CCM U+ Pro Reloaded Options

[Chadd]

Open for review

[tamtamg]

Product: U+ Pro (size 6.5E)
Ht: 5'7"
Wt: 200 lbs (What can I say, I'm loves me some food)
Foot Size: Size 8 sneakers, 7.5 dress shoe
Foot Type: Duck like would be a good description. Med-Low arch. High Volume.
FEET PICS WARNING
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/391301..._e661b085ac.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/391380..._17cf4c297a.jpg
Level and Use: B league 1/week. Pick-up/Stick&Puck 1-2/week since July
Previous Skates: Original U+, Supreme 70, Vapor XXXX, RBK 5K, Nike Air Accel Elite

Fit: Before I say anything about the fit of the skates. I should mention that these skates must be baked for you to get an idea of how they're really going to fit your feet. If you are trying them on at the store w/o baking them, they will feel horrible on your feet. For me personally, when I first tried them on, they felt really sloppy in some areas and really tight and others. After they were baked they felt pretty good. It's truly amazing how much these skates mold to your feet yet remain a very stiff boot. As for the fit, I only have two complaints; the toe box is just slightly too narrow for my duck feet, and they slightly squeeze on my outer tarsometatarsal joint (the bump the juts out on the right side of my foot if you look at the pic provided). However, compared to the other skates I've worn, they fit me the best. I think that my feet are just too wide for me to ever find a perfect fitting skate at the retail level. 8/10

Blade/Holder: I'm really glad CCM choose to get rid of the Rocket Runner for these skates. Instead, they used their performance lite stainless steel (scalloped steel). Though this got rid of the annoying crunch noise of the RR, they do feel softer than both the RR and standard stainless steel. As for the EPRO holders, I have no complaints. They do put you on your toes more than LS2’s, but I adjusted to it quickly. 9/10

Weight/Protection: These skates aren’t heavy, nor are they considerably light. They weigh exactly how you would expect a top end skate should weigh. As for protection, I can’t really give much feedback. Not too many guys unleash howitzers in the league I play in, but on the shots I’ve taken so far to the skate, they’ve done the job in protecting my feet. 9/10

Durability: This is where the U+Pro really stepped up the game from the original model. In my original U+ skates, the liner wore out very quickly and the quarter panel began to bubble after the first couple skates. In U+Pro, I haven't had any of these issues or any other issue to speak of. 10/10

Intangibles: I can't stress enough that these skates must be baked for them to fit properly. When baked, the entire boot of the skate molds to the shape of your foot and the U+ foam expands to fill in all the spaces between your foot and the skate. The combination of the new liner, Ufoam, and the felt tongue make this a very comfortable to skate. In terms of looks, I'm not a real fan, but heck, if the skates fit, I guess I can't complain. I should also mention that this is a very stiff skate. I put it up there with the one95 in terms of stiffness, which may or may not be an issue for some skaters. 9/10

Conclusion: The U+Pro is a great skate. CCM addressed a lot of the issues that plague the original U+ skate. I'd recommend this skate to anyone who has had issues finding a skate that fits their awkward feet.

OVERALL: 9/10

*edit*
fixed pic links

This post has been edited by tamtamg: Oct 7 2009, 02:43 PM