CCM Vizion skates & the pitch

[SolarWind 26]

There’s a lot of buzz about upcoming Vizion skates and the final product into has emerged online.

looks like CCM is continuing with this trend they’ve introduced with FT8 skates and they are adding a very sizeable (6mm?) shim under the heel?

at least with Vizion it’s on the outside of the skate vs being hidden under the insole in FT8, but removing it would still be a hassle as the shop would need to re-rivet etc

why would CCM do something like that? Sounds like a very drastic change of the pitch which would throw the current uses off especially if they prefer the neutral pitch of the ccm’s boot and XS holder?

[Westside 270]

I also agree it’s an odd decision. The funniest part to me is how people have been complaining for the last 5 years about the aggressive forward pitch of True skates only for them to neutralize pitch on their latest SVH boot while CCM introduces it. Wonder how many people will complain about it or if the sheep will remain quiet because they’ll claim forward pitch really improves your game…

[noupf 43]

So is the Vizion line of skates supposed to eliminate one of the existing lines ( Tacks / Jetspeed ) or is this a reintroduction of a third line of skates?  I'm still rocking my Ribcor 100k Pro's that i like so much.

Edited April 16 by noupf

[malcb33 108]

On 4/16/2026 at 12:18 PM, noupf said:

So is the Vizion line of skates supposed to eliminate one of the existing lines ( Tacks / Jetspeed ) or is this a reintroduction of a third line of skates?  I'm still rocking my Ribcor 100k Pro's that i like so much.

My understanding is that Vizion isn't a line, but more of a special project that can change year to year. It highlights new advancements, but is not necessarily a particular product every year.

[Hills 725]

On 4/15/2026 at 7:30 PM, Westside said:

I also agree it’s an odd decision. The funniest part to me is how people have been complaining for the last 5 years about the aggressive forward pitch of True skates only for them to neutralize pitch on their latest SVH boot while CCM introduces it. Wonder how many people will complain about it or if the sheep will remain quiet because they’ll claim forward pitch really improves your game…

I still find it wild that after decades of "you need carbon and you need to remove the outsole for best energy transfer" and then now they are adding plastic shims stock into a skate.

[SolarWind 26]

Since Vizion is marketed as an "innovation line' that prototypes features before they become mainstream (ie original Vision stick had the ultra low kick which went to Trigger), I thought this version of Vision skate is re-introducing Ribcore line back, but I might be wrong.

Definitely a very odd decision to mess up a nice one-piece boot with a giant plastic shim!
At least it's on the outside now so easier to remove. Which is what some NHLers have clearly done. And looks like some kept the shim but made is significantly smaller - 3 mm maybe?

The shim on the inside for FT8 completely changed how the boot fits also.
Hopefully Vizion also drastically reduces the amount of foam in the boot since the current line of skates (FT8 and XF) has gone to an extreme when it comes to putting giant pillows inside the boot lol

Edited April 24 by SolarWind

[raganblink 82]

Vizion is the top-end Tacks skate replacing the XF Pro

XR is the 2nd PP replacing XF

XR90 = XF90

etc

[stick9 914]

On 4/21/2026 at 2:59 AM, SolarWind said:

Since Vizion is marketed as an "innovation line' that prototypes features before they become mainstream (ie original Vision stick had the ultra low kick which went to Trigger), I thought this version of Vision skate is re-introducing Ribcore line back, but I might be wrong.

Definitely a very odd decision to mess up a nice one-piece boot with a giant plastic shim!
At least it's on the outside now so easier to remove. Which is what some NHLers have clearly done. And looks like some kept the shim but made is significantly smaller - 3 mm maybe?

The shim on the inside for FT8 completely changed how the boot fits also.
Hopefully Vizion also drastically reduces the amount of foam in the boot since the current line of skates (FT8 and XF) has gone to an extreme when it comes to putting giant pillows inside the boot lol

Hush now, I love those giant pillows. Not as much as the old memory foam doughnuts in the old 70Ks, but close. 

Coming from the 100k which had much less padding, the XF Pros were a dream. The level of comfort was light years ahead.

[flip12 746]

My favorite skates are the ones with the least padding. I like feeling close to the shell. I'm intrigued by the Vizion's description, which sounds a lot like a return to the ONE90 minimal negative space concept.

[SolarWind 26]

2 hours ago, flip12 said:

My favorite skates are the ones with the least padding. I like feeling close to the shell. I'm intrigued by the Vizion's description, which sounds a lot like a return to the ONE90 minimal negative space concept.

Makes two of us.

I had customs Bauer supreme and CCM 100k before switching to customs Trues, and the difference I find between these is that when the shape of the boot actually contours to the shape of the foot then there are no pressure points anywhere and foam isn’t even needed. With CCM and Bauer using standard last boots Vizion better to be super thermo-formable. 
Looks like they are starting to trickle down into stores, so got to check them out. 
The shim is worrisome tho, totally changes the pitch of the skate from neutral to extreme!

[flip12 746]

I actually prefer extra pitch. I had Catalyst 7s for a while. It helped with the +1 on the Ellipse II I had put on them, but they never really felt right for me. In the end my back was killing me when I wore them, so I sold them. Switching to my X:60s, the back pain went away immediately. I had MLX that I wore until they almost fell apart. The Catalysts were just too puffy and distant from the shell in comparison for me.

[SolarWind 26]

On 4/29/2026 at 7:22 AM, raganblink said:

Vizion is the top-end Tacks skate replacing the XF Pro

XR is the 2nd PP replacing XF

XR90 = XF90

etc

Having read more on this and having looked at the skates in person it definitely doesn’t look like Vizion is the new Tacks. It’s new 100k.

they are less stiff than tacks, and have less padding. 
McKinnon switched from 100k to Vizion.

The toe cup is padded, overall skates feel very nice!

$1500 CDN is a lot of money for the retail skate. 
and the shim is 6mm - massive!

Edited May 6 by SolarWind

[Cove 39]

Maybe im dumb, but with the heel lift of superfeet does that put you even further forward? 

 

also, does anyone know if theyll be customizable at retail for colors or just the shinny teal-ish color? 

[beerleaguecaptain 1006]

we have not been given that info yet at the retail level.

 

[Westside 270]

Interesting that CCM is going with an integrated toe cap. Reminds me a lot of True’s design, specifically on the TF line 

[Sniper9 567]

The heel of the boot looks higher up than other skates. Which means the shim might actually not be as aggressive as we predict and might just be that thick to offset how high the heel is in relation to the forefoot. Just my thoughts from looking at the skates in the picture. It wouldnt make sense for ccm to just add a 6mm shim to the rear of the skates if the boot had the same heel to toe offset or their other models. It would be way too extreme for most people to get used to. 

Edited yesterday at 03:50 AM by Sniper9

[SolarWind 26]

1 hour ago, Sniper9 said:

The heel of the boot looks higher up than other skates. Which means the shim might actually not be as aggressive as we predict and might just be that thick to offset how high the heel is in relation to the forefoot. Just my thoughts from looking at the skates in the picture. It wouldnt make sense for ccm to just add a 6mm shim to the rear of the skates if the boot had the same heel to toe offset or their other models. It would be way too extreme for most people to get used to. 

I don’t get it: underneath this booth is the same XS holder, and the pitch of the holder is the same across all CCM skates. With the boot sitting right on top of the holder wouldn’t it set the “heel to toe offset” the same as other CCM boots?

[Sniper9 567]

21 hours ago, SolarWind said:

I don’t get it: underneath this booth is the same XS holder, and the pitch of the holder is the same across all CCM skates. With the boot sitting right on top of the holder wouldn’t it set the “heel to toe offset” the same as other CCM boots?

Not if the boot itself has a different offset to begin with. For example. Bauer supreme and vapors both use the same holders but the supremes make you feel a bit more on your heels than the vapor. So to make the supremes feel closer to the vapors you can put shims on the heel or profile the steel. 

Edited 16 hours ago by Sniper9

[SolarWind 26]

3 hours ago, Sniper9 said:

Not if the boot itself has a different offset to begin with. For example. Bauer supreme and vapors both use the same holders but the supremes make you feel a bit more on your heels than the vapor. So to make the supremes feel closer to the vapors you can put shims on the heel or profile the steel. 

For Bauer skates it makes sense. They aren’t one-piece boots so the outsole can have a different thickness at the toe vs the heel. 
Superfeet have a similar effect due to an elevated heel.
CCM boots on the other hand used to have a neutral stance thanks to the thin, constant thickness bottom of their boots.

FT8 started to mess with it when CCM added a lift under the heel - inside the boot. Must be trying to copy Vapors.

So unless Vizion has a thicker bottom of the boot at the toe area vs the heel (which I did not notice examining the skates or trying them on) the heel lift will cause an aggressive forward pitch. 

[stick9 914]

These companies never learn. We can't carry three lines of skates.... Hey let's make a new skate and have a third line... Fantastic idea!

I don't like the toe cap. It extends way too far back. I need some room there and I doubt the toe cap is moldable. Not that I'm looking to switch. Just saying.

Oh, BTW. CCM started adding padding to the toe cap when they ditched the swappable tongues. That new toe cap is very comfy. 

[Sniper9 567]

7 hours ago, SolarWind said:

For Bauer skates it makes sense. They aren’t one-piece boots so the outsole can have a different thickness at the toe vs the heel. 
Superfeet have a similar effect due to an elevated heel.
CCM boots on the other hand used to have a neutral stance thanks to the thin, constant thickness bottom of their boots.

FT8 started to mess with it when CCM added a lift under the heel - inside the boot. Must be trying to copy Vapors.

So unless Vizion has a thicker bottom of the boot at the toe area vs the heel (which I did not notice examining the skates or trying them on) the heel lift will cause an aggressive forward pitch. 

I guess we will see how people respond to the skates. I really doubt CCM would create a skate with a legit 6mm heel lift and expect the majority of people to find it not awkward to skate in. 

51 minutes ago, stick9 said:

These companies never learn. We can't carry three lines of skates.... Hey let's make a new skate and have a third line... Fantastic idea!

I don't like the toe cap. It extends way too far back. I need some room there and I doubt the toe cap is moldable. Not that I'm looking to switch. Just saying.

Oh, BTW. CCM started adding padding to the toe cap when they ditched the swappable tongues. That new toe cap is very comfy. 

I'm still amazed that it took this long for a skate company to add some lining to the inside orbs toe cap. True has done it since inception but Bauer and CCM have been around for ages. I guess anything to save a step in the manufacturing process. 

[TheWontonDon24 0]

My biggest thing with the Vizion is who is this targeted to? The price point is ultra elite level.... So who in their right mind is going to pay to try these high end RETAIL products if they're changing year to year. It's essentially becoming like golf where the newest model is the latest and greatest with a crazy price point. CCM had a good thing going with Jetspeed Tacks and Ribcor.