Durbo20vT 4 Report post Posted December 12, 2011 From the manufacturing side of things: items get mislabeled quite frequently, and once in a while Quality Control doesn't catch it. The 3rd pic in the original post has "296 L" stamped on the barb, and the 4th pic has "ST-SPEED" stamped on the side of the runner.In the 1st pic of the 14th post, where this questionable steel is aligned with a 288mm LS2.1 runner, the new steel is about 2 to 3 mm longer, from barb to bolt holder. So it looks like the questionable steel is probably 288mm ST-POWER mislabeled as 296mm ST-SPEED.Durbo20vT's has informed us (twice) that his LHS has confirmed that the questionable steel will not fit into his new 296mm LS2 holders.I have a question for Durbo20vT: why did you want to go with the 296mm holders? I'm thinking about transplanting 272mm holders from my old 8090s to my newer 2nd-hand One95s (both pairs of One95s have 263mm holders, one with LS2 steel and one with LS2.1 steel). What went into your decision to go with the 288mm ST-SPEED XL? and will you eventually put in the 296mm holders, or return them?I've skated on 296's for 12+ years (having a size 10.5ee boot) so when i switched to the One95's I was able to go down to a 10ee in this skate, giving me 288 holders. so in short, it's a preference/comfort factor. At first I did feel a little less comfortable with the smaller blades but going back to 296 has been something i wanted to do since the first month of owning these skates. now the holders are a little beat up and the steel is down pretty far where the holder/boot contacts the ice, so my intent was to finally make the switch back. but due to time constraints and holidays/tournaments coming up rapidly, I am going to stick with the 288 holders and run the exchanged steel in a 288 for now...i will keep the 296 holders and re-try them at a later time on this boot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ktang 34 Report post Posted December 14, 2011 I've skated on 296's for 12+ years (having a size 10.5ee boot) so when i switched to the One95's I was able to go down to a 10ee in this skate, giving me 288 holders. so in short, it's a preference/comfort factor. At first I did feel a little less comfortable with the smaller blades but going back to 296 has been something i wanted to do since the first month of owning these skates. now the holders are a little beat up and the steel is down pretty far where the holder/boot contacts the ice, so my intent was to finally make the switch back. but due to time constraints and holidays/tournaments coming up rapidly, I am going to stick with the 288 holders and run the exchanged steel in a 288 for now...i will keep the 296 holders and re-try them at a later time on this boot.OK, me too. I'm used to a longer holder (LS2 272, E-Pro equivalent length) the last 10+ years. So I will probably do the holder swap soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACE 22 QC 5 Report post Posted September 14, 2012 check out the Ste Skating Blades facebook page. For now, it is the most up to date info. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ktang 34 Report post Posted September 16, 2012 check out the Ste Skating Blades facebook page. For now, it is the most up to date info.OK, thanks for that. I didn't think of using facebook. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites