Downgrading Skates

[slapper 0]

Hi guys, found this site a couple weeks ago and finally decided to join. lots of good topics and great info.

I have a skate question, but to make a long story short, Im 20 years old, now on my own and fallen into hard times. I need new skates and can't afford a good pair. I currently have Vapor x60s and love them but they are on their last leg. Im trying to save up for another good pair of skates but its not going to be possible to spend that much money. Now i know how my parents felt when i needed them to buy me new skates and gear. Really its going to be hard to come up with the dues to play in the fall, and tops i will be able to spend 200 on skates. Coming from my x60s, how will it be to downgrade in skate? I know to keep an eye out for last years closeouts but 200 will be my max. I want to know is it worth downgrading and how will it effect my skating going from a high to low end skate?

[Chadd 916]

The skates will obviously not be anywhere near as stiff or last as long. If you're just playing in a beer league or in pickup games, you should be ok.

[slapper 0]

yea, probably 1-2 times a week beer league but have been skating in stiffer boots for the last few years. I don't remember how it feels to skate in a less stiff skate. What I don't want is my skating to suffer. I play at a high level and I'm a good skater.

[Chadd 916]

The stronger your ankles are, the less of an issue you will have. Even $200 skates are usually light years ahead of what guys like Gordie Howe used in their prime.

[Fasckira 0]

yea, probably 1-2 times a week beer league but have been skating in stiffer boots for the last few years. I don't remember how it feels to skate in a less stiff skate. What I don't want is my skating to suffer. I play at a high level and I'm a good skater.

If you find the cheaper skates too flimsy, you could always tramp it up and just wrap loads of spare laces around the main bits*

^{*this is a horrible idea and I in no way condone it and cannot be held responsible for any injury caused from trying to tighten cheap skates around your feet with laces.}

[Sauce 0]

Check online, there are some good auction websites that sell good used skates for cheap. I think this forum and some other hockey ones also have a "For Sale" section.

What skates were you looking on buying?

[slapper 0]

Thanks everyone! I don't know what skates i'm going to get, whatever fits best at that price point. I would like to get something stiff/higher end but I can't afford it and have bigger responsibilities. I now realize how expensive hockey is and thank my parents for putting up with me always wanting new equipment.

[strosedefence34 179]

I know you said money is tight. I am in a similar situation. I'm 25 and live on my own so I have bills and student loans to pay back as well as hockey expensese. One of the things I do to help me out is with every pay check I take out as certain amount of money in between $20-$60 a check and stash it. When ever I need something hockey related I have the money for it usually. Maybe if you can stash some extra cash you can bump yourself up a level of skates. This is just my two cents. I obviously do not know your financial situation.

[HockeySavants 5]

Best advice? Buy pro return or used skates that have lots of life left in them.

I bought my X:60s when they came out for $200 from the Senators, I only play recreational hockey and occasional ice skating, and they are still very usable.

Now I've seen X:60 Pro returns going for $125-150, so you can definitely still have top end skates.

[Hell Hound 0]

If your in Canada go to Sports Check ( sorry LHS) I just picked up CCM Pro U 2009s for 200.00 and then I got vapor 20 shin pads for free too when I spent over 100.00 , one hell of a deal .

[Moose 1]

I had a hard time going from top-of-the-line skates to mid-levels. I had to tie them much tighter, go barefoot to keep my foot from moving, and add superfeet. I'm more recently convinced I bought skates that didn't fit right. I think the ankle strength point Chad mentioned is true, but I'm finding my mid-level skates to be wearing down much faster than previous skates.

[wrangler 157]

I think you have to expect the less expensive skates to break down faster for big guys.

[slapper 0]

I think im going to look for pro returns on ebay. I wouldn't mind getting the same skate, will save the headache of trying on a bunch of pairs. all i have to do is find my size.