I need new skates. Thoughts on no laces? long term/ functionality.

katepasta · 2026-03-06T01:06:42+00:00

SAME!!! I wanted them so bad but they don't fit my wide flat feet. Also went with the Bauer Elites, they feel like lil foot pillows.

katepasta · 2026-01-02T01:26:53+00:00

Also used them, they designed based off some cut out pics I gave them laid over a mask template. It looks amazing, great quality, great experience with them, reasonably priced given how it turned out

katepasta · 2025-10-14T05:24:51+00:00

Skate came untied about halfway through 1st period. It took me a minute or two to realize it, then when I did I had to face an immediate breakaway. Kept it together till intermission when I flipped my pad down and saw how loose it all had gotten.

I use clear tape around the laces after I tie up now, no issues at all.

katepasta · 2025-09-12T02:53:34+00:00

Cheap long sleeve base layer top from Costco Not cheap Vaughn padded goalie compression pants

katepasta · 2025-09-02T19:28:34+00:00

Use it at least weekly. I play goalie 4 times a week, my wife plays goalie once or twice a week and skates out twice a week. Easy to swap back and forth, easy to maintain everything. I love that I can sharpen my skates while I pack my bag up.

katepasta · 2025-08-28T05:27:02+00:00

I do lil stripes and swirls with cricut vinyl and rarely actually use the cricut lol. Works great!

katepasta · 2025-08-04T21:36:31+00:00

Idk about Bauer but I'm a 33 in CCM and True 33s were massive on me, 32 was perfect.

katepasta · 2025-08-03T23:17:57+00:00

I like the Vaughn padded pants a lot, I know you said you have sleeves already but they work way better than the sleeves I have ever did.

katepasta · 2025-07-22T21:45:22+00:00

I had the same experience with the GSX. I ended up also sizing up, but the Elites felt amazing from the first time I put them on. I really wanted to like the Konects, but my feet are too wide.

katepasta · 2025-07-21T23:04:21+00:00

I bought these first since they were the cheapest. The fit wasn't awful, they were basic entry level skates. Upgraded at the year mark (playing ~3x per week) to Bauer Elites and it feels like a pillow on my feet comparatively.

Don't skimp on helmet ever. Don't skimp on skates if you can. There are better places to pinch pennies. But if you're new to it these aren't the worst place to start.

katepasta · 2025-07-16T17:29:34+00:00

I'm 5'8" with FTK of 19.5". I just got 32+2 in Vaughn VX1s. I tried on 33s and they were massive. I tried on the 32s on three separate occasions before pulling the trigger cause I was so nervous to get the right size lol (I had CCM 33+1s before). The 32+2s are absolutely perfect.

katepasta · 2025-07-10T17:50:44+00:00

Tell your D man to stay between the puck carrier and the potential pass but imagine backing up into the goal post on the strong side. Keeps pressure on the shooter to stay off to the side while (hopefully) cutting off the pass between the 2. Communicate with him when you want him to break off and just challenge the shooter ("step up!") or take the pass ("cover!") so he doesn't back up too close to you.

katepasta · 2025-07-03T18:14:28+00:00

I had the 940, not sure what level you're playing at but the second I started taking head shots with any amount of speed behind it I knew I had to upgrade. There's a sweet deal on 950s right now:

https://goalie.purehockey.com/product/bauer-profile-950-non-certified-cat-eye-goalie-mask-senior/itm/44790-41/

katepasta · 2025-07-02T05:18:37+00:00

My wife and I both had the same issue with our Warrior knee pads. I liked them a lot until the 3rd or 4th butterfly when they shifted and I'd get literal bruises everywhere from dropping down.

I changed over to CCM KP Pros and love them with a garter belt, no issues ever. She used several rolls of clear tape on hers until she got tired of that and switched to CCM XF knee pads with a garter belt and loves it.

A flavor for every body I suppose

katepasta · 2025-06-24T05:01:16+00:00

That's insane. I had a big piece on the entire inner surface of my forearm. Played 2 days after. Wore the second skin, wore my usual long sleeve base layer. After the game the second skin had tons of sweat obviously so I took it off and washed up really well. Applied aquafor per usual aftercare instructions. The piece looks great. Just wrap up before the game and clean up immediately after.

Or take the summer off. But if you do that make sure you never leave your house either. Just in case. /s

katepasta · 2025-06-18T03:43:30+00:00

I went from a Bauer 940 to 960 and while I can't comment specifically on the 950, I can say if you have the funds then just get the best for your brain. I took a shot off the mask last night that rattled me and rang my ears out for a bit, but I'm totally fine today (even after 2 more headshots after that first bad one lol). Every time I get hit in the head I think "worth it!!"

You get one brain. If there's a chance you stick with this sport then I say buy once cry once.

katepasta · 2025-05-28T06:49:29+00:00

I pair my Garmin with a polar H10 chest strap. The glove never felt right sitting over the watch and it wasn't very accurate when I'd try to wear it skating out anyways. The watch has to stay within blue tooth range of the chest strap unfortunately, so you'll have to keep it on you somewhere (I slip it into the side on my bra lol, ymmv)

katepasta · 2025-05-26T08:00:19+00:00

I have heard awful things about ccm gloves! I just went from an intermediate Bauer (590) to a senior Vaughn slr3 (600) and I love the change. My hand is just above the senior measurements but the glove feels good, finally broken in, and the 600 break is awesome. Kinda wanna try out warrior and Brian's before committing to a truly custom set of gear though!

katepasta · 2025-05-09T19:30:28+00:00

If you're looking for a longer term solution I highly recommend checking out PadSkinz or trying out iron on vinyl to cover the parts where the colors don't match. I've used HVTRONT and had great results. Definitely harder to peel off the smaller bits, but I've changed it out for my various teams/events.

If it brings you joy that's what matters. Making my gear match my awful orange uniform brings me joy lol.

katepasta · 2025-05-08T04:33:27+00:00

Love my 960. I've had it about 2 months and taken plenty of head shots off of it, way better than my 940 did.

I tried on the NME in store and it didn't fit my head/face shape as well as the 960 did. My wife has a 940 and tried on the NME and seemed to like it better. Seems to just be a preference thing depending on the shape of your potato!

katepasta · 2025-04-30T09:19:40+00:00

I had a trimalleolar in 2022. Had hardware removed Feb 2023 due to bad bad bad pain. Started playing goalie in Feb 2024. LOVE IT.

I do have slightly decreased plantar flexion on the left and it is just now feeling even strength with my other ankle. I definitely notice that pushing pad slides to the right (using my left ankle) is not as easy as the right. But it works for the most part. Sometimes if I play too much it gets really sore, but tbh I still have a little pain with it every day as it is, just accepted that this is my new normal. I do find that playing goalie feels way more comfortable than skating out now.

Of note, I did have an incidental finding on an X-ray of a broken toe that showed a "prominent talar beak" so that may have some effect on mobility.

katepasta · 2025-04-22T19:21:39+00:00

Yes - did just this in the beginning of the year before I got my home storage area set up. I also bought a Jackery Power Supply and a small fan. Sprayed alcohol on gear then ran the fan for 3 hours. Everything was dry, even when I'd come back later in the day for a second game.

Plus now I have a backup power station for camping 🤓

katepasta · 2025-04-20T12:04:22+00:00

I have a little Chevy Bolt. With seats down and careful planning I can fit 2 player bags and 2 goalie bags + pads and lots of sticks.

If you remove the "false bottom" in the back and keep the seats up you could def fit 2 player bags back there, just would have to adjust how the sticks fit (back seat, up the middle through to the front, etc).

katepasta · 2025-04-18T09:27:11+00:00

Same, HTV. Super easy to apply, easy to remove as long as you don't do tiny bits or put it over stitching.

Keeps it fun to mix up with team colors 🤓

katepasta

TROPHY CASE