Bauer NXG v. APX2

[Viperkilo 0]

Hey all, I've searched around the forum but found nothing that speaks directly to this matter.

I am a big guy 280/6'2", I play 2-4 times a week, and I've been skating with bauer vapor x:30s.

I wear a 12EE

I think it's time to upgrade my skates, and I'm not sure which route to take. From what I hear the APX2 might be the better all around skate, and it's construction will last longer than that of the NXG.

Would appreciate anyone's opinion. Thanks!

[Cosmic 178]

I think it would be hard to measure durability, until 3-4 years have passed, and people who have been skating 2-4 times per week start weighing in on how they have enjoyed their skates, and which one (or maybe both) is the true tank. I have heard APX2 is using better technology simply because it is 9 months newer (and thus the technology cycle is one cycle further along), but I cannot comment for sure. The jury is out on how the lace system will hold up on APX2.

I would go with whatever suits your style. I just got back into playing hockey after a long layoff, and find the Vapors are a bit too aggressive of a pitch, and I do not like the tapered fit with less heel lock. The pitch on the Supreme (I went One.9 LE for durability of the liner and comfort in the liner and tongue, over the NXG), as well as the contoured fit, and the heel lock, suit me alot better. so, I am very happy with the One.9 LE. Only issue so far is a hot spot in the inner left toe cap, which I am pretty sure baking would have addressed prior to the issue I am having (a bump in my toe, which my physio says will go away by middle of this week), but this is pretty much nothing. I love the straight away speed of this skate, as I am outracing younger guys to the puck who have been playing for the past 5 years. Sometimes I even manage to tally an assist after I win the race. Agility wise though, I am sure the Vapors are better. I am not an agility type player, so I just bite the bullet in this regard and let my linemates be the agile guys.

I am a bigger guy too- 6'2, 225 lbs; size 10.0 EE, 37 years old.

[Cavs019 710]

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php/topic/63524-vapor-apx2-skate-initial-thoughts/?hl=%2Binitial+%2Bthoughts

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php/topic/60207-bauer-totalone-nxg-initial-thoughts/?hl=%2Binitial+%2Bthoughts

[giogolf 9]

Both are top of the line skates and durability difference should be negligible between the 2..

What you should be most concerned with is fit, comfort and playability.

Try them both on and buy which ever fits the best..

[squat 5]

there is NO difference in pitch. They might have a difference radius but no difference in pitch. Vapor for narrow NXG for normal to widish. Nexus for the snowshoe foot

[Scurvy 3]

there is NO difference in pitch. They might have a difference radius but no difference in pitch. Vapor for narrow NXG for normal to widish. Nexus for the snowshoe foot

Due to the deep heel lock, Supremes will give you a negative pitch when compared to the Vapors.

[Stryker 37]

Due to the deep heel lock, Supremes will give you a negative pitch when compared to the Vapors.

I've never heard anything like this, considering the Supremes have an "anatomical fit" where the Nexus has a "deep v" fit. Though in reality the fit of the heel won't change the pitch of the skate

[Cavs019 710]

Yeah that makes it sound as though the heel lock is literally yanking you backwards. Any skate when fit correctly should lock your heel down. Try not to spread information that isn't rooted in fact, especially when it comes to someone else making an $800 purchase as a result of it.

[Viperkilo 0]

I'm ordering the apx2, hopefully they fit well, but if not ill go with the nxgs... Thanks for all the help!

[Cosmic 178]

Due to the deep heel lock, Supremes will give you a negative pitch when compared to the Vapors.

Yeah that makes it sound as though the heel lock is literally yanking you backwards. Any skate when fit correctly should lock your heel down. Try not to spread information that isn't rooted in fact, especially when it comes to someone else making an $800 purchase as a result of it.

I think I see what he is saying. It has to do with the stance (aggressive vs. traditional), which I equate with skate pitch. Maybe skate pitch is something entirely different and I am just getting names confused. Regardless, with a heel lock that is super tight (like Supreme), versus one that is a bit more generous (Vapor), it would seem that one can more easily get into an aggressive stance, with the Vapor. I think if you watch the Bauer Skate Insight videos, the product line manager (Keith Duffy, I believe), talks about these factors. I do not recall at which point of which one, but it is somewhere in there. I felt it too when I was borrowing a friend's Vapor, I was much more easily coming over the top of the skate and almost wiped out numerous times because I was not used to it. I thought for sure I was going down at least once, but somehow caught myself. With my Supremes, I actually feel like I am getting yanked back a bit, and thus at no risk of falling over the top of my skate, regardless of how aggressively I try to make quick accelerations.

[Scurvy 3]

Yeah that makes it sound as though the heel lock is literally yanking you backwards. Any skate when fit correctly should lock your heel down. Try not to spread information that isn't rooted in fact, especially when it comes to someone else making an $800 purchase as a result of it.

I won't say that there are "hard" numbers that suggest that the pitch is negative. However, if you were to do a comparison of how both skates feel, I guarantee you that the NXG will give you the feeling of being more on your heels than the APX2.

[squat 5]

Its the TONGUE flex. The NXG tongue is MUCH stiffer. Therefore you "FEEL" like you are being yanked back. Put your shinpad inside the tongue or use the med flex or even take the insert out and you will be in the same boat as a vapor.

VAPOR is for narrow feet

NXG is for NOrmal feet.

Nexus is for wide feet.

I literally took the steel out of my Vapors and put it in my NXG on the bench and it was the same pitch. THe difference? The bunion that was starting on my foot is going away because the I didnt need to punch my NXGs before every skate. My feet fell so much better. HOWEVER if I put the Stiff or X stiff inserts in the tongue i feel like I am being forced to skate upright. Put the medium back in and its great.

[jarskie 0]

I'm also looking A new pair of skates to replace my old S17. My S17 are size 9R and they feel perfect. I tried today APX2 size 8EE was too small, and X100 8EE fit great in length, but felt that they were too narrow in midfoot. LHS did not have NXG in stock, so im guessing which would be better 8 or 8.5?

[Viperkilo 0]

I tried the nxg and the apx2,and I stuck with the apx2, so far I have about 5 skates with them and after baking, by the second skate they felt great. The younger I the nxgs felt weird with the insert.

[JJStripes 1]

These skates are for two totally different feet shapes. If you have high arches or a high instep you will need to be in NXGs or you'll have a major failure of the pencil test. That is the most common mistake I have found people make when buy vapors. They end up with the tongue bulging out through the laces and it's very uncomfortable.

[Stryker 37]

These skates are for two totally different feet shapes. If you have high arches or a high instep you will need to be in NXGs or you'll have a major failure of the pencil test. That is the main mistake I have found people make when buy vapors. They end up with the tongue bulging out through the laces and it's very uncomfortable.

I would also recommend being extra careful with vapors regarding boot volume. Quite a few people have that depth issue, like JJ said.