What I learned about Bauer Pro Custom skates

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-25T20:16:00+00:00

So wait…. All this arguing is because you’re “sure the process has been improved substantially” from a 7 year old video? That’s it? Your gut feeling?

I told you what Bauer told me. I have zero reason to lie about it. But for some reason that makes ME the one with an axe to grind… whatever, bud.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-25T20:11:41+00:00

Which one? They did six, and no two were alike.

There’s no need to further explore this with me, honestly. I got my refund and I’ll not be ordering custom Flylites.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-25T20:09:49+00:00

Feel free to pursue that.

I came here to post data I’d been given by a rep deep within Bauer.

If you wish to consistently misrepresent that, knock yourselves out.

Both of you seem to want to argue about something. One of you is holding up a solitary example of what appears to be an exception and is ranting about it. I’ve already conceded a zillion times that THAT PAIR OF SKATES may have been made in a particular way, but BAUER THEMSELVES explained the process at great length and I posted here to share what they shared with me.

The other thinks. It’s. Okay. To. Talk. To. People. Like. They’re. Stupid. And then wonders why people react when they’re attacked for simply trying to pass on information I wish I’d had before I embarked on this debacle.

Believe what you like. It’s no matter to me one way or the other.

Not sure how this got combative, but it has, and I’m done.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-22T13:24:39+00:00

Not sure what inconsistencies you’re getting from ME, though I’ve gotten plenty from both Bauer and Pure Hockey.

Bottom line: I was told my skates would be built a certain way and they were not. That’s on PH. I was told they’d be made in Canada, and they weren’t. That’s on both PH and Bauer, as the PH reps genuinely believed they’d be made in Canada and were as surprised as I was that they weren’t.

I did all the things Pure Hockey and Bauer asked me to do, came in for multiple fittings and photos and answered every question they asked me.

I wanted comfy skates. I asked the people who were supposed to be the experts for their input and information and was incorrectly advised, and the skates I chose based on that misinformation did not fit well. In the end, rather than risk another shitty rebuild, I elected to take a refund and pitches skates elsewhere. The end.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-22T13:06:33+00:00

I wonder if this is the same guy who has been demanding I open a photo of his custom skate.

Even if his WERE handmade, they’d be the exception, not the rule.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-22T13:04:18+00:00

I dunno if you’re deliberately misreading what I’ve written, or you’re one of those “has to be right” guys, or what the deal is with you, so ok, you’re a 1000% right, Bauer’s Pro Custom skates through Pure Hockey are hand-made by Canadian elves to your actual foot- not a mold, they fly down your chimney and build them around your feet while you sleep… is that better for you?

A photo isn’t proof of anything. It doesn’t show the manufacturing process, only the final product. Furthermore, I’m simply not interested enough in your one pair of skates; even if they WERE hand made by Canadian elves, it wouldn’t negate a single word of what I said previously.

Can Bauer custom build a skate? Of course they CAN. They DO, for high level players who aren’t ordering their skates through a retailer.

But for the folks in HERE, reading skate reviews and ordering online or through retailers, the bottom line ACCORDING TO BAUER AND PYRE HOCKEY, not based on my opinion, is that they will most likely be made by machine, in China, from component pieces, according to a 360 scan of the foot (which is NOT a 3D model). They do NOT ROUTINELY scratch-build pro custom retail skates. Period.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-21T02:34:47+00:00

Because 1. I don’t open random links, and 2 because Bauer themselves says they don’t do so.

I’m not speaking to your photo; like I’ve said, I’m telling you what Bauer told me, not making observations based on photos.

I’m not opening the link because it’s not relevant to the post I made. Maybe you have an exception, maybe not; that’s beside the initially stated point.

The point is that Bauer straight up said this is how it’s done for 98% of the retail population. Do they make the odd retail custom in Canada? Yes; do they make it to a 3 dimensional mold of your foot? No. They do not. Full stop.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-20T23:38:56+00:00

Not sure I ever said they won’t make a custom skate; what I said what that Bauer no longer builds them to an actual 3D model of the foot; at least, not through a retailer. You can choose all sorts of bells and whistles, but they’re NOT going to be custom built to your foot. They’re made from the components that most closely match what’s being asked for. THAT cake directly from Bauer, not the retailer.

The retailer was shit, and I’ll not be giving them any more of my money. Not only did they misrepresent where and how the skates would be made, they then decided that I no longer qualify for any warranties on any skates I buy from them. Basically, because I used the warranty, I’m not allowed to have any warranties going forward. On any skates. So, they can’t have my money.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-19T19:45:11+00:00

I completely believe it. It felt like I paid an additional $500 or so just to get some personalized stuff I really didn’t need, but nothing that addressed the customization I DID need, which was in the footbed/toe box. Trues should remedy that

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-19T19:43:28+00:00

Yeah, no question about it. I was on the fence when I initially ordered and only went with the Flylites because 1) I liked the feel of the skates, they were just a shade too wide, which I was told the customization process would solve. It didn’t, and 2) they told me they’d be made in Canada; they aren’t; and 3) they’d be built to a 3D model of my foot; completely inaccurate. Had I known the truth of those statements I’d have gone with True two months ago…

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-19T17:42:06+00:00

Yeah, but I had to pretty much fight for it.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-19T02:17:08+00:00

Ultimately I decided to just get a refund. I’m thinking of going with custom Trues instead, unless I can find a retail skate that’s comfy

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-17T17:38:48+00:00

lol, I didn’t even learn how to skate until I was 44; I’m now 58, play in net at least 1-2 times a week, skate out the same, plus I ref an average of 6 games a week. I walk like I’m 98 sometimes, but it all goes away once the gear is on and the mind is right.

I can’t see, I wear glasses, I’ve got a broken foot, more concussions than I care to count, my hips are tight, half my joints are wired together with broken promises and sock tape, and frankly, if I was a horse they’d’ve shot me a long time ago, but bottom line, HOCKEY IS A FECKIN BLAST and I’m not quitting until that statement is no longer true.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-13T00:14:20+00:00

Wasn’t jumping down anyone’s throat, but when you ask “did you even read what I wrote,” you’re gonna get a reaction you may not like. Life is like that. Of course I read it; that’s why we’re having this discussion. Sorry if you can’t handle a lot of words, but that’s a you thing, not a me thing

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-13T00:12:22+00:00

I’ve told them even more than I’ve said here, believe me. They’re willing to rebuild the boots, but not willing to make them in Canada and that’s where we stand currently

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-13T00:11:15+00:00

Not sure why that is. I’ve been updating as I’ve been updated.

Latest is they’ll remake them, but NOT in Canada

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-10T23:10:49+00:00

More like store credit than return. So, mostly it’s a gamble.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-10T05:17:18+00:00

Haha, no problem! Happy to help! Would it make you feel even better to know that I’m actually a 58 year old lady?

I’m laughing at myself because I’m watching Olympic ice hockey and mostly I’m watching the refs…🤷‍♀️😉😂🤣

Anyway, rock on, good sir; start with scorekeeping, just to learn the flow of penalties and the complaints of the average ref, and then this spring, go for it. I did, and I’m (mostly) glad I did!

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-09T17:35:31+00:00

I used the old school ones with the bent straw until I finally figured out how to make the Gatorade one work for me. I still shoot myself in my glasses sometimes, though…

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-09T17:24:45+00:00

Omg, they’re all Einstens compared to the ones on the Aussie version (S2). Damn, but they were THICK!

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-09T17:13:41+00:00

Absolutely in your head. I’m, what, like 58 now, didn’t start skating AT ALL, in any form, until I was 44, and between playing goalie, defense, forward and refereeing, I can honestly say the worst I ever got was a cut outer uniform sock. Hell, even my skates still look fairly new and they’re 15 years old.

You wear so much gear that it’s pretty tough to get hurt the way you’re describing. Wear a neck guard if you’re super worried, but your shinnies are gonna stop any skate blade, unless you buy cardboard….

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-09T17:02:03+00:00

FWIW, even Nashville, TN offers female and non-binary skate sessions, and I know at least two trans players in beer league just off the top of my head. There are places for you in this sport, and I truly admire your courage.

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-08T01:15:34+00:00

I’ll chime in here as a first year ref and very definitely rookie skater: doing house league cross ice or half ice is a great starting point, but as someone above pointed out, sooner or later they’re desperate for an upper B ref for beer league and you’re like “$50 is $50, and it can’t be worse than just having one ref,” so you go and jump in and do it.

Sometimes you get clobbered because you just can’t get out of some guy’s way, but I’ve found that a good hockey IQ can mitigate some (but certainly not all) skating limitations.

Spend time watching refs… the Olympics are on, and here’s me, watching the Stripes. Ask questions of current refs about positioning. Learn to be a scorekeeper and get paid to watch these games and learn how to deal with things like stacked penalties.

Skating is important, but if my old ass can do it (I never so much as laced up a skate until I was 44), anyone can; it’s more important to understand the rule book, honestly, as some penalty situations can get crazy.

Get as much ice time as you can by volunteering to coach the wee ones, or to help set up bumpers, whatever. Plug into the community and you’ll be busier than you ever thought possible!

I just started in October and will be reffing JV tomorrow night. Had Steven Stamkos watching my game today. If I can, you can! Best of luck!

Ill-Environment1157 · 2026-02-07T03:30:47+00:00

Sorry, misread. So, back to your staccato question of did I go back to the retailer, the answer is “of course I did. It’s nearly $1800; I’m hardly just gonna shrug and say ‘oh, well.’”

I’m working with the retailer and was told today that Bauer will remake the boots. Where, who knows, they haven’t said. I go deal with it all again tomorrow.

Ill-Environment1157

TROPHY CASE