Bauer Vapor 1X

[YukonLiving 6]

Skate: Bauer Vapor 1X
Skate Size: 9.5D
Shoe Size: 11.5 Solomon
Foot Type: Normal
Ht/Wt: 6'0" 225lbs
Play Level/Experience: Current - Men's League.  Previous - Jr. A (Canada)
Last Pair Of Skates: Bauer APX
Date Purchased: July 2016

Fit - 9/10
Depth: Felt really good to me. When lacing up the boot, I only pull hard on the top 3 eyelets which leaves the rest of the skate much looser. The sides and eyelets layer well with the tongue and I don't feel exposed. These is no creasing whatsoever when the boot is fully laced and my foot flexed. 

Width: I've had to use wide skates before (with Mission and Graf specifically) but these fit right in a D width. The heel is very snug and does not slip at all, but it really opens up in the toe. 

Sizing: I prefer my skates to fit like a second skin with just enough room for a Kevlar sock. I like my toes to brush the toe cap when I'm standing. The sizing seemed true as compared to the last Bauer APX skates I wore. For comparison, I usually wear size 11.5 or 12 "street shoes" depending on manufacturers. 

Other: I tried on both the Bauer Supreme and Nexus line. The Supreme felt much more boxy to me while the Nexus seemed more restrictive somehow. I did not buy the 1X skates for their looks; I much prefer both the Supreme and Nexus styling and colour schemes. 
These were heat moulded in store and when finished they felt like custom made parts of my body. I also tried the skates with both the included Speed Plate and aftermarket SuperFeet. I much preferred the stock footbed - especially after they too were heat moulded to my feet. 
I love the aggressive forward pitch of these skates. 

Protection - 9/10
I was disappointed to see the old style felt tongue come back on these skates but the pro shop told me it was the most requested modification to past models. I guess I'm one of the odd ones who liked the tongue on the APX. That being said, the protective coating to the outside of the tongue on the 1X has been fantastic. So far I have not had a single hint of lace bite. 
This boot is VERY stiff and I've taken a few shots off the foot. I do not wear secondary boot protectors so I felt the impact but not enough to keep me from playing. Shots to the top of the foot seem to be the most sensitive but that could just be me. 

Weight - 10/10
These skates are incredibly light; feathers seem cumbersome compared to the 1X and sometimes I forget they are on my feet. 
These are the lightest skates I have ever owned and they feel that way on the ice. 

Durability - 9/10
As expected. I average 2 skates per week or so and press them hard to perform. They're properly aired out and dried between uses so I hope to get a few seasons out of them. The Bauer 1X ships with Lightspeed Edge and this is the first pair of skates I've had with that system. My initial impressions are good. The blades seem to stay tight in the holders but will release easy enough - especially when using the included "key". 
I have noticed slight scuffing on the boot but that is to be expected through normal wear and has not affected usability whatsoever. 
I like the new material on the inside of the boot slightly above and behind the top eyelet. It seems to be much tougher than the Clarino liner in past models which wore through from tongue abrasions. 

Intangibles - 9/10
I use terry cloth skate guards when the skates are in my bag so I have not noticed rusting or chipping of the steel. Speaking of the steel, it also seems to hold an edge quite well. I had my skates profiled to my usual 9F R2 and they felt like home after my first ice time. That being said, my feet hurt bad after the first full game on them but that is normal for me and now they feel amazing. 
I wish Bauer would ship their skates with waxed laces. That's the first thing I swapped out as soon as I got home. 

Conclusion - 9.5/10
For a top model skate with a price tag to match, I was expecting a lot out of these. I have not been disappointed one bit - Bauer has a fantastic product with the performance  I dream of. If these are in your budget (or even if you need to bring in a little more recycling) I wouldn't hesitate to make this purchase.