NumberThirtyOne 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2009 I'm looking to get some new skates soon for my birthday. I was planning on getting the Mission Commander Black but here's the thing: I really just need the boot- I'll be swapping out the chassis, wheels, and bearings.I was looking at the specs between the Commander and Soldier and it looks like the boot is almost identical except for the quarters (the Commanders have polyester mesh w/ PVC backer while the Soldiers have just the PVC).So, as far as the boot is concerned, if I were to buy the Soldier over the Commander would I be losing much? Are there any more differences between the two that's not listed in the description? If there's not much difference in the boot I'll just go w/ the Soldiers since they're $200 cheaper. Thanks in advance!FWIW, I'm 5'7'', 140lbs, and I play indoor on sportcourt three times a week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
myk13 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2009 I don't know much about the Commanders but i just bought a pair of Soliders last week because i needed a pair of backups incase my main skates Sprung frames broke and i run out of parts at a tournament or something. The Soldiers so far (through 2 games) are very comfortable and i haven't baked them yet. I really like the soliders especially for the price. The Vanguard frames aren't that bad either but its a pretty solid and comfortable boot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crispy92 14 Report post Posted May 19, 2009 well the commanders are stiffer and have those indie foam pads on the ankle for more comfort. plus they are drop dead gorgeous Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
littlehockeymatt 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2009 I would say the commander'sstiffer, the boot liner, and the pads for heel lock the commander is almost the boss black Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
missionrh11 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2009 my vote is for the commanders. i tried on the soldiers and the boss from the black series as well, and i think that the commanders were by far the best skate and value. The commanders were much more comfortable than the soldiers and gave me the best heel lock I have ever had. Plus, if you think about it... You could sell the mag frames and rr hornet wheels and significantly drop the price of the boot by 150+ dollars. The frames go for 160-170ish and the hornets are around 80-90 a set. Just my 2 cents. If you have any questions about the commanders please let me know, but I love mine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
][ncognito 0 Report post Posted May 21, 2009 I didn't personally try on the Soldiers when I was getting new skates, but I found the boots of the Assassin, Commander, and Boss Black to all be much nicer than the lower tier skates (both Mission and otherwise). I ended up with the cheaper Assassins because I didn't want to spend too much money, but I can only imagine the Commander and Boss Black are as nice if not nicer than the Assassin boots.I've always found it's a good thing to spend a little bit extra on skates. If you play enough, which you said you play 3 times a week, the additional comfort from a good pair of skates is well worth the extra cost for a high quality skate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NumberThirtyOne 0 Report post Posted May 21, 2009 Thanks guys, that's exactly the type of information I couldn't make out from the description they had listed.I don't think I'll go w/ the assassins because, IIRC, they didn't change w/ the new black series. Not that the original syndicate was bad, but from what I understand the black series is just above and beyond in terms of comfort.I think I'll just get some commanders as soon as I can scrounge up enough cash to pay for them.....hopefully they go on sale soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joel12 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 Keep your eye on eBay, I got a brand new pair for $240. You just got to be patientEdit: spelling Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sectachrome 40 Report post Posted May 24, 2009 A lot of the extra money youre paying for the Commanders is because of the mag chassis, wheels and bearings, not just the boot. I like mine a lot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites