True Catalyst Pro Skates

[flip12 729]

5 minutes ago, A2rhino said:

Hey there guys, 

Needing some help here. I'm shopping a pair of these skates online and needing some help with fit. I currently am in a pair of Bauer Mach skates, size 9 fit 2. 

I recently bought a pair of the Cat Pro's in a size 9 D and they were crushing my toes.in the toe box to the point that I couldn't get my foot completely in them. I reordered a pair of the 10 D and my foot fit in them with my toes against the toe box but after kicking the heel back they were better. With that said, My toes are still smashed in the toe box. I am thinking of sending them back for a size 10 E. in hopes that they will fit better but was just told from TRUE that Once the skates are baked you will gain about 1/4 to 1/2 size in length and width if that helps you. 

Now I'm really confused with what to do.. Any experienced help is VERY MUCH appreciated. 

Were the 9D and 10D Trues baked?

Personally, I felt like the 9-F1 Hyp2rlite felt like I'm used to from 9.5D Vapors: snug all around the foot, just feeling the toe cap but not jammed.

Catalyst 7 I have 9.5D and I'm confident I couldn't do a 9D. I think ideally I would have 9.5C, because the Trues just feel too big in all areas but the length. Tying them tighter doesn't help because then I have no forward flex...so 9.5C and a different pattern cut probably.

Before they were baked I was worried I had ordered the Catalysts too small. I couldn't get my foot in. Post bake they were comfy but not really the fit or flex profile for me. I'm guessing 10D will be way too big once they're baked on you. 9.5D is a decent bet if you're happy with 9-F2.

[A2rhino 78]

I did not bake them in fear of not being able to return them if they didn't fit. Thank you for the advice. I will give this a try and report back with my experience. 

Thanks again. 

 

[Sniper9 549]

5 hours ago, A2rhino said:

I did not bake them in fear of not being able to return them if they didn't fit. Thank you for the advice. I will give this a try and report back with my experience. 

Thanks again. 

 

If you were a 9 in Bauer you should be a 9 in true. I'd try a 9 wide before going to a 10 wide. Why did you jump from a 9 to a 10?  Also you said catalyst pro, so does that mean they are pro stocks? If so, then they were made for another players feet so certain areas could be adjusted accordingly. 

True skates have quite a lot of padding in the heel pocket unlike other brands. So that area does break in and get thinner after baking and after some ice time, and will create a couple mm if additional length once settled. 

Edited July 17 by Sniper9

[flip12 729]

On 7/17/2025 at 9:35 PM, Sniper9 said:

If you were a 9 in Bauer you should be a 9 in true. I'd try a 9 wide before going to a 10 wide. Why did you jump from a 9 to a 10?  Also you said catalyst pro, so does that mean they are pro stocks? If so, then they were made for another players feet so certain areas could be adjusted accordingly. 

True skates have quite a lot of padding in the heel pocket unlike other brands. So that area does break in and get thinner after baking and after some ice time, and will create a couple mm if additional length once settled. 

Same size from Bauer to True, even with the difference in toe cap shape? Bauer's most recent toe caps have all been more anatomical than True's. True's are more symmetrical. That's what kills it for me. If True's toe caps had the same floor plan as Bauer's, I could do a 9 in True no problem. That would probably be better even, considering the roomy, disconnected feel I got from my Catalysts no matter what I threw at the problem.

With each step towards a more anatomically shaped toe cap, I've dropped a half size in Bauer: 10D in Vapors in the 90's toe cap (Vapors 8 - XXX), 9.5D in the XXXX generation toe caps that were more anatomical, and 9-F1 in the 2X Pro that were even more anatomical. Hockey Tutorial says they've made further adjustments to the toe cap on the FlyLite, but I haven't handled them in person yet to see if it makes any difference for me. In my 9.5R Catalyst 7s my toes were as pressed against the toe cap as they could be without restricting motion or causing discomfort.

Edited July 18 by flip12

[Sniper9 549]

On 7/18/2025 at 1:12 PM, flip12 said:

Same size from Bauer to True, even with the difference in toe cap shape? Bauer's most recent toe caps have all been more anatomical than True's. True's are more symmetrical. That's what kills it for me. If True's toe caps had the same floor plan as Bauer's, I could do a 9 in True no problem. That would probably be better even, considering the roomy, disconnected feel I got from my Catalysts no matter what I threw at the problem.

With each step towards a more anatomically shaped toe cap, I've dropped a half size in Bauer: 10D in Vapors in the 90's toe cap (Vapors 8 - XXX), 9.5D in the XXXX generation toe caps that were more anatomical, and 9-F1 in the 2X Pro that were even more anatomical. Hockey Tutorial says they've made further adjustments to the toe cap on the FlyLite, but I haven't handled them in person yet to see if it makes any difference for me. In my 9.5R Catalyst 7s my toes were as pressed against the toe cap as they could be without restricting motion or causing discomfort.

How are you dropping sizes when the Bauer toecaps have been getting more anatomical and less volume? Or is it bc the longest part is now in the big toe area and tapers shorter whereas before the longest area was like where ur third toe would be? If that's the case then I can see your point. 

For me I wore 7 catalysts, Bauer, and CCM. But that's just me. You do bring up a good point regarding the toe caps if someone has their longest toe being their big toe or second. 

 

[flip12 729]

11 hours ago, Sniper9 said:

How are you dropping sizes when the Bauer toecaps have been getting more anatomical and less volume? Or is it bc the longest part is now in the big toe area and tapers shorter whereas before the longest area was like where ur third toe would be? If that's the case then I can see your point. 

For me I wore 7 catalysts, Bauer, and CCM. But that's just me. You do bring up a good point regarding the toe caps if someone has their longest toe being their big toe or second. 

 

Yes, exactly because of the changes in toe length. The height of the toe box has never been a problem.

[Leif 161]

On 7/18/2025 at 9:12 PM, flip12 said:

Bauer's most recent toe caps have all been more anatomical than True's.

What does anatomical mean? If you mean more like the human anatomy, well there’s a massive variation in foot shape. True toe caps are closer to the shape of my feet (think duck’s feet), Bauer (e.g. 2s Pro) aren’t and give me a lot of discomfort as they assume the completely wrong foot shape i.e. like a pasty. Maybe you mean Bauer have less height. 

[Sniper9 549]

6 hours ago, Leif said:

What does anatomical mean? If you mean more like the human anatomy, well there’s a massive variation in foot shape. True toe caps are closer to the shape of my feet (think duck’s feet), Bauer (e.g. 2s Pro) aren’t and give me a lot of discomfort as they assume the completely wrong foot shape i.e. like a pasty. Maybe you mean Bauer have less height. 

We're just using the term anatomical because that's the lingo Bauer uses for their toecap vs their old style and shape. For most people, they don't have duck feet so this new shape where the area of the toecap that's around the big toe and second toe it slightly longer than the rest as it slightly angles down /is shorter matches the majority of foot shapes better. Obviously it isn't one size fits all. 

[A2rhino 78]

Thanks for all the feedback. I downloaded the True Scan app and it failed miserably. Had me in a size 7.75 W. I contacted True and they apologized and suggested the same as you all, a 9 Wide. I'm going to an actual store today to have them take my True scan their and see what it says as well. 

Thanks again and BTW, Does anyone know when the True Catalyst PX6 will be released? 

[Sniper9 549]

On 7/29/2025 at 7:42 AM, A2rhino said:

Thanks for all the feedback. I downloaded the True Scan app and it failed miserably. Had me in a size 7.75 W. I contacted True and they apologized and suggested the same as you all, a 9 Wide. I'm going to an actual store today to have them take my True scan their and see what it says as well. 

Thanks again and BTW, Does anyone know when the True Catalyst PX6 will be released? 

2026 assuming the 6 means the year number like the 9x4 lineup 2024). Imo, the 9x4 look better and unless you're set on the new holders, id get the 9x4 on sale. True is offering the 30 day fit guarantee again as well now. 

[A2rhino 78]

Learn something new everyday. I had no idea that was what the numbers represented. 

I actually just bought a pair of NEW Catalyst Pro's in my size. I looked at the Catalyst 9x4 but did notice that they were a bit less stiff than what I am use to. These Cat Pro's seem to fit the bill. My plan is to switch out the holders to CCM XS so I can once again use Step Steel and be more at a pitch that I am use to. 

[Sniper9 549]

On 7/30/2025 at 1:35 PM, A2rhino said:

Learn something new everyday. I had no idea that was what the numbers represented. 

I actually just bought a pair of NEW Catalyst Pro's in my size. I looked at the Catalyst 9x4 but did notice that they were a bit less stiff than what I am use to. These Cat Pro's seem to fit the bill. My plan is to switch out the holders to CCM XS so I can once again use Step Steel and be more at a pitch that I am use to. 

Only thing to be cognizant about with the catalyst 9 and cat pros is the heel / shell cracking prematurely. They allegedly fixed this issue with the hzrdus 9 and 9x4s though