Has anyone here ever gone from a $700-1000 skate to a $250-300 skate and liked the cheap one better?

[Beflar 55]

Just wondering if anyone here ever went from a $700-1000 skate to a $250-300 skate and liked the cheaper one better?

I ask because I'm not a huge fan of my $700 skates. They are good, but not perfect like you would expect. Probably because one foot is different... Just wondering...

[Drewhunz 3]

A correct fit in a cheaper skate is more valuable than a poor fit in an expensive skate.

[DEATHTRON 19]

You mean like from my custom one95's to my se16's?

Both fit more or less perfect. I just didnt like the one95's that much, they just felt "dead" to me compared to the eastons. Just a PP thing. The se16's cost me $250 by the way...the One95's were north of $700. My situation was not quite a fit problem, just more personal preferences. However, you best believe I wore my one95's out before replacing them.

Zach

[VakarLajos 5]

Had a former D1 player come in and got One95. Skated twice and couldn't take it. Came back and got One55s. Loved them.

[Chadd 916]

Brian Leetch?

[doodman 0]

I think there's such thing as TOO much skate. Like I had vapor XXXXs and they were too stiff. The vapor XXVs were half as much $ and I skated better in them.

[automorph 0]

Then your skating technique needs work, if you use a top line (stiffer skate) fitted properly, you should never be able to use a softer skate again..

[watchgreat 4]

Then your skating technique needs work, if you use a top line (stiffer skate) fitted properly, you should never be able to use a softer skate again..

Not true depending on how much you weigh

[HockeySavants 5]

I use a size 10.5 EE and it seems like less expensive skates just don't provide that stiffness I need...but I got my X:60s for much much less than $700 so I win either way

[TeamHonda401 54]

It all depends on the skating ability/style of a player, as not everyone can use a top of the line skate as it was designed to be used. Top of the line skates are meant to be pushed hard, and respond well to a more intense style of play.

You wouldn't want to use a Ferrari to deliver newspapers...

[automorph 0]

you can weigh 100 or 300lbs, if your foot fits a stiff skate properly and your skating is good you cannot skate in a cheaper skate again, it will feel like the skates are not laced up

Not saying a beginner skater jump into highend skates but if you skate often and have decent technique using low/mid end skates

Try a proper fitting high end skate YOU WILL NEVER LOOK BACK

[BenderHockey 127]

you can weigh 100 or 300lbs, if your foot fits a stiff skate properly and your skating is good you cannot skate in a cheaper skate again, it will feel like the skates are not laced up

Not saying a beginner skater jump into highend skates but if you skate often and have decent technique using low/mid end skates

Try a proper fitting high end skate YOU WILL NEVER LOOK BACK

So what works for you automatically works for everyone?

[Chadd 916]

Then your skating technique needs work, if you use a top line (stiffer skate) fitted properly, you should never be able to use a softer skate again..

I couldn't disagree more. I prefer a softer skate, like the old Mission S or AG series skates. They're still stiff around the foot but much softer in the ankle.

[duch 0]

I had a pair of Vapor XXII"s. Got a chance to pickup a pair of XXV's really cheap and brand new. Tried out the XXV's in about ten to twelve games but I didn't like the way they felt and I didn't skate as well as in XXII's. The fit in the XXII's was actually better even though I heat moulded both pairs. I don't know if it was the different inside liners or the XXII's wheren't as stiff but they definitely suited me better. Long story short I sold the XXV's to a big kid in my son's league and he loved them.

[stuie7 6]

I couldn't disagree more. I prefer a softer skate, like the old Mission S or AG series skates. They're still stiff around the foot but much softer in the ankle.

+1, a good point of reference is Alexei Zinoviev who wears those soft Mission Flyweights and yet is still good enough to represent Russia at the Olympics. His skating can't be too shabby..

[figgifumi_11 3]

Went from One95's to Easton S12's and I couldn't be happier. Tried 3 different sizes on the One95's but just couldn't make them work. I feel much quicker and agile in the S12's and my feet feel much better in them.

[RussianDangler15 0]

Went from One95's to Easton S12's and I couldn't be happier. Tried 3 different sizes on the One95's but just couldn't make them work. I feel much quicker and agile in the S12's and my feet feel much better in them.

The one95s clearly didn't fit you very well that's probably why the Easton's felt better.

[MLSman 22]

I think there's such thing as TOO much skate. Like I had vapor XXXXs and they were too stiff.

Again, a custom fit also comes with the ability to adjust stiffness with the best materials available. It's like comparing apples to oranges. It doesn't make any sense to consider an elite skate in my opinion without investigating the option to go custom. You can't do that with a lower price skate, but if you find one that fits better, it does makes sense to go with it when considering the difference in cost.

Unless an elite skate fits PERFECTLY (which would be a rarity considering how 90+% of humans have feet of different lengths)...it can in most cases become an expensive mistake. I can't tell you how many times I hear people complain after buying an elite skate on the fit...thinking that baking will fix the issue or being convinced they need the skate to be a better player.

The point I am making is that price should not be the consideration when buying a retail skate. Fit should be the only criteria. Now, if you're 225+ pounds, playing at elite level, and the only skate that fits you is the One20...you should know your only option is to go custom.

[figgifumi_11 3]

The one95s clearly didn't fit you very well that's probably why the Easton's felt better.

The first two pair I tried did not fit properly, however the third pair fit very well and I had no issues with them (fit wise at least). I felt the One95's were very light, but not as responsive as I would hope/expect from a $650 skate.

Prior to buying the S12's I also looked at the S17's but didn't feel like they were worth an additional $300.

[doodman 0]

'Then your skating technique needs work, if you use a top line (stiffer skate) fitted properly, you should never be able to use a softer skate again.. '

This is so wrong.

I'm the skater not you, I know how I skated in both. I know that the vapor XXXX was too stiff. I weigh a 160 lbs with lil chicken legs and I absolutely do not have the power to flex that boot.

Now atm I'm skating in RBK 11ks which I absolutely LOVE and they are softer than vapor XXXXs.

[jcommeau91 2]

Grafs aren't the stiffest skate either yet pros wear those too...

Some people simply don't like stiff skates while others, like me, prefer stiff skates and I'm only 5'7 150.

[duch 0]

Fact is, some players prefer a skate that is more flexable at the ankle. I had one guy in my pickup league that wore a pair of Vapor XXXX's but hardly tightened the top three eyelets and didn't use the top pair at all. He just tied a loose bow at the top of the second pair of eyelets. When I asked him about it he told me he'd worn them that way since he played pee wee which I found very interesting. Let me tell you though, this guy can skate like nobodys business, he's very agile. The is no way I could skate with my skates tied that loose but it seemed to work fine for him. My point is everyone is different and different skates will work for different players.

[Stryker 37]

Personal Preference. That should sum it up...

[HockeySavants 5]

Fact is, some players prefer a skate that is more flexable at the ankle. I had one guy in my pickup league that wore a pair of Vapor XXXX's but hardly tightened the top three eyelets and didn't use the top pair at all. He just tied a loose bow at the top of the second pair of eyelets. When I asked him about it he told me he'd worn them that way since he played pee wee which I found very interesting. Let me tell you though, this guy can skate like nobodys business, he's very agile. The is no way I could skate with my skates tied that loose but it seemed to work fine for him. My point is everyone is different and different skates will work for different players.

he's probably got some very strong ankle muscle

[MN old and slow 92]

PP is about it. I have 7 pairs of skates top line down to mid range. My favorite pair right now is CCM U+ 09. Like them better than any top end skate I have. Some with sticks! I have a rack full high end to mid range and the X40 is the one I pick up the most.