Finally...my quest for new (or old) skates is over

[MLSman 22]

Since using my Nike Ignite 1 pro stocks that I bought in 2000, I began a quest starting this summer to find a new pair of skates.

My quest is finally over...with three winners

I have tried just about every new boot out except for Kor and Missions.

List:

Pro Stock Easton Pro Comp SE '03

NBH One90

CCM Vector 10

CCM Pro Tacks

Vapor XXX

Graf 705

Bauer 8000

The winner from the list: Vapor XXX. The One90 would have been the winner from the beginning, but my experience and other boots I have personally seen with the outsole separation made the skate a no go for me.

So, there are 2 other boots in the mix. Two of the best boots I have seen and heard for performance and durability for my foot have been the Vapor 10 and the Bauer 7000....yes I like my boots stiff. I have worn Bauers most of my life (Supreme 1000s, 3000s, Vapor 8s). I looked everywhere, including ebay, for those two boots new in my size, with absolutely no luck.

I travel quite a bit all over the US for my job (senior systems architect), so I have been making stops to every LHS in every area I travel looking for these two boots....well, I just got lucky today. I found a brand new pair of Vapor 10s in my size for $230 in Alburquerque (Outpost Ice Arena). I skated on them today and I was in heaven. I also got lucky and found a "worn once" pair of Supreme 7000s. I am really happy now because I have a few skates in the arsenal to use for what I want when I want (Vapor 10 and XXX playing forward, Supreme 7000 when playing D).

This whole experiment got me thinking about how disappointing it is that skates just aren't made for durablity like they used to. The 7000 and the Vapor 10s a built like tanks...and the same can be said for the Easton Pro Comp SE.

[sogaduch 0]

I woulda probably said the vector 10 would be a better boot because the vector gives a better overall fit compared too the XXX unless the XXX you got was north american made.

[MLSman 22]

The Vector 10 was a nice skate....but my heel is VERY narrow and just wouldn't lock into the skate....so I did not get the jump I am used to. Only the Vapor 10 and XXX have been able to lock my heel in place.

[sogaduch 0]

The Vector 10 was a nice skate....but my heel is VERY narrow and just wouldn't lock into the skate....so I did not get the jump I am used to. Only the Vapor 10 and XXX have been able to lock my heel in place.

You should have tried on a C width in the vector or the 703/735 would also have been good boots if your heel is narrow

[Ivan 1]

Since using my Nike Ignite 1 pro stocks that I bought in 2000, I began a quest starting this summer to find a new pair of skates.

My quest is finally over...with three winners

I have tried just about every new boot out except for Kor and Missions.

List:

Pro Stock Easton Pro Comp SE '03

NBH One90

CCM Vector 10

CCM Pro Tacks

Vapor XXX

Graf 705

Bauer 8000

The winner from the list: Vapor XXX. The One90 would have been the winner from the beginning, but my experience and other boots I have personally seen with the outsole separation made the skate a no go for me.

So, there are 2 other boots in the mix. Two of the best boots I have seen and heard for performance and durability for my foot have been the Vapor 10 and the Bauer 7000....yes I like my boots stiff. I have worn Bauers most of my life (Supreme 1000s, 3000s, Vapor 8s). I looked everywhere, including ebay, for those two boots new in my size, with absolutely no luck.

I travel quite a bit all over the US for my job (senior systems architect), so I have been making stops to every LHS in every area I travel looking for these two boots....well, I just got lucky today. I found a brand new pair of Vapor 10s in my size for $230 in Alburquerque (Outpost Ice Arena). I skated on them today and I was in heaven. I also got lucky and found a "worn once" pair of Supreme 7000s. I am really happy now because I have a few skates in the arsenal to use for what I want when I want (Vapor 10 and XXX playing forward, Supreme 7000 when playing D).

This whole experiment got me thinking about how disappointing it is that skates just aren't made for durablity like they used to. The 7000 and the Vapor 10s a built like tanks...and the same can be said for the Easton Pro Comp SE.

Hmmm...What about the Pro Tacks you liked so much? I guess they ended up being a little too wide for you in the forefoot and in the heel too. It's a little confusing for me - you like certain skates a lot in the beginning and then you change your mind.

[Ivan 1]

The Vector 10 was a nice skate....but my heel is VERY narrow and just wouldn't lock into the skate....so I did not get the jump I am used to.  Only the Vapor 10 and XXX have been able to lock my heel in place.

You should have tried on a C width in the vector or the 703/735 would also have been good boots if your heel is narrow

C width won't work in Vectors for a narrow heel. They skates may be coming in a C width but the heel still is in a A width. I am coming from the 7000s pro stock C width. The heel lock great in it. Having a little bit of a slip in my Vector 10s in a C width too. But It's not badf. Even though most bauer skates have a different and IMO better heel lock. I still am very glad I skate in CCM V10s now and not in the 7000s. What I am finding out is that RBK 8K heel is narrower than that of V10s and Pro Tacks.