Vapor 40/60 Durability

[lbgmike 0]

The pro at my LHS said that the Vapor XXXX and 60's have not been holding up very well. My XXXX are showing a lot of wear and are starting to break down. These skates work great for me and so I plan on replacing these with custom 60's soon and was wondering if the Canadian built skates would hold up better than the Chineese off the shelf models. Anyone out there with custom 60's who could chime in on this.

Has there been any rumor what the 2011 vapors might be? Perhaps Total One technology would move to the Vapor line.

[AIREAYE 248]

wow...serious question? I think so...theres a buncha threads on this stuff, you probably only asked this question cuz you hear all about this lead paint/bad political rap about China. Its not about China vs Canada, just cuz a skate is made in China doesnt mean it automatically is inferior to Canadian-made...

[DarkStar50 680]

I've seen Canadian made custom XXXX in #4 stiffness destroyed in 6-8 months. Sometimes it's the skater, not the skate.

[tamtamg 12]

I have a pair of custom x60. So far so good. I'm only on the ice maybe 1-3 times a week since January. When I first got them I was a little suspect of the build quality. It looked like either the seamstress was at the end of his/her shift or had knocked a few back. For example: On the tendon gaurd, and on parts of the boot it got a little sloppy. Also there was this weird fold/bump on the boot. But my worries were unfounded, the skates have held up great! Two small things; graphics don't hold up well to slap shots and the fabric on the tendon guard is beginning to split.

[lbgmike 0]

Serious question? Well yes. Lead paint-could care less. China politics?

As I stated in the question, my LHS has seen a lot of problems, and I wanted to know if custom builds out of Canada were better. They are CUSTOM built right? Simple question.

Thanks tamtam.

[DarkStar50 680]

Custom built skates offer you different features than retail skates, not necessarily better built skates.

[AIREAYE 248]

Serious question? Well yes. Lead paint-could care less. China politics?

As I stated in the question, my LHS has seen a lot of problems, and I wanted to know if custom builds out of Canada were better. They are CUSTOM built right? Simple question.

Thanks tamtam.

Apologies for the tone, was kinda pissed at the time about other matters. Hope your problems are solved

[Vathsdrop 0]

"made in canada" = pure marketing argument now a day (it even figures in the list of the specs :D )

Last time i compare i havent seen any difference in term of building quality.. in some brand china made skate looks even better. In all cases canada/china it's crap usually.

Before there were the famous swiss-made graf, that were just awesome. Kind of skates you can "macroscopically" see they are just well made (nothing loose, every pieces fit perfectly, simple but very high quality material, etc ..). current Graf are not fully hand made anymore, just the final step of the process it seems.

[raganblink 82]

Air, I think the way you said that is fine... I wouldn't apologize.

I get why people suspect product from China is automatically inferior to Japan, Korea, or even American/Canadian made product, however in the case of Bauer skates, this is pure BS.

I've sold probably 80? pairs of 40s and X60s, and I've had two break on me. One was a 40 after about a solid two years of use, and it just basically fell apart (however, considering he skates 6 days a week and went through 3 pairs of steel during this run, fairly good use), and the other was this kid who is 6'3 240 pure muscle and after about a week broke the rivets connecting to the tuuk. The first would happen to almost anyone after playing on them nearly 700 times, and the other ways probably a factor of the kid's force and a not perfect rivet at manufacturing.

So basically imo your LHS guy is one of three things; A) has the unfortunate problem of being in an area where no one can skate right, B) has the unfortunate problem of being in an area where people abuse product to get replacements, or C) is full of shit who is trying to get you to go custom to get more money out of you (however custom skates should cost the same as normal retail).

So as DS perfectly put it, more often then not it is the skater causing the problems, not the skate. Chinese made product is fine.

[lbgmike 0]

Thanks everyone for all the responses.

And thanks to raganblink for reminding me that a lot of hockey shop employees truly are really full of themselves; and crap.

[skyscrape 5]

I don't know why, but I would rather pay for Canadian made, European, or US made product when it comes to Hockey gear. Not sure why, but I just would. Nothing against China or any other Asian countries for hockey gear, but it just doesn't make me happy!

[AIREAYE 248]

I don't know why, but I would rather pay for Canadian made, European, or US made product when it comes to Hockey gear. Not sure why, but I just would. Nothing against China or any other Asian countries for hockey gear, but it just doesn't make me happy!

That's a good reason, its personal preference for no reason actually :P but I don't like it when people who know little about manufacturing start automatically saying that Made in China is bad etc.etc. (not saying that you are one of those ignorants, lbgmike)

Do not mistake me for being biased towards Made in China however, if I were given a choice between 2 identical products at a near identical price point (plus/minus $5 say), then I would definately choose the Made in Canada one, to support local economies.

It's like being a restaurant owner (NOT a chef btw, that's different), if you were given a choice between a foreign cheaper, yet just as good shipment of shrimp against a more expensive but equally as good local catch, you would automatically choose the foreign one to save $$.

as an aside: being the chef, you would most likely choose the local catch solely because you know that local = fresher than ANY foreign catch

[skyscrape 5]

That's a good reason, its personal preference for no reason actually :P but I don't like it when people who know little about manufacturing start automatically saying that Made in China is bad etc.etc. (not saying that you are one of those ignorants, lbgmike)

Do not mistake me for being biased towards Made in China however, if I were given a choice between 2 identical products at a near identical price point (plus/minus $5 say), then I would definately choose the Made in Canada one, to support local economies.

It's like being a restaurant owner (NOT a chef btw, that's different), if you were given a choice between a foreign cheaper, yet just as good shipment of shrimp against a more expensive but equally as good local catch, you would automatically choose the foreign one to save $$.

as an aside: being the chef, you would most likely choose the local catch solely because you know that local = fresher than ANY foreign catch

It just bugs me to see all these brands that used to be fabrique au canada are all out sourcing. It just has to do with nostalgia I guess. But my new Franchise Gloves made in Canada aren't any better(quality wise) than other gloves out there.

[lbgmike 0]

Thanks for all the responses.

I think that some should read the original post and post #5.

I did not say anything negative about overseas manufacturing.

I ASKED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF SKATES CUSTOM MADE IN CANADA AND MADE IN CHINA.

GET IT?

Thought that Customs would be FAR SUPERIOR judging from the posts I have read in the past.

And as far as my knowledge of manufacturing; that was great; you are not even in the ball park.

[Krev 86]

Custom skates made in either Canada or China will be fine. No need to raise your voice over the internet, sheesh.

[lbgmike 0]

Thanks Krev, I needed that. :)

[RussianDangler15 0]

wow...serious question? I think so...theres a buncha threads on this stuff, you probably only asked this question cuz you hear all about this lead paint/bad political rap about China. Its not about China vs Canada, just cuz a skate is made in China doesnt mean it automatically is inferior to Canadian-made...

Thank you im not the only one that doesn't think if its made in china they're sitting in the factory going " hmmm how can we fuck people over"

[Krev 86]

Just because Google hates the Chinese doesn't mean we have to.

[DarkStar50 680]

Uh, hockey equipment has been made outside of Canada for over 25 years. Imported hockey equipment didn't start just last year. And I don't mean Jofa/RBK. Cooper and CCM had product imported for a long long time.

[hamstercaster 2]

If they are using the exact same materials, I don't see why one would be better then the other. I think that people think that made in Canada/USA is better because of perception. We see alot of shit that is poorly done coming from other countries. I also think that the perception that it is cheaper made is also because of their wages that are much lower or so we think. In reality it's not that clear cut. It's all relative. Sure the wages are lower than the wages of someone who works in a Baure factory here in Canada but their cost of living is probably cheaper too which when all is considered brings it to about the same. I don't want to start a debate on wether it's cheap labor or not. It is for us when you compare their wages to ours but their reality is also different then ours.

That being said, I still make an effort to purchase Canadian made products first, then North American products if possible not because I don't like China but because I want to help feed my people first. I'd rather buy a product made in a factory that employs 200 canadians which in turn will then spend money here in Canada and keep our economy rolling.

Anyway, that was just my 2 cents on the matter

[Vathsdrop 0]

Just because Google hates the Chinese doesn't mean we have to.

LOLLLL

Not a smart move though, china being the biggest market for internet companies like google :(

At least they show they have balls

[AIREAYE 248]

If they are using the exact same materials, I don't see why one would be better then the other. I think that people think that made in Canada/USA is better because of perception. We see alot of shit that is poorly done coming from other countries. I also think that the perception that it is cheaper made is also because of their wages that are much lower or so we think. In reality it's not that clear cut. It's all relative. Sure the wages are lower than the wages of someone who works in a Baure factory here in Canada but their cost of living is probably cheaper too which when all is considered brings it to about the same. I don't want to start a debate on wether it's cheap labor or not. It is for us when you compare their wages to ours but their reality is also different then ours.

That being said, I still make an effort to purchase Canadian made products first, then North American products if possible not because I don't like China but because I want to help feed my people first. I'd rather buy a product made in a factory that employs 200 canadians which in turn will then spend money here in Canada and keep our economy rolling.

Anyway, that was just my 2 cents on the matter

Excellent points. As far as the labour is concerned, it's all supply and demand. Huge supply of labour, you're gonna pay them less to work for you, simple economics