Wicked, Tour, Easton, Sprung, Vanguard, Humm'r.......

[riotgear 4]

I decided to start this thread to review some custom skates. A lot of other threads have this mixed in and out, but I think we need something that sticks to the main topic.

I would like to see everyone's opinions (good or bad) on their skates AFTER customizing them.

I'm always ripping frames off one skate and putting them on another and then repeating the process 320987542897 times a week. I like working with all kinds of setups and all styles of wheels and bearings.

In my other topic i mentioned that i just converted the Easton 1500c Ice Skates to Easton 1500C w/ Mission's Vanguard Chassis from the Wicked 1.

The other pair i'm currently rolling on are converted Bauer Supreme 30 Ice Skates to Keith's original Sprung Chassis.

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A few stats:

The Easton 1500C w/ Vanguard MSRP = $1152 (have to buy both pairs of skates to complete the chassis swap)

- BSB Micro Swiss Bearings

- Rink Rat Wheels

The Bauer Supreme 30 w/ Sprung MSRP = $200

- BSB Swiss ABEC 9 Bearings

- Labeda Gripper Medium Wheels

The Eastons at about $1000 more than the Bauer only provide an EXTREMELY LIGHT WEIGHT skate. I can reach some rediculous speeds on the 1500s but it seems as if the boot does not allow for the same maneuverability with the Vanguard frame. It is probably the same for any roller frame since the boots are designed for ice. Cornering is suprisingly not as i imagined it would be.

After skating the 1500s for a couple of days now, I really miss using the Sprung chassis i have on my Bauers. I predict that the combination of the Sprung Chassis and Easton's Coil Technology will provide an unmatched level of performance in a skate. I'll probably try that out sometime in the next few weeks.

My honest opinion is that the Bauer 30 w/ Sprung is taking the lead against the new 1500s. It's hard to imagine I know.

The Vanguard is great because it's light and they used the 80807676, but after swithcing to the Sprung I realized that there is really no going back. I think everyone should give the Sprungs a try at least once. I guarentee that you will have a tough time switching back to a traditional chassis.

that's just the beginning of a review i will complete after using these skates more. it will probably be a few weeks before im finished with this 1500c/vanguard vs sprung/supreme 30

[phshockey53 0]

what do you think of the sprung chassis? i had never heard of them before now but looking at their web-page it says that players transitioning between ice and roller like them alot. i currently play both and would like to knwo how the frame performs in comparison to an ice frame. and also, is the chassis heavy whejn fully assembled? thanks

[riotgear 4]

it is a great way to transition between ice and roller. it has some weight to it, but the way the chassis works definately makes up for the little extra weight. the fact that you can "dig in" while starting off gives you a great deal more initial acceleration than using a traditional 4x4 or hi lo frame. think of taking off on a sprung chassis like "running" on the ice. they are extremely similar and both make for a much more explosive start.

hope that helps.

[vitaminchi 0]

i've skated in a bunch of skates the past few years...

last fall, i was wearing the code-1's, but the boot broke down by mid-summer, and i decided to go back to converted Graf's...which led to the Graf 703/sprung setup.

at first, it was weird, and i thought that my acceleration and speed had gone down, while maneuverability had gone up. keeping that in mind...

i went back to my code-1's for a weekend of practice, and noticed a jump in acceleration/speed again...

went back to the Graf's the next week, and actually felt FASTER.

as much as i liked the sprungs this summer, i really enjoyed being on the Cateye chassis (hummer), and had them placed on the 9k's...

this setup so far...5 :o, on the 5 Oh face scale. i actually think this skate is LIGHTER than my code-1's, but there is no actual proof, as i have not weighed them.

both setups were using micro bearings and labeda genesis wheels.

in case anyone asks, my other setups/skates over the past years include:

CCM 852's (stock): were ok, with hi/lo frames

mission VSI's (stock): step up, hi/lo frames

Graf703's/kuzak split chassis: first awesome setup, but felt sluggish at times

Mission Wicked Lights (stock): hi/lo frames, great skate, but always felt like they were going to break, and they hurt my feet in the toe box

Easton Synergy's/mission vibe chassis: way too heavy, felt like i took a step back, also hurt my feet in the toe box

Graf 703's/Labeda Sensor chassis: best setup at this point in skates

Tour Code-1's (stock): great skate, but boot was cut weird at the ankle

Graf 703's/Sprung chassis: great setup, will probably switch in and out with

RBK's this season

RBK 9K's/Labeda Cateye: probably the best setup overall so far...

yea...lots of skates..haha.

[Patrick67 1]

My skates(+some previous):

-Vector Pro with Mission Alu frame (from the 03' d1c skate)

-Rbk 8K Pump with Red Star Alloys

*current*-Vector 10.0 with Red Star Alloys

-Graf 705 with Sprung frame

Other players from my club: CCM 1052 with Red Star E-frame

Rbk 7K with Mission Alu frame (from a 03' d1c skate)

Rbk 8k with Mission Alu frame (from a 03' d1c skate)

Bauer XV with Rbk Tri-Di fram (from the Rbk 8K Pump skate)

Graf 705 with Red Star E-frame

Graf 703 with Red Star Alloys

Vector PF10 with Red Star Alloys

Rbk 8K Pump with Red Star Alloys

Bauer 8090 with Mission Hi-lo frame

Graf 703 with Mission Hi-lo frame

CCM Externo with Hi-lo frame

Graf 705 with Hi-lo frame

Bauer 7000 with Hi-lo frame

Bauer 7000 with Kuzak flat frame

And probably a few more...

Rest of the club uses "standard" skates ala Vector PF8 & PF10, Rbk 6K & 8K.

Probably 3 or 4 players that use mid-level mission skates (previous years models)

And one guy that uses Tour Blu-Max.

Btw I have almost photographic memory. LOL B)

I've done timed tests on the Sprung frame after adjusting to it, and couldn't skate as fast as on the Alloys.

On a "obstacle course" i.e. a lot of cornering around cones, the sprungs made op for the loss in speed on straight strecthes. Actually they were a little faster.

But in games that doesn't matter much since you (normally) skate in a straight line when chasing a loose puck. Couldn't stand the loss in speed, so I am back on Alloys.

But the day keith comes up with a sprung model that supercedes conventional models in accelleration he will have won the "war". No doubt in my mind that sprung has the potential to completely dominate the market, but that will be sometime in the future.

[stevoc 0]

I think my favorite "custom" skate I've had (still have) is my D2C's with Red Star Alloys. (red frame) The boots are comfy and the chassis has been rock solid. I think the red star chassis doesn't make me lean as far forward than the original Mission chassis, but that may all be in my head. :P

I have some wicked 5's on the way and am excited about the new vanguard chassis....we'll see.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Riotgear, I currently use 1500c's witha sprung chassis and it is an incredible setup. Did the vanguard mount clean on the 1500c's?. I wanted to try the vanguard....