Konekt and Profiles

[ilyazhito]

The Bauer Konekt has certain characteristics that make its performance different from other skates (the use of buckles instead of laces to tighten the skates, a hinging mechanism in the boot, and a separate shell and liner inside the shell).

I have read the reviews. Some goalies claim that the Konekt gives them a better push than other skates. At the same time, goalies have used a number of skate profiles to improve their performance, including Goalie SAM. I am curious if goalies who went with a skate profile on their previous skates kept the same profile on their Konekts, or if the adjustment to the Konekt was a big enough change that they chose to use the stock Konekt profile. 

[keeperton]

I went from Bauer 2X Pros to Konekts about a year ago now.

The first thing I noticed, in my first few skates with the Konekt skates, was that I felt kind of glued down on the ice since the skates do want you connected to the ice with all the flexion afforded by the hinge. After the first few skates I swapped my steel to the ones in my old skates since they had rounded over time from use. I should note here: my old steel were not ever intentionally profiled in any particular matter. 

After some time, the adjustment period, I went back to the newer steel (Pulse TI and/or the Pulse SS that the skates came with). I had less issues "sticking," but they still did stick more. At Tendyfest in Langley last year I got to test the SAM profile and found it to be more-or-less what I wanted out of a skate profile since it helped me pitch forward (old nasty habit of leaning back too far/trying to stand too tall). I had my Pulse TI and Pulse SS steels set to the SAM profile and haven't looked back, noting that my old steel, from use over time, was kind of profiled like a SAM from the middle to the front, but also more rounded on the heel (the SAM is flatter on the heel, which is nice for standing/pushing).

I think the biggest adjustment you, or anyone, will find in the Konekt initially is the skate's desire to get as much steel on the ice as possible. It makes some of the small footwork feel strange at first until you figure out how to make the skate work with your foot/anatomy better and get more comfortable in it. If I were to go back to a regular skate, I would certainly keep the SAM profile since it fits how I work, skate, and play; it allows for some nice room/play in the mid-to-toe section on your feet for small movements.

Edited May 23 by keeperton

[DL42]

the heel on the SAM profile is the standard radius of 28' that are on all skates .  SAM is a scam for prosharp before the buyout by bauer to generate additional revenue by adding a new income stream  to proshops from the initial  machine and skate accessories which the markup is not much.  Let 's try and push this tempelete to all the proshop for all the sizes and have them push to customers to spend big cash on profiling it.

if you want to be on the front balls of your feet,  get the proper goalie stick and proper stance.

The old skate would not auto turn into SAM,  SAM has a Flat spot in the center of the blade which is highly unlikely without a templete or CAG machine.

[keeperton]

13 minutes ago, DL42 said:

the heel on the SAM profile is the standard radius of 28' that are on all skates .  SAM is a scam for prosharp before the buyout by bauer to generate additional revenue by adding a new income stream  to proshops from the initial  machine and skate accessories which the markup is not much.  Let 's try and push this tempelete to all the proshop for all the sizes and have them push to customers to spend big cash on profiling it.

if you want to be on the front balls of your feet,  get the proper goalie stick and proper stance.

The old skate would not auto turn into SAM,  SAM has a Flat spot in the center of the blade which is highly unlikely without a templete or CAG machine.

Dang, you sound kind of bitter.

For what it's worth, I do use a properly sized goalie stick and I have been working on my stance for awhile now. Found the pitch on the front rather helped. My old, unprofiled, steel isn't flat in the middle, but got rounded over time on the heel and toe from sharpening (and likely poor maintenance on my part).

Also "template" is the word.

[A.YOUNGoalie13]

Had Konekts for 2 years, and when I first got them I immediately felt more explosive skating wise. Edgework and everything else imo is made easier with them. As for the profiles, I work at a shop and do them for people all the time. I myself tried the SAM and noticed zero difference. I tried the most aggressive profile on my player skates as well and didn’t notice much either. I swear by the skates but I think the profiles are bs.

[ilyazhito]

59 minutes ago, A.YOUNGoalie13 said:

Had Konekts for 2 years, and when I first got them I immediately felt more explosive skating wise. Edgework and everything else imo is made easier with them. As for the profiles, I work at a shop and do them for people all the time. I myself tried the SAM and noticed zero difference. I tried the most aggressive profile on my player skates as well and didn’t notice much either. I swear by the skates but I think the profiles are bs.

Wow, I never expected that. I have run a Goalie SAM on my skates, but I suspect I might not need it if that is your experience with the Konekts. 

[A.YOUNGoalie13]

4 hours ago, ilyazhito said:

Wow, I never expected that. I have run a Goalie SAM on my skates, but I suspect I might not need it if that is your experience with the Konekts. 

Yeah. Well skating/mobility and flexibility have always been my strong suits, power on the other hand, not so much. I was always super fast better never could explode the way other guys my age could. I got konekts while I still can’t push like a guy who is 6’2 185, I look a lot more powerful than my frame suggests. Everything else was just added benefits and ease to go along with the skill I already had.

[ilyazhito]

To add to the topic, has your ROH changed with Konekts? I have a 3/8 on my current skates, but I am wondering if the Konekt causes differences in how the blade grips the ice compared to standard skates.

[keeperton]

21 hours ago, ilyazhito said:

To add to the topic, has your ROH changed with Konekts? I have a 3/8 on my current skates, but I am wondering if the Konekt causes differences in how the blade grips the ice compared to standard skates.

I didn't personally. I went from 1/2" on 4mm steel, to 3/8" on 3mm steel. I have a set of steel that I use at 7/16", but that's not a huge difference and I use them for when the ice is softer.

[froese]

I think some people are really tuned in and aware of minor tweaks/differences in how a skate fits and what the profile of the blade is, and some aren't. Personally I agree with @keeperton and can definitely notice a difference. Call me finicky, but I can't stand going more than 3 or 4 skates without getting them sharpened, and I can absolutely notice a difference between profiled and non profiled steel. And to say that in order to be on the balls of your feet all you need is a properly sized stick and a better stance is a little strange. Who knew that skates were so irrelevant!

[mossey3535]

I haven't gotten my Konekts profiled yet, but I do find my normal 7/16" was sticking a bit much. Backed it down to 1/2", still a bit sticky at the start of the sharpen, might go down to 9/16". This is with the stock LS Pulse blades.

[johncho]

6 hours ago, mossey3535 said:

I haven't gotten my Konekts profiled yet, but I do find my normal 7/16" was sticking a bit much. Backed it down to 1/2", still a bit sticky at the start of the sharpen, might go down to 9/16". This is with the stock LS Pulse blades.

Even if you don't get a profile per se, just getting it matched to each other could benefit you. 

I think QC and machining in general is much much better now, but I've seen brand new skates in the past where if you took the blades and put them side be side, they'd be slightly off from one another.