CCM JetSpeed Inline Skate Review

With more manufacturers realizing that inline has become a dominant force in the hockey segment, we have started to see a shift from having lower end gear to the top-end spectrum. Case in point is the release of CCM’s own JetSpeed Inline Skate. Essentially taking the boot from the JetSpeed Ice Skate and making some subtle changes and bringing the unparalleled performance to inline sport court. Having tested a pair of JetSpeed Inline Skates for multiple games, the skate is able to provide the exact performance as its ice counterpart. If you’re looking for top-end inline skates, the JetSpeed will help you make your mark. Let’s take an in-depth look at what makes the CCM JetSpeed Inline Skate so unique.

Upper Boot

The moment you step into a pair of JetSpeed’s you’ll immediately notice the secure fit that wraps around the foot with an excellent heel lock. This can be attributed to the RocketFrame design that CCM has incorporated that is a fully shaped shell that provides contoured support for maximum speed. The design eliminates the majority of negative space that would normally be present to help increase the fit and provide better energy transfer from the player to the floor.

After having played roughly three games with the JetSpeed’s I noticed that my heels would be continuously locked in throughout a game. Perhaps CCM’s biggest feature is the fit, as it has provided me with the most comfortable and responsive fit that I’ve had the chance of testing out. Out of box the fit of the skate was excellent and would definitely recommend giving the skates a shot if you have more of a narrow foot shape. That being said, to further enhance the fit of the skate the JetSpeed features the Heat Moldable SpeedCore 2 which allows the boot to contour to the shape of the wearers foot for customized support, fit, and boot response during the heat mold process.

The dual zone soft touch liner helps to wick away any excess moisture during gameplay. Throughout my testing the rink was quite hot so having the SuperDry liner was a critical in providing increased comfort so my feet weren’t swimming in moisture. Additional features include a Durazone abrasion patch that provides additional comfort. At the top of the boot, CCM included their Smooth Contour comfort pads as well as multi-density memory foam ankle pads for additional comfort.

Lower Boot

Expected on a top-end skate, the JetSpeed delivers with a composite fiberglass outsole that strikes an excellent balance between stiffness and power. The outsole remains lightweight yet strong enough to provide excellent control and speed. The outsole definitely helps provide power during strides and completes the boot due to the extra stiffness provided.

Moving to the inside of the boot, the footbed is CCM’s own Anatomical Response footbed which provides better support than a traditional foam footbed, but ultimately this is something you might want to swap out for something with better arch support.

Tongue

The first thing I noticed about the tongue was how well it prevented lace bit. As someone who likes to tie their skates up fairly tight, lace bit can be a bit of an issue. Due to the thickness of the tongue itself, the felt is able to prevent the majority if not all of lace bit that occurs. There is additional padding on the tongue to prevent impacts from pucks or sticks.

FastFrame Magnesium

Powering the skates is the use of CCM’s FastFrame Magnesium chassis design. The chassis is ultra lightweight and is perhaps the lightest all-80mm wheel setup chassis on the market today. The chassis certainly provides an aggressive angle of attack and it’s apparent when you’re trying to get those first few explosive strides. I felt faster and more agile with the all 80 setup compared to other setups found on the market with various wheel sizes. Although, if you’re just starting out with all 80mm wheels it can feel a bit clunky at first until you’ve completed a skate or two. Providing a smooth roll are the Swiss Lite 608 bearings and if you’re an inline player, you know that Swiss bearings are the upper echelon in terms of speed and smoothness. This isn’t my first time experiencing Swiss bearings, but the speed and smooth roll were what I expected of a top end skate. Very minimal effort is required to get and stay moving.

The CCM JetSpeed Inline Skate comes standard with perhaps the best wheel on the market in the Labeda Addiction. Featuring an all 80mm setup, the wheels themselves have an outer urethane hardness of most outdoor wheels but with more grip than the softest wheels available. Throughout my skates I felt that wheels provided an excellent combination of grip and speed. I could turn instantly, and couldn’t notice the flex in the wheels throughout my skates. After three hard sessions on tile, I didn’t notice any splitting or chunking of the wheels.

Concluding Thoughts

Ultimately, inline players who are looking for Ice quality skates should look long and hard at the CCM JetSpeed. The JetSpeed boot is almost identical in terms of stiffness and quality and is certainly comparable in performance. After skating in both the ice and inline boots, the transition was seamless and felt as if I was skating on ice due to the level of performance the inline skate provides. What makes the skate a home run aside from the boot itself, is the all 80mm wheel setup with quality Swiss bearings and the top wheels on the market. Combining an already excellent boot with top-end chassis components, you have a skate that sets itself apart from others on the market.