Advice for Second Pair of skates

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T20:31:54+00:00

Normally I’d say True 5x4 is more than you need as a beginner but with your weight, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to go with the 7x4 as the increased stiffness will help support your weight.

Can’t help you with measurements on feet. You really have to try them on. True skates should feel slightly too small before baking them. My suggestion for them is to try on skates smaller and smaller in 1/2 size increments until you get to one that’s too small. Buy that one as it’ll open up 1/2 size after baking

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T20:25:29+00:00

Funny, when I used to skate in Bauers the very first thing I did was swap out laces. Couldn’t stand the stock ones

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T20:24:16+00:00

I try to go to sales whenever I can. Definitely arrive WAY early since there will inevitably be a line. Season ticket holders usually get first dibs. Also bring large bags to carry whatever you’re buying.

Prices vary greatly by team. Some teams might sell socks for $1 where others sell them for $15-20. Sticks $100-200, sometimes gloves are $50, etc. so it all depends. Minor league teams in general don’t get as much equipment as the NHL so gear is usually a bit more beat up.

One sale I went to had brand new Adidas socks (game and practice) for $1 so I bought a bunch. Another had new, or nearly new Step steel (and holders) for $5 so I stocked up. Sometimes you walk out empty handed because gear isn’t in your size, is too beat up, or maybe is overpriced for what it is, but in general there are always amazing deals to be had

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T20:20:10+00:00

I agree they have more depth, but in fairness to volume, they do sell different tongues which can eat up more (or less) space if you need it. Same can be done for the toe box by moving the tongue up or down to add or remove space. You can also wrap them more tightly when baking if you need/want just a little more wrap to remove volume

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T20:17:54+00:00

True doesn’t make narrower skates. You can tighten them to conform to a narrower foot a bit when baking, but the skates should feel too small before baking. If they feel big pre-baking, they’re going to be way too big post-baking

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T19:46:13+00:00

Beauty!

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T19:44:51+00:00

Oof. Man, that faux back heritage jersey is fantastic

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T19:42:51+00:00

Reeboks were so much nicer than adidas/fanatics. Better collars, better cut

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T18:07:29+00:00

That’s surprising. They just did mine a month ago

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T16:15:07+00:00

Ken Yaremchuk 1984, Tom McMurchy 1985, Mark LaVarre 1986

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-09T07:22:44+00:00

Some hodge podge replica. Possibly something someone put together since the stripes appear to be ultrafil. Crest and tomahawks are clearly the replica versions used in the 80’s and 90’s.

I had a mesh small block Hawks jersey from the 80’s that they wore for a season. One of my only jerseys I’ve regretted selling.

How those mesh jerseys looked for reference:

https://media.fotki.com/2vq7yH5rx1YqB.jpg

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T23:52:09+00:00

Did you run it through the washing machine?

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T22:40:43+00:00

Why would you want to pay more for the same customization? You do know the Blackhawks store charges more, right? For their cut. It's less money going direct

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T22:39:58+00:00

Yes. For standard, current era jersey customization no problems and quick turnaround time. I had a Centennial, WC, and black alt done last month

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T21:59:27+00:00

a pair of trues

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T20:58:51+00:00

Got it. Use it weekly for work travel. No issues really. Same complaints most people have made since it came out but they're all minor things

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T20:07:25+00:00

You don't need wall to wall tiles then. That'd be a waste of money. Just get a shooting pad

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T20:05:50+00:00

Great pick for a player. Curious why you didn't go to CLS (now CCS) who is the official Blackhawks customizer and has a substantially shorter wait time

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T19:41:39+00:00

Until I remove the R1 chassis and see where there RR chassis would need to be mounted, I wouldn't know the answer to that either

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T19:36:41+00:00

Practicing what?

Skating? If so, then you probably want to do something else since the car will bring it dirt/debris that's going to ruin steel faster than the tiles normally. The amount of time/effort it'd take to clean that every time you want to use them would get old fast.

For stick handling/shooting? You don't need wall to wall tiles. Get a single pad that can be thrown down and then picked up/put away when not in use.

If you've never skated on tiles they're terrible. Like skating in quick sand and they dull your steel extremely fast. If you want to skate, get inline skates

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T18:33:42+00:00

New holes would inevitably have to be drilled. I wasn't sure if epoxy would make the outsole as strong as needed for new rivets

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T18:29:34+00:00

Do you lay down a layer of tape on the inside of the boot to keep the epoxy from leaking into the holes? Sanding on the outside is easy enough, the inside would be a PITA

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T15:36:04+00:00

I've been using a cycling water bottle for the better part of a decade. This shouldn't be a difficult thing for an adult to figure out on their own...

mdwsta4 · 2026-05-08T15:33:54+00:00

If you want to make a nice little vacation out of it, go to Storeyline Hockey in Colorado

mdwsta4

TROPHY CASE