Bauer Vapor x15 or CCM 652?

[flyguy1 1]

hey guys, im new here. im getting back into playing hockey, its been 10 years. i was a decent HS player (intermediate-advance level). its been awhile so i want to ask this question.....im going to buy skates hopefully this weekend and had a question on which skates were better....Bauer Vapor x15 or CCM Supertacks 652s (2007 model). both are same price $40, (i have a sporting goods gift card for the bauers or CCMs used but only 3 times)

i am a size 9.5 shoe, supposably size 8 skate with both Bauer and CCM. the CCM is a size 7.5, what do you guys think? i was thinking after baking the CCM, it will mold to my feet and expand alittle. but i havnt tryed them on so they might even fit. i heard that skates will only get 'bigger' and expand the more you use them....

so what do you guys think?

[number21 3]

can you try them on?

because they are going to fit pretty differently.

I would lean towards the Tacks, just because they're more of a skate, though I have never used them. But the holders will be old and i think it's hard to find that steel anymore (if the are prolite holders).

As far as the x15s, those are pretty low end. But I have seen many players waaaay better than I am with cheaper skates.

So go with what fits you best.

[flyguy1 1]

yes i will try them on before i buy them to see how they fit. if the CCMs arent too tight i will get them and even if they are alittle snug i probably still will if they are a better skate. i dont have alot of money to spend as im only starting to get back into it, but i dont want to use a skate that will hinder my abilities (i am a strong skater).....i used to have CCM 952s back when i played, dont remember the size but i think they were size 8, so 1/2 a size smaller might be alittle smaller but im sure they will expand as i wear them.

i know the vapor x15's arent a high end skate by no means, but they seemed ALOT more solid and advanced than the CCM 92's that were given to me as a xmas present (which i returned for a store credit). regular price x15's is $100. they seemed pretty cool and different from when i played, also felt pretty light....im not sure about how much the 652s retailed for but that would give me a good idea of which is a 'better' skate. im not worried about the holder or blade because by that time if i need to replace it, i will just upgrade my skate, im only going to spend $40 either way.

[number21 3]

good point about being $40 either way.

i haven't handled the x15s at all, but I would imagine it would be softer than the Tacks so you may notice that in your skating. also, the vapors are a narrower fitting skate than the tacks, but the lower end vapors might be made to fit a wider variety of feet (as opposed to the high end vapors for narrower feet).

just googling, the think those tacks may have retailed in the $150-200 range. But it's hard to find solid info on that as I am sure you have seen.

i am not skate fitter, all my info is based on what I have read here over the years. So take what I am saying with a grain of salt.

good luck - hope your return to hockey goes well.

[flyguy1 1]

thanks number 21

[Buzz_LightBeer 975]

assuming they both fit well, I would opt for 652's, i think they will out last the X15's in the long run.