VH Footwear/TRUE by Scott Van Horne

[start_today 625]

20 hours ago, mojo122 said:

 

If CCM and Bauer decided to cut down production costs by not doing 1/2 size lasts for retail skates folks here would be crucifying them....

Kinda worried that if True gets away with it, these two will pick it up as a cost saving measure. I feel like average consumers are so half-assed about fitting their skates correctly as is, if companies make it so 1/2 boots fit a little sloppy, not enough people are going to notice to make it an issue in sales numbers. (I am also pessimistic “sky is falling” about any changes to equipment haha)

[Janook 3]

50 minutes ago, start_today said:

Kinda worried that if True gets away with it, these two will pick it up as a cost saving measure. I feel like average consumers are so half-assed about fitting their skates correctly as is, if companies make it so 1/2 boots fit a little sloppy, not enough people are going to notice to make it an issue in sales numbers. (I am also pessimistic “sky is falling” about any changes to equipment haha)

We shouldn't jump the gun on this assumption. How can we test?

[althoma1 543]

10 minutes ago, Janook said:

We shouldn't jump the gun on this assumption. How can we test?

Well, you have a 7 and 7.5, right? Measuring the inside won't help since the foam is a different thickness, but maybe measuring the length of the bottom of the boots?

Lining them up side by side with their heels against the wall to see how the eyelets line up may be helpful as well. 

@oldtrainerguy28 already measured the size 7 and 7.5 skates back in September and said the 7.5 was definitely longer, but I'm not sure if that was inside or outside the boot:

 

[Janook 3]

Just did a measurement. Hard to tell of course but seems like the 7.5 is longer than the 7.

Also, after today's 2 hour skate, the excess foam/padding ridge in the 7.5 is totally unnoticeable. 

[mojo122 499]

1 hour ago, Janook said:

Just did a measurement. Hard to tell of course but seems like the 7.5 is longer than the 7.

Also, after today's 2 hour skate, the excess foam/padding ridge in the 7.5 is totally unnoticeable. 

You would have measure that 7.5 against a size 8.

[Janook 3]

For people looking for sizing info, I have narrow feet and usually wear Bauer Vapor x2.9 R size 7, or Mission D size 8.  All my skates are roller, not ice, though I don't think that matters for fit.

I tried both True TF9 size 7 and 7.5. The size 7 fit as a very snug performance fit with toes touching the front, but I play recreationally for multiple hours and prefer a little room in my toebox for comfort. The 7.5 fits perfectly for me.

The in-box instructions say to bake at 180 for 6 minutes; I ended up doing 10 minutes on each skate (after checking the boot softness every minute). I used the saran-wrap method at home to get a good wrap.

There is some weird cushioning in the toebox of the 7.5 which I stopped noticing after my first skate.

Notably the heel area is fantastic. Heel is locked in & I'm not getting the usual raw discomfort/blistering around the Bauer Bump area that my Vapors used to give me. I am particularly impressed by the heel lock and comfort, given my narrow heel.

The skates are very difficult to get into and out of, but once they're on, they feel great. I'm hoping my feet just get used to this.

The included "Custom arch system" feels crummy. I have high arches and tried using the included inserts but found them uncomfortable and tossed em after my first skate. The stock insoles are fine.

As I break in the skates, I am hoping they do not open up since the fit is just right; time will tell.

Edited March 21, 2021 by Janook

[Westside 123]

17 minutes ago, Janook said:

For people looking for sizing info, I have narrow feet and usually wear Bauer Vapor x2.9 R size 7, or Mission D size 8.  All my skates are roller, not ice, though I don't think that matters for fit.

I tried both True TF9 size 7 and 7.5. The size 7 fit as a very snug performance fit with toes touching the front, but I play recreationally for multiple hours and prefer a little room in my toebox for comfort. The 7.5 fits perfectly for me.

The in-box instructions say to bake at 180 for 6 minutes; I ended up doing 10 minutes on each skate (after checking the boot softness every minute). I used the saran-wrap method at home to get a good wrap.

There is some weird cushioning in the toebox of the 7.5 which I stopped noticing after my first skate.

Notably the heel area is fantastic. Heel is locked in & I'm not getting the usual raw discomfort/blistering around the Bauer Bump area that my Vapors used to give me. I am particularly impressed by the heel lock and comfort, given my narrow heel.

The skates are very difficult to get into and out of, but once they're on, they feel great. I'm hoping my feet just get used to this.

The included "Custom arch system" feels crummy. I have high arches and tried using the included inserts but found them uncomfortable and tossed em after my first skate. The stock insoles are fine.

As I break in the skates, I am hoping they do not open up since the fit is just right; time will tell.

 

Strange that you wear a FULL size difference in Bauer skates. Especially with the Vapor being the smaller of the two. Am I the only one that finds that odd? I can get away with going down a 1/2 size down in Supreme vs what I wear in Vapor due to the additional volume in the boot, but not the other way around.

When you say the 7 was very snug, were you referring to pre-baking? That's how they're supposed to be. Once you bake them they should open up and mold perfectly to your foot. If you went up 1/2 a size because they felt better before baking, they're likely going to be too large on you after they're baked. Obviously everyone's feet are different but I went down a half size with the TF9s from what I wear in Vapors and they fit perfect after baking. You seem to have done the opposite. 

Getting the Trues on was the most difficult part (for me) compared to a traditional hockey boot. I had to undo the top one to two eyelets, push the tongue out, then do the twist thing to get my foot in. Definitely took practice not only to get my foot in, but also to lace those top eyelets once my foot was in the boot because the ankle wrap is so tight

[Janook 3]

All my sizing notes were post-bake. So I went from Bauer Vapor 7 to True 7.5 However, I was intentionally looking for a fit with a little more room in the toebox, so I also went from "brushing the toebox" to "tiny gap in the toebox".

Edited March 21, 2021 by Janook

[althoma1 543]

The Mission vs Vapor sizing difference is odd unless you have old Mission skates made before 2009. Post 2009 Missions use the Supreme last which should be the same length as Vapors, but wider and deeper. 

Whatever True size you try, use them as much as possible over the next few weeks in case the sizing does change after break in and you have to use the 30 day guarantee. Do your toes brush after baking the 7.5s?

[hockeydad3 44]

Two days ago my TF7 7.0R rolllerskates arrived. Due to wet weather i couldn´t try them outdoor, just rolling around on the parquet floor in my apartment.

I have TF7 6.5R iceskates which are a breath too short and too tight in the toe area for me. Exchanging the felt-tongue for a pro-tongue and heatmoulding the skates with paddings on my big- and my small toe made them work for me, but they should not be a millimeter shorter. I do not know why, but the pro tongue gave me a few millimeters more length.

Because I wanted a little more space in the toebox I decided to buy the 7.0R rollerskates, and that`s how they are feeling like at the moment. However, I would not exclude that they are a touch too long after breaking them in. So it could be that my ideal size would be 6.75R.

The 6.5 boot has the "ToeboxLip" and the naked plastic of the toebox above, and the 7.0 boot has the end of the toebox covered with foam completely. The 7.0 boot is about 5-7mm longer than the 6.5 boot(outside, very difficult to measure). On the bottom of the sideparts I can find some small codes printed, a part of it is the "size 6" on the 6.5 boot and "size7" on the 7.0 boot. If only the padding makes the difference of the sizes, the 7.0 and the 7.5 or the 6.5 and the 7.0 should have the same length. Maybe the boots are full-sized and they combine them with different toeboxes, not only different paddings to create half sizes? Or the boots are half sized and they cut off a part of the boot to create a full size? Or they combine a full sized boot with the next bigger full sized toecap(size 6 boot with size 7 toecap = size 6.5 skate) to create a half size? Only True knows.

Edited March 21, 2021 by hockeydad3

[the_game 424]

Does anyone have info on the size and/or type of screw that is used to keep the tendon guards in place on the True TF9?

I don't use my tongues for leverage to get my skates off but still had one of the screws break.

[jlt73 159]

Well I am now on my 4th month of of custom True skates.  I typically play 3-4 times a week lately and I have played in 2 tournaments in this time period.  I love these skates.  I'm not a very good player, but these have made me a better skater all around.  I can actually feel my edges and my "speed" has improved.  But most importantly, my feet never hurt when I'm done skating.  

One of the tournaments (3v3) I was in had games with an hour break between them so I never took my skates off.  My first game was at 8am and the last was at 6pm. My feet felt great. 

[shoot_the_goalie 232]

Not sure if this question has ever been asked, but don't feel like sifting through hundred of pages to find it.

How are the latest True customs compared to the 1st gen True customs?  I mean in terms of feel, comfort, performance...not cosmetics or new features (like tendon guard and shift holder)

[jgold47 12]

Quick question for the brain trust. I have step/VH holders with the true heel cup.  If I’m switching to XS holders, I remove the heel cup right? That helps with equalizing the pitch right?

[PBH 978]

2 hours ago, jgold47 said:

Quick question for the brain trust. I have step/VH holders with the true heel cup.  If I’m switching to XS holders, I remove the heel cup right? That helps with equalizing the pitch right?

Yes. 

[PBH 978]

On 4/5/2021 at 2:37 PM, shoot_the_goalie said:

Not sure if this question has ever been asked, but don't feel like sifting through hundred of pages to find it.

How are the latest True customs compared to the 1st gen True customs?  I mean in terms of feel, comfort, performance...not cosmetics or new features (like tendon guard and shift holder)

They feel the same but lighter. 

[mojo122 499]

On 4/5/2021 at 5:37 PM, shoot_the_goalie said:

Not sure if this question has ever been asked, but don't feel like sifting through hundred of pages to find it.

How are the latest True customs compared to the 1st gen True customs?  I mean in terms of feel, comfort, performance...not cosmetics or new features (like tendon guard and shift holder)

Agree that they're lighter, but still heavy.  I am on the fence as to whether or not to try them, but the display skate that I saw at one of the Pure Hockey stores had what looked like many micro fissures on the heel.  

[PBH 978]

4 minutes ago, mojo122 said:

Agree that they're lighter, but still heavy.  I am on the fence as to whether or not to try them, but the display skate that I saw at one of the Pure Hockey stores had what looked like many micro fissures on the heel.  

Heavy? They weigh less than Vapor Hyperlite skates and the FT4 Pro. My TRUE skates weigh only 807 grams per skate with steel. 

Edited June 9, 2021 by PBH

[flip12 618]

I don’t think any top end skate today qualifies as heavy. We’re in the light and lighter era. Whenever I switch between Grafs and MLX in the same session, it’s night and day in weight perception.

Cases in point: 

1. Grafs were light before the Vaporization of hockey skates.

2. MLX are unnecessarily weighty due to the MacGyver TM holder attachment system.

[mojo122 499]

Semantics...my point is they're heavier than other top end skates and the finish is sloppier.  

[Westside 123]

1 hour ago, mojo122 said:

Semantics...my point is they're heavier than other top end skates and the finish is sloppier.  

FT2 weighs 866 grams, 2X Pro weighs 860 grams, the TF9 weighs 904 grams.  So yeah, heavier, but by only 50-ish grams. That weight could be different depending on tongues, holders, and runners used. 
 

I’m surprised at the high quality of the TF9s compared to what I’d seen from True in the past. This coming from a guy who’s skated Bauer’s for the last decade and CCMs for the decade+ before that 

[PBH 978]

9 hours ago, mojo122 said:

Semantics...my point is they're heavier than other top end skates and the finish is sloppier.  

I guess I don't care as much about the finish of the structural integrity of the skate is good.

I've never had any issues with TRUE personally, but I understand if you feel the fit and finish is not as good as other skates that cost the same price but aren't custom. 

What were we talking about again? Oh yeah. If you should try them. 

Do you need custom skates? Is there something wrong with your feet or do you struggle to find skates that fit you? I only advise people who NEED custom skates to get custom skates. Otherwise, it's a waste of money. 

Edited June 10, 2021 by PBH

[Miller55 314]

5 hours ago, PBH said:

I guess I don't care as much about the finish of the structural integrity of the skate is good.

I've never had any issues with TRUE personally, but I understand if you feel the fit and finish is not as good as other skates that cost the same price but aren't custom. 

What were we talking about again? Oh yeah. If you should try them. 

Do you need custom skates? Is there something wrong with your feet or do you struggle to find skates that fit you? I only advise people who NEED custom skates to get custom skates. Otherwise, it's a waste of money. 

Is it really a waste of money? BTM sells true customs for $950 USD. That's the same price as retail 2x pros, and probably cheaper than the hyperlite will be. Obviously if you don't need customs then there's no reason not to save 300 bucks and get tf9s, but customs aren't extensive compared to any other top of the line skate.

[PBH 978]

6 hours ago, Miller55 said:

Is it really a waste of money? BTM sells true customs for $950 USD. That's the same price as retail 2x pros, and probably cheaper than the hyperlite will be. Obviously if you don't need customs then there's no reason not to save 300 bucks and get tf9s, but customs aren't extensive compared to any other top of the line skate.

If you dont need a custom skate you are better off saving that money. Not to mention you have the TRUE 30-day satisfaction guarantee so if you do buy them and dislike the skate for any reason you can return it. Thats not possible with customs.

The build of most brands custom skates is basically the same as the retail model too. So it's not like they are getting anything significantly better. I would say CCM is the only company that has some significant available options for their customs as compared to retail models. 

I prefer to not put anyone in a custom skate unless they need to be in one. Thats for all brands, not just TRUE. I like customers having peace of mind if they buy a skate and its the wrong fit for them or too soft/stiff, they can return. 

 

[Miller55 314]

11 hours ago, PBH said:

If you dont need a custom skate you are better off saving that money. Not to mention you have the TRUE 30-day satisfaction guarantee so if you do buy them and dislike the skate for any reason you can return it. Thats not possible with customs.

The build of most brands custom skates is basically the same as the retail model too. So it's not like they are getting anything significantly better. I would say CCM is the only company that has some significant available options for their customs as compared to retail models. 

I prefer to not put anyone in a custom skate unless they need to be in one. Thats for all brands, not just TRUE. I like customers having peace of mind if they buy a skate and its the wrong fit for them or too soft/stiff, they can return. 

 

I hear what you're saying. If I had the money and knew that I was ok with a certain skate from using either a previous gen custom or a retail version, I still think I would go custom if it afforded me either more comfort or more options for details, like CCM and Graf seem to still offer. I agree though, there would have to be done reason to go custom, whether for fit or for additional options (like increased our reduced stiffness, etc).