Review Preview: MLX Skates

by David Getz on Nov 14, 2010 3:09 PM EST

[Ed note: As part of our disclosure policy, we would like to make our readers aware that in return for reviewing the MLX skates, we were allowed to keep the skate we tried out.]

We at Japers' Rink were recently presented with a (thus far) unique opportunity to take get our hands on a new piece of equipment, try it out, and share our impressions with our readers. That equipment is a pair of skates from the fledgling MLX skates company, which already counts Sergei Gonchar and Dustin Byfuglien as users and Mario Lemieux as an investor. In our first ever hockey skates review, we'll be taking a pair out and letting you know what we think.

The man behind MLX is Dave Cruikshank, a former U.S. Olympic speed skater who became a skating coach after his own athletic career ended, and who has served as the skating coach for the Chicago Blackhawks. As Cruikshank became more involved with hockey, he was surprised at the quality - or lack thereof - of hockey skates, even at the professional level. Whereas speed skates were crafted for the individual skater, hockey skate manufacturers seemed to have adopted a "one size fits all" mentality, expecting players to conform to the way their skate was made, rather than the skate being built or calibrated for the individual player.

This manifested itself in two ways: comfort and performance. Players trying to wedge their feet in led to lace bites and sore feet; skates designed for players who skated upright and on the backs of their feet being worn by players with lower, forward-leaning stances were losing performance. Any anyone who had wide feet was basically forced to endure fifteen minutes of pain every time they stepped on the ice (trust me).

With MLX, Cruikshank and colleague Scott Van Horne have tried to address these concerns by making a more customizable skate. The boot is designed to be more moldable than others, giving the wearer more comfort and allowing for better range of motion and more efficient movement. The skate's blade is also adjustable, designed to lead to a better transfer of energy and more powerful stride.

As you might imagine, the MLX skates come with a pretty hefty price tag - $799, to be specific. But are the worth it? Are they truly as innovative as their developers claim? Over the course of the next several weeks, I'll be trying the skates out in an effort to find out. Be sure to check back to see what I think.

If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's editors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 4 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Interesting, and great for you DMG. I don’t have a pair, but I’ve heard that the newer skates (as in models released in the last 4-5 years) that get cooked in the oven are pretty comfortable and seem to be more custom fitted. I also know that higher level skaters that are concerned with the distribution of weight can rock the blade and/or change the chassis that carries the blade (Tuuk and Pro Lite are notoriously differently balanced and it’s hard for a lot of people to change between the two). I’m real curious to see what you think of these skates, but at that price tag they damn well better be amazing. Any chance we get to see them in action at a Japers’ Rink pickup game?

Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman

by Rob Parker on Nov 14, 2010 3:42 PM EST reply actions

Fitted skates are so much more comfortable than non-fitted ones. I’ve only had two pairs of skates, both fitted Easton ones that were cooked in the oven like you said, around $150 and I’ve used them to play. Learning how to skate I used rentals and I’ve used my dad’s pair of skates (not fitted), and the difference (only about $50-$100) is amazing.

by hockeyman33 on Nov 14, 2010 10:20 PM EST up reply actions

I bought some Bauer X:30’s a couple months ago which were baked. They’re quite comfortable and conform to your feet pretty well.

Caps Snaps
Twitter

by cobracg on Nov 14, 2010 11:22 PM EST up reply actions

Any chance we get to see them in action at a Japers’ Rink pickup game?

Nah, not unless you hold on in Atlanta.

That’s right. I’m back. Or gone. Whatever.

by David Getz on Nov 15, 2010 6:01 PM EST up reply actions

Congrats. I know you’re happier there.

Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman

by Rob Parker on Nov 15, 2010 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks, F&B!

by David Getz on Nov 18, 2010 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

Deadeye is not happier – but we hope you are DMG!

Do you consider yourself upright or forward leaner when you skate? just curious as I was able to watch you for a couple games…

by Scofield on Nov 24, 2010 7:32 AM EST up reply actions

I probably lean too far forward. I don’t have a particularly pretty skating stride.

Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman

by Rob Parker on Nov 25, 2010 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

i’m hoping to go to the thrashers-caps game in atlanta on jan 26th if you want to meet up. i’m interested to see what the atmosphere is like down there right now, particularly with such a young, up-and-coming team.

by Natty Bumppo on Nov 15, 2010 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

Can’t make any promises now, but drop me an email when you’re making your arrangements.

by David Getz on Nov 18, 2010 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

Well that skate is a pretty nice bonus for writing for Japers’! ’Grats on the new gear.

Doesn’t a skate profile take care of about 99% of blade customization? I’ve always got that done on my player skates and it makes a huge difference.

I’ll be interested in hearing what you think about these. Have fun testing them!

Think twice before you speak, and then you may be able to say something more insulting than if you spoke right out at once.

by zephyr on Nov 14, 2010 4:38 PM EST reply actions

I would venture to say 95% of blade customization ends at getting them sharpened at a specific hollow, maybe 5% is profiling. The MLX skate isn’t marketed to those people (as you can see from the $800 price tag).

Players who are really picky about their skates change all kinds of little things below the rivets. Some players prefer longer or shorter holders and steel than would come with the skates stock (I know Poti uses oversize holders and steel on his skates). The standard placement of the blades (left to right) may not be correct for the width and shape of one’s foot, ankles and legs. A player who is pigeon toed on one foot might benefit from the blade being oriented slightly differently.

Some goalies are getting their blades sharpened at an angle so the inside edge is taller than the outside to give them a better push moving side to side in the crease.

Boots are a whole different mess. You can choose different heel widths, different forefoot widths, different materials for the tongues, different tongue lengths, different stiffness in the boots, different types and placement of eyelets, different levels of padding, different boot liners, different toe caps, higher or lower placement of the ankle ball, among many others.

MLX certainly has an innovative product, I’m just not sure there’s a market to support large scale production of them.

I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.

by iwearstripes on Nov 14, 2010 10:36 PM EST up reply actions

Wide feet

I happen to have ‘em in addition to a narrow heel. I tried on all different brands and my Easton S17 fit beautifully right away. My biggest problem was toes being pinched together in most of the other brands but Easton seemed to have a much more generous toe box. The heel also fit tightly which is critical so that it doesn’t move up and down. I’d rec anyone w/ similar feet give them a try.

by CONGERO113 on Nov 15, 2010 9:32 AM EST reply actions

Interesting. I’ve got a pair of the old Bauer Supreme 8000’s in EE and I’ve had the forefoot punched out a ways. They can still hurt on occasion but they work for the most part.

And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.

by D'ohboy on Nov 15, 2010 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

I’m pretty sure you can order Bauers in widths up to a 4E, with several options for heel size.

I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.

by iwearstripes on Nov 15, 2010 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

FrankD and someone else (perhaps at Copper and Blue?) reviewed them and said they worked really, really well. Perks of being a part of the bestest blog on the hockeyblogosphere, I guess. Envious of you, DMG.

My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and the Caps' goaltending until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.

by red army line on Nov 15, 2010 10:26 AM EST reply actions

Forward flexion

This is the thing that intrigued me the most about these skates. I’m probably not good enough to benefit from adjusting the blade angle and radius, but I always feel like I never get enough forward flexion.

Of course, this would matter a whole lot more if I played more frequently than once a year.

And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.

by D'ohboy on Nov 15, 2010 1:42 PM EST reply actions

These skates sound amazing, and I probably can’t even fully appreciate them because I’ve only been playing a couple of months! That said, my family could never afford these and my $70 Vapor XII’s work just fine for my level of play (MSHL boys’ league, developmental girls’ league).

Like g-strings? Like f-holes? If so, orchestra may be right for you!
Least rapid of all the Rapids.
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.

by crabchowdah on Nov 15, 2010 3:31 PM EST reply actions

Have you had a chance to skate on them yet? if not – when do you plan on doing so

I just purchased a pair of Bauer X:40’s recently (maybe 2-3 months ago) and so far am pretty happy. I can feel some of the aforementioned issues a tad bit, but my major concern is cramping of my foot. It seems to happen early, then subside after a few minutes on the ice.

Previously I had T-Blades on my skates and being able to change the rocker and hallow so often and easily was very nice to be able to find my comfort zone as far as customization. I ~~play defense~~, am slotted as a defenseman but find that I skate better with a shorter rocker vs. the conventional theory of longer rockers for the backward skaters…

I’d like to see how these MLX skates shake out – I wouldn’t be opposed to purchasing a pair if they were truly custom and show to be comfortable and durable.

by Scofield on Nov 24, 2010 7:38 AM EST reply actions