Vapor XXXX vs. XX/XXX

[monoclub 5]

Now that the Vapor XXXX's have been out for a while and we are a couple of months into the season I am very interested in hearing feedback from those working in LHS or guys who play a lot and are wearing the skate as to how they compare with the previous models in the Vapor line. I think it is fair to say the Vapor XX and XXX were watershed models for Nike Bauer and really reasserted their position as the leading skate manufacturer, paticularly in the Pro market. The ONE90 didn't seem to have such a widespread success and I am wondering if the Vapor XXXX is able to maintain the business for Nike Bauer.

[end2end 0]

I don't think that it will be enough to keep them in business,nike is planning on selling NikeBauer hockey in late may.

[Rustpot 1]

I don't think that it will be enough to keep them in business,nike is planning on selling NikeBauer hockey in late may.

You think NikeBauer is going out of business? What does selling a company have anything to do with market success?

IMO, the XXXX is "just another" in the line of Vapor skates, nothing revolutionary. The One90 and now the One95 are pushing the envelope with thermoforming and anatomical fit where the Vapor line is now just a great skate that is getting updated.

I think the One*5 series are going to generate more success since more feet will comfortably fit into a completely thermoformed skate, especially with the technology being on their second and third tier skates. I know I'm going to take a good look at the 75 as soon as I can as a possible solution to fit my flat foot.

[Kevin 5]

I wore retail XX size 6 and was happy with them. However, I could have used more stiffness (my prior skate was Bauer 7000). I am now in 5.5 custom XXXX. I like the XXXX; they are stiffer.*

However, I do not like the new toe box. The old toe box fit my foot better. In the XXXX I have extra volume in the toe area and a little more length toward the smallest toe, which I do not need.

*I ordered them with stiffness level three. I believe retail is two and the highest is four.

[Gongshow11 1]

i wore xx for 3 years, then got xxxs for 3 months and they fell apart, now i have xxxx. The only advantage i see in the xxxx is the stiffness, whereas the xxx felt like butter in no time.

[monoclub 5]

As I am based in Taiwan I guess the thrust of my question is, is the Vapor XXXX having the same kind of market penetration as the previous models.

Has a buyer been found?

As I understand it Nike Bauer has always been run as a company seperate to Nike, which would lead one to think that the sell off would have limited effect on the companys future when they are sold. Unless they have access to the millions Nike pours into R & D?

[sabre09923 0]

I've got a relative who works for Bauer, and he said that his supervisor told him that Bauer had been sold.

[monoclub 5]

Nike want to streamline their operation and have put Nike Bauer on the market, as a distributor I was told they expect a sale to go through early next year. Which makes it sound like they have a buyer lined up but thats only a guess.

Rustspot

The fit from the ONE90 is phenomenal and yet NBH didnt seem to generate the kind of sales/market penetration with the ONE90 at the elite level as they did with the Vapor XX/XXX's. The Vapor XXXX may sound like just another in the series but it looks like a completely different type of skate, asthetically and in it's materials and construction. Much stiffer right through the whole boot which makes the world of difference in how it fits and performs.