Difference between cheap skates and good skates?
- Thread starter Slick
- Start date
TBLfan
Registered User
Often the holders on the cheap skate don't have replaceable steel, often the steel isn't stainless. The higher priced skates are more durable, stiffer, the ability to be baked, lighter weight and offer better protection.
The Tikkanen
Pest
I went from a pair of $100 Mission ice skates to a $500 pair of Synergy ice skates when they were first released. The difference is night and day and was worth every penny IMO. It's like the difference between a pickup truck and a Ferrari. Just make sure you pick the brand of skates that fit your feet, some brands like Reebok, CCM and the other Easton skates that weren't Synergys's hurt my feet. When I tried on the Synergy they fit like a tennis shoe, no blisters, no break in time but everybody's foot is shaped differently. You will know which skate is right for you when you try them all on, 1 should stick out as the most confortable-but try them all on because you can't just judge a skate by price or brand.
Slick
Registered User
Thanks for the input. I just got back from the skate shop. Was originally going to buy a new pair of Supreme 7000's for $275, but because that's stretching my money I decided between two used pair that I believe were just last year's models because they both looked brand new. One was a Bauer Vapor10 and the other an Easton V-Air. I tried on the Vapor10 and it was just way too tight, my foot felt very uncomfortable. Tried on the Easton's and they felt good. I have a narrow foot and the Easton's are said to be for wider feet but it feels okay, so I went with it for $200. Hope I got a good deal!
now adays, $250-$300 for a brand new pair of skates is cheap. the Bauer vapor XXX skates are $700 CDN
the best skates you can have tend to be the most espensive pair you can afford. skates are definitely a purchase where you get what you pay for.
Ti-girl
Registered User
Also the rate of breakdown is a lot faster in cheaper skates.
I bought a pair of vector's 6.0 two years ago and they broke down during my last summer season. I could almost pull both sides together to keep them on my feet. They became super sloppy and I could hardly skate in them.
This year I splurged and picked up a pair of RBK 9K's cheap. I wear them 4-5 times a week. Just a few scratches and one gouge on the toecap and holders, but I'm expecting these to last 4-5 years.
I bought a pair of vector's 6.0 two years ago and they broke down during my last summer season. I could almost pull both sides together to keep them on my feet. They became super sloppy and I could hardly skate in them.
This year I splurged and picked up a pair of RBK 9K's cheap. I wear them 4-5 times a week. Just a few scratches and one gouge on the toecap and holders, but I'm expecting these to last 4-5 years.
the best thing you can do is get older model skates on clearance.
mission skates always seem to have the biggest markdown, their top of the line $500+ models can be found for under $200 pretty easily.
mission skates always seem to have the biggest markdown, their top of the line $500+ models can be found for under $200 pretty easily.
#2eddieshore
Registered User
- May 29, 2005
- 980
- 25
im pretty sure you can get some XXX cheaper than that.
i got some pro returns for $440.
well, im guessing "pro returns" means that someone had them in the NHL and sent them back? meaning they're used...that's why they're cheaper
Jeffw-13
Registered User
- Mar 23, 2006
- 382
- 0
Not necessarily. Sometimes a player will have X number of skates made up for a season but not use all of them due to injury or maybe they just last longer than expected, either way there's an unused pair left over.
Sometimes a manufacturer will make up a pair of skates for a player to try to get them to switch to their brand, they use them for a couple practices, decide they don't like them and off they go to the team equipment sale.
