New skate buying advice

[louierev07 31]

So I'm getting back into the sport, and I'm going to be in a league this summer, so I wanna get myself a nice pair of skates.

Currently, I've bee using Mission 1500 quattro's. I've had them for a while, and they're in OK condition. They're pretty heavy, and i would say maybe a little big on me. (I wear a 10 or 10.5 shoe, and these are size 10E - I think these were before bauer bought mission) I tried on a pair of Tour Fish Bonelite 750 size 7.5 and they actually felt much better - so this in itself might be a big reason for getting new skates. (measured my foot today - pressed against the heel its 26 cm, and laying flat its about 27 cm)

I was leaning towards getting another pair of mission's - maybe the AC4's, but unfortunately, no one around here sells them. My local pro shop sells alkali and tours, so i tried a few on there.

After trying on a few - I ended up really liking the Bonelite 750. They were selling for 400, and came with an extra set of labeda addiction wheels (awesome wheels from what Ive heard). They felt much lighter than the alkali's and my missions. I also like that they dont use the hi-lo system - which made it a pain to rotate wheels, and usually ended up in me replacing wheels before I really had to, since my front wheel would wear down much faster than the rest. They also werent excessively wide around the foot like most skates are for me, and this was definitely something I want in whatever skate I decide on.

One other thing I'm taking into consideration is how nice they actually are - which might be TOO nice for someone like me. I honestly dont mind paying $$$ for them, but I know for maybe a few years, I wont use them anywhere but on super smooth surfaces. I probably play most of my hockey on the tennis courts near my house, and im gonna be super tempted to use these there, but I know how fast skates can get beat up from using them outdoors. Just as an example - I bought a macbook air a year or so ago, and both loved and hated it. I babied the crap out of it the whole time i had it, and ended up selling it, and getting something that is about half the price. Overall im much happier now knowing that I dont have to worry about ruining it as much. (even though i still do take good care of it) So i have a feeling with skates that nice, maybe im overdoing it, since I play most of my hockey on asphalt, and wont be able to use them as much as id like.

I was also looking at a few pairs of cheaper skates, that I wouldn't mind using both indoors and outdoors, but really wasn't that impressed with them. They all felt like my current skates, only difference is that they fit a little better. If there was a pair out there for ~200 that felt anything like the bonelite 750, I would definitely be interested. I know there are some closeouts on discontinued models that are great deals, but without being able to try them on, Im worried I might be stuck with a skate that doesnt fit right. (For example - I probably would have ordered the bonelite's in a size 9, not knowing how much better the 7.5 fit me.

So I'm looking for both general and specific advice on what to buy. I guess my options are kinda limited unless I can find another place that sells bauers or missions. The opinions I've gotten on tours up until now may have seemed a little biased, so im interested in what you guys on here think. For reference: Im a 7.5 in tour skates, and a 9 in alkali's.

Thanks!

[Vet88 674]

Personally I have no issues with Tours. My daughter has had a pair of cobalts for a few years and they are still going strong. I had some Code tabus and they were a good skate also. I found tour to be a wide skate in the forefoot and, although comfortable, it was not the best boot for my foot shape so I moved on. After many other skates I have settled on Alkali ca9's which are the best built skate I have ever come across. Yes, there are niggles but these are a fair trade off when the boots are still going strong after 750+ hours of hard use.

If you are looking at Tours and don't want to spend a lot of $$$ then hunt round and you might find some EX1's in your size on clearance. They were last year's top model and for around $250 on clearance are a good buy.

If your foot is 27cm long (heel against the wall, measure from wall to the end of the longest toe) then you would be an 8 in todays Mission (post Bauer buy out), Hockey Monkey has a clearance on T8's in 8EE and they are also a good buy at the price. They also have the T9 on clearance which is a very good top end skate from Mission, similar price as the Bonelite and in a 8D and 8E sizing.

Buying something on clearance allows you to hold onto some bucks and not worry too much about the "too nice" aspect. If you are thinking of Bauer, they run narrower than the other skates (excepting alkali).

At the end of the day you need to find something that fits your foot shape and skating style, unfortunately only you can work that out. Make the effort to try on as many pairs as you can, team mates and others at your club are often a good source for this. The pencil test for length and volume is a good guide to go by. Glad to hear you are getting back into the game.

[louierev07 31]

Well i just found out that a place about 40 mins away sells missions, so i might take a ride out there today to check them out.

Im hoping I end up liking the missions better than the tours, only because Ive used them before, and I know they have a really good reputation. Ive also heard mixed reviews about tours, the main complaint being that they wear down pretty quick.

Since im probably going to end up with missions, does anyone know how one model compares to another? Im looking at spending a max of 400, so that would put the Axiom T9's and Inhaler A4's at the top end, but if there is something out there for ~200 that is really comparable, then id be open to that too.

The main reason i didnt like the axiom's that i tried on (~200 dollar pair), is that they felt overly bulky, and the toe was kinda big. The Tours fit like a glove, and seemed like a completely different league of skate.

For $400, if the size 8 missions fit, which would be a better choice: The T9 or the A4's.

[Vet88 674]

The t9's are a much better skate than the A4's.

[louierev07 31]

The t9's are a much better skate than the A4's.

So I just went and tried on some missions.

The only ones they had in my size were AC2's and T7's. The AC2 felt a million times better than the t7's (obviously), but i really dont wanna spend $500 dollars.

Just like the bonelite 750, they were just so much lighter than anything else Ive tried on, and I want to try and get that in whatever skate i get.

So my options are:

AC4 for $300

AC3 for $400

Axiom T9 on sale for $420

Tour fish bonelite 750 for $400

I may be leaning towards the T9's since they are pretty much just last years A2's. If the A4's are anywhere near as nice as the A2's (or T9's), then I might try those out instead.

I see hockeymonkey has the T9 in my size, but if it doesnt work out you cant return them :/

Lemme know what you guys think. A4 vs T9

EDIT: Do the A2's ever go on sale? I know theyre probably equal to, or maybe even less than the T9's, but at least ive tried them on and i know they fit right and feel good. Id feel a lot better about paying 450 than 500 for some reason.

[Vet88 674]

Don't be fooled into thinking the T9 was a second class skate to the T10. The T9 and T10 were essentially the same skate except the T10 was glitzed up, white outer, chrome tipped laces, biggest difference was the glass composite versus texalium outsole. The AC1 is the T9/T10 new model. The equivalent to the AC2 would be the T8.

The no return is a hassle on a clearance item but the T9 is an excellent skate, streets ahead of the A4. A2's will eventually go on sale when Mission roll out their next line.

[louierev07 31]

Don't be fooled into thinking the T9 was a second class skate to the T10. The T9 and T10 were essentially the same skate except the T10 was glitzed up, white outer, chrome tipped laces, biggest difference was the glass composite versus texalium outsole. The AC1 is the T9/T10 new model. The equivalent to the AC2 would be the T8.

The no return is a hassle on a clearance item but the T9 is an excellent skate, streets ahead of the A4. A2's will eventually go on sale when Mission roll out their next line.

I think im sold. I did love the way the A2 fit, but the T9 has to be a similar style. For 400 bucks, its an awesome deal, and Ill list them on ebay if there is a problem.

[poonie 0]

i would go a set of ac3 skates, or a set of the alkali ca9

i had a set of t9 but didnt like the way they felt compaired to the mission inhalers

[louierev07 31]

i would go a set of ac3 skates, or a set of the alkali ca9

i had a set of t9 but didnt like the way they felt compaired to the mission inhalers

Already ordered :( I guess im going to have to take my chances. If i really dont like the feel, Ill just sell them either on here or on ebay.

Are the ac3's comparable to the ac2? I absolutely loved the way the AC2's felt. Those and the bonefish both felt extremely light, and completely different than any other skate ive tried on. Im hoping since the T9's are such a high quality skate that they will feel similar.

[poonie 0]

Already ordered :( I guess im going to have to take my chances. If i really dont like the feel, Ill just sell them either on here or on ebay.

Are the ac3's comparable to the ac2? I absolutely loved the way the AC2's felt. Those and the bonefish both felt extremely light, and completely different than any other skate ive tried on. Im hoping since the T9's are such a high quality skate that they will feel similar.

practilly the same

[Vet88 674]

Let us know what you think of the T9's. There are many players at our club who are in them, love them, and they came from old Mission and Bauer skates. Only one player I know of baked them, everyone else just slipped them on and started skating. If you have any pain make sure you do bake them and give them a chance to settle in.

[louierev07 31]

OK so got the T9's in the other day, here's my initial impressions vs the A2: (no idea how to review skates - so heres just what i think)

-The build quality is the first thing I noticed about these, Before i even put them on, you can see how stiff they are - which once broken in, im sure these will last for a LONG time. The A2's felt super comfortable right out of the box - but if i had to guess, id say the T9's are higher quality.

The thing that made me want to get a really high quality skate in the first place, was how much lighter they felt, while still not feeling flimsy at all. When I tried on both the bonelites, and the A2's, they both had this feeling. Even just lifting my foot up and waggling it around as fast as i could, I could see the difference between those two skates vs everything else I've ever tried on. Even though the T9's are listed as the same weight as the AC2's, for whatever reason they didnt have this feeling. Not sure why - maybe its the way the weight is distributed - but it definitely feels heavier. I know this probably doesnt affect most, but since im starting to get older, my knees often hurt after playing for a while, and i think this is from having to whip around forwards/backwards, and anything to make the skate lighter will result is less torque on my knees (i think). Besides that, they are beautiful skates, but im undecided whether I should keep them or send them back and get something else.

If the skates arent going to have that feel, and feel give or take like mostly every other skate, then I might as well get something cheaper. I still play a lot of street hockey, so if i buy something cheaper, i wont feel bad about using them in the street. I thought Id be able to use my old missions for playing outside - but after wearing a skate that actually fits right, I dont think i wanna wear those at all anymore.

For something in the sub $200 dollar range - I was thinking maybe the Bauer XR1's. http://www.hockeymonkey.com/bauer-roller-hockey-skate-vapor-xr1-sr.html

From what Ive read, the actual boot is really good - they're just cheaper because the wheels and bearings and kinda crap - which is fine with me because I bought labeda asphalt for outside, and I would just pick up some new wheels for indoor hockey.

Not sure what to do, im leaning towards just sending them back, and picking up those bauers, or something good for less than 200. I guess another option would be to get either the A2,3,or 4, since i liked how the A2's felt so much. But then again - do I buy the A3's or 4's hoping theyll fell the same as the A2's? Shipping this stuff out really is a PITA. I might keep the T9's, but i dont think Im gonna know if i really like them until I break them in, and breaking in=no return.

Lemme know what you guys think.

[louierev07 31]

So I decided just to keep them, and break them in and then see how they feel. Well I baked them last night, and that helped a lot. It is still a little cramped around my pinky toe, but it will break in with time. Skated around my house on the hard wood, and in the basement, and they felt pretty good. They definitely do feel lighter than my old missions, but still not as light as the tours, or the A2.

My plan for using them is this:

-Playing indoors/league play: Use rink rat wheels with swiss bearings that came with skates

-For playing outdoors on somewhat smooth and clean surfaces: Lebeda asphalt wheels with Labeda Cross Abec 7 bearings

-If im playing somewhere where its a real crappy surface - i think im gonna pick up a real cheap pair - like these: (60 bucks)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0093UEMA2/ref=s9_simh_gw_p200_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1WV4ARM7BW0P04HFN7TG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1389517282&pf_rd_i=507846

Anyone have any tips for rotating wheels with the hilo setup? In the past, Ive only bought 80mm wheels, and then once the wheels on the skate wear down enough, throw out front 2 wheels, and attach 80mm wheels on back of skate. Bad idea? On my last pair of skates - i would always wear out the front wheel much faster than anything else, and then the back wheels pretty fast too.

[Vet88 674]

Your front and back wear out the quickest because they have the most load on them when turning and accelerating. Ideally if you are skating nearly every day you would rotate them weekly (the 2 front and 2 back) then on every 2nd week also spin them around as you rotate them. I didn't bother to swap them between the boots, as long as you spin them every 2nd week then this ensures even wear on both sides. If you don't skate a lot in them then you can get away with a 2 week or monthly change.

[louierev07 31]

Your front and back wear out the quickest because they have the most load on them when turning and accelerating. Ideally if you are skating nearly every day you would rotate them weekly (the 2 front and 2 back) then on every 2nd week also spin them around as you rotate them. I didn't bother to swap them between the boots, as long as you spin them every 2nd week then this ensures even wear on both sides. If you don't skate a lot in them then you can get away with a 2 week or monthly change.

I just started a new thread since its pretty off topic: http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php/topic/63655-proper-way-to-rotate-and-replace-on-a-hilo-setup/

But I usually try to rotate as much as possible - even if it is barely worn. I swap left and right once they have worn down a bit since my right wears faster than my left. Heres a terrible diagram I made: