Soft Skate Boot vs. Stiff Skate Boot

[Max27]

Just wondering if the boot rigidity or flexibility is meant for different playing styles or if its a protection thing like player skates where the stiffer skate provides better ankle support

[RichMan]

I miss the old slipper like leather boots. Everything out today feels like plastic. Unfortunately, with minimalist or absent cowlings, it's a must to have stiffer boots.

[Max27]

10 hours ago, RichMan said:

I miss the old slipper like leather boots. Everything out today feels like plastic. Unfortunately, with minimalist or absent cowlings, it's a must to have stiffer boots.

im not very sold on the cowlingless skate. i see the advantages and innovations but i dont feel comfortable in something like that.

ive heard the stiff boot is meant for a wider base bc itll give u more ankle support but i play a stance like holtby or niemi, more tight. find i move better when i have my legs a little closer together 

edit- not sure why the niemi pic doesnt show up, if u wanna see it just click it

[seagoal]

What don't you like about cowlingless skates? I was skeptical,  too, but made the switch and I really like mine.

I love how aggressive and reactive they are and I swear,  they're faster.  Just sayin'

Speaking of narrow stances,  this guy was my favorite goalie forever.  He's why i wear 20.

[BadAngle41]

All boots will be stiff nowadays. And yes there are skates meant for differing styles of play. But the one thing you should consider beyond the general stiffness of the boot is HOW the ankle support is provided. In the example below using Bauer's line, both are stiff skates (used 1S and 1X for image likeness.) Supreme line is meant for a wider stance and provides higher ankle support on the inside of the skate to help aid in that. In contrast, the Vapor line is symmetrical allowing for a more neutral feel which some may call "softer" but in reality the construction of the boot itself is very similar... but it's HOW they support than ankle that differs. 

[jayluv54]

11 hours ago, Max27 said:

Just wondering if the boot rigidity or flexibility is meant for different playing styles or if its a protection thing like player skates where the stiffer skate provides better ankle support

I think its preference just like anything else.  I prefer a softer boot when I'm in net but a very stiff boot when skating out.  

Last year I went from Bauer Reactor 6000's to the 9000's.  Both one of Bauer's top of the line goal skates at the time of release but I've had a lot of ankle issues going from a tech mesh upper to a curv composite upper.  I know some other goalies that had ankle issues after transitioning to a stiffer skate as well.  

I am currently looking at some softer options.  I understand that the power transfer and all that are better with a stiffer skate, but if its causing injury its not worth it for me.  

[Mystery]

What would be the stiffest skate I could buy?

[Max27]

16 hours ago, seagoal said:

What don't you like about cowlingless skates? I was skeptical,  too, but made the switch and I really like mine.

I love how aggressive and reactive they are and I swear,  they're faster.  Just sayin'

Speaking of narrow stances,  this guy was my favorite goalie forever.  He's why i wear 20.

idk i feel really intrigued to get it but im at the same time so reluctant to big changes like that lol

i wanna get the x900 skates to replace my rbz 80s that are falling apar

[Max27]

7 hours ago, BadAngle41 said:

All boots will be stiff nowadays. And yes there are skates meant for differing styles of play. But the one thing you should consider beyond the general stiffness of the boot is HOW the ankle support is provided. In the example below using Bauer's line, both are stiff skates (used 1S and 1X for image likeness.) Supreme line is meant for a wider stance and provides higher ankle support on the inside of the skate to help aid in that. In contrast, the Vapor line is symmetrical allowing for a more neutral feel which some may call "softer" but in reality the construction of the boot itself is very similar... but it's HOW they support than ankle that differs. 

so is the x900 a stiff boot?

[Max27]

16 hours ago, seagoal said:

What don't you like about cowlingless skates? I was skeptical,  too, but made the switch and I really like mine.

I love how aggressive and reactive they are and I swear,  they're faster.  Just sayin'

Speaking of narrow stances,  this guy was my favorite goalie forever.  He's why i wear 20.

great tribute to Nabokov wearing his number

i would wear 40 for Lehner but i didnt have a choice but to wear 30. only jersey they had that would fit me was #30 lol 

[Kayen]

25 minutes ago, Max27 said:

so is the x900 a stiff boot?

tech mesh boot, softer boot than the S190 for sure (full composite). 

[Mystery]

My problem is that I blow through skates I’m harsh on skates and I want a skate to last the season

[TheGoalNet]

@Max27 - Bauer and CCM both have high end engineers using the lastest technology to design skates. They absolutely think about how to tune a skate to fit a specific style. 

But there’s a few items that need to be cleared up here... 

1. A Jet Speed and a Tacks or a Supreme and Vapor fit different feet. There could be a situation where you think a Vapor fits your style of play, but your foot favors a Supreme. Fit always comes first. As the custom programs gain more adoption, this hurdle goes away for people paying the top dollar.

2. Soft will be more comfortable and allow your foot to bend more. It should also reduce injury concerns. Stiff will have better energy transfer and is typically lighter. 

[mr_shifty1982]

13 minutes ago, TheGoalNet said:

@Max27 - Bauer and CCM both have high end engineers using the lastest technology to design skates. They absolutely think about to tune a skate to fit a specific style. 

But there’s a few items that need to be cleared up here... 

1. A Jet Speed and a Tacks or a Supreme and Vapor fit different feet. There could be a situation where you think a Vapor fits your style of play, but your foot favors a Supreme. Fit always comes first. As the custom programs gain more adoption, this hurdle goes away for people paying the top dollar.

2. Soft will more comfortable and allow your foot to bend more. It should also reduce injury concerns. Stiff will have better energy transfer and is typically lighter. 

I agree, fit comes first. I'm looking for a new skate probably in the next year, even though I love my 11ks I need a change. At the store the guy said that I would be best in a vapors not supreme due to my wide polish foot lol now I do have a wide stance.  Due to the comments above would I go with a 2s, probably not. 

[TheGoalNet]

2 hours ago, mr_shifty1982 said:

I agree, fit comes first. I'm looking for a new skate probably in the next year, even though I love my 11ks I need a change. At the store the guy said that I would be best in a vapors not supreme due to my wide polish foot lol now I do have a wide stance.  Due to the comments above would I go with a 2s, probably not. 

If you have the budget, you could look at custom?

@TGC-Rance has been helping people for years 

[Max27]

3 hours ago, TheGoalNet said:

@Max27 - Bauer and CCM both have high end engineers using the lastest technology to design skates. They absolutely think about how to tune a skate to fit a specific style. 

But there’s a few items that need to be cleared up here... 

1. A Jet Speed and a Tacks or a Supreme and Vapor fit different feet. There could be a situation where you think a Vapor fits your style of play, but your foot favors a Supreme. Fit always comes first. As the custom programs gain more adoption, this hurdle goes away for people paying the top dollar.

2. Soft will be more comfortable and allow your foot to bend more. It should also reduce injury concerns. Stiff will have better energy transfer and is typically lighter. 

i use an 11 EE Rbz rn but i should be in a 10.5. would a 10.5 EE Vapor fit me the same?

[TheGoalNet]

10 minutes ago, Max27 said:

i use an 11 EE Rbz rn but i should be in a 10.5. would a 10.5 EE Vapor fit me the same?

Apologies, I don't know the RBZ model well.

@TGC-Rance or @thebigm ?

[ZeroGravitas]

17 minutes ago, Max27 said:

i use an 11 EE Rbz rn but i should be in a 10.5. would a 10.5 EE Vapor fit me the same?

Interesting that you are in a 11.5 RBZ and you're going down in size. I wore a 7.5 Graf and currently wear a 6.5 RBZ. I believe with the RBZ, CCM recommended people to go down half a size or a whole size from their current skate for best fit. I did so and my RBZ fits great. I would be a 7.5 Bauer in their current line up according to the 3D Bauer scanner.

[TheGoalNet]

1 hour ago, ZeroGravitas said:

Interesting that you are in a 11.5 RBZ and you're going down in size. I wore a 7.5 Graf and currently wear a 6.5 RBZ. I believe with the RBZ, CCM recommended people to go down half a size or a whole size from their current skate for best fit. I did so and my RBZ fits great. I would be a 7.5 Bauer in their current line up according to the 3D Bauer scanner.

Did they add goalie to the scanner yet?

[Max27]

1 hour ago, ZeroGravitas said:

Interesting that you are in a 11.5 RBZ and you're going down in size. I wore a 7.5 Graf and currently wear a 6.5 RBZ. I believe with the RBZ, CCM recommended people to go down half a size or a whole size from their current skate for best fit. I did so and my RBZ fits great. I would be a 7.5 Bauer in their current line up according to the 3D Bauer scanner.

i bought them thinking i only needed 1 size down but i need a size and a half

[ZeroGravitas]

38 minutes ago, TheGoalNet said:

Did they add goalie to the scanner yet?

Should be, had a customer come in with pictures of the scan - our store doesn't have the 3D fit scanner.

[Mystery]

There is it’s based off of the option you choose when on the program weather u choose player or goalie

[RichMan]

Has anyone taken an older leather mix model (ie Supremes) and transferred the boot to a more modern cowling like Bauer/Graf/CCM? Was/is there enough ankle support despite the absence of the high inside cowling wall?

[southpawtendy48]

On 11/5/2018 at 9:23 PM, seagoal said:

What don't you like about cowlingless skates? I was skeptical,  too, but made the switch and I really like mine.

I love how aggressive and reactive they are and I swear,  they're faster.  Just sayin'

Speaking of narrow stances,  this guy was my favorite goalie forever.  He's why i wear 20.

That nabokov glove save though... gives me chills every time I watch it. 

[SaveByRichter35]

On 12/28/2018 at 7:33 AM, RichMan said:

Has anyone taken an older leather mix model (ie Supremes) and transferred the boot to a more modern cowling like Bauer/Graf/CCM? Was/is there enough ankle support despite the absence of the high inside cowling wall?

Yes.  Bauer 7000s on one80 cowlings here.  Works perfectly fine. (I know, this was discussed in another thread already)