TGN Deep Dive: Bauer Konekt Skates

[goalieThreeOne]

On 8/13/2022 at 10:35 PM, ZeroGravitas said:

Just had the same issue with my skate. Used maybe 4 times? 5?

I'm not sure how stiff that strap is, but I wonder if you could take the very tip of that strap end, and bend another 90 into it make a hook. Might be hard to get it back in, but that could keep it from popping out all the way.

Is that piece hollow or is it machined with a hole? If it's just a machine hole, I wonder if you could drip some JB weld in there for a more permanent hold? Obviously there's a flaw in the design, but I bet someone could figure out something to give it a little extra hold.

[BadAngle41]

Skated in my Konekt only twice now... and thus far...

I feel really dumb for not putting 1 and 1 together on the naming of the skate. With almost no negative space, it feels like part of your foot... connected. My first steps on the ice with them were hard to describe, but it just felt like my foot had runners on them. Every flex of my ankle and foot translated into something on the ice. 

All the guys in the locker room made the obvious "I had rollerblades like that." or "Hey, you picked up some Langes." (only from the real old guys.) They all focused on the reduced time to get ready... and while that's true... the on-ice performance is something I'm still trying to accurately describe. My pushes and recoveries feel so much more natural because my foot really is connected to the ice. Forward flex is of course fantastic... but lateral movements are crisper and you get so much more feedback through the skate. 

The best comparison I can think of is to steering feedback in a car. A modern composite skate with traditional lacing can feel like a race car on your feet... sure you get the feel of the road but maybe too harsh at times. Older skates with a big cowling are like the floaty SUV where sure it goes where you want but you never really feel what's going on... there's a disconnect in feel from all of the softened connection points between you and the ice. The combination of the composite shell and more importantly IMO the liner with Konekt give you that perfect balance... in car terms steering feel that few beyond Porsche have ever been able to create. Dampened from harshness... but incredible feedback that lets you move like never before and with the confidence to push the limits and feel when you're at that limit before going past it. 

[ZeroGravitas]

On 8/13/2022 at 9:58 PM, Wrbsti15 said:

This def worries me of these break like this then what do you do if you don’t have another pair of skates. Can it be popped back in or is that bucket toast? 

I can pop it back in, but it can easily pop back out. When reinserting, it doesn't feel like it snaps into a slot or anything, so I'm not sure it'll hold up when re-attached to the rack.

17 minutes ago, goalieThreeOne said:

I'm not sure how stiff that strap is, but I wonder if you could take the very tip of that strap end, and bend another 90 into it make a hook. Might be hard to get it back in, but that could keep it from popping out all the way.

Is that piece hollow or is it machined with a hole? If it's just a machine hole, I wonder if you could drip some JB weld in there for a more permanent hold? Obviously there's a flaw in the design, but I bet someone could figure out something to give it a little extra hold.

Didn't take a close look inside as I saw it after a back to back game so I was pooped. I suspect I'll have to go with JB Weld or some similar epoxy to fix it.

16 minutes ago, BadAngle41 said:

Skated in my Konekt only twice now... and thus far...

[...]

All the guys in the locker room made the obvious "I had rollerblades like that." or "Hey, you picked up some Langes." (only from the real old guys.) They all focused on the reduced time to get ready... and while that's true... the on-ice performance is something I'm still trying to accurately describe. My pushes and recoveries feel so much more natural because my foot really is connected to the ice. Forward flex is of course fantastic... but lateral movements are crisper and you get so much more feedback through the skate. 

The best comparison I can think of is to steering feedback in a car. A modern composite skate with traditional lacing can feel like a race car on your feet... sure you get the feel of the road but maybe too harsh at times. Older skates with a big cowling are like the floaty SUV where sure it goes where you want but you never really feel what's going on... there's a disconnect in feel from all of the softened connection points between you and the ice. The combination of the composite shell and more importantly IMO the liner with Konekt give you that perfect balance that few beyond Porsche have ever been able to create. Dampened from harshness... but incredible feedback that lets you move like never before and with the confidence to push the limits and feel when you're at that limit before going past it. 

Well said. I echo the thoughts on everything feeling more natural.

[ryan_0]

Hmmmm?

Edited August 15, 2022 by ryan_0

[ThatCarGuy]

6 minutes ago, ryan_0 said:

Hmmmm?

Been out for over a year now. 

[coopaloop1234]

5 minutes ago, ThatCarGuy said:

Been out for over a year now. 

Well now we need your one year review. 

[ZeroGravitas]

1 minute ago, coopaloop1234 said:

Well now we need your one year review. 

Pros:
Easy for the parents to put on the kid's feet.
Cheap.

Cons:
You won't be able to get the velcro as tight as you'd want on your kid's foot.
Cheap.

[coopaloop1234]

4 minutes ago, ZeroGravitas said:

Pros:
Easy for the parents to put on the kid's feet.
Cheap.

Cons:
You won't be able to get the velcro as tight as you'd want on your kid's foot.
Cheap.

Is @ThatCarGuy your kid? 

[ThatCarGuy]

6 hours ago, coopaloop1234 said:

Is @ThatCarGuy your kid? 

Can confirm I wear between a size 7 and 13 youth skate as well as size 8 konekts. 

[RecoveringGoalie1]

22 hours ago, BadAngle41 said:

Skated in my Konekt only twice now... and thus far...

I feel really dumb for not putting 1 and 1 together on the naming of the skate. With almost no negative space, it feels like part of your foot... connected. My first steps on the ice with them were hard to describe, but it just felt like my foot had runners on them. Every flex of my ankle and foot translated into something on the ice. 

All the guys in the locker room made the obvious "I had rollerblades like that." or "Hey, you picked up some Langes." (only from the real old guys.) They all focused on the reduced time to get ready... and while that's true... the on-ice performance is something I'm still trying to accurately describe. My pushes and recoveries feel so much more natural because my foot really is connected to the ice. Forward flex is of course fantastic... but lateral movements are crisper and you get so much more feedback through the skate. 

The best comparison I can think of is to steering feedback in a car. A modern composite skate with traditional lacing can feel like a race car on your feet... sure you get the feel of the road but maybe too harsh at times. Older skates with a big cowling are like the floaty SUV where sure it goes where you want but you never really feel what's going on... there's a disconnect in feel from all of the softened connection points between you and the ice. The combination of the composite shell and more importantly IMO the liner with Konekt give you that perfect balance... in car terms steering feel that few beyond Porsche have ever been able to create. Dampened from harshness... but incredible feedback that lets you move like never before and with the confidence to push the limits and feel when you're at that limit before going past it. 

Used mine last night and this is a great description of how the skates feel - it's as though the blades are attached directly to your feet as opposed to standing on them. You can generate more power, you have more stability as the blades are more planted, and you feel more 'connected' to the ice. Happy to report no foot pain either, though I got my liner baked twice as I reused it with my second pair after returning the defective one.

Honestly the feel of the skate is more of a game changer than the hinge range of motion from my initial impressions. That being said, the hinge allows you to hold a more aggressive stance. I did notice I was overly driving my knees forward and 'crouching' more than I should with the hinge which lowered my hips and arms - something that will take some time to adjust, but the stability alone makes it worth the learning curve. Coming from Bauer 2S Pro skates for context.

[Chenner29]

Ughhghgh I have had these sitting around since Friday.

Played in a charity game on Saturday and brought the skates, but they felt too tight around the toe box so I stuck with my Trues.

[Jeffgtx]

If the person a few pages back is still looking for an 11 they are on pure goalie now as an option to store search. 

[jerd31]

Just now, Jeffgtx said:

If the person a few pages back is still looking for an 11 they are on pure goalie now as an option to store search. 

I saw!  Manager at my pure goalie said he can order them if they show on the site so I’m going to call tomorrow and hopefully get my hands on them soon

[Wrbsti15]

1 hour ago, jerd31 said:

I saw!  Manager at my pure goalie said he can order them if they show on the site so I’m going to call tomorrow and hopefully get my hands on them soon

I’m still waiting on my size 11 ordered more than 2 weeks ago. 

[jerd31]

Woohoo have mine on order!  

Going to pick up another set of runners, is LS5G the runner of choice or should I look at something else?

[A.YOUNGoalie13]

1 hour ago, jerd31 said:

Woohoo have mine on order!  

Going to pick up another set of runners, is LS5G the runner of choice or should I look at something else?

Yes that or if you can find the pulse ti anywhere thats arguably even better

[ThatCarGuy]

2 hours ago, A.YOUNGoalie13 said:

Yes that or if you can find the pulse ti anywhere thats arguably even better

Ideally Tydan or step but they’re both near impossible to come by. 

[Wrbsti15]

5 minutes ago, ThatCarGuy said:

Ideally Tydan or step but they’re both near impossible to come by. 

I’ll be switching the tydan with Sam profile from my pros to konekts 

[A.YOUNGoalie13]

2 hours ago, ThatCarGuy said:

Ideally Tydan or step but they’re both near impossible to come by. 

Step doesn’t make steel for vertexx

[ZeroGravitas]

8 minutes ago, A.YOUNGoalie13 said:

Step doesn’t make steel for vertexx

You're right, but they did, once upon a time. Which is why CarGuy says they are very hard to find.

[jerd31]

I ordered LS5G's.  I'm already in $900 for the skates, plus I have Gnetik V's on the way.  Wife isn't going to believe my "oh it only cost $50" for all the new equipment I have coming in.

[A.YOUNGoalie13]

3 hours ago, ZeroGravitas said:

You're right, but they did, once upon a time. Which is why CarGuy says they are very hard to find.

Yeah good luck finding any of that

[ThatCarGuy]

4 hours ago, ZeroGravitas said:

You're right, but they did, once upon a time. Which is why CarGuy says they are very hard to find.

Still do just not publicly

Where do you think some of these NHL guys get it? It’s gotta come from somewhere. 

[ZeroGravitas]

42 minutes ago, ThatCarGuy said:

Still do just not publicly

Where do you think some of these NHL guys get it? It’s gotta come from somewhere. 

That's interesting. I thought CCM owning Step Steel and Bauer's lawsuit would have put an end to that. I assumed EQMs simply bought a ton of steel before the supply ran out.

[jerd31]

Pure Hockey canceled my order, no 11’s in stock