XXV skate fit "by default"?

[s4gobabygo 0]

My LHS is selling XXV skates really cheap... i proably shouldnt say the price here, but it's a fair amount below any of the online stores which i see selling them for $300.

i tried on 8.5d (too small) and 9.5d (too big) in the XXV. i also tred on the XXXX and the XXII in 9.0d and they both felt great (although the XXXX was definitely too stiff for my scrawny ass). do you think it's safe for me to have them order the 9.0d XXV's, even though i havent tried the exact skates on?

the guy at the shop thinks that they'll fit by default based on the above fittings. i can always return them for a different size, but if i do, i'm responsible for the shipping of the first pair, plus the hassle. is this a stupid idea?

[willsnipe 0]

Well if you said 8.5 is too small and 9.5 is too big, the only option you have would be 9. And considering 9 fit you in XXXX that is probably a safe move.

[s4gobabygo 0]

the reason i'm unsure is that i've heard that the XXII, XXV, and XXXX all fit differently... (although the XXXX and XXII i tried on seemed to fit me the same).

edit: i tried on D-width skates, not E-width... changed the original post.

[YouTuuk 0]

well even without you trying on the 40's - the only alternative you have ( besides custom ) is the 9.0D ( possible 9.5C )--- but there is always a chance that the XXV just is not right for your foot - What where your previous make of skates you wore that fit good?

I wonder why your LHS is "blowing out" those XXV's - since no new Vapors are coming out anytime soon? Did they give a reason for the low price?

That stinks I just bought new Vapor XXV's in March for around $279, and that was a LHS "sale"....

...edit because of OP's edit....

[s4gobabygo 0]

the last skates i had that i was comfortable with were OOOOOOOLD 652 Tacks. i think they only fit cause i had them for like 8 years, and they had just been stretched around my foot perfectly after all that use. since then, i got new 892 tacks in 8.5d (too narrow, and awful lace bite), and 703 9.0e (better than the new tacks, but still not quite right... not quite deep enough).

the guy at the shop said that they've been having trouble moving their XXV inventory, which is why they lowered the price so much, and if i wanted him to order a pair, he'd give me the same price. but thats why i have to pay shipping if i return/exchange them... cause they dont want any additional stock of the XXV.

[Viking 1]

If the other two skates fit, I say go for it. All you're really risking is the shipping cost, which can't be THAT much.

[YouTuuk 0]

the last skates i had that i was comfortable with were OOOOOOOLD 652 Tacks. i think they only fit cause i had them for like 8 years, and they had just been stretched around my foot perfectly after all that use. since then, i got new 892 tacks in 8.5d (too narrow, and awful lace bite), and 703 9.0e (better than the new tacks, but still not quite right... not quite deep enough).

the guy at the shop said that they've been having trouble moving their XXV inventory, which is why they lowered the price so much, and if i wanted him to order a pair, he'd give me the same price. but thats why i have to pay shipping if i return/exchange them... cause they dont want any additional stock of the XXV.

Well the 652's were just great fitting skates from what I hear - they actually kept that line for quite a while...Also Graf 703 are somewhat similar to the Bauer Supreme line - So its not like the XXV's are totally out in left field for you - give it a try at least. I have gone back and forth on Bauer and CCM at times....

From what I heard the XXV's were moving quite well - because for average Joe who don't want to spend big bucks on the 40's - the XXV's are a good 2nd best.

But I guess for that LHS its different....and quite possible that now with new skates coming out U+ and new NBH Supreme lines of One's - maybe cutting into sales - along with lowered price on Supreme 70's and such...

[s4gobabygo 0]

If the other two skates fit, I say go for it. All you're really risking is the shipping cost, which can't be THAT much.

the other risk is that if they come in and dont fit, i'm left with a store credit (worth less than it cost me, because of the shipping) to a shop that doesnt stock much... i guess that's my biggest fear.

[willsnipe 0]

If you said the 703's were not deep enough for you, im thinking the xxv might not be either. Might want to pencil test the XXXX to get an idea if the boot is deep enough for you.

[YouTuuk 0]

the other risk is that if they come in and dont fit, i'm left with a store credit (worth less than it cost me, because of the shipping) to a shop that doesnt stock much... i guess that's my biggest fear.

Welcome to the wonderful world of hockey skate fitting, where the anxiety is high - and so is the cost. Its make or break, its win or lose....and even if they fit good in the shop and after the bake - the first skate can bring anxiety - your friends comments like "...hey whats with you, your not skating at good as you used to..." brings embarrasment and fear.

but we keep trying, we keep dropping the dollars because somewhere out there, some where there is the perfect fitting skate - maybe if you skated for 20 years - we have all experience maybe one in our lifetime....

...then it wears out. :(

sorry for the rant, just letting out some skate fitting frustrations....

[mickz 107]

You guys are lucky down in the states. I'm paying XXV prices for a pair of XXII up here in Canada.

As for the OP's question, I would imagine the XXII, XXV and XXXX to fit the same. Aren't the only differences in the tongue, liner and footbed anyway?

[shifter 0]

You guys are lucky down in the states. I'm paying XXV prices for a pair of XXII up here in Canada.

As for the OP's question, I would imagine the XXII, XXV and XXXX to fit the same. Aren't the only differences in the tongue, liner and footbed anyway?

agreed. 299$ i think for a pair of XXII while 399 for a pair of XXV/Shifts(SMU for source for spots)

[duch 0]

If you live close to the border you could scoot across on a weekend and pick up a pair. With the Canadian dollar almost on par with the U.S. it would make sense. As far as fit the XXV would be essentially the same as the XXII but slightly stiffer. As previouly posted I wouldn't buy them without trying them on for fit first. You don't want to waste your hard earned money on something that won't work for you.

[Hockeyman11385 1]

You have to be a little careful with the border crossing as they will try to get you with duty and such. I was talking to one of the guys at my LHS and they said people will come down here (northern VT) to buy skates and immediately grab and puck and start marking them up to make them look "used". They also bring their entire bag so they can just throw them in there to further improve their chances of making it across the border without paying duty.

[mickz 107]

Would I have any problems with warranty if I had bought them in the USA?

At least I can feel good about supporting my LHS = )

[s4gobabygo 0]

If you said the 703's were not deep enough for you, im thinking the xxv might not be either. Might want to pencil test the XXXX to get an idea if the boot is deep enough for you.

arent the vapor series boots supposed to be on the deeper side (and the 703 NOT deep?)

[s4gobabygo 0]

... anyone???

[YouTuuk 0]

the other risk is that if they come in and dont fit, i'm left with a store credit (worth less than it cost me, because of the shipping) to a shop that doesnt stock much... i guess that's my biggest fear.

I don't understand the "store credit" thing, I mean I don't work at a LHS - but I don't understand why you would have to buy the skates before trying them on? I really don't understand even why they charge you shipping cost.

Don't they get regular shipments from Nike/Bauer on a monthly basis? If so just tell them to ship them at that time with the other bunch of equipments.

And if they don't fit - the LHS puts them back on the rack - prolly to be bought by somebody they fit. No loss to anybody?

I mean I have been to various LHS, that to make the sale have them shipped from other stores ect...at no cost to me. I mean don't the guy want to make a sale. He should not be putting the burden on you....just my opinion

[Rustpot 1]

Don't they get regular shipments from Nike/Bauer on a monthly basis?

No.

They do a Spring booking and initial shipment. Additional merchandise is ordered as needed and as the warehouse stock allows.

My LHS will charge retail for a special ordered item (as long as it's not a mark-up special order), charge you shipping if you end up not buying it since they're out that cost plus their item cost until they send it back or sit on the item until it sells.

[YouTuuk 0]

Don't they get regular shipments from Nike/Bauer on a monthly basis?

No.

They do a Spring booking and initial shipment. Additional merchandise is ordered as needed and as the warehouse stock allows.

My LHS will charge retail for a special ordered item (as long as it's not a mark-up special order), charge you shipping if you end up not buying it since they're out that cost plus their item cost until they send it back or sit on the item until it sells.

Ok, thanks for input - I guess that why peranies and other bigger outlet LHS with more stores have advantage - They can always say 9.5D XXV's?, were out, but we have them at our "other store" across town.

I guess I was concerned for "s4gobabygo" if the XXV's did not fit, he was given a "store credit" - I guess that LHS owner felt he would not be able to sell them, with the foot traffic he gets.

[wildebeest 0]

When I got my XXXXs, I sat at Behind the Mask for an hour trying on anything they had that would go on my feet. In my experience, the XXV in 9.5D fit exactly the same as the XXXX in 9.5D (which I bought and they're still awesome, unlike the XXIIs I got a while back). So take that for what it's worth.

[s4gobabygo 0]

Ok, thanks for input - I guess that why peranies and other bigger outlet LHS with more stores have advantage - They can always say 9.5D XXV's?, were out, but we have them at our "other store" across town.

I guess I was concerned for "s4gobabygo" if the XXV's did not fit, he was given a "store credit" - I guess that LHS owner felt he would not be able to sell them, with the foot traffic he gets.

yea... he's already got too many pairs of XXV's in his shop. if i have him order them, then i don't buy them, he wants to be sure i still buy SOMETHING for that amount of money... otherwise, i just made him buy more stock of something he's already having trouble selling. i don't think it's any reflection on the skates... it's just a small shop with pretty low sales volume. i'm actually pretty impressed that the guy agreed to special order the skates for his clearance price, since the real purpose of the clearance price is to clear out his existing overstock.

When I got my XXXXs, I sat at Behind the Mask for an hour trying on anything they had that would go on my feet. In my experience, the XXV in 9.5D fit exactly the same as the XXXX in 9.5D (which I bought and they're still awesome, unlike the XXIIs I got a while back). So take that for what it's worth.

thanks. great input. the XXXX felt great in 9.0d, so i'm going to order the XXV in the same size. they should be close enough that they'll be comfy after a baking. i didn't do the pencil test on the XXXX when i was in the shop but they felt MUCH better than the CCM 892's and the Graf 703's, which i unfortunately now own.