MLX Skates Now Available

[zachary 2]

Handcrafted carbon fiber skates can be really hit or miss. The guys at Kor claimed they were rejecting a huge percentage of skates and even the ones that passed would vary significantly from one to the next.

The people behind the product all have a background in skates. Last year they were saying retail was years away and that it wouldn't translate well to retail.

Then that is kinda unrealistic to to be asking $800. I can foresee complaint from buyers already if they are slightly different then expected.

[TheHerminator22 0]

Clearly a lot of people have legitimate concerns about sizing and fit issues, but I was reading their blog and they have several instructional and informational videos that might help. In my opinion, they aren't a flop cosmetically. I think it's simple and sleek and kind of cool. But, to each his own I guess. I noticed somebody brought up Malkin's injuring scare from a while back when he took a Letang slapshot off the foot. It seems that the skate actually helped protect his foot. The boot is made of a protective composite material similar to the Bauer TotalOnes.

And here's just a thought...MLX skates can be baked and re-molded multiple times, so a why to somewhat justify the price is to say that when/if you buy them, you are not just buying them for one or 2 seasons but for several. They are supposed to last longer than most others. The tongues and tendon guards are removable and replaceable so if those wear down, you don't have to buy all new skates.

I'm not going to get down on these skates just yet. I am waiting for testers and public reviews.

[jcp2 2]

I see they addressed the Kor toe cap/outsole separation issue by wrapping the composite material up around the front of the foot.

[IniNew 53]

And here's just a thought...MLX skates can be baked and re-molded multiple times, so a why to somewhat justify the price is to say that when/if you buy them, you are not just buying them for one or 2 seasons but for several. They are supposed to last longer than most others. The tongues and tendon guards are removable and replaceable so if those wear down, you don't have to buy all new skates.

I think it's safe to say people will be buying new skates on the same timeline that they currently do, regardless of how long these are supposeto last. The fact that they can be baked multiple times has no baring on how long the skates are kept, but simply boosts the retail value. I agree its a plus, but not for the reasons you've stated.

[TheHerminator22 0]

I think it's safe to say people will be buying new skates on the same timeline that they currently do, regardless of how long these are supposeto last. The fact that they can be baked multiple times has no baring on how long the skates are kept, but simply boosts the retail value. I agree its a plus, but not for the reasons you've stated.

Oh I was just thinking it might be beneficial for the younger, more serious players that might still be growing a bit. If for some reason they didn't actually outgrow the boot but it fit them differently than before, then they could re-bake them. But you're probably right with the buying timeline.

[TheHerminator22 0]

But I suppose that's also why they have the removable toe plug in there.

[Chadd 916]

Most people that buy $800 skates will end up replacing them before they wear out anyway. Early adopters are the most likely to buy whatever is new, partly because it is new.

[TheHerminator22 0]

Yeah but that's true of pretty much every new product. Not that it has much to do with the other stuff people are saying but I was reading about the guys who made the skates and I thought it was pretty cool that the guy who physically makes the skates makes a lot of the skates for Olympic athletes. Obviously I don't really have a basis to judge but I think that somewhat speaks to the quality of MLX skates.

[TheHerminator22 0]

I was reading the MLX blog this morning and came across this post: http://blog.mlxskates.com/2010/07/27/know-your-stuff-win-free-swag/

Free Stuff! Not just pucks anymore but under armor too.

[lampliter87 8]

FWIW Jeremy Morin was wearing MLX skates this weekend at the USA U20 camp in Lake Placid.

[hyprlte 0]

I wonder if these guys will be able to stay in the market. At $800 for a pair of skates, i cant see many people buying them

[jimmy 194]

I wonder if these guys will be able to stay in the market. At $800 for a pair of skates, i cant see many people buying them

Yea, now-a-days, not many people are buying $800 skates. I was talking to a major online retailer the other day and they had only sold 6 pairs of another brand's $800 skate. Just not happening with many loosing their jobs or fear of losing their jobs. I can't wait for this crappy economy to get better. Not a good time to introduce $800 skates, regardless if you are a start-up or an established company.

[DarkStar50 679]

Once training camps start for travel hockey, the other brand's $800 skates will check out with better sales. Players are holding back on a lot of equipment purchases until they absolutely need the gear.

As for MLX, $800 is a lot without seeing the product in person first. I read in The Hockey News that former Chicago management guy Rick Dudley introduced Big Buf to Curt Brackenbury early in Buf's career to work on skating and skill sets. Now we know why Buf wears MLX: Brackenbury is one of the major players in MLX management.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

It wasn't like it was a secret.

[Chadd 916]

Once training camps start for travel hockey, the other brand's $800 skates will check out with better sales. Players are holding back on a lot of equipment purchases until they absolutely need the gear.

As for MLX, $800 is a lot without seeing the product in person first. I read in The Hockey News that former Chicago management guy Rick Dudley introduced Big Buf to Curt Brackenbury early in Buf's career to work on skating and skill sets. Now we know why Buf wears MLX: Brackenbury is one of the major players in MLX management.

Buzz told me Buff was working out with Cruikshank a couple years ago, before he stuck with the Hawks and I believe Cruikshank was the Hawks skating coach for a while. Lots of opportunities to get exposed to them.

**EDIT**

From Wiki:

Cruikshank was the skating coach for the both the AHL Rockford IceHogs and the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, from July 2007 to May 2008, working on and off the ice at improving and maximizing skating efficiency; Dale Tallon, Blackhawks general manager from 2005–2009, hired Cruikshank as a conditioning specialist in his effort to rework the on-ice organization.

[DarkStar50 679]

It wasn't like it was a secret.

well then, I guess I was the only person who didn't know.

Buzz told me Buff was working out with Cruikshank a couple years ago, before he stuck with the Hawks and I believe Cruikshank was the Hawks skating coach for a while. Lots of opportunities to get exposed to them.

**EDIT**

From Wiki:

Which leads to the next question: Then why aren't more Chicago players wearing MLX skates? Hmmmmmmmmm

[TheHerminator22 0]

well then, I guess I was the only person who didn't know.

Which leads to the next question: Then why aren't more Chicago players wearing MLX skates? Hmmmmmmmmm

I wouldn't be surprised if more Hawks made a switch soon, maybe once all concerns about the skates have been addressed. I also think they were using mostly Pens players simply because Mario is invested in the company.

On a separate note, winner's were announced a while ago. Has anyone receive their free skates or bought them yet? Anyone heard reviews or reactions?

[Chadd 916]

I wouldn't be surprised if more Hawks made a switch soon, maybe once all concerns about the skates have been addressed. I also think they were using mostly Pens players simply because Mario is invested in the company.

On a separate note, winner's were announced a while ago. Has anyone receive their free skates or bought them yet? Anyone heard reviews or reactions?

Mario invested after Gonchar, Malkin, Fedotenko, etc... got in the skates, at least that's what I was told at the time.

[DarkStar50 679]

What are "the concerns about the skates"?

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

I wouldn't be surprised if more Hawks made a switch soon, maybe once all concerns about the skates have been addressed. I also think they were using mostly Pens players simply because Mario is invested in the company.

On a separate note, winner's were announced a while ago. Has anyone receive their free skates or bought them yet? Anyone heard reviews or reactions?

Someone on phew claims they got a free pair..............

[txhockey 0]

I wouldn't be surprised if more Hawks made a switch soon, maybe once all concerns about the skates have been addressed. I also think they were using mostly Pens players simply because Mario is invested in the company.

On a separate note, winner's were announced a while ago. Has anyone receive their free skates or bought them yet? Anyone heard reviews or reactions?

If the company gets a solid foothold in the NHL and other pro leagues, then consumers will follow, regardless of the economy. I would expect that their $800 skate will not be their only skate in the line, it is likely that there are multiple price points planned, but there is no reason to not sell $800 skates to the public if they are willing to beta test them essentially. In the consumer space, the $800 skate is essentially to build brand rep, even though it may make little to no money. It is like how dodge still makes the dodge viper, even though its low production volume doesn't really make them any money, it elevates the brand.

[Buzz_LightBeer 969]

Found this on a getty image search

[Louie 28]

Using the 06 USA jerseys... nice... Oh MLX skates too!

[mickz 107]

So did anybody on here get chosen as a tester?

[lampliter87 8]

Found this on a getty image search

Yeah that's Morin.