Make: TRUE
Model: TF9
Materials: - TRUSHELL – TRUE’s carbon fiber one-piece shell construction and FIBERSHIELD Technology which “wraps the toe box, eliminating weak points around high-impact areas and providing superior protection.”
Blade Width: 3mm
Price: $649 USD / $699 CAD
Special Features: New SHIFT ATTACK holder and blade
Commentary:
Having previously worn TRUE’s custom one-piece and two-piece goalie skates, I was intrigued to see how the new stock TF9s (which also feature the new “SHIFT ATTACK” holder and steel) compared. And I was VERY impressed.
To step back, the advantage of custom over stock skates has always come down to two things: comfort and performance. Historically you sacrifice both for a stock product, however the TF9s challenge that belief. From an orthotics perspective, my feet are pretty standard but like all hockey players they typically ache after long periods on the ice. Not so with the TF9s which honestly feel almost identical to my custom TRUE skates. I experienced zero heal slippage when moving despite the boots not being made to my exact foot specs. If I were blindfolded I’d have a hard time distinguishing if I were wearing my TF9s or my custom TRUE skates.
Moving out of the boot, new with the TF9s are TRUE’s SHIFT ATTACK blades and blade holder. TRUE has historically only offered their goalie skates with 4mm steel but the TF9 comes stock with 3mm, my personal preference. Smartly, TRUE designed the SHIFT ATTACK to be able to also hold a 4mm blade which be purchased separately. The blades can be easily swapped out with without tools or screws. All of this explains why we’ve already seen a large number of NHLers switching to the SHIFT ATTACK holders and steel.
Lastly from an aesthetics perspective, the TF9s feature TRUE’s signature silver side panel but also a blue lundy loop holder which create an extra pop of color. The overall look is otherwise very clean and crisp.
In conclusion, the TF9 skate proves that TRUE can build both custom and stock skates that feature best in class comfort. The TF9s allow you to use whatever steel you prefer and are very competitively priced against other skates in their category.
GGN Rating: 4.7
The Great: Comfort (best in class), multiple blade width options and price
The Good: Skate Aesthetics
The “Meh”: Stock laces are extremely long
