Difference between Bauer Custom Skates and VH Skates?

[syinx 139]

I've always been curious as to the difference between a custom skate ordered through Bauer, or a VH Skate. Both appear to be custom built skates taken from foot tracings with flexibility regarding the desired features on the skates. Would a Bauer custom skate wrap/fit as well as a VH Skate? Could someone shed some light on the differences if they are essentially a skate built to your feet either way?

[chippa13 1844]

The differences will be in the materials used, flex areas, stiffness, general design of the boot, etc etc........

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

I've always been curious as to the difference between a custom skate ordered through Bauer, or a VH Skate. Both appear to be custom built skates taken from foot tracings with flexibility regarding the desired features on the skates. Would a Bauer custom skate wrap/fit as well as a VH Skate? Could someone shed some light on the differences if they are essentially a skate built to your feet either way?

It would be pretty safe to say while Bauer or any other traditional skate company could make a custom skate that would fit the majority of your foot sizing wise VH uses 360 fitting with a custom last to your own foot. VH would be the closest you can get to a perfect size width and length in fit as well as any issues you may have on your foot. That being said they are 900 and a few weeks to get them so depending on the level of hockey you are playing and how much you want to put out for skates. It would be like this in say cars Bauer custom would be like a Cadillac (Performance and speed) and VH would be a Lambo but the cushy one. (High Performance extremely customized fit)

[flyers10 57]

VH doesn't use a custom last from a foot mold for regular customers. They use tracings, pictures and your notes just like Bauer would.

While the VH are extremely thermoformable, if your measurements are off you can still have fit issues. Like JR always says, the key is the quality of the fitter with any custom skate.

[syinx 139]

So in essence, what would draw one to either the VHs or a custom Bauer? I own VH Skates and they are magnificent, but I've always been curious if I would receive the same beautiful fit with a custom pair of Bauer skates.

[flyers10 57]

Some might not need custom if the retail skate fits well. Remember, if they botch the measurements the custom could fit worse than the retail did. (I understand that some have some wonky feet and that custom might be the only solution and worth the risk) I used MLX, MAKO 1, and VH. I just switched to MX3s. I love the wrap and sock feel of the those 3 but I like how the MX3 has minimal negative space and still allows me to pull the boot tight on my foot. In the other 3 although the wrap is good it felt like I couldn't pull it in any tighter due to the boot being locked in the molded wrap position. (I used velcro straps during baking to try to get it as close to my foot as possible too) I use the MX3 C width (equal to D). Ideal would be if it had bit less volume in lower forefoot near the toes and I like how the tongues in the other 3 skates go all the way into the toe box to eliminate the open space above the toes. I'd try on retail Bauer models first to see how they all feel. You might decided the general feel of those boots is not your preference.