viking#9 0]

Thanks for the review, I'm looking between the Bauer XXX (I can't afford the One90's) and the Vector 10's. This gave me some good information.

[MLSman 22]

I would say that you can't go wrong....just try them both on. The XXX is a comfortable boot. I have heard of some issues with the durability of the Vapor XXX so that is why I did not go that route. All of the things I hear on the Vector 10s are positive, including durability.

I also have an issue with outsourced manufacturing of equipment. I liked the One90s because they were made in Canada. The Vapor XXXs are NOT made in Canada. High end CCMs are made in Canada, as well as the high end RBKs. Eastons are made in China, so that is why I hae only bought pro stock Easton skates, as they are made in Canada. The only other skate not made in Canada I have respect for in quality is Graf (Sweden).

[Nick411 0]

Not to be rude but graf is based in switzerland

[Ivan 1]

Nice review indeed. Hey, can you tell if Nike Bauer One90 and Vector 10 indeed weigh about the same? Both NBH and CCM advertise them weighing only 750 gramms. Thanks

[sabre09923 0]

I would say that you can't go wrong....just try them both on. The XXX is a comfortable boot. I have heard of some issues with the durability of the Vapor XXX so that is why I did not go that route. All of the things I hear on the Vector 10s are positive, including durability.

I also have an issue with outsourced manufacturing of equipment. I liked the One90s because they were made in Canada. The Vapor XXXs are NOT made in Canada. High end CCMs are made in Canada, as well as the high end RBKs. Eastons are made in China, so that is why I hae only bought pro stock Easton skates, as they are made in Canada. The only other skate not made in Canada I have respect for in quality is Graf (Sweden).

What about those 1500 C's? I thought those were retail (in your review).

[stick9 891]

I am still trying to figure out where you are getting your miss information from?

As I had posted in another section about CCM skates the Vector is in the middle of the RBK CCM line.

Now this is directly from the assembly line not some humm I think this theory.

Now that being said some might FEEL that it may feel diffrent but the facts are as follows.

CCM Pro Tack Narrow Heel Med to High Arch

Vector Pro Mid Heel Med Arch

RBK 9K Widest heel (but able to make smaller with pump) Flat Arch

I just bought 8k's. I wouldn't say they have a wide heel. The mid foot in the 8k is wider then that in the Vector I tried on (7.0). The 8k's are wider then my 703's but not to the point where I am swiming in the skate. Then again, the 703's could be a little to narrow for me.

Of course I am assuming that 8k and 9k fit the same.