The VIZION skate has been making headlines since its release early this year. This release didn’t just showcase a brand-new, top-of-the-line skate; it was the debut of an entirely new skate family. Let’s take a look at the specs, what the experts are saying, and determine whether this skate should be your next pair.

Graphics and Shape

The graphics on the VIZION might be some of the cleanest that CCM has ever released on a hockey skate. The base is largely black with logos and accents running along the sides in a way that feels both unified and low-profile. What really stands out, though, is the blue and silver iridescent shine on the accents. It’s not just a marketing trick, either. That shine really does pop like that when looking at it in person.

The overall shape of the VIZION is noticeably different from Tacks and Jetspeed—more angular and sculpted—all built around a “maximum wrap” concept. The result is a boot that feels form-fitting without losing any stability. The toe cap is another visual difference, as it’s bigger than usual, built to house the oversize holder and blade. Its size also increases its durability and improves stability through the way it’s been mounted on the boot.

New VIZION Skate

The VIZION skate is not part of either of CCM’s primary skate families, standing alone as its own category. Because of that, it’s a little harder to make an educated guess about how it feels without trying it on in person.

We’ll look closer at this in the Construction section, but overall, this skate sits as the most all-around build among CCM’s families, not leaning toward either extreme. It has that flexion and stable boot of the Tacks series, while still placing heavy emphasis on a closer, more cohesive fit and feel, like the Jetspeed family. Don’t be fooled by its classification—the VIZION skate also comes with a few shape revamps, which is why it’s more suited as a skate family of its own rather than somewhere in the middle.

Key tech:

• VZ Lightweight tongue

• Core boot

• Tri-Density ankle pads

• TotalDri Pro

• CCM Pro Pulse Insole

• Speedblade XS with enhanced dial and oversized holders

• STEP Blacksteel

Overall Feel and Testing

Note: our experiences may be different from others trying the skate out

Given the changes CCM made along the boot (covered below and by Koop), you may need to consider sizing down one size with the VIZION.

For testing, I wore my usual size without heat moulding, then went down a size just to feel the difference. It was clear at a smaller size that heat moulding was crucial, since it felt quite stiff with very little give. This is understandable for an  elite-level  skate. The biggest thing I noticed when sizing down, though, was definitely the toe cap. Usually, the toe cap would be a deciding factor on whether a skate fits—if your toes are squished at the front and that isn’t how you prefer it, then the skate size is no good. But here, I barely felt it at all; there were no uncomfortable pressure points on any of my toes.

I couldn't believe how comfortable they were, and Koop shares that sentiment. Maybe not like an “I’m walking on a cloud” kind of way, but the stability and how the skate just wrapped naturally around my foot. It actually felt so natural that I forgot I was wearing them at some point while typing this article out. The top ankle padding doesn’t quite lock you in as close or as tightly as top-end Jetspeeds do, but it still feels very stable while promoting increased range in ankle movement in all directions.

It actually feels quite springy, especially given how the VZ Lightweight tongue functions. That’s really the best way I can describe it: springy, like the tongue helps kickstart your stride. This brand-new tongue was designed by analyzing what pro players prefer in their own builds, resulting in a much lighter, thinner, and active skate tongue that still provides elite protection. That tough shield along the front is also designed as built-in lacebite protection.

The tendon guard is very light, more aerodynamic with much, much less padding than what you’ll find in other CCM skate families, further increasing that range of motion.

The oversized holders are noticeable if you’ve been skating a while, particularly when walking. The holders are not too big, but good to make note of, so you can make the proper adjustments while skating, if needed.

Feel free to check out Koop’s video for a more in-depth look at the entire skate from a skate expert who’s been using the VIZION skates on-ice for a while.

Boot

CCM put a massive focus on making the boot feel as close to your foot as possible. They call the tech behind it Core Boot technology, a one-piece construction that prioritizes maximum wrap and connection to the ice. As a high-end skate, it’s also very light, which Core Boot achieves with lightweight, reactive materials.

You could even view this as a bit of a redo of CCM’s boot shape. The eyelets are extended to accommodate players with a high instep, and the midfoot has been restructured a bit wider than CCM’s other skates. As discussed earlier, the toe cap extension also increases the amount of space in that area. Even if CCM skates have never really been the best fit for you before,  it still would be worth trying the VIZION skates and their modified shape.

Padding

The padding in general is extremely comfortable right out of the box, even before heat moulding, which is very nice.

The skate uses Tri-Density ankle pads, a gel-infused construction that combines comfort and responsiveness. The idea is that the skate provides elite-level feel and feedback while still being as comfortable as possible. We talk a bit about the differences in equipment levels here, and how that can affect comfort and stiffness.

The inside uses a TotalDri Pro liner, which has amazing antimicrobial and moisture-wicking properties. Along the footbed is CCM’s Pro Pulse insole, a new design that form-fits to the bottom of your foot while enhancing stability and promoting explosive power on the stride.

That range of motion on the ankles is high compared to other CCM models. While Jetspeed keeps your ankles anchored in place with a softer boot, the VIZION’s ankle functions closer to a Tacks skate. Tacks are the opposite of Jetspeed, which means it’s designed to promote greater ankle flexion with a stiffer boot. However, the boot is easier to break in than Tacks and not as stiff.

Runners and Holders

The VIZION is equipped with Speedblade XS holders, complete with an enhanced dial to make it extremely easy to switch your blades out in a pinch. The runners themselves are Step Blacksteel, which is CCM’s highest-quality runner, with a Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating and an extra 4mm+ on height. The DLC integration greatly enhances glide, and both the coating and that extra blade height increase the blade’s longevity.

As mentioned earlier, the holders are oversized to cover more surface area and enhance gliding. Koop explains this a bit in his video, but essentially, the holder will be one size up from your size—if you’re using a size 7, then the holder is a size 8. This is pro-inspired tech, which means it didn’t just come out of the blue; rather, it’s based on some designs that the pros prefer or request on their own skates.

Final Thoughts - Is This Skate the Right One for You?

I had to be so careful while testing these skates and writing this article because I could not get over how they felt. The shape is just so natural; it didn’t feel too stiff, and that range of motion is phenomenal. My current skates still have quite a bit of life left in them and I usually prefer stiffer models, but I nearly walked out with a pair of VIZIONs myself after putting these on.

In terms of players who might benefit the most from this skate, that would primarily be those who want an elite-level skate, but maybe not something along the extremes of Jetspeed’s tough ankle lock or the extremely stiff boot of the Tacks family. The VIZION is designed to be versatile, a solid fit for any player. This skate is a great option for those whose playstyles focus on adapting to the play, or you might be like me—someone who was curious about or wanted to try a CCM skate, but could never fit into one before. CCM built the VIZION around a more profiled shape with more space in the toe cap, so it can mould to your foot in a way their more traditional boots never could.

The VIZION is the most versatile elite skate CCM has put out in years, and for a lot of players, it’s been an absolute gamechanger. If you’re in the market for an elite skate that can do it all, this is definitely one to look into.