CCM Vector 10.0 Goalie Skates – More great innovation from CCM, or is it?
Written: Feb 18 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good boots, replaceable blades
Cons: Blades rattle, average protection
The Bottom Line: The Vector 10.0 is a collection of good ideas that seem poorly assembled. Maybe next year.
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| puckmugger's Full Review: CCM Vector 10.0 Goal Skates |
Innovation
Innovation seems to be a theme among goal skates this season. Bauer made the Vapor XXX lighter and added an angle to the blade. CCM added their lace locks form the Vector line to their goalers and added an industry first replaceable blade. It seems like a great idea to me, but then so did mounting the runner on an angle until I thought it through.
Vector 10.0 boot
The Vector goalie skate borrows heavily from the Vector player line. The boot materials and color scheme are pretty much the same as the highly improved Vector 10.0 player skate. These boots feature CCM’s exclusive metal mesh exterior, a highly durable yet very light material. The metal mesh makes the Vector line lighter than a traditional pair of skates without the significant reduction in durability that often accompanies skates on a crash diet.
The lining of the boot is hydrophobic clarino. This allows the boots to dry more quickly as they absorb less perspiration or in hockey terminology—sweat. Further, a microbial element helps to keep the flesh eating bacteria level in the boots down as well. Both of these items will add to the longevity of the skate while lowering the stinkitude of it.
While I wonder why so many skaters in the player version of the Vector 10.0 skip the lace lock, it doesn’t make as much sense in the goalie skate. This is a great little device that CCM started putting on all of their skates in the last couple seasons. It allows the skater to keep the top loose and the bottom tight for better forward flex. While it’s a great addition to a player skate, lower cut goalie skates don’t suffer for the lack of such a luxury. It’s no wonder to me that the goalies I’ve seen in these don’t bother with the locks.
The tongue on the V10.0 is solid. While slightly thin, I haven’t fielded any complaints about lace bite. Of course lace bite isn’t a common issue with goalie skates anyway. But the tongue seems solid enough that it will remain that way.
In all the boot is pretty decent. It’s not quite as stiff as the player version of the V 10.0. However, goalie skates rarely are. Some amount of stiffness comes from the cowling and this model is no exception. So let’s move on to the cowling.
The Cowling
This is where things get a little sketchy on the V10.0. At fist glance the replaceable blade is an outstanding addition to the skates. Anyone who ever paid for a pair of cowlings to replace the worn down steel on their goal skates is a little envious of players who can simply replace their worn out steel for $40 or $50. At $60+ per cowling, many players decide it’s a good excuse for new skates.
Hence, being able to replace the runners at even $30 apiece is a pretty good deal. Goalies can feel free to sharpen their skates weekly. It’s a great thing since they’re always kicking goal posts, pucks and wayward defensemen with their skates.
However, the problem is that goalies now share the top complaint of many players. Yep, you guessed it, clicking steel. Three screws hold the replaceable runners on the V 10.0 in place. These little buggers seem to do a good enough job to keep the runner from rattling in the cowling until the skates make it off the show room floor. After that, they don’t work loose they just don’t quite tighten enough to stop the click. Attempting to tighten them further often results in the need for a replacement screw.
The cowling itself also seems to suffer a little from the looser association with the steel. As the steel is screwed in place rather than molded, there is a significant loss of rigidity in the skate. I have on pair of size 13’s that I sharpen regularly which I have to get in the holder just right or the entire skate bends during the process. I’ve never seen this before on a goal skate.
It makes me question the protection of the V 10.0 on a hard shot to the side of the foot. If the pressure of the skate holder bends the skate that easily, what’s going to happen when a hard slapper tags the side of the goalie’s foot? Hopefully I’m wrong.
Parting Thoughts
The Vector 10.0 introduces some good ideas from other skates to the goalie world. The boot construction is pretty good and should hold up well for the average player. However the addition of the lace locks is superfluous on a goalie skate. The replaceable runners are an excellent idea, but don’t lock in place very well much to the chagrin of most goalies I’ve talked to.
In all the Vector 10.0 is a pretty average skate. It’s usable, but has questionable design and protection. It isn’t as flawed as the Vapor XXX goal skate, but it isn’t as good as some older designs that are still available.
© 2006 Scott Noble – All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
You might also enjoy my book on hockey, Hockey for Weekend Warriors. Click here to read the reviews.
A few of my other reviews that you might find helpful:
Fitting Goalie Gear
Goaltending 101: So you think you want to be a goalie, eh?
Ice Hockey Goaltending 102: First Day Between the Pipes
Goaltending 201: The Fine Art of Cheating
Bauer Vapor XXX Goal Skates
Graf 750 Goaler Pro Skates
Koho 590 Goal Skates
Recommended:
No
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