Helium 950's

[baccs9]

What's the consensus on the Helium 950's? I'd like to know anything you have to say...

Baccs9

[ctthunder32]

Great performance and very light. on the downside though, they are not very durable. all 5 of the guys that play at my rink that have them have returned them due to the plastic eyelets popping out(myself included). In addition the boots are not stiff at all, you might even call them soft. Mission is very good with their customer service and will replace the skates no problem.

So it boils down to: Are you willing to sacrifice durability for some lighter and quicker skates?

[KODZILLA]

How light are they compared to a great light ice skate like the Bauer Vapor with a chasiss on them. Thoughts on weight and does it matter all that much?

[ctthunder32]

It all depends on the chasis, etc. I have seen a pair of bauer vapors that had a roller chasis on them that weighed a ton because the guy did the chasis job himself with huge bolts. And conversely if you go to a pro shop and pay the 30 bucks to have it done with a top of the line chasis, you have yourself a great pair of skates.

In all a chasis and 4 wheels with bearings is going to weigh a little more than just a tuuk and skate blade.

For my next skates I am gonna get a pair of bauer 8090 ice skates and put the chasis from my old mission D1C's on them.

In reality weight only really matters at a higher level of play where every little mili-second counts and even then probably not much. someone playing in a rec C league really doesnt see or need the benefit from a pair of skates that is .0005 grams lighter than another do they? The same has been said on this site before about bearings. the difference between say an abec 5 and abec 7 or 9s is so small its negligible.

[KODZILLA]

So the Helium boot alone would weigh a similar amount to the boot of say a Bauer or Graf skate then? The weight difference all comes from the chasis, bearings and bolts correct?

[baccs9]

Just wanted to let you know that my first eyelet broke off last night... I'm not even going to bother with trying a new pair. I think I'm gonna get my money back and try the Beemer. I've had them for a month and the stiffness has already gone.

By the way do you play for the CT Thunder? Do you know Jared Allen? I play on a few teams with him in RI and have played on a bunch of tourny teams...

[Brooklynite10]

I also plan on using my D1c chasis on my next boot. That chasis is amazing. I know many people have had problems with the D1c boot ripping on the bottom, but I have been very lucky. I got my pair before they were out in stores and they are still going strong for me. Did you have that problem with your boot ?

[MDE3]

Most of the weight is in the chassis and wheels for almost all the skates...some boots are definitely lighter, but at what price in terms of durability?...This goes for ice as well as inline boots....

And as for the weight of the boot making so much difference for "high end" players....take a look at what some of those guys are using....the Beemers and Blue Max's are pretty common at that level......Feel, grip, acceleration are all more important components....those qualities which make the skate become "one with your foot"....are far more important than just weight....

[ctthunder32]

yeah dude i have played with and against Jared for a few years. we played to gether on the thunder this season. I just saw him this past weekend in Revere. did you play up at that tourney?

[ctthunder32]

yeah my boot kinda rotted out on the heel bottom. My fault though, i was using the skates 4-5 times a week and not taking the insoles out to dry so after 4 to 6 months the bolts rusted and caused the boot to sorta rot and crack. even if you take the skates out of your bag, you should take the insoles out of the skates, especially if you skate w/o socks on.

[baccs9]

Yeah, I played in Revere. The Comets (the team he and I played on)is my brothers team. Did you play for the Avalanche? That was a pretty weak tourny, only four teams?

[ctthunder32]

played for the avalanche when jared was with them a couple years ago. I was on the Fireants this weekend.

[psfye]

My D1c boot got ripped real bad... So i decided this would be the last time I get roller skates. I put my D1c chassis on a paire of Graf ice boots and never had such good skates to play inline.