NikeBauer Flexlite 18

[phillipsa 0]

I might be getting a new pair of skates this season, and I was wondering if anyone has tried the Flexlite 18s? Are they essentially the same skate as last year's Flexlite 12s?

[DamnLocust 0]

it's actually closer to the flexlite 10

[lb33knight 0]

NBH deleted the top end Flexlite skate from their line for some reason. Which I am extremely unhappy with because I have been wearing the 12's. The Flexlite 18 is closer to the 10 than the 12. The 12 was a great skate, lightweight, and cheaper when compared to the One90 and Vapor XXX. I think that NBH wanted to push their high end skaters towards the Vapor or Supreme lines though because they have more market appeal.

[Law Goalie 147]

Actually, you can find pairs of the new Flexlite 20s in Europe and Asia. They are more or less the same as the 12's, chiefly in having a clarino liner and a synthetic tongue rather than a felt one: the same points which distinguished the 12 from the 10.

Presumably, NBH would make a pair of Flexlite 20s if you asked.

What I have yet to hear is whether the new Flexlite line is actually built on the same last with the same depth and fit as the previous Flexlites.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

Actually, you can find pairs of the new Flexlite 20s in Europe and Asia. They are more or less the same as the 12's, chiefly in having a clarino liner and a synthetic tongue rather than a felt one: the same points which distinguished the 12 from the 10.

Presumably, NBH would make a pair of Flexlite 20s if you asked.

What I have yet to hear is whether the new Flexlite line is actually built on the same last with the same depth and fit as the previous Flexlites.

Wider feet in Europe/Asia.

Yes, same as the previous Flexlites. It was supposed to be gone, surprisingly they kept it.

[wonderenzo 0]

Actually, you can find pairs of the new Flexlite 20s in Europe and Asia. They are more or less the same as the 12's, chiefly in having a clarino liner and a synthetic tongue rather than a felt one: the same points which distinguished the 12 from the 10.

Presumably, NBH would make a pair of Flexlite 20s if you asked.

What I have yet to hear is whether the new Flexlite line is actually built on the same last with the same depth and fit as the previous Flexlites.

Heard the flexlite 12/20 was unavailable for "custom" unless you can pull some strings.

[jmoney8811 0]

SO does that mean North America went get the Flexlite 20s?

[Law Goalie 147]

Wider feet in Europe/Asia.

Yes, same as the previous Flexlites. It was supposed to be gone, surprisingly they kept it.

Very good to know. Cheers JR.

As per enzo, I did ask my local about custom ordering the 12s, and was told that NBH's official answer is no. The only thing they might do is a different holder.

[jmoney8811 0]

So when do the Flexlite 18s officially hit shops?

[lb33knight 0]

So when do the Flexlite 18s officially hit shops?

The 18's are the only thing left one my booking ordre that has not shown up yet. Any day now...

[jmoney8811 0]

lb33knight, have you gotten the 18s in your shop yet?

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

The 18's are out already.

In fact, I already bought a pair online (and, unfortunately, snagged the wrong size and am now looking to sell them & have put up a thread in the for sale section http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index...howtopic=33980).

I believe that the production was not quite as robust as some may have thought as some of the stores I had talked to while looking had already said they weren't getting more.

[Law Goalie 147]

My LHS isn't stocking them because they frankly couldn't sell them. They may be phenomenal skates (if your foot shape is right) but they look like cracked-out moon shoes rather than hockey skates. Even compared to the Mission line, they look very peculiar. They would diligently try to get people to try them on, and they'd continually ask for Graf or more staid Bauer designs.

If Nike would just make a black and/or white Flexlite, they'd sell a ton.

[duch 0]

I tried on a pair of Vapors the other day and I'll be damned.The fit reminds me of the Nike Quest 3's I used to own. I'm wondering now, did Nike/Bauer incorporate the Nike fit into their Vapor line? It's definitely not the same fit as the Supreme line which has a slimmer slightly tighter fit to it. I must say though Nike/Bauer skates are a lot more comfortable than they where just a few years back, which is a good thing. Hope they've resolved the durability problems with the Vapor line.

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

My LHS isn't stocking them because they frankly couldn't sell them. They may be phenomenal skates (if your foot shape is right) but they look like cracked-out moon shoes rather than hockey skates. Even compared to the Mission line, they look very peculiar. They would diligently try to get people to try them on, and they'd continually ask for Graf or more staid Bauer designs.

Do you think it has more to do with a predispositional biase towards the bigger name players in the market? For instance, Kor has been talked about a ton on this board and the general concensus (myself included) feel it is a superior skate in design over old-school Graf mentality with the white plastic footbeds and such. However, ask someone to pick one over the other don't they go with Graf because it's more of an old school name (even if it costs more)? Nike does, of course, have name recognition in the sneaker market of course, but....

Anyway, was just curious what folks thought in this regard.

If Nike would just make a black and/or white Flexlite, they'd sell a ton.

Actually.... they do! One of the lower flexlite models, the Flexlite 14 (see page 9 on the catalog does fit the bill you mention.

However, I'd also like to point out how well some of the flashy skates sell to kids ("Bling" is in) - for instance the black Vector with silver reflective zig-zags, or the the chrome holders that some company was selling, etc). So, there's no accounting for taste (plus, some people just like to stand out from the herd).

[Law Goalie 147]

The funny thing was, the guys at my LHS said it always came down to looks with the Flexlites. When they were ringing up someone's Grafs, Bauers, etc. at the cash, and they happened to ask, "So what turned you off the Flexlites?" the answer was invariably "It doesn't look like a real skate," or "It doesn't tough enough to last."

[mmmjags 0]

I have a pair of flexlite 10's. I don't think they look any worse than most of the other skates out there. However, they got soft after only about 1.5 years of skating two times a week.

[lb33knight 0]

lb33knight, have you gotten the 18s in your shop yet?

Yes. I have received and unpacked about half of them. The other half are still in boxes. I've just been busy with so many other things including upgrading our POS system. I have the Flexlite 18's, 16's, and 14's. I have the weekend off, which is rare, and I'm meeting with my Easton rep on Monday but after that I will be unpacking the rest.

[cobrAA 0]

I,ve been really happy with my F10. for a 200$ difference between the 12 and 10.. the 10 seemed more appealing to me.

[Stephen11 0]

I just got a pair of Flexlite 12s and took them out for a skate last night. They were pretty comfy in the foot area, but I had this weird pinch / scraping at the top of my left skate (the top corner right next to the outer eyelet felt like it was digging into my leg whenever I was set on an inside edge). Funny, it didn't happen to my right leg. Does anyone know, is this the sort of thing that will "break in" eventually, or is it pretty much a done deal?

I've never experienced this in any other skates (currently in CCM E60s, used to have Bauer 7000s (ugh) and have also recently tried RBK 7k pumps and Bauer 8090s). It would suck if the Flexlites didn't work, because they're otherwise the best fitting out of all of those (deep, wide, good heel lock - although honestly they still aren't quite deep enough for my block feet).

Thanks ahead...

[Spreedizzle 1]

I just got a pair of Flexlite 12s and took them out for a skate last night. They were pretty comfy in the foot area, but I had this weird pinch / scraping at the top of my left skate (the top corner right next to the outer eyelet felt like it was digging into my leg whenever I was set on an inside edge). Funny, it didn't happen to my right leg. Does anyone know, is this the sort of thing that will "break in" eventually, or is it pretty much a done deal?

I've never experienced this in any other skates (currently in CCM E60s, used to have Bauer 7000s (ugh) and have also recently tried RBK 7k pumps and Bauer 8090s). It would suck if the Flexlites didn't work, because they're otherwise the best fitting out of all of those (deep, wide, good heel lock - although honestly they still aren't quite deep enough for my block feet).

Thanks ahead...

I don't have Flexlites, but I did have this same problem with my Vector 8.0's. I simply used athletic trainers pre-wrap and tape around that part of my upper ankle for about 2 weeks....just to keep the abrasiveness of the edge of the skate from rubbing on that same spot. And then after I was done skating (warm skates) I would work and push out that leading edge at the top of the skate for about 2 weeks also. After all of that, I was able to skate in my Vectors without the tape and without the abrasions on my ankle. Give it a shot.

[Scarecrow 0]

I just got a pair of Flexlite 12s and took them out for a skate last night. They were pretty comfy in the foot area, but I had this weird pinch / scraping at the top of my left skate (the top corner right next to the outer eyelet felt like it was digging into my leg whenever I was set on an inside edge). Funny, it didn't happen to my right leg. Does anyone know, is this the sort of thing that will "break in" eventually, or is it pretty much a done deal?

I've never experienced this in any other skates (currently in CCM E60s, used to have Bauer 7000s (ugh) and have also recently tried RBK 7k pumps and Bauer 8090s). It would suck if the Flexlites didn't work, because they're otherwise the best fitting out of all of those (deep, wide, good heel lock - although honestly they still aren't quite deep enough for my block feet).

Thanks ahead...

I also went from the E-60's to the 12's. It was uncomfortable with some rubbing and my forward flex felt limited when I would lace the 12's all the way up. Now I just lace them up to the 2nd eyelet from the top. It took a couple of skates for me to get used to the skates. They are crazy light compared to the E-60's. I will say I do not really care for the looks of the skate, but for my feet, they have been the most comfortable skate I have had.

[Nitro 0]

Glad the Nikes are back out. Wore out my F10's and need some new ones.

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

The 18's are hard to come by. I looked for a while and finally found some, but ordered the wrong size and am now selling them on eBay.

I couldn't find the size I needed unfortunately.

[Stephen11 0]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll try to keep working them in and try the top eyelet unlaced. It's definitely a shame about their moonboot looks, because they fit great...