XXXX Skates are in and a question.

[Shawn in Tampa 0]

So my buddy calls me to tell me that the XXXX's are in and if I want them, I can get them pronto. But after further discussion, I decide I really dont want a made in China skate at the same cost as a made with care in Canada skate.

Question.

Do you think the move to offshore production is going to effect either the quality OR the sales of this skate?

Apparently the custom's are still built in Canada, thats the way I am going.

Thoughts?

Shawn@Charvels.Com

[Chadd 916]

If the factory has high quality control standards they can make a good skate regardless of their location. Proportionally, I have seen as many bad skates from Canada as from anywhere else in the world.

Buying Canadian over Chinese makes more sense if you're making a political statement. Especially considering China will be passing the US this year as the world's top country for pollution.

[mattopiela 0]

I've been skating on the skates for 2 weeks now. I like them a lot. I had XXX's before as well and I believe after two weeks the 30's looked more beat up. Aside from the toe caps having a few scratches the skates are perfect. I also believe the xxxx will hold up longer because they don't flex as much as the XXX's did because of the flex notch, this boot is a bit stiffer.

[Sputnik20 46]

Although nodoubt a terrible comparison, you can still find great chinese food in Canada, why not skates? Stupid jokes aside, if you pick and choose which products are made where, you will soon find yourself unable to purchase anything that doesn't have the Chinese seal of approval on it.

[Shawn in Tampa 0]

I've been skating on the skates for 2 weeks now. I like them a lot. I had XXX's before as well and I believe after two weeks the 30's looked more beat up. Aside from the toe caps having a few scratches the skates are perfect. I also believe the xxxx will hold up longer because they don't flex as much as the XXX's did because of the flex notch, this boot is a bit stiffer.

How was the fit compared to the XXX....Dead on?

[mattopiela 0]

I've been skating on the skates for 2 weeks now. I like them a lot. I had XXX's before as well and I believe after two weeks the 30's looked more beat up. Aside from the toe caps having a few scratches the skates are perfect. I also believe the xxxx will hold up longer because they don't flex as much as the XXX's did because of the flex notch, this boot is a bit stiffer.

How was the fit compared to the XXX....Dead on?

I can't say dead on because the XXXX's fit me better then the XXX's did. With the XXX's I had the issue of one skate feeling a bit bigger then the other one. I guess the new toe caps fix the problem. Also there is more ankle padding. Don't quote me on this but I think they might be a bit heavier then the XXX's.

[forbs02 20]

I've been skating on the skates for 2 weeks now. I like them a lot. I had XXX's before as well and I believe after two weeks the 30's looked more beat up. Aside from the toe caps having a few scratches the skates are perfect. I also believe the xxxx will hold up longer because they don't flex as much as the XXX's did because of the flex notch, this boot is a bit stiffer.

How was the fit compared to the XXX....Dead on?

I sized a bunch of kids in the 40's a couple weeks ago and most dropped .5 to 1 size from their 30's.

[Cavs019 708]

thats odd.....are you sure their 30s fit to begin with?

[forbs02 20]

thats odd.....are you sure their 30s fit to begin with?

Absolutely. Most were at the ends of their 30's (like a skate should fit) and couple of them were coming out of custom 30's that had been sized by Bauer reps. I saw the same thing happen from the 20s to the 30s. A number of people dropped sizes in those too.

[Cavs019 708]

I went from 7 XX to 7 XXX to what I imagine will be a 7D XXXX. This certainly illustrates the importance of trying skates on before you buy.

[Fredrik 0]

Hey Shawn, how about your RBK:s, didn't you like them or are you just continuing your search for the perfect skate? I recall reading that you've got the Vector 10's as well. Non of them customs, but both being made in Canada, right? Whats your opinion on these two skates?

[Shawn in Tampa 0]

Hey Shawn, how about your RBK:s, didn't you like them or are you just continuing your search for the perfect skate? I recall reading that you've got the Vector 10's as well. Non of them customs, but both being made in Canada, right? Whats your opinion on these two skates?

Hey Frederik.

I do still skate the white 9k's on occasion, but believe it or not, the XXX's ended up being THE boot for my foot, so the XXXX intrigues me.

The Bauer was it for me. As in, stepped on the ice, knew it instantly. Honestly, they are all great skates, none of them are a problem (Except for the Graf's). Just looking for better and better, thats all.

Life is short!

[Fredrik 0]

Totaly agree!

Nice to hear from you Shawn!

[mac26 0]

I tried the 40's on today, I was a bit disappointed. First I think they are the same, if not more weight than the 30s. This might not be true, jsut an opinion. It has solid steel this year, maybe a bit of a difference and a few cosmetics that could throw a little extra. Other then that they were very comfortable. If you are going strictly by make and a retail size fits you perfect, and you are not putting any mods on then there is no reason to go custom

[mew1838 0]

Ok, you are disappointed because they are "heavy"?

[barrett 0]

Haha , I highly doubt they should be called heavy .

[kovalchuk71 212]

I tried the 40's on today, I was a bit disappointed. First I think they are the same, if not more weight than the 30s. This might not be true, jsut an opinion. It has solid steel this year, maybe a bit of a difference and a few cosmetics that could throw a little extra. Other then that they were very comfortable. If you are going strictly by make and a retail size fits you perfect, and you are not putting any mods on then there is no reason to go custom

your dissapointed because they were a bit heavier than the XXX? Give me a break. The XXX are already light as it is. If anything, you should have been impressed because they seemed to fit your foot (you said they were comfy).

[mac26 0]

I tried the 40's on today, I was a bit disappointed. First I think they are the same, if not more weight than the 30s. This might not be true, jsut an opinion. It has solid steel this year, maybe a bit of a difference and a few cosmetics that could throw a little extra. Other then that they were very comfortable. If you are going strictly by make and a retail size fits you perfect, and you are not putting any mods on then there is no reason to go custom

your dissapointed because they were a bit heavier than the XXX? Give me a break. The XXX are already light as it is. If anything, you should have been impressed because they seemed to fit your foot (you said they were comfy).

I did not mean to sound like that, in the fashion of skates becoming lighter, stiffer, with more ankle flex i thought there would be an improvement. There fine..

[mac26 0]

I tried the 40's on today, I was a bit disappointed. First I think they are the same, if not more weight than the 30s. This might not be true, jsut an opinion. It has solid steel this year, maybe a bit of a difference and a few cosmetics that could throw a little extra. Other then that they were very comfortable. If you are going strictly by make and a retail size fits you perfect, and you are not putting any mods on then there is no reason to go custom

your dissapointed because they were a bit heavier than the XXX? Give me a break. The XXX are already light as it is. If anything, you should have been impressed because they seemed to fit your foot (you said they were comfy).

Give you a break? take it easy mang i thought a new skate that will prob cost mroe would be lighter with mroe forward flex

[mew1838 0]

1) lighter isn't always better (seriously this is getting stupid)

2) They cost the same as the XXX.

3) You haven't skated on them, so you don't know about the forward flex.

[Viking 1]

1) lighter isn't always better (seriously this is getting stupid)

Instead of "Modsquadhockey," that's what this site's banner needs to say. Then maybe I won't have to read every thread and say it in my head. Thank you!

[monoclub 5]

Chadd, 1. If China is overtaking the US as the Worlds biggest polluter doesn't that mean that the US with a population a quarter the size of China mean that each person in the US still creates 4 times the pollution of a single Chinese person? 2. Hasn't the US and the moving offshore of so much of its manufacturing been the prime reason for China's great increase in pollution in recent years?

[Chadd 916]

Chadd, 1. If China is overtaking the US as the Worlds biggest polluter doesn't that mean that the US with a population a quarter the size of China mean that each person in the US still creates 4 times the pollution of a single Chinese person? 2. Hasn't the US and the moving offshore of so much of its manufacturing been the prime reason for China's great increase in pollution in recent years?

1. On average we are far more industrialized than China, obviously the US produces more pollutants per capita. While the US is criticized for not signing the Kyoto protocol and China has, China is not required to obey the terms as they are a "developing nation". They are determined to keep growing their production capabilities and are not concerned with the environmental impact.

2. Everyone is losing manufacturing capabilities to China, not just the US. Also keep in mind that China is the one courting the corporations, not the other way around.

My point was not to turn this into a debate over production location and the environmental ramifications. Just throwing in a little tidbit I read that day.

[MLSman 22]

As far as I can remember....weren't the XXXs made in Thailand, not China? Are the XXXXs also made in Thailand or was that also moved to China? I know the shoulder, shins, elbows, and gloves were made in China.

Anyway, to get back on topic...I am also intrigued by the XXXX and have two questions. I could care less about weight, because as boots have decreased in weight they have also decreased in durability. From a number of comments, the skates fit like the XXX. I am more curious about durability and stiffness. I have heard some unconfirmed info that they feel a little stiffer, the padding is a bit thicker. Can anyone who has them confirm their stiffness and durability?

[earth4x 0]

quick question.. is the release date still May 1st?

There's a first line dealer out here in Laval, Quebec and I was wondering if they were getting them May 1st