matthewmarleyIf you’re considering a pair of CCM Tacks AS-V Pro skates, you’re undoubtedly aware that anything from CCM guarantees exceptional comfort and top-level performance benefits on the ice.
The question is, does CCM’s latest elite offering justify the price tag? In this review, we’ll delve into the CCM Tacks AS-V Pro in detail – covering the key features of the skates and how they actually perform on the ice.
Contents
Our Test Skates
The CCM Tacks AS-V Pro ice hockey skates we received to test are a size 9. Our test skates weighed in at 829 grams, making them an especially light skate, thanks largely to the lightweight one-piece boot power technology that we’ll talk about in more depth later.
The AS-V Pro features a sleek black and yellow design with the CCM logo prominently displayed on the side. It’s fair to say that CCM opts for a more minimalist design for their elite skates, focusing more on performance than flashy aesthetics.
First Impressions
The CCM Tacks AS-V Pro skates are designed for players who skate at least four or five times per week, or any player looking for excellent comfort and top-level performance benefits.
After a quick session on the ice, it was clear these were a skate designed with power and explosiveness at the heart of their design.
The energy transfer felt exceptional, which is the kind of thing that really makes a difference when an elite-level skater is giving it their all through 60 minutes.
It’s also clear that a lot of effort has gone into creating a liner that combines with the one-piece boot design to keep you comfortable throughout a game.
The TotalDri Pro+ liner with polygiene helps the skater’s foot resist abrasions while also wicking away unvented moisture. The liner has a tacky feel, helping to lock in the feet, even in high-moisture conditions.
Technical Features
- Shoe Size: 9
- Weight: 829g
- Heat Moldable: Yes
- Holder: SpeedBlade XS
- Runner: Blacksteel, V-Steel, Step Steel
- Tongue Material: Replaceable Metatomic Tongue
- Boot Construction: One-Piece Boot Power
- Liner: Total Pro+
- Footbed: Molded Ortholite Ultralite
- Warranty: 90 Days
- Family: Tacks
One-Piece Boot Power Technology
CCM’s one-piece boot power technology is built with ultimate skating performance in mind. While it certainly helps to keep the skates light, the molded fit also provides a more direct energy transfer, preserving your energy so you can perform to your maximum through a full game.
Replaceable Metatomic Tongue
Included with this skate is CCM’s Metatomic Tongue with D3O foam that takes comfort and protection to an all-new level. This multi-layer 7mm tongue has asymmetrical flex points for a better wrap and foam inserts to shield from slashes and pucks.
The AS-V Pro features an unmatched custom feel by making the tongues interchangeable. For additional purchase, you can switch out various tongue inserts to optimize feel and protection in your skate.
Powerflex Tendon Guard with Carbon
Improved on this year’s Tacks line is the tendon guard. CCM uses the Powerflex Tendon with carbon. This technology improves range of motion for fuller strides and increased skating power.
TotalDri Pro+ Liner with Polygiene
Helping with the custom feel is CCM’s multi-density memory foam ankle padding and Total Dri-Pro+ liner with polygiene. The memory foam padding includes a seamless comfort finish that wraps anatomically around your foot.
The Total-Dri Pro+ liner with polygiene helps the skater’s foot resist abrasions while also wicking away unvented moisture. The liner has a tacky feel, helping to lock in the feet, even in high-moisture conditions.
Speedblade XS Holder and Runner
Rounding out this impressive skate is the Speedblade XS Holder. CCM has improved on their spring-lock system to create the SpeedBlade Xchange System; a positive-lock mechanism that tightly secures the blade to the holder and makes swapping out blades more efficient.
Using this technology is as easy as rolling the BladeLock dial until you feel resistance, then popping the blade out. Place your new blade into the holder, turn back the dial, and you can be back in the game without missing a shift.
CCM Tacks AS-V Pro – Final Thoughts
The CCM Tacks AS-V Pro skates are a fantastic blend of new technologies and trusted features. They offer a great combination of comfort, power, and explosiveness, making them an excellent choice for any player looking for an elite level skate.
The other huge advantage is that they’re less costly than many equivalent elite skates from other brands too – so you get superior performance with some cash to spare.
If you’re the kind of player that’s obsessed with pushing to the next level, the CCM Tacks AS-V Pro is going to be an extremely worthwhile investment
