I need new skates...

[tony1233 0]

First of all my name is Anthony and I'm from Corner Brook Newfoundland. I am 16 yars old and I referee and play hockey. I average about 20 - 25 hour on ice a week refereeing alone. I am currently using a pair of Bauer Vapor 8's. I like the skates but, I find the boot too heavy and now that I am on the ice so much the foam padding on the ankles has worn down very quickly. I spend tonnes of cash on getting my skates sharpened and now it seems like they are dull again in two hours on the ice. For that reason I was looking at the T-blade system but, If I have to buy a whole new set of skates (with blades) I find it pointless to take the blades off that come with it.

- I'm about 5'9 or 5'10 and I weigh about 190 lbs.

- I wear size 10.5 or 11 in shoes

- I have a damaged left knee so, a lighter boot would certainly help reduce the strain on that/

- I'm definatly not willing to spend over $300

any help would be greatly appreicated!

Tony

[Steve_v3 289]

Go to your LHS and try some skates on. All brands will fit a little different so find what works best for you. Most higher end skates are much lighter than there older versions so you shouldn't have a issue finding something lightweight.

[tony1233 0]

Go to your LHS and try some skates on. All brands will fit a little different so find what works best for you. Most higher end skates are much lighter than there older versions so you shouldn't have a issue finding something lightweight.

sorry, ths may seem "noobish" but, I'm not sure what LHS means ? I'm new to the site and to ordering my equipment online, I usually just go to sportchek and buy it lol.

[danc 4]

Be careful that you don't get too stiff a boot. While the extra responsiveness is a plus it puts extra strain on the knees. Grafs with white plastic bottom didn't bother my kees at all but Vapour XXXXs, while surely a better skate, definately cause some pain in my knees.

At under $300, what ever you choose should be fine.

[Scoobersti 0]

Go to your LHS and try some skates on. All brands will fit a little different so find what works best for you. Most higher end skates are much lighter than there older versions so you shouldn't have a issue finding something lightweight.

sorry, ths may seem "noobish" but, I'm not sure what LHS means ? I'm new to the site and to ordering my equipment online, I usually just go to sportchek and buy it lol.

I'm not 100% positive, but LHS I think means Local Hockey Shop.

[Hockeyman11385 1]

Yes, LHS does mean Local Hockey Shop.

[tony1233 0]

Yes, LHS does mean Local Hockey Shop.

Thank you! We have a Nike Bauer pro shop here and we have a sportchek... Sportchek has a larger variety of skates and gear in general but,the Nke Bauer shop also sells some easton, RBK and CCM gear. So would you guys reccomend I go there rather then to Sportchek ?

[interpathway 9]

Let's keep transactions to the Buy/Sell/Trade area. If you don't have access to it, don't worry. Just keep posting and it'll come your way. For liability issues however keep all non B/S/T transactions to eBay or Craigslist.

+1 on the LHS. Otherwise it's a shot in the dark in the end, no matter what.

[A_Steeves12 0]

Go to both places and try a few different pairs on to see which fits the best. Sportchek usually has older high end skates at a decent price (easton 1300's for $279 i think)

[SirJW 207]

I have two friends that went from Vapor 8's to the newer Mid-Level Vapor's. One never had a break in period at all, the other took a few weeks. Both are happy.

[Leafsrule16 5]

Your on the ice a lot, your probably going to want a high end boot which will last and provide support while being light, id suggest vapor xxx's if you can shell out 350, its an extra 50 and if not id really consider looking at maybe a second range skate like the rbk 7k. You'd be surprised what you can get out there for a deal, defiantly look into the grafs though.

Go to both places and try a few different pairs on to see which fits the best. Sportchek usually has older high end skates at a decent price (easton 1300's for $279 i think)

Dont get eastons, they last no time at all. Im not 100% sure about the 1300's but when i looked at a pair at our lhs the lad working even told me himself he would never ever buy another pair, your on the ice a lot too so youd be lucky to get 6 months.

[tony1233 0]

Your on the ice a lot, your probably going to want a high end boot which will last and provide support while being light, id suggest vapor xxx's if you can shell out 350, its an extra 50 and if not id really consider looking at maybe a second range skate like the rbk 7k. You'd be surprised what you can get out there for a deal, defiantly look into the grafs though.

Go to both places and try a few different pairs on to see which fits the best. Sportchek usually has older high end skates at a decent price (easton 1300's for $279 i think)

Dont get eastons, they last no time at all. Im not 100% sure about the 1300's but when i looked at a pair at our lhs the lad working even told me himself he would never ever buy another pair, your on the ice a lot too so youd be lucky to get 6 months.

I've been hearing that alot of pieces on the back (can't recall what it's called) the new Nike Bauer skates have been breaking off after a very small amount of time so that Kinda turned me off from them.. Then I found this site so I decided to explore my options... You can't buy a pair of grafs here.

[cptjeff 0]

Your on the ice a lot, your probably going to want a high end boot which will last and provide support while being light, id suggest vapor xxx's if you can shell out 350, its an extra 50 and if not id really consider looking at maybe a second range skate like the rbk 7k. You'd be surprised what you can get out there for a deal, defiantly look into the grafs though.

Go to both places and try a few different pairs on to see which fits the best. Sportchek usually has older high end skates at a decent price (easton 1300's for $279 i think)

Dont get eastons, they last no time at all. Im not 100% sure about the 1300's but when i looked at a pair at our lhs the lad working even told me himself he would never ever buy another pair, your on the ice a lot too so youd be lucky to get 6 months.

I've been hearing that alot of pieces on the back (can't recall what it's called) the new Nike Bauer skates have been breaking off after a very small amount of time so that Kinda turned me off from them.. Then I found this site so I decided to explore my options... You can't buy a pair of grafs here.

The tendon guard on the One 90 is what you're thinking of. They fixed that on the One75 (basically the one 90) and the One 95. Easton has also fixed most of their issues, but you won't get the fixes on a closeout older skate.

Easton's problem is the glue, which can be fixed by use of a another glue to replace it. Had my 800cs for a year and a half with pretty heavy use (On the ice 2-3 time a week) and they hold up just fine if you re glue them (I use E-6000, industrial strength glue, great stuff)

[davis 0]

Anthonyyyyy...dude....I recognize your name from the NL Hockey Talk site, haha.

Anyway, having some experience with your shopping options (seeing as I live 2 hours away from you) I think you should check Freestyle Sports in the mall, assuming they're the Bauer pro shop you're talking about. I'm sure that they'll work with you to get a proper fitting skate within your budget. At least with them you'll have an idea of your foot's characteristics and what kind of skate would best suit you.

[stick9 905]

I've heard mixed reports about the durability of the Eastons, even in the review section here. Curious if this is just a case by case thing. I was looking at some S11's over the weekend and I really like them....seemed like a lot of skate for $250.

[interpathway 9]

The S15s were destroyed here by users who went through them in less than 6 months (and that's not playing everyday). The second generation S15s supposedly took these durability issues into account and have been much better (with their glue specifically). I assume these changes apply to the S11 as well, though I'm not sure if the S11s ever had these issues.

[tony1233 0]

Anthonyyyyy...dude....I recognize your name from the NL Hockey Talk site, haha.

Anyway, having some experience with your shopping options (seeing as I live 2 hours away from you) I think you should check Freestyle Sports in the mall, assuming they're the Bauer pro shop you're talking about. I'm sure that they'll work with you to get a proper fitting skate within your budget. At least with them you'll have an idea of your foot's characteristics and what kind of skate would best suit you.

Haha yeah that's me!

That indeed was the bauer shop I was refering to, My only concern is that again.. I'd have to buy the whole skate ad waste a completly good blade and holer for nothing! I would like to support them as they are a local business but, sometimes it just doesn't make sense economically.

[epstud74 24]

Why do people keep referring to the One75 as "basically the same thing" when speaking of the One90? That is simply not true.