CCM U+ Width

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I'm considering some CCM skates with rocket runners. There's no LHS where I live, and only a few folks that sharpen. Is there anything special about sharpening with these? Different equipment or such? Thanks!

[Ahriman 1]

You'd have to be a moron to screw up sharpening RRunners. That said, there is a lot of morons.

[chk hrd 164]

Forget the RR's and just go with the stainless. There is a reason CCM switched to stainless on the U+ Reloaded.

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

Yeah, to avoid problems with morons screwing up the steel on a high-end boot.

Great design, too much faith put in sharpeners on CCM's behalf.

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What is the rocket runner exactly? From the pictures, it looks like there's just a carbon fiber (or something) gut inside a regular blade. I guess for weight savings?

I bought the CCM Vector U+ Pro 2008 model. If I need (or want) to swap to regular solid SS blades later on, can I?

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

Steel inside a plastic sleeve.

They are disposable.

[chk hrd 164]

What is the rocket runner exactly? From the pictures, it looks like there's just a carbon fiber (or something) gut inside a regular blade. I guess for weight savings?

I bought the CCM Vector U+ Pro 2008 model. If I need (or want) to swap to regular solid SS blades later on, can I?

Yes

[wetwilly17 6]

Forget the RR's and just go with the stainless. There is a reason CCM switched to stainless on the U+ Reloaded.

there is nothing wrong with using the rocket runners

[theWB 2]

You'd have to be a moron to screw up sharpening RRunners. That said, there is a lot of morons.

Outstanding explanation. Laughed out loud at this one, well done.

[B-Nads 0]

Mine bent on my Vector 08's. Don't know why, but one skate had a severe bend at the front of the blade, abnd they have only been on the ice about 10 times. I worry it may have been one sharpening job that did it, as the guy passed them A LOT...I actually had to tell him to stop myself. The guy who sharpened them yesterday tried to straighten the blade with the roller press and made it even worse...not worried though - going to the normal steel myself.

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Grrrrrrrr....

The closest pro shop to me is 2 hours away. But I do get help from our local minor league team's equipment guy. I called him and asked about RR's and he hadn't heard of them, but when I showed him yesterday he remembered one of the guys on the team had them and that he didn't have the right holder on his bench to sharpen them...

So... I did get the skates baked, but not sharpened. I think that I'm just going to order regular steel for them so that I can get them sharpened anywhere.

So here's the next problem.. I looked on hockeygiant to order new steel, and according to their site size 9.5 CCM takes 287mm runners. But, the number imprinted on the bottom of my holder says 280mm. Which do I order?

[JR Boucicaut 3810]

280, you have the physical skate with you

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jeez.. CCM runners are $20 each... I do have to stick with CCM since I (obviously) have CCM holders.. Right?

[cptjeff 0]

jeez.. CCM runners are $20 each... I do have to stick with CCM since I (obviously) have CCM holders.. Right?

Yes, and that's really a pretty standard price.

[DarkStar50 680]

Sold a pair of 2008 U+ skates today. I have my old skate jig set up to sharpen RRs only. It saves some time.

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Ok, first game on the U+'s.. aaaaannnnnddd.....

PAIN.. MISERY... TORTURE... OWWWWWW...

It feels like there's a big lump on the inside of my feet - like towards the rear & middle of the arches. I had to loosen them up (to the point of instability & a little bit of heel slip) after the first period just to finish my game..

They're 9.0 D's, and the length is just right. In street shoes, I'm a 10.5. I've never had to wear wide shoes or anything, I've always been fine in normal ones. My old skates were Missions. They were 10.5 D's and were just fine. I wore super thin socks.

I did have them baked, though I think we only did them for about 5 minutes, whereas I've read that some folks do better with 7 or 8 minutes. I could bake them again for longer, I guess, but I don't know that it would do anything to help in that part of the boot. It seems like that part of the boot is solid and the U foam is mostly in the heel & ankles.

Do these skates run narrow? Would baking again help? Any other thoughts?

[kevineleven 0]

There should be baking instructions that came with the skates that will tell you the appropriate bake time.

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There are, and that's what we followed. But people here (and on other forums) have reported better success with baking them a few minutes longer.

I'm wondering if another bake will relieve some pressure in that spot.

[iceholes 0]

sorry to haer your issues... making me shiver as I an going to skate on my reloadeds next week....

But I have Rocket runners on my 8ks.. Ilobve them.. I was a sharpen after three skates guy before and the runners can go 10- 15 skates EASY. I touch them up with my miracle stone after about 8 skates and they really like that too... I only let one guy at the shop touch them, and he does an excellent job. My buddy had his runied by someone inexperienced after 3 sharpenings...... Mine are going on over a year

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In changing out the blades, I noticed that the RR's are much, much lighter than the conventional steel. If you've got someone who has the equipment & ability to sharpen them, I think they're a pretty good product. Unfortunately, I don't have access to that good of a pro-shop. The equipment guy I work with is good, but he's old-school and he's not a skate dealer so he doesn't have to keep up with stuff like this..

Anyway... Any further comments on the width issue?

[chippa13 1844]

I'm surprised that you're in a 9 CCM. I am a 10.5 shoe size and I wear 8.5 in CCM.

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If I stand up straight, my left toe is a little snug and my right just tickles the end of the boot.

If I'm in a skating position, both toes are comfortable.

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Well, skated in them again last night. They were a little bit better. I started off with them looser around the bottom and tight at the top. Maybe after another game or two, they'll get nice & comfy.

I did notice lots of jump/spring on my standing start compared to my old skates. It also seems like these force me to be in a better skating position. If I stand up to straight, I don't feel stable. If I'm crouched down like I should be, the stability is very good.