A few weeks back I decided to invest some money in a good pair of new roller hockey skates after using an old pair of used Missions that I got a good deal on a few years back. This was my first brand new pair of skates in several years, so I was excited to see how they performed on the rink, but was a little hesitant about whether a higher-priced pair of skates would really make much of a difference over the lower-end skates I’m used to using. As you’ll see in my skate review, using the Mission Axiom T6 roller hockey skates has made me a believer in spending a little bit more to get more performance out of your skates.
Design & Construction:
Generic product shots don’t really do these skates justice. Seeing the Axiom T6 skates in person really allows you to get a better idea of the fine craftsmanship and small details on the boot of the skate. The fine stitch work really stands out and helps give the skates a very cared-for, professional appearance. The skates themselves are predominantly black with a lot of green and silver accenting. The boot is heavily laden with graphics and the Mission name and logo appears several times on each of the boots as well. The detailed stitch work really comes into play on the back of the boot where “Mission” is spelled out in green stitches. 
While the T6 skates are slightly heavy on brand promotion, the skates mostly exude an edgy and professional looking design that’s not overly loud or obnoxious.
The really great thing about these skates is the features offered and the price point. As a lower-high-end skate, the Axiom T6 is where Mission begins to implement many of their high-end features. The skates come with ABEC 9 bearings and Rink Rat Hot Shot wheels, whereas the lower models have ABEC 3 or 7 bearings and lesser wheels. The skates also feature reinforced woven nylon for increased support and durability. The anatomical heel support also offers increased heel support while decreasing the overall weight. You would need to spend $50+ more to find some of these features in skates produced by other brands.
Fit:
My final decision for a new pair of skates came down to the Mission Axiom T6’s and the Bauer XR4’s. One of the things that really sold me on the T6 skates was the fit. The heel of the boot fits snug to help keep your foot in place but the boot opens up more toward the toe box to give you just enough extra wiggle room for your toes without feeling too cramped. Plus, I also found the sides of the boot to be a little lower on the XR4 than the Mission skates, resulting in laces sitting on the top of my foot causing lace bite. The higher boots on the Missions allow the laces to to tighten over your foot – not on it. This allows for a snug fit that keeps your foot in place and isn’t too tight.
Even though the Mission T6 skates fit well right out of the box, I still went ahead and baked them anyway. As soon as I got them on my foot and laced up after pulling them out of the oven (I baked these at home, not in a store), I could immediately feel the material inside molding to my feet. In the time since initially baking the Axoim T6 skates, the mold has held incredibly well. I haven’t had the need to re-bake the skates and the inner lining molded so well to my feet that I haven’t had any issues with blisters or my socks rubbing on my feet in any capacity.
Performance:
I’ve always been someone who buys lower-end skates for the lower cost, but the difference between a $120 pair of skates and a $200 pair of skates is like night and day. The boot of the Mission Axiom skates are stiffer and more solidly constructed, leading to an increased transfer of energy and power from my leg through my skates when I stride. The ABEC 9 bearings and the Rink Rat wheels also offer a great combination of speed and stopping power on indoor surfaces. The increase in speed over my old pair of skates was definitely noticeable when I first stepped out on the floor.
Another good aspect with the Mission Axiom T6 skates are the big plastic floor guards on each skate. These things are two-and-a-half to three inches long an
d an inch-and-a-half tall, covering a big amount if space to keep the skates from scuffing and wearing down from contact with the floor.
The boot is solidly constructed and the outside of the boot provides very good protection from shots. I’ve taken several shots off the side of my foot and barely felt it. I’ve also taken several good whacks from sticks on the boot with the same result. The boots offer very good protection for your feet to minimize the possibility of injury.
I’ve also been incredibly impressed with the drying ability of the inside of the boots. After skating hard for an hour, the inside of the boots aren’t wet or even really damp in any way from sweat. Mission doesn’t really advertise any type of moisture control on the boots, so this was a pleasant surprise that I noticed after using the skates a few times.
The only thing I really don’t like about the skates is the foot insert. They seem a little cheaply made and I have to rearrange them before and after playing in order to get the most comfortable fit for my feet. If I don’t make sure they are sitting flat on the foot bed of the skates after playing, they will wrinkle and crease as they dry (which happened once, so I make sure to get them flat after every use).
Overall Impressions:
Skates made by other manufacturers for a similar price range will cost you more and still offer lesser features than the Mission Axiom T6 roller hockey skates. At $199 per pair, it’s no wonder these are a best selling product at Inline Warehouse. They are well-constructed and really have the look of skates that were designed and thought-through to even the smallest details, but also offer solid performance and live up to the Mission name. They fit great for a player looking for good heel support but extra wiggle room in the toe box, and the higher quarter panels allow the laces to tighten over your foot – not on it – to prevent lace bite. And the more rigid construction provides a great power transfer while you’re striding forward while still offering a light-weight product. The end result is a less expensive skate that offers better features than the competition.
Interested in purchasing a pair of Mission Axiom T6 inline skates? Head over to Inline Warehouse where they are currently selling for $199! Have any additional questions? Feel free to email Chris at Chris@hockeyworldblog.com or tweet him on Twitter @HWBChris!
