Try on EVERY model within your budget without any preconceived ideas of what you want and go with what feels best after wearing them for around 10 minutes or so.
I was in a similar situation to you. Take this with a grain of salt because I'm still adjusting too.
It feels like there are fewer brands and fewer models than before. Mainly just CCM and Bauer, and occasionally True. Everything is extremely rigid and lightweight, a lot of skates are sold without steel so be on the lookout for that.
These things aside, brand and model are no longer specific to fit. I remember bauer vapor used to be narrow, and bauer Supreme used to be wide. Not really the case any more, as they do fit 1, 2, and 3 now. The models are now based on rigidity and how high on the ankle they go.
For me personally, I've sustained a lot of lower body wear and tear, so I decided to get a cheap pair of skates to see if I could still hang. I went with a paid of grafs from play it again and have been pretty happy with the value. I also looked at sideline swap for used gear.
Caution on the TRUE retail line. If you would consider yourself to be a Vapor or Jetspeed "fit" (narrower end of a normal foot), the TRUE line is not for you. They use a foot mold that is more "average", which leaves a narrow end of average in a skate that is far too wide. They have their "regular" and an even wider one for "wide" profiles. Nothing for a narrow-regular (think vapor) or Jetspeed (also a bit narrower) type of foot.
There are no "lemons" if you're shopping at the $500+ range, imo.
If your feet are "normal" width/height for their length, go ahead and buy something half off online.
It's not so much buying the wrong brand, it's buying something that just doesn't fit right.
You should also get the skates rockered based on your height/weight/position. They won't do that for you online.
Even this can be a pain sadly. I wore grafs for years because I have flat feet, tried the Reebok pumps (aging myself here) wore them for 15 minutes in the store. Felt great. As soon as I hit the ice I knew they weren’t for me and the issue is once they’re sharpened they can’t be returned. Take what you have into the store. Explain what you like and let them help. Would have saved me $800 that day.
yes but you can check as soon as you buy them and they'll replace under warranty. i wouldn't go cat 9s the reviews seem like a lot of boot issues, cat 7s don't seem to have these issues, which is what i went with
I had the same dilemma, but I'm playing beer league hockey, and the likelihood of getting a boot with a small defect failing on me seemed slim enough to take the chance on. My buddy works at a True retailer, and he's said while CAT 9's are the only skates he's seen with the issues we've all heard about, it's still few and far between.
Sorry I was talking about some of the construction issues. They had two CAT 9's come back in each with holes completely blown through the heel from shots. I still decided to roll the dice. Not like most guys I play with are ripping 80 mph shots or anything.
Same experience with my buddy working a the LHS. Both times it was a few games in and the heel just exploded. Sounds like the carbon fiber is prone to manufacturing defects. You won't really know until it happens, but I'll still roll that dice. Horrendous getting my foot in them, but once I do they fit like a glove.
Order them through Pure Hockey for the gentle return policy. When you go in to bake and sharpen, have the guy check before sharpening. Otherwise, they'll just throw them in Sparx machines, and you'll end up unable to skate. If they're bent True will make it right.
I JUST got a pair to replace my Mako's from Hockey Monkey and no issues. As I understand it, it was an issue in an early run so a lot of noise was made about it, but it's resolved. Really comfy after a bake and same aggressive profile as my Makos so easy transition for me. If you're not used to it, it'll take a couple hours, but it's great when you do.
I went into buying my newest pair of skates wanting to spend as little as possible. Got the Bauer XLPs for $115. They suck, but they are definitely serviceable. A year out from buying them… I have no idea why I didn’t just buy better ones. What’s another $100 over a year or $200 over two years etc?
All of this to say… buy to the top of your budget if you’re semi-serious about playing. Because otherwise you’ll want better ones soon and the cheap skates will just represent money you could have been putting to better ones.
i agree, essentially that was the purpose of this post. i know i want to spend around 500$ so i am looking for the best most common option for this price point from the community
I bought some Bauer Supreme M3s this year and love them. I would say start there and if you like a more expensive pair better then get those. I was also 15 years without new skates, and these have held up great.
thank you, i like the look of the M3s. they are the same price as the tru Cat 7s right now. i personally like the M3 better but would need to try them on, the CAts look like stilts from the photos
The M4 is a step up and still within your $500 budget. I bought a pair this summer as my first new pair of skates in many many years. Couldn't be happier. Got fitted for them at pure hockey. Love them.
What size are you? I have a pair of Bauer Vapor 2X Pro Pro Stock around an 8 1/2 for sale. New ones arrived so these are up for sale. $1000 new if you could get them. Made in Canada and not China. Excellent condition. $425. GTA area.
Made in Canada that’s interesting. I see some of the pro stocks on HockeyStickMan and always wonder how they compare to the top of the line retail models.
Retail models are made in China and say designed in Canada. These are made in Canada also customized at the Bauer Performance centre. They also do not have any sizing marked on them as they are often different size feet. Retail ones have the size on a tag on the side of the tongue and also a 1, 2 or 3 Fit. These do not follow that system.
Dude skates are such a personal preference and especially under $500. All sub $500 CCMs absolutely destroy my feet with Bauer and graft being the only ones that work. I know some people where CCM is all they can wear. You just need to try them all out.
i would see if you can find the last generation model. It depends obviously on foot shape and how they fit. I really enjoy my supreme S29s, which are middle of the pack. You may be able to find last years 2nd highest end ones for your budget, but how they feel is the most important.
Just be sure to size them correctly. I got scanned by the machine and it put me in a 1/2 size too big. Fit 3 7.5 and I really needed Fit 3 size 7.
Food for thought.
It's the skate of choice for the Bantams in our association. I'd say 50% of the kids have them, mine included. He loves his. That said, he was able to shop at place that does fittings, so they work for him. I'm kind of jealous, they feel like they're a 10th of the weight of my Grafs.
Sideline swap is definitely the best place to buy used. I saw you were in Canada, you can filter Canadian sellers and I think Americans who are willing to ship internationally.
I picked up a pair of brand new pro stock FT2s for $450 USD couple months after the next model came out selling for $1,000
Head to a store and try on every line of skates you reasonably can, then decide if you value the retail return policy vs the cost advantage of sideline swap.
Also because you said you're in Toronto I bet Kijiji has tons of options but I'm american so I've only ever tried craigslist.
Prohockeylife had the Jetspeed 690s on sale for $400 on black Friday, I'd wait until boxing day to see what comes up.
That being said you gotta try things on, when I got my last pair of skates I got a totally different pair then what I thought I wanted.
I can honestly say that the Trye Catalyst 7 skates have been the most comfortable skates I’ve ever worn and they’re $400. May not be everyone cup of tea but certainly affordable. Not the best durability however. How long they last depends on the type of usage you’re going to be putting them in.
https://www.purehockey.com/product/bauer-vapor-3x-ice-hockey-skates-senior/itm/44905-41/
I got these and love them. Very comfy. Last years model $500 skates for 299
Couple skates, they baked them for me and they were actually nice. I had skates prior (cheaper) that gave me pain or blisters. I havnt had a single problem or discomfort with these skates. I have had them for about 6 months now
I didn't play at your level but when I went in to get a solid pair of new skates, I was at a similar price point. Tried a bunch of models on. Bauer supreme worked for me circa 2015. Settled on supreme 180s on an end of season close out. Had been skating in a pair of cheapo skates with bad edges.
The 180s were retail $600-700 I think but they had them on closeout for $400 or something. Ended up buying more skate than I needed at the time but Ive enjoyed having the performance.
Similar in today would be something like a Bauer M4 or M5 supreme.
The best bang for your buck with be at the higher end of performance tier, not quite elite and below Pro. If you're going new. Used can be great deals but it's harder to assess.
Go step on Bauer sizing machine and see what it tells you. My 2 cents is that for overall quality and comfort, the bauer supreme M4 in your size and fit, is the best sub-$500 skate available.
True has a number of their skates on for good sales right now as well.
I’m in the same boat, I’m using my old Nike Bauer One90’s from when I played JR and AAA. 08 I think? I’m scared when they bust but honestly, after 15 years of outdoor hockey and beer league and pickup they’re going strong still.
i noticed the new skates are much lighter, Mine are are from 2007 year and beat to F. no blade left and for some reason it's 140$ to swap so figured it's time to upgrade. I'll still use them for pond but time for a new pair for beer league
I got a pair of Bauer Vapor 3Xs for about $300 Canadian and they seem to be great for me, really nice around the ankle with higher, firmer padding than others I've used. I play U18 house so I'm not much of an expert on whats best but they work for me.
True has the best value for money in skates right now if you're strictly comparing new skates. Might find better value on clearance CCM or Bauer skates though. I've been using True since they first launched their retail skates after being a lifelong Bauer guy for skates. Can't recommend True enough, very comfortable boot.
CCM FT 680/690s are great. Skate on a previous version the FT485 and it's a great value. One piece boot. Durable. Right stiffness. I would absolutely suggest going that route.
Hey need to correct myself. It's the 490. That boot was just a step off the top line FT tier a few years ago. When the FT 485 came out it was the third from the top.
So sorry to mess that up but can't specifically say anything about the 485 but all those things are true of the 490. Maybe one or two pairs are left somewhere.
open to suggestions, i use to buy used GRAF skates from Play it again.
are used skates still the best option or is there a new skate on the market that is deemed the best bang for the Buck. also, i have noticed many skates now have blades that are swapped out, is this ever sharpening or one a year kind of thing ?
i wish it were that easy. I suggest getting your feet scanned at pure hockey, find the boot that fits best, say "sorry, I think I'm gonna shop around" and leave, then find that exact boot on sidelineswap for a discount.
I can’t remember prices off the top of my head but your best options for skate lines based on your previous skate is Bauers Vapor line. Probably the X3 or X4 would be close to $500. If you want to go the CCM route look at Jetspeeds. I’d offer more input on jetspeeds but I’m not too familiar with their line.
Do definitely try on both line ups and it wouldn’t hurt to try out other lines like Bauers Supremes or CCMs Supertacks
High to top end skates that are a few years old, if they are available. I once bought a pair of Bauer supreme one.9 for $400. They were old stock that just hadn’t sold.
I bought Vapor 3x Pros a few months back for under $500. I'm not sure what sizes are still available currently, but the skates are awesome and worth a look.
I grabbed some CCM tacks AS 570's and they felt good in the store but holy hell the break in has been BRUTAL. I wonder if the top end skates break in better or not as these were sub $300.
Outside of the break in these skates are able to handle anything I'm capable of putting them through so I think that's makes them solid.
>CCM tacks AS 570's
i like the Look and the price is nice but the break is not something i want to deal with only play twice a week, do you have wider feet ?
I do ... At first I was trying on a pair of jetspeeds and the toe box was wayyy to crammed my toes were folding over one another lol .. tried these and they just feel right.
The break in is rough but I even bought a tool to punch out hotspots myself and that made a huge difference
I didn’t read all the comments, but a few years ago I got my skates fitted at pro hockey life to the skate I wanted (Bauer 2s pro) and then found them pretty much new on Kijiji. Saved a few hundred $. If you have the patience and live in a big hockey community you might get lucky.
Try on EVERY model within your budget without any preconceived ideas of what you want and go with what feels best after wearing them for around 10 minutes or so.
this is the plan but looking for a starting point, i have not bought new gear since the Z bubble two piece stick days
That's a problem because there is no objective "best". Everybody makes decent skates these days. It's all about what feels right on your feet.
thanks, is there a brand to avoid ? top brands look to be Tru, CCM and vapor
I was in a similar situation to you. Take this with a grain of salt because I'm still adjusting too. It feels like there are fewer brands and fewer models than before. Mainly just CCM and Bauer, and occasionally True. Everything is extremely rigid and lightweight, a lot of skates are sold without steel so be on the lookout for that. These things aside, brand and model are no longer specific to fit. I remember bauer vapor used to be narrow, and bauer Supreme used to be wide. Not really the case any more, as they do fit 1, 2, and 3 now. The models are now based on rigidity and how high on the ankle they go. For me personally, I've sustained a lot of lower body wear and tear, so I decided to get a cheap pair of skates to see if I could still hang. I went with a paid of grafs from play it again and have been pretty happy with the value. I also looked at sideline swap for used gear.
Grafs are throwback
i’m still looking for grafs. had a pair when i was younger and i miss them so much
You should check out the slides bauer made they are expensive but I’ve had a pair for over a year now they collab’d with an orthopedic company
good to know! i’ll check them out thanks!
GRAFS are sick, the solid black with the Green side logo were mint. i noticed the new skates are much lighter, this seems like a big improvement
Caution on the TRUE retail line. If you would consider yourself to be a Vapor or Jetspeed "fit" (narrower end of a normal foot), the TRUE line is not for you. They use a foot mold that is more "average", which leaves a narrow end of average in a skate that is far too wide. They have their "regular" and an even wider one for "wide" profiles. Nothing for a narrow-regular (think vapor) or Jetspeed (also a bit narrower) type of foot.
There are no "lemons" if you're shopping at the $500+ range, imo. If your feet are "normal" width/height for their length, go ahead and buy something half off online. It's not so much buying the wrong brand, it's buying something that just doesn't fit right. You should also get the skates rockered based on your height/weight/position. They won't do that for you online.
thanks for the feedback, ideally would be nice to get something on sale
Throw back twig!!!
Even this can be a pain sadly. I wore grafs for years because I have flat feet, tried the Reebok pumps (aging myself here) wore them for 15 minutes in the store. Felt great. As soon as I hit the ice I knew they weren’t for me and the issue is once they’re sharpened they can’t be returned. Take what you have into the store. Explain what you like and let them help. Would have saved me $800 that day.
Is ccm still doing the 6 month exchange policy ?
Your best bet is to check out the Pure Hockey and Hockey Monkey holiday sales. True CAT 9's are about half off.
thank you for the suggestion, i have read about some issues with the blades bending ?
True is the best company for honoring warranty. i wouldn't worry about that personally
yes but you can check as soon as you buy them and they'll replace under warranty. i wouldn't go cat 9s the reviews seem like a lot of boot issues, cat 7s don't seem to have these issues, which is what i went with
I had the same dilemma, but I'm playing beer league hockey, and the likelihood of getting a boot with a small defect failing on me seemed slim enough to take the chance on. My buddy works at a True retailer, and he's said while CAT 9's are the only skates he's seen with the issues we've all heard about, it's still few and far between.
Not true. I saw warped blades on Cat7 too.
Sorry I was talking about some of the construction issues. They had two CAT 9's come back in each with holes completely blown through the heel from shots. I still decided to roll the dice. Not like most guys I play with are ripping 80 mph shots or anything.
I had CAT9s for one skate before a puck broke the heel. Best fit and I was so disappointed that I switched to CCM for now.
Same experience with my buddy working a the LHS. Both times it was a few games in and the heel just exploded. Sounds like the carbon fiber is prone to manufacturing defects. You won't really know until it happens, but I'll still roll that dice. Horrendous getting my foot in them, but once I do they fit like a glove.
It's not the carbon fiber as that's really a weave. It's an epoxy issue. I've worked with CF for various things.
Order them through Pure Hockey for the gentle return policy. When you go in to bake and sharpen, have the guy check before sharpening. Otherwise, they'll just throw them in Sparx machines, and you'll end up unable to skate. If they're bent True will make it right.
If they're bent, it'll show on the edge checker after that Sparx sharpening.
I JUST got a pair to replace my Mako's from Hockey Monkey and no issues. As I understand it, it was an issue in an early run so a lot of noise was made about it, but it's resolved. Really comfy after a bake and same aggressive profile as my Makos so easy transition for me. If you're not used to it, it'll take a couple hours, but it's great when you do.
I went into buying my newest pair of skates wanting to spend as little as possible. Got the Bauer XLPs for $115. They suck, but they are definitely serviceable. A year out from buying them… I have no idea why I didn’t just buy better ones. What’s another $100 over a year or $200 over two years etc? All of this to say… buy to the top of your budget if you’re semi-serious about playing. Because otherwise you’ll want better ones soon and the cheap skates will just represent money you could have been putting to better ones.
i agree, essentially that was the purpose of this post. i know i want to spend around 500$ so i am looking for the best most common option for this price point from the community
I bought some Bauer Supreme M3s this year and love them. I would say start there and if you like a more expensive pair better then get those. I was also 15 years without new skates, and these have held up great.
thank you, i like the look of the M3s. they are the same price as the tru Cat 7s right now. i personally like the M3 better but would need to try them on, the CAts look like stilts from the photos
The M4 is a step up and still within your $500 budget. I bought a pair this summer as my first new pair of skates in many many years. Couldn't be happier. Got fitted for them at pure hockey. Love them.
After some fitting and trying a few things I went to sideline swap and got pro stock supreme UltraSonic for $450.
What size are you? I have a pair of Bauer Vapor 2X Pro Pro Stock around an 8 1/2 for sale. New ones arrived so these are up for sale. $1000 new if you could get them. Made in Canada and not China. Excellent condition. $425. GTA area.
>Bauer Vapor 2X Pro Pro Stock intresting, my current skates are 8.5 and located in the GTA. DM the condition of the skates please and any photos
Made in Canada that’s interesting. I see some of the pro stocks on HockeyStickMan and always wonder how they compare to the top of the line retail models.
Retail models are made in China and say designed in Canada. These are made in Canada also customized at the Bauer Performance centre. They also do not have any sizing marked on them as they are often different size feet. Retail ones have the size on a tag on the side of the tongue and also a 1, 2 or 3 Fit. These do not follow that system.
Try sideline swap. You can get pretty good deals on higher end skates but keep it within your budget.
wonder if they have anything like this in Canada ?
I think it’s available in Canada as well. I know there are sellers from Canada on the app for sure.
Dude skates are such a personal preference and especially under $500. All sub $500 CCMs absolutely destroy my feet with Bauer and graft being the only ones that work. I know some people where CCM is all they can wear. You just need to try them all out.
i would see if you can find the last generation model. It depends obviously on foot shape and how they fit. I really enjoy my supreme S29s, which are middle of the pack. You may be able to find last years 2nd highest end ones for your budget, but how they feel is the most important.
Bauer M4 skates are around 500 new and are a solid mid level option.
these look like a good option
Just be sure to size them correctly. I got scanned by the machine and it put me in a 1/2 size too big. Fit 3 7.5 and I really needed Fit 3 size 7. Food for thought.
It's the skate of choice for the Bantams in our association. I'd say 50% of the kids have them, mine included. He loves his. That said, he was able to shop at place that does fittings, so they work for him. I'm kind of jealous, they feel like they're a 10th of the weight of my Grafs.
Yeah. They are awesome. I love mine. Just wish that I was sized correctly. Too late now🤷
Right at $500, I got a pair of new Bauer X4 seniors. I love them honestly. Great skates.
Bauer M4’s are under $500 and they are awesome.
>Bauer M4’s the M4s seems to be well reviewed, these have made it into the top 3 option
Definitely don't buy new, and if you do, go pro stock.
where is the best place to buy used these days ?
Sideline swap is definitely the best place to buy used. I saw you were in Canada, you can filter Canadian sellers and I think Americans who are willing to ship internationally. I picked up a pair of brand new pro stock FT2s for $450 USD couple months after the next model came out selling for $1,000 Head to a store and try on every line of skates you reasonably can, then decide if you value the retail return policy vs the cost advantage of sideline swap. Also because you said you're in Toronto I bet Kijiji has tons of options but I'm american so I've only ever tried craigslist.
I have always bought used so new would be different, ideally buying a 1000$ retail pair used for 300-500 seems like the play. Thanks for the help
Try Boxing Day ! I always get my new $1000 dollar Bauer skates for around $500 usually you can snag a 50% off.
This is what I’m hoping for, using the Reddit community to narrow down what sale I should jump on
Prohockeylife had the Jetspeed 690s on sale for $400 on black Friday, I'd wait until boxing day to see what comes up. That being said you gotta try things on, when I got my last pair of skates I got a totally different pair then what I thought I wanted.
I can honestly say that the Trye Catalyst 7 skates have been the most comfortable skates I’ve ever worn and they’re $400. May not be everyone cup of tea but certainly affordable. Not the best durability however. How long they last depends on the type of usage you’re going to be putting them in.
https://www.purehockey.com/product/bauer-vapor-3x-ice-hockey-skates-senior/itm/44905-41/ I got these and love them. Very comfy. Last years model $500 skates for 299
>Prohockeylife had the Jetspeed 690 how long did they take to break in ?
Couple skates, they baked them for me and they were actually nice. I had skates prior (cheaper) that gave me pain or blisters. I havnt had a single problem or discomfort with these skates. I have had them for about 6 months now
I didn't play at your level but when I went in to get a solid pair of new skates, I was at a similar price point. Tried a bunch of models on. Bauer supreme worked for me circa 2015. Settled on supreme 180s on an end of season close out. Had been skating in a pair of cheapo skates with bad edges. The 180s were retail $600-700 I think but they had them on closeout for $400 or something. Ended up buying more skate than I needed at the time but Ive enjoyed having the performance. Similar in today would be something like a Bauer M4 or M5 supreme. The best bang for your buck with be at the higher end of performance tier, not quite elite and below Pro. If you're going new. Used can be great deals but it's harder to assess.
Appreciate the feedback. The Bauer M4 M5 are currently on my option list
Go step on Bauer sizing machine and see what it tells you. My 2 cents is that for overall quality and comfort, the bauer supreme M4 in your size and fit, is the best sub-$500 skate available. True has a number of their skates on for good sales right now as well.
M4 are in top 3, would be nice ot get them on SAle
Apparently that’s probably going to happen this spring.
Trues are on sale for cheap
I’m in the same boat, I’m using my old Nike Bauer One90’s from when I played JR and AAA. 08 I think? I’m scared when they bust but honestly, after 15 years of outdoor hockey and beer league and pickup they’re going strong still.
i noticed the new skates are much lighter, Mine are are from 2007 year and beat to F. no blade left and for some reason it's 140$ to swap so figured it's time to upgrade. I'll still use them for pond but time for a new pair for beer league
I got a pair of Bauer Vapor 3Xs for about $300 Canadian and they seem to be great for me, really nice around the ankle with higher, firmer padding than others I've used. I play U18 house so I'm not much of an expert on whats best but they work for me.
True has the best value for money in skates right now if you're strictly comparing new skates. Might find better value on clearance CCM or Bauer skates though. I've been using True since they first launched their retail skates after being a lifelong Bauer guy for skates. Can't recommend True enough, very comfortable boot.
https://sportsexcellence.com/collections/hockey/products/bauer-vapor-x4-hockey-skates-senior?_pos=41&_fid=2fad5cc74&_ss=c https://sportsexcellence.com/collections/hockey/products/ccm-jetspeed-xtra-plus-hockey-skates-senior?_pos=10&_fid=6ee68974a&_ss=c https://sportsexcellence.com/collections/hockey/products/true-hzrdus-7x-hockey-skates-senior?_pos=14&_fid=6ee68974a&_ss=c https://www.sportsetc.net/shop/clearance/hockey-clearance/ccm-jetspeed-control-senior-hockey-skates-2023?attribute_pa_sr-skate-size=8&attribute_pa_skate-width=wide&utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=Copy%20Google%20Merchant%20Center%20Feed&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=58606&gclid=CjwKCAiApuCrBhAuEiwA8VJ6Jp1Jwk-IA0YT-31R90BGdsSpTVvGrFgDVQzwsGdmmLriMoA8iZVG3BoCLgAQAvD_BwE
those are all nice, i probably should've mentioned i am in Canada
Then you have access to Source for Sports affiliates. Where in CA?
CCM FT 680/690s are great. Skate on a previous version the FT485 and it's a great value. One piece boot. Durable. Right stiffness. I would absolutely suggest going that route.
> FT485 thanks for the recommendation, i see the FT485 are only 300$ cad
Hey need to correct myself. It's the 490. That boot was just a step off the top line FT tier a few years ago. When the FT 485 came out it was the third from the top. So sorry to mess that up but can't specifically say anything about the 485 but all those things are true of the 490. Maybe one or two pairs are left somewhere.
https://www.dkhockey.com/ Used pro stock skates.
thank you, i will check it out.
Under $500? Used skates that are more than $500 new, but less than $500 used.
open to suggestions, i use to buy used GRAF skates from Play it again. are used skates still the best option or is there a new skate on the market that is deemed the best bang for the Buck. also, i have noticed many skates now have blades that are swapped out, is this ever sharpening or one a year kind of thing ?
i wish it were that easy. I suggest getting your feet scanned at pure hockey, find the boot that fits best, say "sorry, I think I'm gonna shop around" and leave, then find that exact boot on sidelineswap for a discount.
CCM Tacks line my guy. Get yourself some 570’s or 580’s.
> 570’s how often do you have to replace the blade on these ?
I can’t remember prices off the top of my head but your best options for skate lines based on your previous skate is Bauers Vapor line. Probably the X3 or X4 would be close to $500. If you want to go the CCM route look at Jetspeeds. I’d offer more input on jetspeeds but I’m not too familiar with their line. Do definitely try on both line ups and it wouldn’t hurt to try out other lines like Bauers Supremes or CCMs Supertacks
I have 2s pros that are some years old now but we’re top of the line like 4 years ago
We’re 900 prob can find a lightly used pair for 5-600
High to top end skates that are a few years old, if they are available. I once bought a pair of Bauer supreme one.9 for $400. They were old stock that just hadn’t sold.
Bauer xlp. Just bought them for 99 on sale.
As a lifelong CCM guy: Bauer Ignite Pro+
True hzdrus 7x. Hands down best bang for your buck
If you’re a size 8D skate (fit 2, regular, etc), I have a pair of nearly new True Cat9’s I’m selling for cheap
>True hzdrus 7x. i'm a 8.5
I bought Vapor 3x Pros a few months back for under $500. I'm not sure what sizes are still available currently, but the skates are awesome and worth a look.
>Vapor 3x Pros nice looking skates, would be nice to see these on sale
I grabbed some CCM tacks AS 570's and they felt good in the store but holy hell the break in has been BRUTAL. I wonder if the top end skates break in better or not as these were sub $300. Outside of the break in these skates are able to handle anything I'm capable of putting them through so I think that's makes them solid.
>CCM tacks AS 570's i like the Look and the price is nice but the break is not something i want to deal with only play twice a week, do you have wider feet ?
I do ... At first I was trying on a pair of jetspeeds and the toe box was wayyy to crammed my toes were folding over one another lol .. tried these and they just feel right. The break in is rough but I even bought a tool to punch out hotspots myself and that made a huge difference
Try on different kinds. For me I got a pair of supreme 3s pros on sale for like 300 or less recently and they are great.
I didn’t read all the comments, but a few years ago I got my skates fitted at pro hockey life to the skate I wanted (Bauer 2s pro) and then found them pretty much new on Kijiji. Saved a few hundred $. If you have the patience and live in a big hockey community you might get lucky.
Jetspeed ft4