What is the difference between a $300 pair of Graf Hockey skates and $650 Bauer One 90?

Question

I am 20 years old and have played hockey for 7 years...the first year I used a $100 Bauer pair and the last 6 I have used lower end Graf models. The Grafs are very comfortable and fit well and have performed well too...however I don't know what to compare them to. The one complaint I have is I have noticed the blade is arched forward which makes it a lot harder to skate backwards at high speeds and I am beginning to play some D on one of my teams. What kind of boost would I see from a pair of One 90's in terms of speed, wieght, acceleration, turning radius?

Is the difference going to be significant or minimal? Is it worth going for the upgrade if I don't have any real complaints about my Grafs or is this just because I don't know what im missing?

Answer 1

A pair of 300$ Graf skates are going to be much heavier than the 650$ ONE90 skates. you will notice a big difference in your speed and turning with the ONE90 skate than with your Grafs. If you don't want a skate that is going to lean you forward as much try a pair of CCM skates. The blade is longer and there is more of it on the ice compared to the Bauer ONE90 skate. Either will be better and lighter.

Answer 2

Plain Ol' Jeff,

I beleive the skates that you are talking about with a boot for defensemen and a one for forwards is Mission.  They have the XP for forwards allowing "shiftyness" and the AG for defensmen that allows for "hard hits".  Hope that helps.

Answer 3

All the blades these days are arched forward. You skate forward more then you skate backward, so that helps with the forward.

The difference is primarily going to be weight. The Grafs are a traditionally constructed boot- nylon and leather. Less composites like Carbon Fiber, if any. The One 90 is going to be a one piece carbon fiber boot- very strong, very light.

What level you're at makes a difference too. If you're playing competitive hockey, you might want the nicer, lighter pair of boots, even for the ungodly price. If not, stick with the Grafs.

Go to a store and try a pair on and see how they feel on your feet. How they feel is going to make a big difference in whether you should buy or not.

Jimmy, NIKE does not make skates anymore. and besides- http://hockeygiant.com/nkeflxlt2sktsr.ht...

The blade may not be lower in front, but the boot is. Your foot is positioned in a forward lean, which is great for going forward. Same principle as running shoes. However the Forward lean on the Nikes is much less pronounced, you're right. But Nike is getting out of Hockey. And the new Bauers?

http://hockeymonkey.com/nbh-hockey-skate...

pitched forward.

Not as much as these though: http://hockeymonkey.com/ccm-hockey-skate...

Edit: with a pump... Those are RBK, not Nike. Kind of different- as in arch rivals.

http://hockeymonkey.com/rbk-hockey-skate...

The boot on those is pitched forward too.

I do seem to recall some company that made different fits for different positions- a more neutral boot for Defenseman, and a forward one for Forwards.

I'll see If I can dig that up.

Okay, I can't find it, but Mission does have a holder that you can adjust the blade pitch on. It is a traditional boot though, Like you've been using.

Answer 4

I disagree with plain 'ol jeff. The Nike skates with a pump aren't arched forward or backward; they kinda point straight up.