19 replies to this topic

[Dupes]

Pro stock or retail skates?

Have you had any bad experiences with pro stock skates?

[Dupes]

I personally have worn a few pairs of pro stock skates without any issues and loved them.

But retail skates are good enough for me.

[Moose]

I bought a couple of pro stock skates over the years and now stick to retails. I have a wide foot and a couple of skates I bought, which were great deals, just didn't fit my feet properly. If I can ever justify dropping a grand on skates I think I would get custom VH skates.

[WindyCity]

I was skating out of town in Michigan a couple years ago and got my skates sharpened at a place called Skate Works.  Turns out the Bauer rep had dropped off several pair of pro return skates and one of them was NXG in a size 5!  I bought them and really love them. 

[ibeck]

Retail, I had been using s95s for a couple months a fee years ago. Then I realized how gross it was to use second hand skates. If I could find pro stocks in my size and a better deal than retail,I'd buy them.

[Mapleleafs-13]

retail skates are good enough for me.

This ^

I'd love to own some pro wheels but unfortunately never came across some when I needed them. It would be nice to try the different liners and options but retail work fine for me. I'm lucky that I fit perfectly into a regular sized retail skate so I have no need for custom sizing or super crazy specs.

Plus I can get a good deal on them so it works out.

[Max92]

i prefer pro stock wheels they are usally made in canada and better quality , right now im using custom 50k

[Bosik]

I have Bauer X7.0 pro stock skates in size 9DA and it fits exactly the same with retail 9D X7.0s.

Difference is in liner and boot is stiffer than retail ones. Couple weeks ago took really hard slapshot to skate and could not skate for one week but did not get injured or smth.

The only thing I dont like visually is how toecap sewn to the boot. In retail versions it is much accurate.

Also reinforced eyelets seem to have sharp edges and tend to rip the laces more often than retail ones.

 

[60PlusWinger]

Pro Stock 1S skates here, made for me. I'd have no problem wearing retail if I could actually fit in anything. Pro Stock Bauer skates are going to look and feel very different from retail. Retail Bauer looks much cleaner in terms of fit and finish but they don't feel as sturdy. That should be expected for a skate that has been made so many times vs a skate made for one player with god only knows what modifications.

Buying pro stock skates second hand is a crap shoot, unless you have an order sheet it's very hard to tell what you're getting. You may be getting a super stiff boot, super soft, extended quarters? Cut back eyelets? So many variables.

[strosedefence34]

Retail for me.  I have a pair of Supreme 190s that fit so well they almost feel like they where made for me.  I can't imagine if I had custom skates made that it would be much different.

[HockeyThreads]

I bought a set from the London Knights that fit me better then any other skate I've used.

Bauer APX

[BigDaws]

I have my MX3's that I Pro ordered and just kept retail specs on them, best skates I've ever had

[Monty22]

I'm wearing a pair of Custom VH's most of the time, with a pair of Pro stock Wiz VH's for coaching.    

[Kadams29]

Im currently in Retail 1X's. I got them BN from my LHS cuz they hook me up and after a year of mens league(2-3 times a week) they're trashed. That New alloy curve material obviously didnt do the trick. Both boots are creased on insides snd outsides, both tongues cracked again like the 2's and the liners are getting holes worn in em. The APX2 was a way better skate when u weigh the pros and cons.

[rgrahamjr79]

I just picked up some jordie benn 1S skates

[AussieCanuckHockeyLover]

It's too much money to not be 100% what you're going to get. I've seen some that are advertised as size 9, and in reality they're L 9 1/4 and R 9, that tiny size difference could screw someone over and for ~600-800$? Yeah no. 

 

Retail is just fine.

[airmaxone95]

If you're buying top of the line retail, you may as well chip in an extra $200 (more or less) and get them custom

[JoeyJ0506]

If you're buying top of the line retail, you may as well chip in an extra $200 (more or less) and get them custom

 

This

[Dupes]

If you're buying top of the line retail, you may as well chip in an extra $200 (more or less) and get them custom

 

[AussieCanuckHockeyLover]

A good point.