Bauer Vapor X7.0

[CTB 32]

Skate: Bauer Vapor X 7.0, Size 9.0, Width D
Ht./Wt.: 6'2"/175 lbs
Play Level: C/D level adult league. Primarily wing, occasionally D
Previous skates worn: Vapor X:40, Size 9.0, Width D (Fall 2010-June 2013), Bauer Supreme 4000 Composite custom sized (late 90's, decade plus break, Fall 2010)
Time Frame: June 2013-Present

Fit (9.5/10)
Let me preface this by saying that I have a very thin and fairly narrow foot. Stock skates are never going to fit me perfectly but a custom job just wasn't feasible at this point in time. Also I have excessively flexible ankles, for those familiar with running shoes I always have to choose the stiffest stability style that prevents over-pronation. ***Update***Switched to waxed laces, they've helped significantly with keeping the boot tight.

Depth- No issues, but depth will almost never be an issue with my foot type.

Width- The narrower cut of the Vapor line fits my foot as well as any stock cut out there.

Toe Cap- No issues.

Comfort- Not fully broken in yet but so far there's been no noticeable pain in any areas of my foot. ***Update***I've skated in them enough times to start get them broken in a bit. They feel very stabile yet responsive even with the boot being as stiff as it is.

Blade/Holder (10/10)
Stock Tuuk Lightspeed 2 with LS2 stainless steel runner

Weight (10/10)
At my LHS I did a "foot by foot" comparison between these and my old X:40s, these felt considerably lighter. I remembered when I first started looking at the current generations of skates a couple of years ago and picking up the X:60 and marveling how light top end skates had become, given that this is the next generation of the X:60 that still holds true.

Protection (10/10)
Solid feeling skate, have yet to take a hard shot off of it though.

Durability (10/10)
Since I've put relatively little use on these skates it's tough to make a fair assessment. However my X:40s held up very well considering I bought them used, I'm going to venture the guess that these will hold just as well.

Performance (10/10)
Once again referring to my foot type, I'm always going to need a lot of ankle support. My previous pair of skates just weren't getting it done anymore so I decided to move up the model chain. The extra stiffness of the boot makes such a big difference. I was having some issues with my edges slipping a bit in my old skate, particularly the outside edge of my push off skate during crossovers and that has been solved. I was also having an issue with feeling that I was tilted too forward when I was bending my knees particularly on long skating strides up and down the ice. Again, that's been corrected. I can't wait until these get a little more broken in and I get used to them more.

Final Words
I had long regretted having to move out of my old Supremes given that they were customized and the best fitting skate I had ever worn. For the past few years I had always wondered what a modern top end skate felt like. I know that the APX and APX2 are now considered top of the line skates, I was still intrigued that the X7.0s were a newer version of the X:60s. Not having skated in either of the APXs I can't comment as to how they feel and perform, but I am more than satisfied with the X7.0s. I realize that as of this writing they have been phased out and are no longer in current production, but I'd highly recommend these if you're a Bauer fan and looking to get into one of their top skates.

Edited June 24, 2013 by CTB