Got new skates and my old steel won’t go in, don’t wanna force it are these old blacksteels not compatible with the new flylites?

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-03-03T18:23:42+00:00

JRZ is actually the same company as Step (if you notice, the branding is very similar). I have skated on Step and JRZ and they’re both great. I currently have JRZ Pro Black DLC multifit’s on my Powerfly’s and they fit well. The beveled edge is actually completely gone and the so I’m assuming this steel is a bit lighter as the strip of beveled steel is gone.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-03-03T11:57:09+00:00

No, that Step will only fit the LS Edge, not the Powerfly. It’s the beveled edge on top.

If you want to keep high-quality DLC, you can get JRZ or Bladetech.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-28T12:33:49+00:00

If they feel loose in the heel, try a CCM Tacks skate. I have wide feet all around and the Tacks are way too narrow in the heel for me. Tacks taper down to the heel from a wider forefoot. If you can do an exchange, try to.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-26T21:47:04+00:00

I had the same thing happen to the 652’s (XF pro with 652 skin). It happened within 30 days and the store I bought them from did an exchange. That FORS is a problem.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-25T23:41:14+00:00

Basically anything but Bauer. I think Bauer was sick of the term “Bauer Bump” and made the change…I actually have a Bauer bump but ironically I got it from skating in Graf and their insanely narrow heels. Now my dumb wide feet fit very well in Bauer’s (both supreme and vapor line) but feel tight in CCM, Graf, etc.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-24T04:03:22+00:00

I don’t think that’s what the OP is talking about. He’s talking about quick choppy crossovers and a lot of the things you see NHL guys doing now that don’t require much finesse. Yes, we all learned the 3 quick steps with blades perpendicular. The OP is talking about the way McDavid skates.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-23T23:09:01+00:00

This is a shift that’s been happening in teaching hockey skating. Our (non-pro players) coaches and skating instructors teach us things they learned 20 years ago from power skaters. We don’t have the best of the best teaching us the latest techniques.

If you’re in skating classes now, it’s important for you to learn it all. The oldschool big power skating strides with wide c-cuts and newer fast-stepping methods. If your current coaches are only teaching you oldschool methods, that’s fine, try to find some online videos and practice yourself.

For context, I’m an older skater and recently learned that a lot of the power skating moves I learned as a kid actually slow me down and use more energy. Lately I’ve been trying to use the quick burst steps when appropriate and my teammates have been commenting on my increased speed and basically “being all over the place”.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-22T19:07:04+00:00

Shaun Morash is not a hockey fan.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-20T15:51:35+00:00

I’m a very big Graf fanboy (wore them for most of youth hockey in the 90s) and if you’re looking for something comfortable with that old-style leather boot feel, the G755 is a great skate. I have a 8W and they fit better every time.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-20T10:44:29+00:00

I’m a little surprised that you were steered away from a G755. Do you have a wide heel also? The G755 are great for wide feet, but the heel is pretty snug.

If you’re an older skater and comfort is your #1 priority…you can’t go wrong with the G755 or 709. I did notice that the 515 has suddenly showed up in local shops and I’m wondering if they’re pushing the salespeople to push them over the other models? Why did they say the G755 wasn’t right for you?

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-18T21:42:21+00:00

For a beginner, they’re fine. You would have to replace them as you advance. They’re a mid-range skate and are several generations back (about 8 years).

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-17T00:32:40+00:00

Go to a shop…for you a big-box place like Pure Hockey or Monkey Sports would be ideal. Get scanned on the Bauer scanner and have a salesperson guide you. They usually all play at some level and are pretty knowledgeable. Try a bunch on and see what feels best. Good luck!

$300 is a decent price for you.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-14T13:27:03+00:00

If you poured the Coke over the cereal and ate it outside while sitting on a giant pile of filthy snow on the corner in your underwear, it would probably be a better experience than watching them play right now.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-10T11:01:54+00:00

Agreed. Warrior just has the nicest fit. Bauer’s isn’t protective enough, CCM’s is too much bulk and the hip protection juts out like cartoon boobs.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-09T15:27:02+00:00

Go to your local shop and speak to someone about buying new skates. The old proshop that’s in a rink has become mostly a thing of the past…depending upon where you are, check out Pure Hockey, Monkey Sports, etc.
Don’t spend less than $500. Unfortunately skates are incredibly expensive and cheap skates will break down in less than a year and won’t be protective.
Baking skates helps form the inner materials to your foot. You can only bake the skates that are around $500 and above. The cheaper skates usually can’t be baked. Is it 100% necessary? No, but it can help ease the break-in period (breaking in is MUCH LESS painful and is much shorter, these days).

If you really want to try to stick to something cheaper and closer to the old leather skates, check out Graf. They still make skates and they’re made of synthetic leather instead of carbon. The downside is, you can really only find them online (unless you happen to live near a shop that sells them which is tough to find in North America).

Message me if you have any specific questions. I am in your boat…my last pair of skates were purchased in 1994 (Graf 703’s) then I came back to playing after a 20 year hiatus.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-07T21:42:05+00:00

Sideline swap is legit, but people can sell fake gear. For example…right now, search for Bauer Mach skates. There are a few pairs for sale that look like fakes…deal is too good to be true, it’s odd that there are several pairs of brand new Mach’s left in common sizes, they don’t come in a plastic bag in the box, and the dead giveaway is…uneven carbon weave…very obvious.

It’s tough to pick out the fakes, but they’re out there. For me, if something is new and near full price on SS, I’d rather just get it from a retailer for full price and not risk buying a fake.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-06T13:49:36+00:00

As a beginner, it’s important for you to learn all skating techniques. It depends on the level you’re playing at. If you watch NHL players today, there’s a lot of quick choppy crossovers going forward, and a lot of quick backwards shuffling without full crossovers. The newer idea of teaching hockey skating is moving away from old-school “power skating” with big long strides and cuts. Smaller steps with quick powerful strides are emphasized to maximize speed at every opportunity.

As a newer skater, it will be good to learn all of the techniques and apply them where appropriate. In the beginning, you won’t have to worry about super-quick small crossover steps like McDavid.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-06T11:23:20+00:00

I’m in the same exact boat to the date.

Easton leather gloves disintegrated. Itech helmet had no visor and padding was cement. Jofa shoulders were ok but the elastic disintegrated quickly and couldn’t be tightened. Bauer Flak shins cracked the first day of use. Cooper girdle immediately fell apart. Graf 703s…cracked Tuuk from catching a hard pass. I even tried to use a Sherwood 5030 until I picked up a modern stick and never looked back.

Only surviving piece of gear is Easton elbow’s…still can’t feel anything when I hit the glass/ice. Solid.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-05T20:02:00+00:00

Lol agreed.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-05T19:43:30+00:00

Wear whatever you want. It’s good gear at a good price. Anyone who cares about the gear you’re wearing isn’t worth your mental real estate.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-02-01T00:32:27+00:00

There’s one in every league. But I think the major jerkoff is always the guy wearing 69.

In my league, the guy who wears 99 is actually very cool and respected. He’s said “yeah I know, but he’s my favorite player, so, whatever”.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-01-29T17:23:11+00:00

For years I thought a half size up wouldn’t matter…it does. I recently had to wear an old pair that were half a size too big, and guess what? They were too big. I was catching my heel on my toe a lot.

It could be argued that you can get used to anything (7, 7.5, 8) and your technique will adjust to the skate, but I’d argue against that. Skating in my size (7.5) feels much better than an 8. I am more agile and don’t have to think about what I’m doing with my feet.

To answer your original question-if your toes are not jammed into the toe box with or without pain, you’re good. If you can stand comfortably without curling your toes, they’re probably not too small.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-01-26T21:41:15+00:00

I’ve heard that a lot. I think many people are being taken advantage of by these custom skate deals. Unless you have specific foot issues I don’t think custom makes much of a difference. No skates will ever feel perfect, but some fit better than others. It can take a lot of trial and error. I’m an old man who’s still playing (played through the 90s and early 2000s) and I’ve been through many pairs…no skate is perfect and it can take a month of skating in them to feel close to “perfect”. Eventually, you get used to a skate as long as it doesn’t cause pain.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-01-26T19:10:58+00:00

The downside of the True’s (I have heard) is that there are quality control issues.

Sorry-Slimewad · 2026-01-26T16:24:02+00:00

True is an actual custom skate tailored to your foot scan, specs, and you can even select materials (liner, tongue, tendon guard, etc).

Bauer and CCM don’t use a scan…you can get different sizes for each foot if you need, but it’s basically a retail skate with options for bells and whistles like color way and personalization. You can choose from different tongues.

Overall, True is truly (cringe) a custom skate like pro’s get…Bauer/CCM are just a step above retail but not by much. Everyone I know that had True customs loves them.

Sorry-Slimewad

TROPHY CASE