Mid range vs Top Pro Level hockey skates comparison - What is the difference
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
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As a Canadian, I never thought I would hear this comprehensive a breakdown of hockey skates from an Englishman. Well done!
Exactly eh!
I still wear my Bauer 100’s from 1987. They were top of the line skates at $250..... talk about durability.
Just switched from a set of GRAF from ‘96 to CCM AS3 pro. It’s a really tough transition but I’m planning on 10 - 20 years on the new ones so hopefully they’ll break in before that time :)
Yeah I still where my Neanderthal 100’s from 3500 BC
I just recently stopped wearing my Daoust 301 nationals and original CCM Super Tacks from the 80’s.
Problem with both pairs during Public Skating Sessions the Leather got so wet you lost all Support on the sides.
Good JOb I have 3 other pairs of CCM skates I still have today I’ve squirrelled
Away for years.1052 Custom Lites being my go to of the 3.
I really would love a current 2021 pair of Skates but I’ve no idea what’s what these days but would never change from CCM as I’ve had them since 1982 in my playing Days.
Oh and I’m 56 now but still Skate.
You never lose the ability it’s just the Hips and knees go (Believe me they do)🙈
I’ve worn Bauer my entire life and didn’t think I would ever wear a CCM. I bought the AS1 last winter and they are by far the BEST skates I’ve ever worn
Then there’s me who has to buy a new pair every year just cause of growing
I'm still rockin my Nike Zoom Air skates from the early 2000's... love em
I'm skating the Hell out of my 1052 Tacks that were a gift from my CCM rep in 2000
I finally replaced this week my ccm tacks 352's...the boot is starting to separate from the holder...have played 19 years in them.😭
I have the 9070s and I love them. They are a lot stiffer than you think, I had the top end Grafs G9035s and the 9070s are way stiffer and more supportive. In fact I tried all of the Tack line of skates and I found the 9070s to be stiffer than the 9080s. I would have bought the AS1s, but I couldn't bring myself to spend $1200 bucks.
That's pretty steep. Regular price for the AS1 is $849 in the US.
In 1972 i bought a pair of super tacks that cost more than a weeks take home pay , so the price for the best now seems to be inline .
I'm feeling old. Lol Where are the Tacks and Super Tacks? 😒
These are Tacks
Or Graf’s.
I wanted a pair of Super Tacks my whole life growing up. When I got into my twenties and could afford them, I came to learn that I could not wear them. Turns out they where far too narrow for my feet and I ended up in a set of Lange molded skates at the time. I know, that goes back a ways.
I have the tacks from 2014
@@classixdrummer Bauer Supreme 91? Lange sucked. They are/were ski boots with blades. Lol
The best pair of skates I ever had was the Bauer Air 90. it fitted perfectly and I could fly around in them. I got Graf 705 after the Air 90s broke (Flimsy plastic cracked)..
grafs almost a life time skate
Air 90s were so comfortable
I had a pair of them
In the first minute he said the same thing 10 different ways
Damn right he did
I'm so happy that CCM came to their senses and brought back the TACKS brand
Mid range sticks vs high end sticks Btw awesome vid !
Fantastic suggestion!! Speaking with our stick guy right now. He has around 4-5 videos about to drop. I'll add this to his list.
I'm not trying to be mean or anything... I love this guy but i cannot believe he is wearing a vine t-shirt!! (No hard feelings)
Outstanding breakdown of these to skates! I own the 9070’s and I think they are great! I read several reviews stating that you get a lot for the money with them. As a once-a-week skater, they are plenty of skate for my needs.
I never thought someone taking about skates for fifteen minutes would be so interesting. Thanks!
I get that the design and performance are better, but why does the construction of the skates cost $500 more? Are the materials woth that much more, or is making them just that much more difficult?
Probably not but the higher end stuff is targeted more at elite level players who value every bit of extra performance factors. In turn, the manufacturer is able to set a steeper price hike because those performance seeking consumers are willing to pay. If you watch videos of skate producers building customized NHL player skates you’ll notice the players don’t even have that extravagant demands. It’s always a small thing here and there like extra padding on certain area. The other thing I could imagine is very valuable compared to the mid level skate is the fact that the higher end stuff is made to mold to the shape of your foot. That kind of stuff is the marker of high quality stuff. Not everyone is willing to pay it but enough people are to justify it.
My old Vectors finally kicked the bucket last weekend. Toe cap exploded after I blocked a decent shot-pass. I tried the CCM SuperTacks and the JetSpeeds. I opted for the JetSpeeds because firstly, they were on sale and I'm a cheap Yorkshireman, and secondly they were a much better fit than the SuperTacks. Especially after the moulding was done.
Mid to High level CCM? *laughs in Bauer*
seen a guy get his AS1's toe cap absolutely destroyed. Further drove me away from CCM skates. Seen Bauer toe caps dent. I'd rather have a bruised/broken toe than a broken foot with shards of toe cap lodged into it. Bauer skates are just generally better too. CCM always seems to be developing the wrong things.
@@bmil38 tbf the old Toe caps of Bauer where th best (you could put this hard polish on it too to over the cloth and it made it look cooler and stronger too)
I would prefer Bauer aswell
Chuckles in Graf
@@bmil38 the outsole on the last pair of bauer supreme that I had cracked completely in half right in the middle of the boot, in the middle of a hard turn during a game. Bauer’s produced some garbage too. I’ve used daoust, lange, micron and bauer in the past. I finally settled on ccm in the mid 90s. I’m on my third pair. No complaints.
It's all about preference.
I have always played with mid-level skates because it offered the right amount of stiffness I desired.
I am also a player that like "new" gear. New in the sense of condition and not in the year of production. I like to cycle through my gloves and skates more often, so durability was never really high in my decision making. Have your top of the line for 4 years or cycle through mid-range pair more often, say every year and a half? Cost is the same over time; I have always preferred the latter.
This allows me to buy gear in bulk at a discount for the same price as one top level.
For example, I have worn Bauer 4 Roll gloves (Nexus I think now?) for as long as I can remember (now CCM makes them as well now). Other than purchasing 1 top of the line for $200 retail, I would go out and purchase the lowest end of the model in bulk at wholesale for let's say $40 a pair (retail $60-65). I would get 5 pairs instead. As soon as the gloves get "grimey", I just replace them with a new pair. With the older pair, I usually give them away to my teammates, have them as back up, or sell them on the secondary market as they would still have plenty of life left in them.
I've had teammates who swear by the lowest end skates because they liked how "soft" they are. They would buy 10 pairs for the price of 1 top tier then cycle through 3 or 4 of them each season.
One point you missed was the toe box. The way it’s anchored to the boot. On the 9070s, it looks a little different
Great video man, keep em coming
Thank you!
I just got my self a new pair of CCM 9060b , im really looking forward to let them taste ice for the very first time this weekend:)
Do a best skate for the price video
Love this idea! It's difficult because of fit. We would need to set a price point and figure out what skate is best for wide and narrow feet.
I loved the RBK Pump series and would love to see a similar video comparing the current RibCor line. 64k up to 70k.
when will the 2019 range will be release because i am considering mid range skate for all round use and a true xc9 acf for all round use as well thoughts keep the good videos going doing a good job
Help me decide. CCM Senior Ribcor 66K / CCM Senior Tacks 9070 or Bauer Senior Supreme S29.
Lots of information!
Great vid!!
Thanks👍
Can you do a review on the Bauer Supreme 2S Pro?
We've been testing them out. Video coming shortly.
1s is a better stick..
Can’t remove burs from the blades without using a proper hone, from what I’ve seen and been told from people using skates with the black steel makes very little difference
I moulded my skates but they still hurt my feet sometimes do you think I need to tie my laces a lot tighter
personally i would go a full season (30 regular season games minimum of 4 playoffs 2 weekly on ice practices, 4 tournaments minimum of 6 games usually) with only sharpening my skates 1 time every 2-3 even 4 months. I hated sharp skates and would always sharpen them after a game when i knew i had time to break in the sharpness and make it a medium bite. I felt i had way more control on dull skates
as always, great video!
Thank you very much!
Still rocking my Tacks652pumps.Looking at getting something lighter.Always found Bauer wider as i have a smaller foot so couldnt find a nice tight fit.
I'm looking to buy Ice skates I'm looking at Ccm mostly and K2...I like the way the K2 look more and prefer a strap on my ice skates over laces
I was told by an employee of a sports store when I bought a pair of skates that I should tighten the screws in the plastic blade holder “every few games” is there truth to that or no? The front screw on one of my skates won’t tighten anymore, I feel like tightening the screws doesn’t do anything.
Love your channel and everything you’re doing. Keep up the great work!
You should only tighten them if you feel like they aren't secure. FIY I haven't tighten my FT1 since changing the runners over a year ago.
Yes you should I had my blade fall off my skate twice.I tighten mine everytime I use them
I put threadlocker on the bolts on CCM skates...after replacing the stock steel with Step.
Hi, what's your thought about CCM Jetspeed 250? an entry level hockey shoes, haven't seen any good reviews yet
Great video - how about breaking in and caring for carbon skates?
I had high level skate brake down faster on me then a mid range skate. That when I was skating 2-3 times a week. Mid range skate and the best bet in my eyes have had mid range skate last me 3 years at 2-3 time a week then a top range one did over 2-2.5 years
You dont buy top end skates to last 3 years. Yoy buy them for performance
Very well explained
entry level vs mid level please. also best bang for your buck. skates and sticks possibly thanks
Its not even about the coating, look into different grades of Stainless steel, like premium steels used in knife blades that hold their edge longer. Companies should be using better steels rather than putting a DLC coating on them.
Nice pfp
Awesome vid Chris keep up the good work
B05S_M4N0705 subscribe to me
Gabe DeNio thanks
Thank you very much! Videos like these always take a while to make. Glad you like it.
I’m trying to make the NIHL 2 here in the UK and no way would ever go for anything higher than the mid range spec here, I wear jetspeeds but I will only pay max of about £300, I got my jetspeed 300’s after finding the, super cheap online in 2015 and they’re near still perfect, going at this price point is best for tech and durability, plus it’s way more down to the player than the gear they have on
Good luck 👍
Would love to see a video on the different types of blades on the market. LS4/LS5/Step steel/Tydan DLC/Massive Blade
VB06Hokie here czcams.com/video/C3uWaV9dkfo/video.html
Hockey Tutorial thanks for the reply! Where would you put the new Bauer LS5 steel and Tydan blades in comparison to the ones mentioned?
We haven't taken a deep look into them. Our top choices have always been Step Steel and Massive Blade.
Would you mind doing like a x800 range skate vs a 1x or something like that
It would be very similar to this video. Not to sure if its worth making. Perhaps next will be entry level skates vs mid range.
9040, 9060, 9070, 9370 what does those number means? 9070 vs 9370 whats the difference, which one to choose?
Great video! Please do some new goalie equipment videos!!!
Black blades aren’t as good as they say causes the leather stone they use still rubs of the black coating and the blades only last around 4-5 games. The normal blades last way longer as you can get around 10-12 games with them so if you ever have black blades get reg blades as you will have less problems. Note ( from my experience )
Can someone help me ?Between jetspeed ft2 and ft490 which one is the most lightweight ... I dont skate as often but I do very aggressive stuff
Would you guys consider doing a video comparing something like the 2s pro and 2s? Top price point and second price point
Beyond best video you should do the same thing with helmets because there’s not too many videos on that like there is on sticks
Great Job!!
As a kid in amatuer hockey in red wing, mn. I wore ridell 411s. Top of the line in 80,s early 90,s. Wanted Bauer but got 50% due to my grandmother was an employee there. Therefore it was ridell for me. They not even male hockey skates ne longer I dont believe.
You’re channel is amazing
You are channel is amazing?
So far, I buy "mid-range" as the stores in Canada really drop the price in sale season. 1/2 price, etc. Maybe one day I'll splurge on skates.
Awesome video, as usual, my dude! I found your breakdown thorough and interesting.
I have a question for you that I've wondered for a long time - how much difference in weight is required to achieve an actual difference in skating speed? Like, a specific number, in grams. I recognize that weight is not the only performance feature on a skate and that performance is not the only important quality in a skate. But what I'm getting at is that I kinda think that there might not be any difference at all between a low end, mid range, or high end skate in terms of the skating speed that a player can achieve by wearing them. I've HEARD companies tell me about studies they ran that showed blah blah blah difference, but I've never actually seen a side by side comparison of the same player being timed with different skates on that would definitively prove to me that taking a handful of grams off a skate actually makes a player faster. But maybe you can point me to one! If anyone could, it's definitely you. I respect your knowledge and experience greatly, and I'm completely agnostic about this, I just really want to know.
Can you please do a version of this video on Bauer skates.
This is your best video
Hey chris! What are some cons from the black steel? My trusted hockey store told me that they are kind of gimmicky and once the coating breaks (due to stepping on a stone or what not) you’ll have to toss the steel! Any thoughts? Thanks for the video!
Avoid this black nonsense. Stick to "regular" steel. Do yourself a huge favor and replace with Step Steel regular. That's all you could ever hope for. Polish out/coat the blades before and after mounting and sharpening with a quality acrylic car liquid such as Klasse Red, it does the same thing. Buy a true hard, better yet translucent Arkansas whetstone so you can do your own post sharpening honing - telling the shop NOT to hone. Shops all use a cheap course stones that screw up runners. The whetstone ($$$) IS worth it and WILL make a difference. Also, buy a Gummi Stone (Holmenkol) for fine tuning.
Need some help people. Been skating as a family for a while now and the hire skates are not very comfortable so looking to buy some hockey skates. I'm 6ft2" and 18 stone so not sure on what skates would suit my weight. Any help would be appreciated.
i bought the cheaper jet speeds and i love them .
jesse macneil, can you be really fast on those skates?
BUBBLES IOS oh man like ...... jet speed on them . .... but all serious , went from Graf 301's to 200 dollar jetspeeds and the weight and feel . Love me cheap ass jetspeeds
BUBBLES IOS also I have to sharpen them more cause of the cheap soft blades . And had to get the boots punched cause of my Bonney feet. But after that legit just felt lighter on my feet . And I wasn't mommy and daddy sponserd (8 sibling) When I was 15 got my first job I bought second hand gear and played 5 to 7 times a week cause I friggin wanted to get better and play in league's . And not to mention any outdoor hockey I could play . So i do not if your comment was sarcastic but I'm from Canada and I bet now at 28 years old I would school you on the ice.
I’ve seen many a rich boy with tops who skate inferior to mid range. It still comes down to the skater
How much are the top end skates
I would have to disagree with you about any beer leaguer needing the top-spec skates. A heavy set guy probably can't get away with the bottom line skates, but mid-range skates can handle it. I don't think the top-spec skates are needed by anyone who isn't playing in the very highest competitive league out there.
Can u suggest a hockey skate for leisure skating and may be light hockey plse? I've tried a hockey skate b4 and it's super hard, and I use a figure skate now but I get arch pain after a while with it on. My feet can move fwd and backward in it. Thx
A lot depends on the shape of your foot. Try on a few different lines (Bauer Supreme, Vapor, CCM Tack, etc.) and once you find one that works you can move up or down the line to find a price that works for you. Within a given line they have a few different price points with differences like the ones discussed in this video.
You need to do goalie skates
In one given week, I'm on the ice 5 times not counting games or tournaments. I play on a travel team, if that makes a difference. What level of skate should I get?
The best skates you can afford. If you're playing at a decently high level you'll want a stiff skate of course, but going a step down from the top end skates should still be stiff enough to be honest. The only thing you won't get at that point will be the better steel in the blades and the top level skate will be a little lighter, but you'll save around minimum $300 (going by prices here in Canada anyway), which is a big deal, and you'll still get a really great performing skate. The most important thing of all is to get the skate that fits your foot profile.
if i have a wide feet and high arches which maker of skates do you recommend. currently i have the ccm ribcor 50k. which also surprised me was that the 50k was heavier than the mid-range model.
Most skate makers make a wide size or an extra wide size in all of their models. The big question will be how thick your foot is in certain areas. By the sounds of it you'll want something in the Bauer Supreme or a CCM Tacks line and maybe with some superfeet inserts if it's not a one piece boot skate. Chances are a Vapour or Jetspeed will be too cramped for your foot, but the best way to find out is to try some on!
I know I am late to comment, but I am a female hockey player 5 foot 4 inches and 140 pounds. I fit a junior skate size 5.0 but I find in my mid range CCM jetspeed skates I am lacking a lot of support that I feel I need to fully use my edges. Do you recommend that someone like me get a top of the line junior skate just for that extra stability. I am looking into the CCM AS1 stakes. (Also I suffer from horrible lace bite on my current skates so I am looking to upgrade).
Any advice would be great!
I have a high volume foot and have always had lace bite issues. Neither the AS1 nor the Supreme 2s had enough volume for me so I went with the True Hockey Pro Custom. They cost about the same as the non-custom versions of the other top end skates.
I have mid range skates but they are way to soft for me and they hurt my feet. I play rep hockey roughly 5-6 times a week but my mom won’t let me buy new skates
How do you spell "Leather holme?" or can you link me up to one? because where i get my skates sharpened don't have one.. Or just link me up to it so i can buy one please
prosharp.us.com/products/leather-hone
@@MarkSiuda Cheers buddy
@@E.Asinus Cheers buddy
who sells as1 in uk? cant find a seller srsly
Wow. AS1 are around $850.00 USD
The skate don't make you skate or play hockey better you for got to tell the kids that part lol
So I've been watching all these skate reviews, buying tips etc etc. But it just all seems to be the same to me, aside from the obvious performance/material and comfort differences that come with higher prices. What would you recommend for me to get for the new season? I'm on the ice at least once a week for about 4-5 hours at a time. I maybe get off 2 times for a drink. I'm around 1.85cm, 80-85Kgs with shoesize 43(8 for US)my feet do tend to be bigger than normal in width and some height, depending on the shoebrand. I'm fine with spending up to 300$ for a new pair. (if it turns out what I need costs more, that's fine. I'll wait an extra month to buy them)
Hope some actually knowledgeable people could help me out here :)
My advice too you is go to a store and try different skates wide toe box or wide heel it's important having comfortable skates cheep or expensive.
AS1 > 2s pro
WOW
can you do the 2n pro
Geting a lot of requests for this! Working on it this week.
Hockey Tutorial 2n pro stick vs jetspeed stick
Is there any negative points to an average player buying a top end skate?
You'll still suck... But seriously if you want to become a better player, so the skates aren't wasted, check out train 2.0 and learn the mechanics that will bring your game up to the next level. It's a way better investment than new skates or stick. 👍
@@motron1845 cheers... I can skate but I'm just getting the basics of hockey now.
I was just curious if an average player buys top end skates, will it slow down the progress for learning.
Are too stiff a skate, for beginners or average players bad for development
Boots have honestly become TOO stiff over the past decade. How many of you know that top rankers - those within three to four leagues - notoriously spec' on their custom boots as much mfgr. softer lowers as possible........
If the boot does not adequately flex it works against you.
When I was a kid playing pee-wee hockey, my dad bought me a pair of Jr. Tacks. They cost $70 back in 1970, which was a lot of money back then! Man was I ever proud of those skates but some of the other guys were insanely jealous, what with their Bauer Black Panthers. One guy on our team who was quite upset went on to play for the Vancouver Canucks in the late 1970s or early 1980s. He was quite an arrogant guy and only lasted a couple of years because he lost his footing and went head first into the boards.
WTF lol
i got a $200 pair of skates and the guy that heat molded them didnt know what he was doing and ruined them
2s pro vs as1 Let's goooooo!
Where can you get a leather hone for the blades?
Use a leather belt or a leather strap for knifes. It's just a piece of leather
CCM black blades are just BAD! It's basically paint on the regular steel, if you compare them to the blacksteel from Step you see that the black coating is just not as resistant...
Do a video on the 2s pro
We're working on one!
Which one does Oprah play in/recommend......................??????????
So one of the biggest factors to determine which skates you should get, is how often you are on the Ice. Im only only on the ice 3 times a week so I should just stick with the 9070.
Noob here, are there any other good skates other than CCM and Bauer? Thanks in advance
There are graf skates but I don't recommend those , the only other skates I would recommend are true custom skates.
@@kevindeasy421 what's wrong with Graf?
@@dezmomo they are poorly manufactured and the blades come loose easily
Easton were good back in the day. The Mako line got a lot of love from people who have them.
Kevin mentioned the True Hockey customs. If you have foot issues you may want to look at them. They are $50 to $100 +options more than the top end CCM and Bauers, but they are a totally different feel.
He's straight up lying about "black blade". Its just oxidized steel and this coating doesn't contribute to anti rust properties. What a load of shit.
So this means that the Bauers I had in the 90’s were total crap and didn’t last me 3 years? Wow.
What is the benefit of keeping the side of the blade black?
I love how he calls it black or coloured… the PC generation!
Search CZcams or our channel for the video on “Best hockey skate runners” all the info is there
How about 9060?
it might just be me but ccm skates have always looked cheap to me compared to bauer
I agree
*""THE OLD SKATES FROM THE ""1960'S,"" ""1970'S,"" AND ""1980'S, COULD TAKE THE ABUSE AND PUNISHMENT, ""CAN THE NEW SKATES ENDURE THE SAME PUNISHMENT AND TAKE THE BEATING""???????*
*""GIVE ME THE TRUTH""!!!!!!!!!*
*'"HOWLONG WILL THESE SKATES LAST""???????*
*""I NEED A SKATE THAT WILL LAST OVER TWENTY YEARS""!!!!!!!!!!!!*
you forgot ultra tacks
" We live in the world where the best rapper is white and the best golf player is black " - Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit.
Interesting review but I can’t help feeling that it sounds more like a marketing video than a critical review as you repeat the manufacturer’s claims in an uncritical manner. I’ll give as an example of reality versus marketing clams the Bauer 1S elbow pads. Bauer claim the liner is moisture wicking. In my experience it traps moisture, and they take longer to dry out afterwards due to the liner. In other words the liner does not work as claimed, quite the opposite. They also use a fancy marketing name for the pad at the elbow, FlexOrb, which is just a bit of squishy plastic, and not as good as D3O used by CCM. That said, they are very good pads, but marketing spiel needs to be taken with a puck sized lump of salt. Incidentally a mate has carbon fibre boots, Easton I think, they lasted 8 years, far longer than the non carbon fibre boots he had before, which went soft after a few years. He is an aggressive freestyler.
Very confusing comment because this video is not in any way a review. It's a video breaking down the difference between mid range and top spec skates exactly as the title says.
Hockey Tutorial, which video is it that explains why CCM has 3 different lines?
CZcams search for CCM sticks explained. Or things you need to know about hockey skates. They should be linked in video description.
@@HockeyTutorialOfficial thank you, I see it now! It just wasn't clear from the video title, but it is linked in the description: czcams.com/video/ke_mHR_59cY/video.html ...
Would you agree that once you buy the top level or one step down skate that it’s almost impossible to be happy in a mid range skate?
It really depends on your ability. Some players can't really feel the difference from a great mid range skate compared to a top end skate. Sometimes it's more mental that physical.
Hockey Tutorial
Thanks, I’ve been wearing top level skates for 20 years and I was wondering if I still should.
If you're play multiple times a week and are built, stay with top level. If you aren't too built and only playing once a week, try mid range and see how you get on.
so mid level is good enough for me since i only weigh 150? lol
Hi
speaking from experiance here the black steel is just a gimmick. steel still rusts, still needs sharpening the same amount. nothing special. Ya they are better than the loswest model of steel but they are not special or worth upgrading for.
1: dry your blades and holders after you get off ice. I've never experienced anything even close to my steel rusting, even normal stainless steel.
2: the last time i sharpened my black steel was 7 months ago and it still has more bite than normal steel which i sharpened less than a month ago. it is not just a gimmick.
Spiky Lee no one who plays any half ass serious type of hockey sharpens their blades once every 7 months. That's insane. If that's the case then the top of the line steel or boots likely wouldn't help your game much.
i heard somewhere that some nhl player never sharpens his skates for the whole season and he skates on extremely blunt blades. All in all, i believe its personal preference, if the individual wants more glide, he would sharpen his skates less often. also, my point is, the DLC coating on the black blade is not a gimmick, it provides more bite. thats all i have to say.
You couldn't be more wrong. Step Steel, Massive Blade are not gimmicks. I've personal used them for a long time with massive changes in performance and feel. Please watch this video - czcams.com/video/C3uWaV9dkfo/video.html