The Mission Soldier Black is a moderately priced inline hockey skate for experienced players. Unlike cheaper models that cut down on build and features, the Soldier Black is packed with enough perks to make it a great intermediate to advanced level skate. Looking to upgrade to a faster and more reliable skate? This could be the pair of blades for you.
Ironically, the Mission Soldier Black is actually white and blue. I am a big fan of the style of this model. It is simple, elegant, and overall very attractive. The comfort level of the boot has also been improved from the lower end skates. The tongue is very well padded to prevent the laces from biting and the ankles receive a great deal of extra cushioning. The boot is constructed of a rigid material that will hold up well over time. While the Soldier Black isn’t the lightest skate on the market, it’s certainly light enough to give you great speed and performance. The chassis was also updated with respect to models like the CSX or DSX, being much lighter and stronger than the cheaper models.
The wheels that come standard on the Soldier Black are exceptional. The super soft Rink Rat Hot Shot XXX are designed for indoor courts and provide maximum grip. The vanguard Hi-Lo configuration is used, which means your wheels will be 76-76-80-80 (in mm). Larger wheels on the back of the skate allow for faster backskating and more balance. Those used to outdoor wheels will find the grip on these hot shot wheels to be incredible, especially on sports court surfaces.
The Mission Soldier Black comes standard with Mission ABEC-9 bearings, one of the highest quality bearings on the market. They are a huge improvement over the cheaper skates in the Mission line, which are generally equipped with ABEC-5 or 7 bearings. If you are upgrading from cheaper skates, you will certainly notice that the Soldier skates have a very smooth ride thanks to these excellent bearings.
The Soldier retails for around $ 200, but you can usually find a bargain if you search long enough. In fact, I found the 2009 model for sale for $ 130 shipped. Mission offers other more expensive high-end skates like the Boss. These skates are made of lighter materials and have a bit more padding. However, for my money, the Soldier is the skate with the best value for money on the market. It’s certainly a pro-level skate that doesn’t break the bank. Do you want to take your game to the next level? Try the Mission Soldier Black.