We are here to do a review on the new Bauer Vapor 2X skates so below the boot, we have one of the very best indoor wheels in the game. The Labeda Addictions offer ultimate grip as well as top-end speed; aiding in that are the high-low Swiss bearings.
Both of these are significant upgrades from what we see in the Bauer X 2.9 skates, which are very similar to the high-low aluminum CNC chassis. It’s a little bit more of a refined finished product so you’re going to get a better lifespan and there are also some pretty good graphics on there too.
It is a high-low setup so you have bigger 80mm wheels in the rear and smaller 76mm wheels in the front, giving you a really aggressive, agile stance. All connected to the Pro-TPU that has some pretty slick graphics on there, all working together with one of the biggest upgrades in this skate.
The 3D-lasted curve composite is the premium material that they use in their ice and roller hockey skates today. It’s incredibly lightweight and very stiff but also very thermoformable so make sure you bake these skates to get that nice custom fit because they do a great job of hugging the natural contouring shape of your foot.
Also, these feature an X-rib design that has been a staple in the Vapor Line for quite some time. This adds some great stiffness and rigidity to the back of the boot so a player can get every ounce of power out of each stride.
New to Vapor this year is the asymmetrical toe cap, which does a handful of really cool things. It really helps to improve the fit so Power has the 3D scanner. They took thousands and thousands of scans of player’s feet to make sure they came up with a toe cap that would fit everyone’s foot but it also really helps to reduce that negative space.
So with that reduction in space, you’re getting a more connected feel between you and the tile, and it’s also going to help really just create a little bit better energy transfer through each stride. Also, it’s much more comfortable because of the felt line on the underside of the toe cap. It feels nice and snug but very comfortable.
Another big upgrade is the three-piece recoil tongue. It does a much better job of naturally forming around the top of your foot and has some really thick white felt that’s pro-level some nasty flop if you’re looking for it.
Injected foam throughout, as well as a nice injected plastic tongue guard, will give you great impact protection to help prevent any of that lace bite from occurring while also maintaining that high level of comfort.
At the rear, we have an injected tendon guard that does have a little bit more flexibility than usual but the injected construction is very durable making sure that’s gonna last a while too. Now for some extended comfort, we have the comfort edge wraps at the collar really nice and plush.
This Bauer Vapor 2X is such a stiff boot that you need to have a little bit of giving without compromising your stability, helping to prevent any of those ankle abrasions.
Getting into the liner: some big upgrades here—this is what they call their lock-fit liner. It’s a dual construction, meaning that up top, it really handles the majority of wicking away moisture, keeping your feet dry. The down below has a little bit more grippy material to really help lock your feet in, or hockey is such a sweaty, hot sport
Another cool upgrade is the aero foam ankle padding that’s really plush. You’re going to notice this is your first time slipping these skates on, especially if you’ve used Vapor in the past. The overall thickness and plushness have been taken to a new level so they almost feel broken in and pillows on your feet with high absolute performance for a great balance as well.
For the footbed, this is their lock fit, plus that’s because it has a nice grippy texture in the heel cup. When you’re playing, especially in that last period, you want to make sure your feet aren’t starting to slide around with all that extra sweat in there; you even have some in the toes as well.
Anice’s thick overall memory foam construction makes these Bauer Vapor 2X skates super comfortable but also a lot more secure. This has that signature vapor fit, which is low volume, which means it has a really nice tight heel lock, just a really narrow overall instep, and then also a narrow toe box as well.
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