BadAngle41

I don't know where to begin with this. I'm not sure who the "we" is but if 1/2" of pad width is the reason saves are being made, "we" are incredibly technically sound and are facing world-class shooters. Thank you for taking the time away from the rigorous training routine to post here. Markstrom's set looks just fine. If he's good with whatever subtleties there may be in measurements, I'm not sure why you aren't. I don't recall a post game interview with him where he has pointed to his equipment as to why a puck got past him.

Agreed. Would you believe I missed them when I looked at Pure after reading this but it then came up in a pop up add later in the day.

Was scrolling through and couldn't find where you got the black replacement liners. How come and where di you get them?

Not gonna lie... when I saw the first picture of the set as a whole... the color scheme you chose coupled with the tonal logos was curious to me... to say the least. But after seeing the close-ups I'd agree it turned out well. Good to see the touch of gold with the embroidery and contrasting stitchwork. Your functional specs of course are right in line with what I would have chosen. While the stiffness and rebounds aren't what you've experienced with Mach... I'll be interested to hear how well the stiffness Axis2 does have holds up. My Axis1 set has softened up at the thigh from last year as you'd expect them to, but they're still performing well. Also... when will we get a video of @ZeroGravitas with a shaved head and a tie showing us how he uses a baseball glove steamer like this guy?? A carabiner with your keys attached clipped to a belt loop is also an absolute must.

If it only hurts when sitting... maybe the answer is... skate. The only way that solution doesn't work is if you find yourself at the end of the bench with a backup towel on. Somewhat kidding... they shouldn't hurt at any point. I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with fit. I'm hoping I'm part of the silent majority of those who have picked up this skate and not had any issues, and not the outlier.

Crude in comparison, I just cut to size a piece of adhesive backed ECOProFoam I had from an old mask refurbishment and slapped it under the grey loop where the top Konekt strap goes through. It has held up well over 5 skates or so now. It may just be a placebo effect as it does compress to a fraction of its thickness, but certainly hasn't negatively affected the skate's performance. V02 of this could see the use of some strips of Maltese with a thin layer of neoprene (also adhesive back and left over from a mask refurb) that would not only be slightly thicker than the current test solution, but stylish to quasi-match the green Ultralon. @Chenner29 had mentioned the ECOProFoam lace bite pads that are intended to adhere to the backside of a skate tongue with velcro which might be worth trying too.

100%. Konekt's ability to give you great forward flex without sacrificing lateral stiffness is amazing. I had been going to one less eyelet on 2X Pro to get some additional forward flex but the reduced support was noticeable.

Weird on the hollow... 9/16" is a shallower cut than the 7/16" you were used to. What made you choose a different radius in the first place?

I see a blank canvas...

I'm using a 3/8" on mine... and that's a SPARX sharpening. I have found that I feel like I'm able to catch an edge easier with lateral movements in Konekt and the 3/8" has good bite... keeping in mind that I'm 5'10" and ~155lbs.

Waiting to post them as part of a combo with tattered underwear as well... 1+1=3 situation. They're great... but Konekt trumped them.

It's held up great. No signs of wear on the PPF itself... and no signs of it peeling. I will say much like painting that the devil is in the prep work... so be sure to clean off the areas you'll be applying it to well and be sure to have a heat gun (or blow dryer) around to get a good tight wrap around and behind your corners so that none of your edges are exposed to the ice.

Shameless plug for some gear I have up on SidelineSwap. If anyone is interested in something and has questions... feel free to DM me... Bauer 2X Pro Goal Skate Size 7 https://sidelineswap.com/gear/hockey/goalie/goalie-skates/5071720-bauer-2x-pro-goal-skate-size-7 Graf 9035 with CCM XSG Holder Size 7 https://sidelineswap.com/gear/hockey/goalie/goalie-skates/5071696-graf-9035-with-ccm-xsg-holder-size-7 NEW Graf Pro Cowlings Skate Size 7 https://sidelineswap.com/gear/hockey/goalie/goalie-skates/5071671-graf-new-pro-cowlings-skate-size-7 NEW 2019 Stadium Series Penguins Warrior Goalie Shell - SOLD https://sidelineswap.com/gear/hockey/goalie/goalie-pants/5071653-warrior-new-2019-stadium-series-penguins-goalie-shell

Found some neoprene laying around the house and going to give it a try next week. I like the idea of going wider than the strap and making a little sleeve to make sure it stays in place. They've actually felt great... but just curious if having a little more pressure there would feel even better.

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.

While grateful to have avoided having cankles... my ankles are also on the slim side. That said as @ThatCarGuy pointed out you may be able to punch another hole if you're already on the tightest possible setting. However, my only concern with doing so is whether will I be making the top piece tighter than it "should be" and prohibiting the upper piece from being able to articulate on the hinge fully. Likely doubtful... but I'm giving the skates a few more weeks of break-in before I decide whether or not to give it a whirl.

I did really like the change from 2X Pro skates to the Franken-Grafs with an XSG holder. I made the change because the 2X Pro were hurting my feet and I associated that with the skate as a whole (boot & holder.) I had to be much more mindful of how I tighten the 2X Pro vs. Graf. Too tight on the 2X Pro and my feet really hurt/went numb. Could be the boot, could be the pitch of the holder, could be a princess and the pea situation, not real sure. The Graf/XSG combination is more comfortable though. That said, I've been wearing the 2X Pro again (and omitting the top eyelet) just to see if I could get used to it again before I dive into a pair on Konekt. Working out pretty well. Still have to be very mindful of how tight they're tied. But it was my impression that Bauer wouldn't offer the Konekt boot alone. I say boot alone as (and I could be wrong here) I wouldn't want any more holes drilled into the boot than absolutely necessary. I just wish Konekt was available already... take my money!!

Was going through a period of time when I was letting in strange bad (dead) angles goals... +my number. Depending on who you ask I'm still working through that period of time now.

Yeah. The added length at the toe was nice. I'm a bit of a toe pusher so it gave me a touch more bite.

Interesting use of buckles... and with the top buckle positioned below the top eyelet I'd bet he does get better flex than you'd see out of standard lacing. As for Konekt in custom skate territory in terms of pricing... well they are custom skates being heat molded liner and boot. I know that's not what most think of in a traditional sense because they're off-the-shelf items that just get molded as opposed to bespoke one-off skates made just for your feet... but if the fit and performance are there I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a reason not to consider them custom.

I went back to 2X Pro skates recently and not lacing through the top eyelet... it has worked well... anxious to get these on my feet and see what kind of flex range I get. Remind me of the release date and tell me when you'll be working and I'll find a reason to make it up your way to get fitted.

Hey @Dan_32... I've gone from EFlex to 2X Pro to Axis and have tried @ZeroGravitas's UltraSonics... and all that said... yes sliding and large rebounds are both better in Bauers generally speaking. I will say however that trying the UltraSonics I realized that for me, Bauers aren't the best for lower-level skates. @Chenner29 and I have talked about this some. For higher-level skates, I find that Bauers are great, in that movements are fast and predictable and muscle memory kicks in with bang-bang plays. Lower-level skates I find that a stiff pad can get clunky with a lot more movement than you would have in faster skates... sounds counter-intuitive I know but with slower skates I find myself changing directions a lot more and honestly... my hips take the brunt of that. Sliding is important... but to be honest... most plays you should be getting there on your feet... much more controlled and in a much stronger position to stop the puck. Good footwork will always trump a great sliding pad. Axis for me had been a good in-between. They're firm enough for decent rebounds but have enough flex to have the familiarity of the CCM (Lefevre.) Axis 2 looks to build on that as well... although I think the jury is out on the 591 glove. All that said... Bauer is definitely worth trying but Axis 2 could be worth your while as well.

I posted weights on an NXG a while back in the Stick Comparison thread...

Yeah... literally 1:19 later he says puck mark. Patience hasn't ever been my strong suit.

100% agree with @ThatCarGuy on this one... the faster not only the shots are but generally the pace of play I find Bauers easier to use. It's when you get the off-speed pitch or shot from the point that defies physics and bounces off 3 guys before getting to you with little pace left on it that I would have trouble with them.