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Bauer Supreme One.8 Skates

Jan 25

Posted by Matt in Gear | 1 Comment

Bauer Hockey is preparing for the release of their new Supreme skate line, where the Supreme One80 skates will be replaced by the new Bauer Supreme One.8 skates. Coming in at a $400 price point, the Supreme One.8 skates will be made for an intermediate to advanced level skater.

The quarter package on the Bauer Supreme One.8 will be made of 3D anaformable light weight tech mesh. The tech mesh upper will be similar to the material found on the quarter package of the Vapor X60 skates. The One.8 boot will be fairly stiff as well, but not as much as you would expect from a top end Bauer boot with composite construction.

Inside the Supreme One.8, you’ll find a quick-drying hydrophobic true-suede synthetic leather liner, and lightweight anaform fit foam ankle pads. These are essentially the same components found on its predecessor, but are still of high quality. The 48 oz. 2-piece felt tongue with high density metatarsal guard, for additional lace bite protection, were also featured on the One80 and will make their way into the One.8 skates. Finally, your foot will be resting on the form-fit footbed with stabalizer grip to help keep that foot locked into place. Bauer makes a decent stock footbed, but don’t be shy about potentially switching it out for Yellow Superfeet. The boot itself will, of course, be fully thermoformable. This will allow you to get a more custom fit for your foot.

Beneath the boot, you’re going to find a full composite outsole. This will help in maximizing energy transfer from every stride as the energy moves more efficiently down into your foot and through the outsole. Your also going to be stocked with a great Tuuk Lightspeed 2 holder, and the LS 2.1 power stainless steel runner.

Most of the components featured on the Bauer Supreme One.8 skates are the same or very similar to those found on the One80. That means this boot will be a great pick up for anyone who has worn down their One80′s released in 2010, or even their Supreme One75′s from 2008.

The biggest change for the Supreme One.8 will obviously be the graphics. They look very similar to those found on the One.9, Total One NXG, the rest of the new Supreme skate line, and also stick with the same black color scheme with gold accents that we saw on their last line.

You can expect to see the new Bauer Supreme One.8 skates in stores, and available online, this April. Until then, take a look at the Supreme One.8 skates below and let us know what you think!

Bauer Supreme One.8 Skates

Bauer Supreme One.8 Skates

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Easton Synergy EQ40 Skate: Midseason Review

Jan 6

Posted by Eddie in Gear | 1 Comment

We are halfway through the current hockey season. Players in leagues from the NHL to the youth leagues are midway through the long, grind of a season while others that have a season beginning in January are approaching their first games. When I first purchased my current pair of ice hockey skates, I wrote a first impressions review of the the Easton Synergy EQ40.

After spending many hours in hockey rinks across southeastern Michigan officiating games, I have  put the skates through enough of a test to evaluate the first few months of skating in them. I also had the opportunity to skate in them as a player for the past couple weeks as I took a couple weeks away from playing goalie in our weekly Hockey World Blog skate. Featured below are the specs as well as an evaluation in my opinion in a few different categories.

Specs:

Size: 10.5

Width: D

Baked: Yes

Price: Currently on sale for $349.99 at Pure Hockey*

Aesthetics and Durability:

As someone that skates normally 2-3 days per week, they have held up very well for as high up the Easton product line they are. They still look fairly new and clean. Starting at the blade, there has not been any rusting of the ELITE stainless steel blade. I’ve kept it pretty dry and clean with a towel after skating as well as keeping it in a soaker-style skate guard. Moving up to the blade holder, the Razor Bladz II holder has impressed me. As someone who has used Tuuk holders most of my life, I was weary of using something different but as far as I have seen, I have not noticed anything different between the two. They are in very good shape with exception of a few puck marks that comes with normal use.

Moving onto the boot, it is one of my favorite things about the skate itself. The outside is still solid and has absorbed normal wear and tear without much breakdown. There is a small chips of the solid plastic around the toe but it is not noticeable unless you have the skate in your hand. The boot has done a good job of taking on water from snow and ice without entering the skate or breaking down the material.

In the first review, I raved about how I love the thick felt inside liner at the tongue. There’s a decent amount of black lint coming from my hockey socks or Shin-Tights attached to the felt, but nothing to lose any sleep over. Comes with the territory of the skates. The tongue didn’t take long to break in. Leaning over to take more aggressive power strides made the tongue stiff the first few times I skated in them, but over time it has broken in quite well. If you have your skate/socks setup as “tongues out”, you wouldn’t have  a problem quickly breaking them in. The anti-lace bite material in the tongue is a solid innovation in the skate. I’m able to tie my skates tighter without the repercussions of lace bite.

The stock laces have shown zero signs of breaking down at the tip. They are just as fresh and new as the day I bought them. Same goes for the eyelets on the skate.

Performance:

They are some of the most comfortable skates I have ever worn. Because I had them baked before skating in them, it allowed me to quickly speed up break-in time as it closely molded to my feet.

The replaceable runners is a feature I have never seen in a skate. When it comes to skating on ice, I have been able to go longer between sharpenings with  regular maintenance and care. In addition, using handheld stones have given me an increased edge. That’s allowed me to dig into harder ice surfaces without feeling like I don’t have an edge.

One runner design feature I don’t like is that it leaves two small openings mid-blade between the actual runner and the blade. The result is a loud chattering sound when striding or stopping. Somewhat nontraditional by design, but some players may prefer this. In addition, I’ve had to use a different cloth towel to dry my blades off because of constant snagging between the small hole and the towel.

Another suggestion I have read was to remove the insole to allow the insole to dry quicker. That has helped maintain the dryness of the insole as well as the shape.

The Dry Flow feature at the bottom was a great innovation in this skate. It has allowed my feet to avoid getting sweaty by removing the built up heat while allowing cool air from the ice into it through a small vent.

Closing Notes:

This is a good skate for the price. This is perfect for those who want something a top skate without the top skate price point. At $349.99, it is a large price point between this and the top skate in the Easton Synergy line, the EQ50 at $529.99. Going further down, the EQ 30 is $199.99. While a large gap in price between the three, the features and style of the EQ40 is closer to the EQ50 than the EQ30.

Check back later this season for another review of the Easton Synergy EQ40 skate. If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a question on Facebook or Twitter.

*Use coupon code HOCKEYWORLD at checkout and save 10% on select products at Pure Hockey.

 

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Bauer Supreme One.9 Skates

Jan 4

Posted by Matt in Gear | 6 Comments

Replacing the Bauer Supreme One100 skate in April, 2012, will be the new Bauer Supreme One.9 skates. The Supreme One.9 skates will be second only to the Total One NXG, and will still carry the features expected by an advanced or pro level player.

Beginning with the quarter package, Bauer will continue to use their 3D anaformable composite upper, which is now called Curv. You may recognize its previous name more, as it was called the ALIVE composite in previous years. The materials themselves have not changed, simply the name of the brand.

Moving inside the boot, the Bauer Supreme One.9 skate is going to feature its hydrophobic clarino liner, which is made of synthetic leather. This liner has great moisture wicking properties, and will help to keep your liner dry during games or practice. The lightweight anaform fit foam ankle pads inside the boot are going to provide exceptional support, and provide less added weight than some of the anaform fit foam pads found in lower Supreme models.

The Supreme One.9 tongue will be an anatomical, 52 oz. two-piece felt tongue, just like what was featured in the One100. It will also have the same high density metatarsal guard to help protect against lace bite. Additional foot support will be found on the form-fit+ footbed, with stabilizer grip and Curv composite inserts.

Beneath the boot you’re going to find some more strong components which will make the Bauer Supreme One.9 one of the top skates on the market. The outsole will of course be a full lightweight composite and beneath that you’ll find a TUUK Lightspeed 2 holder with LS 2.1 Power stainless steel runner.

The Supreme One.9 skates will be another strong release from Bauer Hockey, and should be a hot seller for anyone with a Supreme foot looking to get into a new, high-end skate. As one of the top skates in the line, you can expect the Supreme One.9 skates to retail for around $599. Check out the Bauer Supreme One.9 skates below and let us know your thoughts.

Bauer Supreme One.9 Skates

Bauer Supreme One.9 Skates

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Easton Stealth RS Skate

Dec 19

Posted by Matt in Gear | 5 Comments

We finally have confirmation of the new Easton Stealth RS skate with the picture below. Coming from the latest Easton Hockey catalog, the picture showcases Easton athlete Zach Parise’s reaction to the Stealth RS skate. The black and yellow coloring on the Stealth RS skate match the rest of the Stealth RS line (stick, pants and protective), and looks similar to a picture we posted of what was said to be the Stealth 85S skates. However, the Stealth 85S we posted is beginning to look more like a prototype (you can see the tongue on the skate contains the old Easton logo, rather than the new).

While the Easton Stealth RS skates will not be ready for a launch with the rest of the protective gear, you can bet they’re going to be a pretty slick skate. Easton has been making strides with their gear as of late, and the release of a Stealth RS skate should help them even more. We will keep you updated with release date information as we find out more, but for now, check out the image below and let us know what you think of the Stealth RS skates.

Easton Stealth RS Skate

Easton Stealth RS Skate

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Bauer Nexus 800 Ice Hockey Skates

Nov 18

Posted by Matt in Gear | 3 Comments

Bauer Hockey’s new Nexus line of gear is creating quite a buzz on the internet. The new Bauer Nexus 800 skates will only add to that buzz, and create additional excitement leading up to their release in June, 2012. The Bauer Nexus 800 skates will be a step below their top of the line skate, the Nexus 1000, but will still provide you with an exceptional product. It’s looks are going to be dialed back quite a bit compared to the Vapor and Supreme lines, as the Bauer Nexus 800 went pretty minimalist with the styling. This is great for players who just want a functional skate, and not one that is overly loud on the ice. You can also see in the picture below that Bauer is using a thick white felt tongue on the skates, similar to something you might find on a Graf skate. Bauer will be sticking with the Tuuk Lightspeed holder on the Nexus 800 skates, as well as LS2 steel runners.

What do you guys think? Will you be picking up a pair of Bauer Nexus 800 skates when they are released?

Bauer Nexus 800 Ice Hockey Skates

Bauer Nexus 800 Ice Hockey Skates

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Bauer Supreme Total One NXG Ice Hockey Skates

Oct 29

Posted by Matt in Gear | 20 Comments

In April, 2012, Bauer will release their newest skate, the Bauer Supreme Total One NXG ice hockey skate. We brought you a sneak peek at a prototype version of the 2012 Bauer Supreme skates back in July, but now we’re looking at the final design of the skate.

You can see in the picture below (courtesy of HWB fan Tyrone, thanks bud!) that a few concepts from the prototype made their way into the Bauer Supreme Total One NXG skates, and the Total One NXG will definitely be a step up from the original Total One skates, which were released in Spring, 2010.

Heading into the features of the Total One NXG, you’ll find a 3D anaformable Curv composite quarter package which will definitely be rigid and strong enough for all high level players. Moving along the front you’ll find Bauer’s customizable 3 flex tongue. The Curv composite inserts allow you to customize the flex of your tongue adding a “spring back” type response after each stride and flex of the tongue. The 3 flex options for the tongue will be mid, stiff, and extra stiff. The tongue inserts are replaceable, depending on how much resistance you want on your tongue flex, and can be switched out quite easily.

On the back of the boot, Bauer has loaded its Total One NXG with a patented flexible tendon guard. “The tendon guard on the Total One NXG allows Bauer to reduce the overall skate weight by even more than before. This patented technology provides the player with an increase of 5 degrees more range of motion adding to the overall skating efficiency through increased stride length” according to Bauer Hockey.

Moving inside the boot, you will see a hydrophobic grip light-liner which has great moisture wicking properties. Alongside the ankle, the interior of the boot will feature lightweight anaform fit-foam ankle pads. These are the same found in most high end Bauer skates, and the result is a ton of comfort for your foot and ankle pads which help keep the foot in place. The footbed featured on the Total One NXG skate will be Bauer’s form-fit+ footbed with stabalizer grip. The boot will be thermoformable of course, allowing for a fit more customized to your foot shape.

Beneath the boot, Bauer has loaded the Total One NXG with the Tuuk Lightspeed 2 holder and LS fusion runner. This is one of the most popular holder and runner combinations on the market today, and will suit the needs of elite hockey players everywhere.

The new Bauer Supreme Total One NXG skates will be available in April 2012 from local and online retailers.

What are your thoughts on the new Bauer Supreme Total One NXG skates? Will you be willing to shell out some coin  to pick up a pair when they are released?

Bauer Supreme Total One NXG Skates

Bauer Supreme Total One NXG Skates

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Easton Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates

Sep 26

Posted by Matt in Gear | 4 Comments

A pair of unreleased Easton Stealth 85s ice hockey skates popped up over the weekend, and are looking pretty sexy. The new skates, which carry the same sort of stealthy black and yellow look as the Stealth RS hockey stick, are presumed to be a prototype pair, with the design near final. The new Easton Stealth 85S skates, if the name is to hold true, feature a mostly black and grey boot, with yellow accents near the bottom front. They are featuring the Easton Razor Bladz II holder as well as Easton steel. If the picture is correct, the Easton Stealth 85s hockey skates weigh in just under one pound eleven ounces, or about 765 grams for one skate.

Take a look at the pictures below and let us know what you think of the Easton Stealth 85s ice hockey skates. Will they help Easton gain market share for skates?

Easton Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates

Easton Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates

Easton Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates

Easton Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates

Easton Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates

Easton Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates

Easton Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates

Easton Stealth 85S Ice Hockey Skates

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Easton EQ40 Skate: First Impressions

Jul 7

Posted by Eddie in Gear, Reviews | 2 Comments

The Easton EQ40 is the second-highest skate in the Easton line, behind the EQ50.In recent months, the four of us have been on equipment purchasing binges. Various equipment we have purchased and reviewed include skates, sticks, gloves, and goalie masks. The latest piece of gear that I needed to upgrade was my ice hockey skates. I primarily use my skates for officiating. This fall will be my 12th season as a USA Hockey official. I spent a lot of time on the ice and an upgrade to lighter, more durable skates was much needed. When I started officiating in 2000, I was only 14 years old. And because I (and my parents) didn’t know how seriously or how long I would be officiating, we didn’t spend too much money on a pair or skates as I was a goalie and most of the money towards new gear went towards that.

The skates I have been using the past 11 seasons were the Bauer Impact 75. I decided to part ways with those because they lacked protection around the ankle and were beginning to become too small for me. When I researched skates to buy for potential review on the site, I was first attracted to Bauer skates because that is what I have used for almost my entire hockey career. At The Bauer Experience I had the opportunity to skate in the Bauer Supreme line. I wanted to try the Vapor line, but because I was born with big feet (I wear a size 13 shoe), they didn’t have skates larger than size 10. However, I did get my wish and purchased a pair of Bauer Vapor RX:20 inline skates.

While researching, I was undecided between Reebok and Easton for skates. The main thing that turned me off to Reebok 10K was the massive white Reebok logo on a pair of black skates. And the Easton EQ40 is one of the most comfortable skates I have ever tried on in-store.

When I purchased the skates from Ice Warehouse, they were in such demand the skates in my size (10.5 D) were back ordered for two weeks. Most people would be upset at this, but I actually thought it was a good thing because it must be a popular item. When I got my hands on them, I was very impressed with the look and feel of them. Aesthetically, it is very good looking: a black boot with accents of grey and some red trim. As an official, you want to draw as little attention to your appearance as possible. That is why you’ll never see an official with white skates or even worse yellow laces.

In addition to the sleek look, the boot is very hard and sturdy on the outside. I don’t think you will need the popular Skate Fender which is the new rage among NHL players. Most old-school skates used to have the Kevlar toe, which would wear down over time. This one has a hard plastic toe cap, which can decrease wear and  injuries from hard shots. One feature I love is the white felt tongue. It is firm but flexible and has lace-bite protection. It’s flexible enough to where I am able to bend at the ankle and not feel the stiffness of the toe trying to keep it up. After comparison with Chris and his Bauer Vapor skates, this is one that made me glad I went with Easton. The skates are also heat mold-able and can be baked to decrease break-in time after purchase.

One unique feature I haven’t seen anywhere else is their Dry-Flow ventilation. It has an aerodynamic vent at the bottom of the skate which releases the moisture and excess heat created during play. Skates will stay lighter, stiffer and drier during and after games. Perfect for me in which there could be says where I am officiating five games in 3-4 different rinks.

As for the blade holder and runner, it has the Razor Bladz II holder- A revolutionary blade system which allows the steel to arc during turns, resulting in faster, sharper, explosive turns. The Elite Runners are high-end stainless steel design with a power tab in the middle of the blade for enhanced stiffness and energy return.

It has very similar features to the top skate in the Easton line, the EQ50. If you are looking for a near-top of the line skate without wanting to pay top of the line prices, the EQ40 is the skate for you. They can be found at Ice Warehouse for $349.99. Most D-Width sizes below 10.5 are in stock as of July 1. They also available in EE-Width as well.

Check the site in the coming months for more reviews on the Easton EQ40 skate as I continue to use it on the ice.

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Reebok 9k Roller Hockey Skate

Jan 23

Posted by Matt in Gear | 12 Comments

Update: The Reebok 9k roller hockey skate is now available at Inline Warehouse for only $349.99. Head over to IW now to check them out!

A few days ago we brought you a sneak peak of the upcoming 2011 Reebok 11k roller hockey skate with Hum’er chassis. At that time I was curious if they would go with a white version for the 9k. Well, it only took a couple days, and now we have a sneak peak at the 2011 Reebok 9k roller hockey skate. Sure enough, they went with white. I am definitely a fan of the boot on this skate, but the chassis doesn’t look nearly as nice as it does on the 11k.

The boot itself on the Reebok 9k roller hockey skate looks really solid, and very similar to the ice boot. You’re gonna get a nice felt tongue with the 9k, as well as the lace lock and pump technology that we’re all familiar with. The Labeda frame is, of course, a welcome addition to the new Reebok line. The tri-di chassis was far from our favorite roller hockey frame. The Labeda Millenium wheels will be nice as well.

Anyone looking to pick up the Reebok 9k inline skates can head over to Inline Warehouse now. They new skates will set you back only $349.99.

What are your thoughts on the new 2011 Reebok 9k roller hockey skate?

2011 Reebok 9k Roller Hockey Skate

2011 Reebok 9k Roller Hockey Skate

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Reebok 11k Roller Hockey Skate

Jan 20

Posted by Matt in Gear | 14 Comments

Update: The Reebok 11k roller hockey skates are now available at Inline Warehouse for $599.99! Head over to IW now to check them out!

In 2009, Reebok released an amazing line of roller hockey skates. Their traditional black and white boots made for a classic, but fresh look. The biggest problem, and what surely kept a lot of people from buying them (myself included), was the tri-diameter chassis. The 72-76-80-80 wheel setup is not as fast as other setups, had durability issues, and can be a hassle to replace wheels for. Companies like Tour provide top end speed with an all 80mm wheel setup on the Hum’er Chassis. Mission and Bauer on the other hand, roll with a 76-76-80-80 chassis to provide enhanced agility in addition to speed.

Now, in 2011, we will be seeing the new Reebok 11k roller hockey skate, complete with brand new Labeda Hum’er chassis and Labeda Addiction wheels! This is huge news for Reebok and their roller hockey brand. People who love the Hum’er chassis, but want a different style boot, will no longer have to convert their skates to get what they want.

Beyond having a great new chassis, the boot looks absolutely amazing. Reebok is sticking with the same black and white color scheme, and added in some green wheels to go along with the green pump. I don’t know that I’ve ever been so pumped for a pair of skates, and can’t wait to see what the 9k skates will look like.

If you’re looking at getting the new Reebok 11k inline skates, you won’t have to wait long. The skates are now available at Inline Warehouse for only $599.99.

Take a look at the new Reebok 11k roller hockey skate below and let us know what you think!

2011 Reebok 11k Roller Hockey Skate

The all new Reebok 11k roller hockey skate with Labeda Hum'er chassis

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