Cheap vs Expensive hockey skates - What is the real difference ? FT6 Pro VS FT 670
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- Cheap vs Expensive hockey skates - What is the real difference ?.
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Crazy to think that we are in a time that $259 is considered cheap. I remember when the best skates money could buy topped out at $200. Over a grand is just absurd. I think these companies are taking advantage of us.
My first pair was a $3 used set of Bauers (metal blade - early 70s style). Got ya beat!
I remember dreaming about having a pair of Tachs 50 years ago. I wonder what the weight difference would be. Look at how Bobby Orr used to skate on those. 😊
I played junior in the late 90s. Back then the skates guys used in juniors were usually $400-$600, but some guys would have $100 skates they liked better.
The last I can recall was spending $20 through a JC Penny catalog in 1978?
I just got my oldest boy into hockey and he's four. There's no way I'm putting out even 200$ while he's still flying through shoe sizes.
I'm really impressed with the CCM cheap option! Having bought my last skates ten years ago, I'm really surprised to see that those features which used to be available only on top end skates, are now standard for cheap skates. Switchable blades, one piece boot, aluminium eyelets, copper rivets. Progress is just immense. Seems like if you're buying cheap skates today, you get the top high end features that you could only dream about ten years ago.
over 250$ is not exactly cheap.
@@slizzle.280unfortunately is it these days 😏
The lower end skates are good enough for people who arent pros, someone could have all the best gear in the world but that doesnt make them the best players or skaters.
True but again I'm not waiting ten years for the new stuff to come out... and not paying over 1k for good skates
They are almost pricing themselves exclusively for clubs and schools only... diminishing their market significantly
I played a lot of hockey and did a lot of skating in the 70s and 80s. My CCM Tacks were state of the art back then. I bought new CCM Tacks in the 90s and still have them but have not been on the ice in 20 years. I promise you that the "cheaper" CCM skates that you just featured are 100 times better then my old leather dinosaurs. I'm getting ready to hit the ice once again and am looking for some new CCM skates...this video was extremely helpful and informative, thanks !
Yeah, i had tacks/super tacks back in that era too, also had daoust. My first skates were whatever cheap offering Kmart had, zero ankle support, I remember a lot of kids over on their ankles due to this. Money was tight back then and because I was 'growing fast' they didn't want to spend much. These 'low end' skates kick ass compared to what I started on.
WOW! Great video! It was really eye opening to see the difference between the high end compared to low end skates. I have been using the pro model and loved the skates compared to cheaper ones. I just had no idea what the difference's were between them which really made it seem more justifiable. I'd like to see a video on older topline skates like Jetspeed ft2 compared to the newer ft6 or ft7 whenever that comes out.
Fantastic video. Small note not related to the main content, we actually spell Aluminum differently in the US. There is a fascinating history behind it. So yeah, we are both pronouncing all the letters, we just happen to have different letters at play. Appreciate the break down, I was actually just looking at CCM's offerings this week. This was super informative.
What a great video! Just bought the FT6 Pros. They felt amazing in the store. Looking forward to trying them out on the ice. I learned a lot more about these skates from this video than I did from the seller. I'm excited about all the features. I play 4, sometimes even 5 games a week, and I'm feeling better about my choice. We'll see though. Nothing like real games to try out gear.
One fact would have been nice. Actual weight of each skate. I was always a CCM Tacks guy growing up in the 1970s. I would never consider a Bauer skate, ever. Then I recently decided to get back into hockey and was in desperate need of a new pair of skates. I went to one of the big shops in the D.C. area and the sales guy recommended a pair of skates, they were Bauer.
Of course with technology growing so fast I picked them up and they felt like a Nike track shoe. Light as a feather. Tons of carbon fiber. I walked around the store and could not believe the level of comfort. I was hooked. The guy threw them in the oven for 10 minutes then he laced me up. I wore them for about a half hour and took them home. When I hit the ice that Friday at a stick and puck session it was unreal. After years of skating in 1990s skates, then stepping up to these made the $1000 price tag worth it. I skated so much faster, cross overs were like I was just hopping around the corners. So much more confidence in turning and stopping. It was amazing.
Which model did you buy?
As a Canadian who has never encountered your CZcams channel I was taken aback by the British accent. The thought did enter my mind "what will he knows". But you crushed it. EXCELLENT presentation and analysis. Very impressed. My hockey days are over. Just no interest anymore. But if I was still into the game you would be my go to guy for equipment reviews. Well done.
Really means a lot ! Thank you
I have the PRO version feeling that it will give me every little advantage since I'm 61 and still play against 30-40 year guys. They have a great connection to the ice, the fit is so comfortable as well. Swapping out the insole for the "Superfeet Insoles" bring these to another level.
Those could reduce your chance of injury too.
It’s in your head
As always a very great video. When you mentioned the evolution in camparison looking at the ft670's compared to midrange from a few years ago. Could you do a comparison between the ft2pro's and the ft670's?
Amazing content like always Chris! keep it up
Well done. it did make me think that a useful comparison for a lot of players would be the lower to mid range skates. Very good players, playing at a high level will opt for the best performing skate. The vast majority will be better served by a less expensive skate but of the best quality. I for example choose the best of the mid range and spend the extra money on high end protection. This is somewhere that I feel almost anyone playing will get the most out of the advantages of top spec gear. When it comes to protection you often find that out the hard way.
Great Content Chris! Looking forward to seeing these hit the US market. I would like to see a video comparing "Stiffness rating" across brands and getting some subjective feedback from Tommy. Retail market seems to chase Max Stiffness and then you see pro stock skates being used that are not all that stiff, Rib Core, etc.. Even more confusing you see Laura Stamm and others recommending Flexible skates, not just for beginners. Understand it is all preference but something that gets a lot of debate. Thanks
Thanks for the kind words! We’ll see if it’s possible
thanks for making these videos really helpful
Thanks for another great comparison video. I really appreciate the work you put into these videos.
My kids have both figure skated and played hockey so I had learned about what made higher end figure boots worth their price though trial and error. I knew rhat there is a difference between the hoceky boots but have never had anyone explain the differences in the way you have extrapolated on in your videos. Will definitely be recommending your channel to other parents. 👍👍
Great video! I've found the biggest difference for me(I'm a Bauer guy but the same rules apply) is longevity. I'm on the ice 5 times per week between my own beer league games and coaching kids. I use Hyperlites for games and 2Xs for coaching. After a year of 3 games a week the Hyperlites are still in great shape while I already need to replace the 2Xs after about 18 months only being on ice with them twice a week.
I've found I generally get about 4-5 years out of high end skates vs 1-2 years out of low end skates. The low end skates just fall apart so much faster with heavy use. So I either spend $250 every year or two or $1000 every four or five years. It's a wash in the end money wise and I prefer the stiffer boot for game play.
But the lower end skates nowadays are pretty freaking amazing compared to just a few years ago.
It really does matter what level you play. In my beer league if you’re a former D1 collegiate or former AHL player that’s a big and powerful skater they’ll break down a cheap skate to a mushy mess in no time. A wrist shot from one of these guys to the boot will explode your foot if it’s a cheap skate. That’s why they all wear pro level skates. Trust me, they hate having to spend big bucks on skates but they have to. If you’re a recreational player the ft670’s are perfect. All the ft series skates are incredibly comfortable too. You can’t go wrong. I play in the original ft1’s. I take them off after a game and it feels like I was wearing sneakers, no discomfort.
Cheap skates are how I got injured. I used a pair of cheap $50 skates cause I sold my old ones and needed a pair temporarily and they were awful. I could barely cut, the skates kept buckling and because of that I kept falling on the ice and ended up hurting my shoulder. For people learning to skate or just public skating, they’re good enough, but anything else and they’re honestly a hazard
I think he should specify that tje ft670 isn't the absolute bottom. It's the bottom of the performance range, which is still a great skate unless your top line Trips or higher
@@MrMoose-mf1oymust skate like Bambi
@kylermurray3543 no need to dis him. He already opened up to his problems skating
Love to see that video in more detail on the low end skate
Well explained breakdown. Would like to hear from Tommy on his FT6 pro thoughts post-bake. Also, is his recent signing with invicta dynamo going to take him out of your content?
Came across your video - very good - subbed!
Interesting video …..I do like the idea of the extra memory foam type padding around the top of ankle. I like my skates fairly loose and playing hockey 5 to 6 hours a week , my ankles at times will be be rubbed raw leaving my socks with blood spots.
The one the thing that and I was waiting for was the skate weight difference between cheap and over the top expensive, did I miss that?
Just wondering if a video comparing something like the FT670 with an older top of the range skate, like the original Nike skates Gretzky wore at the end of his career, would work?
Good video. Can you do a comparison between the nexus sync and ft6 pro sticks?
I say aluminium the same way.. and I am in the States (but I grew up in South Africa.. so I'm an outlier). Going to have to give the FT670's a try for my 11 year old.. he has giant feet (US Senior Mens 8.5 extra wide), So we have been using the Supremes which is wider by default than other skates..
Nice vid! Do more of this kind, please.
I’ve bought Bauer M3 (couldn’t afford a bmw model) recently and I say - there’s some difference btw these and my old entry level Supreme model indeed. Probably I can’t fully appreciate it due to my poor skating skills, but I hope that the knowledge of the benefits from this m3 ones (thank to this video) will help my learning lol
More to come!
I'm curious on the brass eyelets is there a coating on those? To me they don't really have the color of brass. Excellent video with great info.
I miss my Microns LOL Not sure what model number but I got my money's worth that's for sure. When the boot would start to break down I would have a cobbler zigzag stitching along the side to stiffen them back up. Got to a point there was more stitching thread than leather. I also remember a time when everyone taped their ankles, anyone else that old? lol. Fun and informative video, I wonder what skates I would choose today if I could skate again.
The FT 670s look really decent for the lower end. The lower profile toe caps on higher end skates are what causes fitment issues for me. I had a pair of bauer supreme M5 Pros that likely would have given me bunions.
Played in college and was using a brand called Daoust. They were top of the line in 1992 with silicone insert that was injected to the back of the boot and your foot stayed in them for a few hours. That was 32 years ago, I still have them and still skate in them at the rink. However, I haven't played in about 20 years but got that bug again. Kids are a little older and I need an outlet so it's time to get back out there. This fall will be joining a Senior League and will be getting a new pair of skates, all new equipment and I am sold on the CCM skates for sure. I just can't believe the technology that has gone into all the equipment especially the skates and sticks...unreal. I promise you the cheaper skates are probably better than my old skates and they cost $800 in 1992, they were my HS graduation gift.
What is interesting is dry/wet weight and puck hit absorption ability. May be amount of foam inside for thermoforming as well
@hockeyreviews .. would you consider doing a review for the CCM FT690 ?
good video , lots of info. thanks
Do the ft6 pros have the foam that extends into the toe box so it covers the tabs that connect the toebox to the boot? I find all ccm skates even including the asv pro still didn't address this issue
i have been developing bunion wearing skate. Any idea which model should i use or should i go one size larger than recommended by CCM or bauer calculation ?
Interesting to note that the retail versions of the FT6 pro that I have seen, you can’t see the carbon fibre weave. It’s covered and looks just like plastic. However, the carbon fibre weave is viable on the AS-V pro. Maybe yours aren’t full retail versions? Or different European vs North American.
Insane I was around when CCM Tacks came out! I skated 25 yrs few nights a week never got the expensive skates got the 300-325 max. I’m not a pro just night league guy so they did the trick.
can you buy the black blade runner separately and install it on the ft 670?
What would be better for performance the ft6 skate or the ft4 pro
I'm considering getting my hands on the FT680 or even the FT6. I'm lucky to have small feet so I'm in the intermediate range and profit from lower prices. The FT6 is still around 650€.
Will you present the two mentioned models as well?
I'm also curious for Bauer's new Vapor line. There I would maybe go for the X3 or X4. The latter have such a low design though and even though you should not decide by the looks you eventually take the looks very much into account as well. The new Jetspeeds offer an amazing look by the way ❤
Yes please. 😁
Can you try the new Bauer hyperlite 2 skates and tell me which skate is the best between Bauer ccm and true and if you think i should wait for the new skates that you said in the video named Ranking The BEST Hockey Gear Of The 2023 (So Far) Best Skates, stick, and protective and how long do you think the will be available
I just bought the ccm ft690 skates. Im 35 and told them i dont care i just want something comfortable. I cant believe how much better skates have gotten.
I use a black stone and this steel is so good to sharpen, are you making a video on these skates baked?
I got the FT670 on some random sale recently (maybe black friday?) for some $150 or so, and I'm sold. Granted I went from a Bauer X1 which gives you barely anything to work with material wise. I though I'd have to work much harder to get the 670s to do what I wanted, but it was just great right out of the box (including baking). I can't possibly fathom that you'd get 5 times the quality out of the FT6 Pro. Maybe that's just me being boomer coded.
Love the 670s. If I'm looking for an upgrade I'll just get new blades.
Great reviews. can you do a FT 690 review?
Well I’m playing semi pro with old Bauer 30x or x30 skates so anything newer will be better. On the one hand I want to get used top of the line skates for $300-500, but on the other hand a brand new pair of 2023 skates compared to 2010-2012ish skates is going to be a huge upgrade regarded.
I was Wondering if you gonna do a Review on the New Bauer recovery leg sleeve ?
At what age is it really beneficial to start looking at these higher end skates? I have a 6 year old (3rd year of hockey) and a 3 year old just starting. Thanks for your thoughts
3 years ago. I bought my Freahman in high school a $4-500 pair of skates. They were falling apart within a year. So we upgraded to the step below the Pros. Huge difference.
I'm a high endlnife enthusiast, do you by chance know what steels are used in the blades? M390, CPM-3V, S30vn, Elmax, ect.?? Powdered supersteels? Or standard type stainless?
Excellent, thanks!
I typically play with higher-end gear, even though I'm beer league for the extra comfort and protection. I know I'm not skilled enough to capitalize on the performance differences. Those top line CCMs sure look comfy.
Great review, thank you
Thanks for watching!
Just tried on the FT6 Pro and the ft680. The ft 680 we’re much more comfortable. There was a lot of pressure on the pros on my right foot. Both size 9 regular width.
higher end skates are much stiffer which is why they are less comfortable at first
trying it on is very diferent than having it broken in. the boot stiffness will not be that much more between them, as jetspeed model is the middle stiffness level between the three tiers. for a boot to be actually comfrotable you have to bake it form it to the foot.
my daughter is now 9 yrs old and is in figure-skating (ice dance) in Poland & Russia since she is 4 yrs old. She skates with the Russian Elites and quality skates costs nearly +- 600,- Euro or more. Most expensive are the blades. But as children grow you have to invest constantly. However, it depends what kind of skating you are in and if you are a beginner or advanced , hobby or professional.
BAUER edition coming soon? Did True and CCM but.......BAUER? Love the videos
I worked in sporting goods store 10+ years ago, and got the highest end bauer skates at the time, retail was $800 on them...we had employee discount of cost + 10% i paid $350 for them. Shows how much mark up is and how cheap they are to actually make, and ridiculous mark up we pay
I had a cost + 10 deal at a sporting goods store when I first graduated high school. I still have soccer cleats and snowboard gear from my days there. Most of my paycheck went to the store.
Is a tighter/better fitting skate a higher risk for injuries compared to the looser/lower tier models such as high ankle sprains should you catch the blade in an unfortunate way?
Interesting... I picked up some FT6 Pro skates last week, and my uppers do NOT have that same visible carbon fiber weave that I can see on the ones in your video here. Could this be because yours are the European version vs. my USA/North American version?
I'm wondering if that carbon fiber weave look is actually fake. The boot material is listed as a "composite" and therefore not pure carbon fiber. It might explain why it's not visible on the later NA versions?
Where do the FT485’s rank in terms of quality & price?
man... i had a pair of Bauer
Black Panthers 😆
it was back in the late 80s/early 90s but still... they had no padding inside whatsoever
I play roller just for fun, and I went from a Bauer RS (originally $180) to a Bauer Vapor 2XR (originally $750) and the difference is insane. My skating has gotten so much better since I upgraded. Having that stiffness and support makes all the difference in the world.
My OLD in-line vapors were brutal on my feet. I just bought the True tf9 roller because I heard they’re comfortable and they were also on sale. OMG I can’t believe I’ve kept my old vapors for so long. The new vapor 2xr’s are also great skates and super comfortable. They just suck onto the foot and provide so much support. Keep rollin…
@@samlira9639 my buddy has a pair of TF7s and they seem pretty awesome. You can see how anatomical the fit is. He said they hurt like hell until they broke in. So did my Vapors but they’re perfect now.
So the liners on the FT6 Pros look like they were incorporated from the 100k Pros?? What are your opinions from the 100k pros to the FT6p's??
I'd like to see a comparison of the 4 lines from Bauer & CCM.
Chris, when are you going to review the Bauer Mach’s??
Can you check the high-end blade to the cheaper skates?
As someone who's a beginner and only a recreational skater, but who has the budget for the more expensive option and a major problem with comfort on *all* footware (especially when it comes to being wide enough), is there any non-budgetary reason why someone at my level should avoid the FT6? I've spoken with one other hockey player who previously had to go with Bauer supreme due to foot width and after trying the FT6 said, much like yourself, that the comfort on these is unprecedented and that they don't take hours of breaking in like the supremes would.
I know that beginners are generally advised against overly stiff boots, but it's my understanding that that's mostly about being able to bend your ankle, which is a problem that the FT6 doesn't seem to have. I'm also used to wearing ski boots and stiff walking boots, so it doesn't seem like something that I'd personally have a problem with.
If budget is not an issue you’ll not regret getting the FT6’s. There are no non-budgetary reason why these won’t perform as well as other skates for beginner or elite skater. Just keep a good knee over your toe skating form and it doesn’t matter how stiff the boot is. A good skater can perform in cheap or expensive skates but the cheaper skates will begin to break down quicker. The FT6’s will protect you better against a slap shot where cheaper skates might require you to ice your foot after a hit. The FT6’s have way better internal padding and long lasting quality. They’re very moldable after baking so don’t compromise on the fitting when you buy them. They are beyond comfortable and just suck on to your foot. I believe they have a 30 day tryout period, if you don’t like them you can return them after using them. With the FT6’s coming out there’s great deals on the FT4’s which are basically the same skate but last years model.
Those are pretty but I'm still rocking my old faithful Bauer X700s from 5 or 6 years ago!
I currently use hyperlite skates but I’m very interested in these skates. Do you think this skate is worth the switch or should I stick with the hyperlite 2 skates
No one can tell you what skate fit your feet best.
My son has a ton of growing to do. We will be using entry level skates for now.
Is it possible to replace the cheap blade with the more expensive blade?
Can you do an ft690 skate review or ft690 vs ft6pro skates?
Hey, I’m subscribed and I like the video. But why can’t I find FT6 pros in my size locally?? Chris hook us up
I'm wondering if the carbon fiber look on the early available Euro version was actually fake. The boot construction is a composite; they contain carbon fiber but not completely.
What's the stiffness rating on the ft680s?
What would you think about buying a skate that was the best thousand dollar skates 5 or 6 years ago?
You should also mention that on entry level skates, copper rivets are only applied to the heel part of the holder, whereas on the higher price points, copper rivets make their way to the front of part of the holder, too. ☺️
For about 2 bucks a piece you can replace them all for about 50 dollars ????
@@reneguay1347 I will never get that point either. These cheap parts can never be part of the big price calculation.
Pure Hockey in the US has an exclusive line, the 690. It is in between the 680 and the pro. $499. Step steel (uncoated), better tendon and interior. I bought them for my son after his 670 became too small. HE LOVES THEM! They lose the red and are grey with blue accents. A great value to bridge the gap between $700-$1000 dollar skates with the lesser quality skates.
Please do a review of the ft 670
My son is moving from a CCM FT 485 to either FT 680 or FT6 Pro. He is a very small player (size 1 to 1.5 foot) but very strong AAA skater. Would the FT6 Pro be too stiff for him?
Definitely, if you get a skate to stiff you will have no forward flexion or mobility. Don’t buy into the skate stiffness marketing hype, it’s BS. You need to be able to bend your knees and stride, you don’t wanna be locked in with a skate to stiff
Let me ask you if you put on a cheaper pair of skates and You skated on the ice and it works effectively. Do you think that if you put the more expensive ones that something would change?
When did they add the second “I” at the end of aluminum?
Got FT4 pros at my local shop for $650 when the FT6 Pros came out.
I have to be completely honest with you! But first, you're a great youtuber and have helped me with skating tips. I recommend you to other hockey players wanting advice on how to.
Now the criticism ...The more expensive skate you show is way overpriced. Marketing has that skate more expensive. Full Stop. It has better metal in the blade and the boot "may" be more comfortable, that ultimately depends on users' foot and preference!! Thats it. Put any 50 NHL top players in the cheaper version and 50 NHL players in the expensive skate and nothing is going to change. I firmly believe there is a quality window with any product like this...tennis racquets, hockey sticks, golf balls, shoulder pads, aluminum bats and tons more. The entry level is too cheap and you may notice comfort and durability (if you wear it). Increase quality 'some' to allow better materials or fastening systems and comfort. But if the user continues to want better quality by searching for more expensive, he'll find nothing more than marketing and fashion. This is very evident in hockey sticks and aluminum bats...just to name two. Golf ball prices make me laugh too.
"You get what you pay for" is an expression that's loosely used without enough critical consideration. 'There's no course for common sense' is another expression!!! and this thinking should definitely be exercised when picking up your sports gear or toasters ...and everything else you consider when making a purchase!!! Just my opinion, you got a great channel here.
I'd like to see a timed speed skate with the cheap then the expensive one. 3x each skate on different days.
I am a subscriber living in Korea. I work out 3 times a week for 120 minutes per episode, is FT670 a good choice? What would be better to compare RIBCOR 88K to FT670
Get what fits
Please do a comparison of Bauer skates. Cheap to expensive
I have the ft680s. Is there much difference from the 670 to the 680 skate?
yea the ft680s are stiffer
I don’t skate and I have no idea why this was this first video on CZcams however after watching this it reminds me of how much companies like to create the illusion of cheap and best of they were to all go back to the basics of just producing one superior product it would cost less and sell more especially controlling the entire market
Is the 670 review coming soon?
It’s F-DUP when the world thinks a $259 skate is cheap.
Sometimes at public skates I see people in Machs and Hyperlites that can't even do a hockey stop or skate backwards.
I got the ft 6 pro skates in size 11 but where the graphics are there is supposed to be lots of carbon but there’s none on mine…. Are they fakes or are they like that cause of the size of my foot?
looks like the carbon is visible on European models and not north american models. Not sure why
Would love a video like this except the Bauer version if possible please.
If you are not paid to play hockey, there is no reason to spend over $400. (Canadian dollars)
Some kids take figure skating before starting hockey. But age shouldn’t matter. There’s always time for practice if you need to improve. Also BEING Canadian is kind of an ace in the pocket for being a dominant skater.
@HockeyTutorialOfficial
Do you know of a European retailer that would ship to Canada? Also, skimming European sites and they're not showing the carbon quarters/uppers like the ones you have, which I prefer. Any insight?
Shoot us an email and we’ll link you to a few options in EU
Yes video on more affordable skates. Nice to see the best of the best but can't afford 1150.
What the hell is going on? $1,200 for skates! I never cheaped out on skates and was rocking Pro stock Bauer 1000, 4000, 5000, 7000, 8090 supremes back in the day. Pro stock CCM 652’s with Tuuks and Daoust 501 titaniums. I also had the Nike Federov Zoom Elites from Canada as well. I had the Pro stock Micron Mega Air 90 red stripes too that Bure wore. I even tried the Grafs in many different configurations but they are very different animals altogether. If you did not come up wearing Grafs they are extremely hard to get used too. These were all top line killer skates that were built using the high quality Canadien lasts and came no where near the price of these modern day CCMs. I know technology has changed in terms of stiffness but I think we are being taken advantage of big time. Not to mention the new overpriced CCMs dont even come with the Tuuk lightspeed holder. The old school builds I mentioned above were all badass skates. Id rock any of them today.
where is the information from that the skates in europe are stiffer than in north america?
it would be crucial for me as it would have the same stiffnes as the super tacks !!!!
I still rock my Bauer supremes from 15 years ago lol
DLC coating doesn't do anything for edge retention. It's for corrosion resistance and scratching. Hence why its used a lot on knives and guns. The only real difference is the type if steel being used. And even still blades that need to be sharpened more often due to them being "softer" rather than a harder blade that has a higher likelihood of chipping is better for the sake of cost. If you chip a blade due to it being harder you need to replace it rather than sharpen it which is gonna cost more than the other "softer" blades.