RBK 8ks or custom?

[DatsyukianDeke]

I've always used Mission skates but my latest pair isn't really impressing me much. This is the second pair of He5550's i've had, the first the chassis snapped in half after taking a shot off of the skate and 80mm wheels wouldn't fit on the back.

I'm joining an indoor league this winter and I was contemplating getting a pair of the RBK 8ks but the whole pump thing is throwing me off. I've heard from other people that the pump system will eventually break and thats one thing I really don't look forward to.

I've also considered getting a pair of Vapor XXX or Bauer ONE 90 ice skates and converting them to inline.

I've heard that the Red Star Chassis is the best on the market but I can't find it anywhere, i'm looking for a hi-lo chassis so the Lebeda hummer isn't a factor.

Any input?

Thanks,
Bill

[tryandstopme]

I don't think any manufacturers have the Red Star Alloy frame in stock anymore (might try and get lucky on Ebay), but 1800faceoff.com still has the Red Star E-frames available:

http://www.1800faceoff.com/prod_selected.ihtml?shop_id=2&prod_id=2553&cat_id_on=221

[DatsyukianDeke]

Is it true that converting ice boots to inline is a bad idea? Ive heard that it weakens the boot...

[born2runPROgm]

In most cases it won't weaken the boot unless the shop drills accessively....With most companies the differences between an ice and inline model boot are only cosmetic. The RBK 9k and 8k ice and inline boots are physically identical except for the colorations. The same can be said for CCM and Nike (with the high end models)
In the end it just comes down to what your comfortable with.

"The defenseman formerly known as #11"

[TheSnake22]

i would have to disagree with you master yoda... Ice hockey boots are stiffer and better made than almost any inline boot across the board. there are definitely more differences than colors... If you are talking about the top of the line inline boot, then the difference probably isn't too much, but it's still noticeable. the difference is a lot bigger though as you move down the line. I skate on rbk 8k ice hockey skates with a ccm chassis. the chassis came off my old skates, the ccm pf8's. both models would be considered the 2nd best skate in their line, the 8k's to the 9k pumps, and the pf8's to the pf10's. But i totally destroyed my pf8's in about 1 season, as did 2 other players on my team. Now that i'm in my ice hockey boot, i dont think i'll ever go back to wearing inline boots... as for weakening the boots, if someone experienced puts the chassis on for you, there wont be a problem. i've heard more people complain about off-center mountings or needing lifts than having their boot break because they customized it. now if you mount 4 different chassis with 4 different whole patterns, that isn't the boots fault... the only real exception i've heard of it the one90's... i've read that because the sole of the boot is so thin, you have to be more careful with your holes, but also that it can still be done...

22

[born2runPROgm]

You misunderstood my point Hiss... We will discuss this matter later...

"The defenseman formerly known as #11"