New Skates

[db1789 0]

Hi guys,

Would really appreciate the skate "experts" on this one. I am looking for new skates and I'm debating between the Mako's, Totalone NXG, APX, or APX2. I previously had the X:60 skates which are relatively old. If I can get some opinions that would be great

Thanks

[Krev 86]

I have nothing but good things to say about the Makos. You were in Bauer's previously though, so you might want to stay with that line of skates.

Try them all on, if possible. If you try on the Makos, have them heat up a pair for 3 minutes.

[Zjack38 46]

While i haven't had any of those skates since they cost a lot, if you try them all on and you are deciding between the APX or the APX2's or i would choose the APX's just to save like 300$ or something like that, the APX's are pretty similar to the X60's and if you liked those, then why not try the APX's. The APX's are at least like 300$ cheaper than all those to, and even if your not paying for the skates with your own money, if you go with the "cheaper" pair i'm sure your parents, or whoever's buying them for you would appreciate the fact that you aren't forcing them to spend like 900$ on new skates.

[beerleaguecaptain 1004]

Many of the "experts" (and I am surely NOT one) won't touch this because there are so many variables.... and I don't really even want you to answer because even with that you will get a bazillion opinions....

• What kind of foot: wide, deep, narrow, shallow, flat... etc.
• What level of play
• What type of skater
• What are you looking for performance wise

In the end its all about fit and comfort level. You have to try them on.

For me, when I finally broke down my Vapor XXXX I stayed in the family and got the 7.0. I didn't want to mess around and I knew they fit me and were perfect for my foot.

[ChrisMolnar 14]

All of the Bauers that you listed are going to be much stiffer than the X: 60's you previously had. Gonna have to say from experience the closest fit would be the original APX though. It's all about feel, however. If you have access to trying them all on, definitely do that.

[Shayzam 0]

X:60s fall in the vapor line so I apx's should be closest being the next installment. I have heard great things about the mako and am very satisfied with my purchase of the nxgs very light excellent movement. Personally I feel the opposite of Zjack id rather pay the extra 2 or 3 hundred in order to have "the best" and most recent, that way you could never feel disappointed or regretful in my purchase... But maybe I'm crazy

[McDugan 89]

X:60s fall in the vapor line so I apx's should be closest being the next installment. I have heard great things about the mako and am very satisfied with my purchase of the nxgs very light excellent movement. Personally I feel the opposite of Zjack id rather pay the extra 2 or 3 hundred in order to have "the best" and most recent, that way you could never feel disappointed or regretful in my purchase... But maybe I'm crazy

Depends how many 2 or 3 hundreds you have kicking around.

[Cavs019 710]

The next installment theoretically would be the 7.0 or X90. If you like your x60s I'd go this route.

It's just as easy, if not easier to be regretful over an $800 purchase when a $350-$500 purchase would have been sufficient. In my case, I went with C width NXGs because they were the only thing that fit, not the assumption that $799 = automatically good.

[Quintin 16]

Love that people claim the APX would be similar to the X:60 here and when the APX's first came out, it was made clear the fit was different from the X:60.

As suggested, go X7.0 or X90

[Zorlac 22]

i thought X:60 were similar in fit to X7.0 If that's true, APXs fit MUCH differently. I know, I have both.

[beerleaguecaptain 1004]

All of the Bauers that you listed are going to be much stiffer than the X: 60's you previously had. Gonna have to say from experience the closest fit would be the original APX though. It's all about feel, however. If you have access to trying them all on, definitely do that.

As others have said, the APX and X60 are totally different fitting skates. The X60 is then same cut as the 7.0

[mjpisat 36]

I haven't read through this but mako, NXG, apx all fit differently. Go out, try them on. Maybe multiple times. Leave them on 30 minutes or so. Walk in them. Figure out what fits well.

And I'd also wait for ccm rbz line to come out

[ChrisMolnar 14]

Dkmiller3356 that's why I had said from MY experience they felt similar. I am we'll aware they are not the same cut. Just throwing in my two cents about how they fit my foot personally.

[bearfight 1]

I too am currently looking at the Mako and NXG's. My past three skates have been Supremes - two total ones (bought at the same time,) and the top line Supreme before them. My two pair I bought together are now in desperate need to be replaced.

I have tried on the Mako with an 8 minute bake, and they felt like the most comfortable out of the box fit I've ever had with a skate - any pressure points or discomforts present before the bake were eliminated as soon as the boot went back on. This was shocking to me because whenever I purchase a pair of Supremes I have to get them custom fitted because I have decently wide, flat, long feet. Been wearing 10.25L and 10.5 rights with the accomodation for my volume and width. The Mako was more comfortable after letting that bake job sit and cool than my custom Supremes were out of the box.

I have not tried on the Supreme yet, but having spoken with my skate guy it has become clear that I will have to get it fitted again. I am willing to try a new skate but the only real concern I have with the Mako is that they are perceived to be a softer boot, and I have worn nothing but stiff boots. My Surpremes are more pliable to pressure/squeezing than a new Mako boot is right now due to the wear and tear on it. Should I be all that concerned about the stiffness?

[Zjack38 46]

A lot of skates now a day are to stiff anyways, it's not that big of an adjustment is it?

[Chadd 916]

Should I be all that concerned about the stiffness?

No, notice when you squeeze the Makos, they are articulated and the "give" is at specific points. That is not the result of a lack of lateral stiffness, it is how they were designed. The Supremes on the other hand, are not articulated and the "give" is indicative of a lower level of lateral stiffness than when they were new.

[bearfight 1]

No, notice when you squeeze the Makos, they are articulated and the "give" is at specific points. That is not the result of a lack of lateral stiffness, it is how they were designed. The Supremes on the other hand, are not articulated and the "give" is indicative of a lower level of lateral stiffness than when they were new.

Okay, so from my understanding that perceived "softness" from squeezing does not translate into a "soft skating" boot? I really liked the fit of the skates, and it would be cheaper for me to get them rather than a fitted set of Supremes - as I said the only thing that kept me from pulling the trigger right away was that perception of softness in the boot. I'm a big build and skate around 250 pounds and move well, so I've been able to get the most out of the stiffness of my previous skates.

To sum it up, my ankles are safe and if there is a perceived softness in the boot it is by design and should allow me to maximize my stride?

Also Chadd, if you don't mind (you've always been one of the more knowledgeable members since I started lurking years back,) would I benefit from having LS2's thrown on and having the steel profiled to simulate the same pitch as what is on my supremes if that is what I am accustomed to? I realize this would eliminate some of the cost effectiveness of the Mako (for me,) but I have skated on Supremes for about five years now and am used to that orientation. With the comfort level I experienced with this boot, if I had the right pitch I believe it could be the right one for me.

[Chadd 916]

I believe the Mako offers a great compromise between the ski-boot stiffness that so many other skates feature and the ability to get forward flex. The Makos are much stiffer laterally than the Missions that I had been using but have all the same ability to get forward flex and toe kick.

As for the LS2s, I would try the Makos at least a few times before making any permanent decisions. Sometimes different is better, sometimes not so much. The only way to know for sure is to try them. Worst case, I would just have the new Easton steel profiled to reduce the forward pitch of the skate. I don't see any issues with the new holder and I think the steel is actually pretty solid.

[squat 5]

Many of the "experts" (and I am surely NOT one) won't touch this because there are so many variables.... and I don't really even want you to answer because even with that you will get a bazillion opinions....

• What kind of foot: wide, deep, narrow, shallow, flat... etc.
• What level of play
• What type of skater
• What are you looking for performance wise

In the end its all about fit and comfort level. You have to try them on.

For me, when I finally broke down my Vapor XXXX I stayed in the family and got the 7.0. I didn't want to mess around and I knew they fit me and were perfect for my foot.

Dead on with this post.

I wore the old Vapor line and while my feet grew I was more concerned about looks. Feet stopped growing and my Vapor XX hurt my feet got them punched and got my X60's Pain increased and punching increased.

Finally decided that maybe getting the boot punched wasnt something I should NEED to do in order to enjoy my skates.

Got the NXG, and my feet love me.

People will tell you stuff about stance, pitch etc.... at least in the bauer line its rubbish. I literally went from X60 to NXG in a day and using the same blade noticed NO "netrual" stance or the stuff you read.

oh on my graf 703, which i hated with all my heart and will never own a pair again, I felt like I was about to fall over backwards when skating backwards.

[smcgreg 81]

I too am currently looking at the Mako and NXG's. My past three skates have been Supremes - two total ones (bought at the same time,) and the top line Supreme before them. My two pair I bought together are now in desperate need to be replaced.

I have tried on the Mako with an 8 minute bake, and they felt like the most comfortable out of the box fit I've ever had with a skate - any pressure points or discomforts present before the bake were eliminated as soon as the boot went back on. This was shocking to me because whenever I purchase a pair of Supremes I have to get them custom fitted because I have decently wide, flat, long feet. Been wearing 10.25L and 10.5 rights with the accomodation for my volume and width. The Mako was more comfortable after letting that bake job sit and cool than my custom Supremes were out of the box.

I have not tried on the Supreme yet, but having spoken with my skate guy it has become clear that I will have to get it fitted again. I am willing to try a new skate but the only real concern I have with the Mako is that they are perceived to be a softer boot, and I have worn nothing but stiff boots. My Surpremes are more pliable to pressure/squeezing than a new Mako boot is right now due to the wear and tear on it. Should I be all that concerned about the stiffness?

My last two pairs of skates were Supremes. This April I went from Total ONes to MAko. I won't be going back. They are definitely not a soft boot. Actually, they are very friggin stiff after the bake cools. Laterally very stiff, but much more fore-aft flexibility than the Supremes. Much more aggressive pitch, but that can be changed, or you can get used to it and stay with it like I have.

Steve