The Mission Soldier Black is a moderately priced inline hockey skate for experienced players. Unlike cheaper models that cut back on construction and features, the Soldier Black is packed with enough perks to make it a great intermediate to advanced skate. Looking to upgrade to a faster, 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’s simple, elegant, and overall very attractive. The boot’s comfort level has also been improved over lower-end skates. The tongue is nicely padded to prevent lace bite and the ankles have plenty of extra cushioning. The boot is built with a rigid material that will hold up very 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 is also updated from 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 is designed for indoor courts and provides maximum grip. The vanguard Hi-Lo setup is used, which means your wheels will be 76-76-80-80 (in mm). The larger wheels on the back of the skate allow for faster back skating and more balance. Those used to outdoor wheels will find the grip of these hot 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 usually equipped with ABEC-5 or 7 bearings. If you are upgrading from cheaper skates, you will no doubt notice that the Soldier skates have a very smooth ride thanks to to these fantastic bearings.
The Soldier retails for around $200, but you can usually find a deal if you search hard enough. In fact, I found the 2009 model on sale for $130 shipped. Mission offers other more expensive high-end skates like the Boss. These skates are made with lighter materials and have a bit more padding. However, for my money, the Soldier is the best skate on the market. It’s certainly a pro-level skate that won’t break the bank. Looking to take your game to the next level? Try the Mission Soldier Black.
