Modern Skate Choices – The Brand No Longer Dictates the Fit.

CCM and Bauer are two of the world’s most famous and well respected hockey brands, so it’s no coincidence that they also happen to be two all of the oldest.Both companies have a long and intricate history, from Canadian Cycle and Motor Company (CCM) when four prominent cycling companies amalgamated in 1899 after the collapse of the bicycle market, to Bauer’s origins at the Western Shoe Company, the first hockey company to begin producing hockey skates in which the blade was permanently secured to the boot. Between ownership changes, technology innovations, branding successes and some stumbles, there is a rich history attached to each company. Their Consumers are loyal, extremely loyal and this is especially true when it comes to hockey skates. One brand is the ruler of Canada (CCM) one is the ruler of the North East region of the United States (Bauer). Whether it’s on the phone, or in one of our stores it’s extremely common to hear “I swear by CCM!” or “I can’t wear anything but Bauer!” on an almost daily basis.

The main reason (and a quite substantial one actually) in which these claims are based is for decades the common truth was if you had a NARROW foot: You wore a Bauer, if you had a WIDE foot you wore a CCM. Today Technology and the urgency for both of these legendary brands to expand their reach has necessitated they change this antiquated way of thinking. While traditional Rink Store owners or armchair coaches might argue otherwise it is now a fact that, there is now a variety of fits spread across both brands that players can choose from either Brand and still find the skate feel they are searching for.

As 2020 approaches each brand has a skate that can work for your foot. It’s a Brave New World for Hockey Players. These seemingly forever rivals ironically have evolved to a similar point when it comes to the line of skates they put out on the market. In this case, their need to succeed makes winners of skaters everywhere.

Three Skate Lines > Three Different fits >Three different options to get you in THEIR skate.

CCM Jetspeed vs Bauer Vapor

CCM Tacks vs Bauer Supreme

CCM Ribcor vs. Bauer Nexus

These head to head match ups mirror each other with their fit profiles and what kind of player they are attempting to target. Let us take a brief look at the sizing in specific areas of the foot provided in each line:

CCM Jetspeed and Bauer Vapor Hockey Skates provide a tapered fit, most noticeably in the bottom of the foot. This design provides a fit ideal for the fleet of foot forward looking to make sudden changes in direction, creating your own space on the power play or cutting left when the defender is going right. Essentially providing a tighter more responsive fit is what these lines are all about.

The Name is No Longer the Name of the Game when it comes to Model Fit..

CCM Tacks and Bauer Supreme Hockey Skates provide a tight heel lock and a foot bed area slightly more open than their Jetspeed or Vapor counter parts. The heel lock is all about power striding, giving the skater a firm base to launch from. Ideal for the up and down the wing forward looking to finish checks and scoring plays off the rush or the two-way defensemen looking to shut down and push the pace the other way. These lines are the “Hybrid” of the skate world.

Ribcor and Nexus Hockey Skates both have an open fit profile that is more of a form fitting custom fit in other words your fit is much more equal across the entire profile of the boot, there are no areas that fit tighter than others. This comfort gives players the confidence to have an amazing overall performance. Again with this line the emphasis is on space and comfort.

This is not to say that these skates produced by the individual Brands are clones of each other. Each brand brings specific specs outside of fitting that could sway you to either company. There are differences in the overall feel and weight balance, as well as differences in technology in boot construction, ankle protection, footbed style and comfort, blade holders, Steel, and of course the look.

These different specs are all explained in the product listing on our online store at everysportforless.com. Exclusive Photos will show you the technology and look of each skate as we make sure to hone in on the details that hockey players like us want to know more about. Be sure to check them all out HERE

So don’t be sold on the Name of the Hockey Skate Brand anymore. You have multiple options in both brands. We have hundreds of players and parents talk with us about what skate is the right skate. Not surprisingly, a huge percentage of folks were going on the old information that their choices were limited, but they aren’t. Consequently, the “other brand” may be your dream skate. One thing is for sure, whichever brand it is, we will have it.

Please feel free to come in and see us and have a conversation about skate fitting, we love talking skates and we’re always ready, willing and able to take in all your experiences with skates and break down what brand, model and size may best suit your needs and offer the lowest price to boot.

Ice Tested: Byonic Steel

When I'm not helping you get the very best deals possible, you can most likely find me at the rink. I play hockey 3-4 times a week. Once every couple of months it never fails, I break a skate blade. Another 60 dollars blown just to know it will keep happening again the following month. Repeatedly replacing skate blades was my regular routine until we were approached by Byonic Steel and the way I thought about Skate blades changed forever.

DURABILITY

Byonic Steel is built to last. We are sure to field test (or in this case, ice test) a new product like this before bringing it in and I was issued a demo pair of the $99.99 Speed Blade polished steel to fit my CCM + 4.0 Holder version. This was 6 months ago and they are still going strong. After taking pucks off the blade regularly, sharpening once a week and skating hard on them, they haven’t broken. This is a completely new experience for me when it comes to replacement blades. I could not be more satisfied with the way they have lasted. Whenever I do need new steel (which doesn't seem like it will be anytime in the near future) I will be getting Byonic Steel.

I have spent almost 10 of my 26 years sharpening skates, both my own, teammates, and thousands of customer skates and these truly hold an edge. What do i mean by hold an edge? I mean that when you get these sharpened the sharpness will last longer, its much less likely you'll blow out an edge or get small chips in the blade. This means less sharpening , which means less times you lose blade, and of course less money spend with frequent trips to your local sharpening joint.

PERFORMANCE

Surprised as I was in the longevity of the these blades, I was just as pleasantly surprised to find out the benefit it had on my skating. The materials used give you an edge with great bite but also allows a good glide off on each stride. Quick cuts are smoother and easier to handle at top speed and maintaining that straight away speed is made possible by a greater blade profile. I can push the pace without worrying about losing my edge. They give me added mental confidence, which in hockey is everything.

PRICE

Replacing steel with the stock company steel (That steel I keep breaking) costs $59.99 roughly. The polished high level Byonic steel is listed at $99.99. That’s $40 more for piles of peace of mind and more importantly a product that will easily save you that amount over 4-6 months. Here is the kicker, These Blades come with a One Year Warranty through Byonic in the US. From a hockey skate steel perspective that's just insane.

Byonic Steel is available in the “SpeedBlade” for CCM Skates and the “Edge” for Lightspeed Edge Tuuks found on Bauer Skates. Installation is quick and easy and on par with changing Stock Skate Steel.You can learn more about Byonic HEREor see the complete collection on our BYONIC PRODUCT PAGE

So do the issues with Steel sound familiar to you? Get yourself set up with a pair or two and be set for your season. As always If you want to ask any specific questions I'll be glad to assist you via Phone, Chat or Email on our CONTACT PAGE

Does Brand Loyalty Get in the Way of a Perfect Fit?

In the sports retail world we often hear a Mom or Dad say “They'll only want a (insert brand) Glove.” or he/she wants X because their favorite player skates in them. So, the Marketing Gurus at the Manufacturers have done their jobs well, and securing a Connor McDavid or Sid the Kid has worked its magic, but is this process having a negative effect on finding the proper fit and maximum benefits that a piece of equipment has to offer you or your child?

We’ve all grown up on the “Blind Taste Test” or the “4 out of 5 Doctors Recommended” commercials. It would be so much easier if we approached all fitting in that manner. A veteran Rep who recently visited us extolled the benefits of having completely blacked out demo models at events and letting Field Hockey players try each and see what worked best for them based on playing style and position. Not color, brand name or graphics.

[Keep in mind for this Blog we are taking features and not price.]

Equipment, Sticks, Skates, Shoes or any product for that matter in this day and age have become so specialized that there are a number of subtle nuances between models and brands (not necessarily better than one another, just built differently) Case in point: Hockey Skates – let us take the “Big Two” Bauer and CCM. Each offers 3 unique models of skates. For Bauer it’s the Supreme, Vapor and Nexus Lines and for CCM it’s the Jetspeed, Tack and Ribcor. While the general philosophy of both Manufacturers is to present equal / similar type fits to consumers, “This is our wider skate to match up with their wider skate.” You cannot however just narrow this down to,” I need a wide skate, I like Bauer, so this is the one for me.” Well really you can, BUT there are so many factors that contribute to the right fit for each player. In the world of skates Toe Box Room, Heel Fit, Profile, Tongue Comfort and Blade Pitch are just a few that come into play.

No one is immune to the brand loyalty bug. For years I wanted to squeeze my foot into a PUMA Soccer Cleat because that’s what my favorite player wore and I loved the look of them. Later (Much later, way to late) I switched to a Nike Cleat when they introduced the High Collar Design and finally I realized my playing style was best suited to the adidas Predator Series, which I am happily in now. Making that leap away from PUMA was tough though. It was dramatically tough.

Look, there is (as we have mentioned previous Blogs) a certain validity to the “Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good” theory, but we ask you to open your mind Jedi Warriors. Don’t always be beholden to marketing claims and “influencers”. Remember, the athletes (for the most part) are being paid thousands to wear what they wear. A true story is that back in the day some players would be paid to wear X but actually wear Y. They would then cross out Y and replace it with an X Logo. It’s not all that uncommon today to see sponsored athletes wearing “Blacked Out” gear.

Fits, like people change. Truth be told we as providers are not here to push you in one direction or the other. We want you to get what you want and what you need, you’re never going to get a hard sell from this crew. For you Harry Potter fans it’s all about the Wizard, not the Wand.

No one customer support team member here at 2nd Time Around Sports plays EVERY sport but a quick look around the room has me seeing multiple Hockey Players, a Lacrosse Player and Coach, a Baseball Player, several Soccer Players, no less than two Wrestlers and three avid Snowboarders. Ok, so the Kayaker doesn’t count (Not yet, but we’re working on it)

So get the fit that will bring you the biggest benefits in your gear and be sure to ask us about the features that will work best for you. To answer our title question “Does Brand Loyalty get in the way of a Perfect Fit?”, In our opinion, the answer is Yes, but the solution consists of a combination of 85% Features+ Fit and 15% and Brand + Graphic + other. The final decision should be based on Features and Fit, Not the Logo. We say go in thinking “Blind Taste Test” you’ll be happy you did.