Since the very beginning of Bladeville’s existence, we are aiming at delivering the widest range of inline skating equipment to our customers. There’s no denying that we were lacking in one department, though. Namely: roller hockey skates.
Why? Even though we are fully aware of how important inline hockey was at early years of blading (not to mention what kind of tech it brought to it), most of our crew have never played roller hockey in any regular manner. It can be even said that as a company, we were not even in any near proximity of roller hockey communities, which led to a situation in which it was not one of our top priorities. Shame on us! Time was needed to change that, and one of key ingredients was expansion of I Love Rolki project – people who play the game have started to join ranks of instructors and in turn, gave us a new perspective on it.
Another factor is, to put it simply, inline hockey coolness factor as a sport. Have enough of seeing people rolling over the grass in pain after receiving a gentle brush? Then you’ll like hockey, also the off-ice variety. This sport does include a lot of close quarters action, no one plays victim, players do not give opponents any rest and goals are frequent. It is an amazing, exciting game which is also strongly connected to inline skating’s history. We had to correct a mistake of neglecting it. Hockey skates are going to be a constant offering in our shop.
We are in close cooperation with Polish distributor of Bauer and its’ other brand, Mission. If you know anything about hockey at all, these two names need no introduction, but if you do not – these two are at the top of the ladder when it comes to hockey skates. This season we decided to stock further on some models for children, entry level ones for adults but also something for real hardcore players out there. Below you can find a summary of what’s available.
Hockey skates for adults and teenagers
Bauer Vapor 3X Pro
We start with something close to best of the best. In Bauer’s catalogue, there’s only one more advanced skate – the mighty 2X Pro. But 3X Pro are not far behind – in fact, these are made for professional players and hockey enthusiasts who seek top quality gear and expect an excellent level of performance.
The skates are built using composite quarter package based on carbon fibre, which makes them super light, rigid and responsive. In addition, the heat-molding properties of the boot are excellent and allows you to achieve fit remarkably close to full custom boots! The frame used in this model is made out of high grade aluminum alloy made with CNC machining process. Wheels are top-tier Labeda model.
We could go on and on about these skates. They are a perfect example of how far ahead Bauer is in terms of premium skates compared to rest of the companies in inline skating industry (not only in roller hockey!). One needs to see 3X Pro with their own eyes to fully understand this. The skates are made with clockwork level of precision and every part of them is of unbelievable quality.
Bauer Vapor 3X
One could expect these to be a bit watered-down version of 3X Pro, which would result in only mild reduction in price compared to higher end skates. In reality, these skates are 40% cheaper. How Bauer achieved this price point?
First of all, the quarter package is different. It is injected mesh composite, but does not use carbon fibre. It is still lightweight and heat-moldable, but one cannot deny that heavier and top-tier players will feel that it is not as rigid as one used in 3X Pro. However, considering the price drop, what we get is impressive – the skate is suitable for pro players, too!
It is also worth to note that more flexibility without any other major cuts can make for an interesting proposition for lighter players and people who prefer their skates to bend more. Apart from that, a keen eye will notice that outer skin is a bit simplified and some details differ – like presence of traditional, round lace holes instead of T-shaped ones in 3X Pro (designed to grip laces better).
The frame is the same, which is a huge plus. It won’t let you down. The Labeda Gripper Crossover wheels are a solid mid-tier offering. They have relatively small cores, making urethen to bend more easily, which increases contact surface and results in great grip.
If we were to select a winner of “best bang for your buck” category, Bauer Vapor 3X are a clear winner!
Bauer Vapor X3.5 Sr and X3.5 Int
These two models are the same skates, although made for two different age groups and coming in different sizes. Sr is “senior” version, whereas Int is targeted at younger players.
Vapor X3.5 are undoubtedly the best selling skates in the brand’s catalogue. It is easy to see why – these are affordable, solid offering for amateurs wanting to get a pair of real hockey skates. The focus here is comfort – the padding is a bit thicker and softer than in higher end models. The quarter package made out of polycarbonate is also more flexible. This is a huge boon for people who play for recreation and irregularly, as there’s no need for break-in period – the skates adjust to user’s foot easily. They are comfortable right out of the box!
The frame is basic and made of steel – something you won’t see outside of hockey skates. However, steel frame is more durable than low grade aluminum one and with set budget not allowing to go for a good Alu alloy, it is the best option. It isn’t as stiff and resilient as ones used in 3X and 3X Pro, but will do the job for amateurs just fine. Yes, X3.5 skates are not made for professional players. But if you are looking for something relatively cheap, which will allow you to get a taste of proper hockey skates, giving you the same boot template and feel close to advanced models, they are excellent choice.
There is one caveat here, in case of Intermediate model. As we stated, these are basically the same as adult’s version and this is true. It does have some interesting consequences. Younger players usually do not weight as much and do not apply the same forces as senior players do. Thus, while an adult, high level player can quickly destroy these skates, they will have a much better longevity when used by a teenager.
Roller hockey skates for the youngest
Bauer RH X-LP Yth, Mission RH Lil Ripper Yth, Bauer RH X-LP Jr and Mission RH Lil Ripper Jr
These are rec hockey skates for the youngest. This means that departures from standard hockey boot template are pretty drastic, although justified.
First of all, the boot is adjustable in four sizes, which makes these skates lasting longer before children will eventually outgrow them. It is also a kind of a hybrid between standard rec and hockey skates – the boot and the frame are both made out of plastic composites. They are riveted together, though, just like in skates made for adults. Thanks to it, the responsiveness is very good and Bauer could use two different plastic types for each of the pieces, to make frame more rigid. Such thing wouldn’t be possible if skate would be built around unibody concept, where frame and shell are the same mold.
Youth versions come with three wheels frames, which makes a lot of sense considering the small size of boots and necessity of cutting on weight to make skates light for youngest children. The Junior version comes with four wheels, just like skates for grown-ups, which makes the experience of riding it closer to true hockey skates.
There’s no denying that these skates are more of an appetizer – good quality, affordable skates, which do not differ from non-hockey models that much. But it is fine, all things considered. It is worth to note that Bauer and Mission variants are basically different only in terms of aesthetics.
Vapor X3.5 Jr
If you need to get a kid, who is already playing inline hockey in regular manner and makes progress in their skills, a new pair of skates, there is a better option than adjustable models out there. It is Vapor X3.5 Jr, a shrunk-down version of the basic models for adults and teenagers. The effect we have described in case of X3.5 Jr is in full effect here – tech carried over from skates designed for adults results in gear which children will have a hard time to wear out. There’s a higher chance they will simply outgrow these boots than destroy them during play. Thus, if you want to give young guns an experience of skating a pair of true hockey skates, X3.5 Jr are a perfect choice.
That’s all for now. But who knows? There are other interesting skates in Bauer’s catalogue and maybe one day they’ll find a way to our shop, too! Be sure to check all hockey skates available in our shop!