Bauer Ice Skate to Quad Conversions: The Complete Guide

If you're looking for Bauer quad skates, you've come to the right place.

At Pabloskates, we specialise in converting Bauer ice hockey skates into custom quad roller skates. From modern Bauer X, X-LS, X-LP and NS/NSX models to classic Nike Bauer Vapors and legendary Flexlites, we've converted hundreds of hockey boots into unique quad skate builds for skaters across the UK.

This guide showcases some of our favourite Bauer conversions, explains why some Bauer boots make excellent quad skates (and some don't) and provides links to individual build diaries where you can see each project in more detail.

Not All Ice Skates Make Good Quad Skates

One of the biggest misconceptions in the skating world is that any ice hockey skate can be converted into a great pair of quad skates.

The reality is a little more complicated.

While almost any hockey skate can technically have a quad plate fitted, not every hockey skate will make a comfortable or enjoyable quad skate.

Why Stiff Isn't Always Better

In ice hockey, higher-end skates are often designed to be extremely stiff.

The goal is maximum power transfer, support and responsiveness on the ice.

For roller skating, however, things are different.

Most quad skaters benefit from a degree of forward flex in the boot. This flex helps with:

• Comfort

• Knee bend

• Manoeuvrability

• Transitions

• Rhythm skating

• General skating technique

Many top-end hockey skates can be so stiff that they restrict movement and make certain skating styles less enjoyable.

For this reason, entry level, mid-range and recreational hockey skates often make better quad skates than their more expensive counterparts.

Copper Rivets Can Be a Warning Sign

One quick indicator we often look for is the presence of copper rivets.

Many higher-end hockey skates use copper rivets in key stress areas of the boot. While this is excellent for ice hockey performance, it often indicates a boot that was designed for maximum stiffness.

This doesn't automatically mean the skate should never be converted, but it does mean we take a closer look before recommending it.

In many cases, a softer boot without copper rivets can produce a more comfortable and enjoyable quad skating experience.

The Best Hockey Skate Isn't Always the Best Quad Skate

It's important to remember that the best hockey skate and the best quad skate are not necessarily the same thing.

When choosing a conversion boot, we look beyond the original retail price and focus on what will provide the best skating experience once fitted with a quad plate.

Sometimes that £50 second-hand Bauer NS will make a better quad skate than a £600 sonic shadow hockey boot.

That's why we assess every boot individually and recommend the setup that we believe will perform best on eight wheels, not on the ice.

Why Convert Bauer Hockey Skates to Quad Skates?

Bauer hockey skates have become one of the most popular choices for custom quad skate conversions.

Many skaters prefer hockey boots because they offer:

• Excellent ankle support

• Comfortable fit (with the right boots)

• Lightweight construction

• Durable materials

• Modern styling

• Outstanding responsiveness

Unlike many traditional quad boots, hockey skates are designed to provide a secure fit and direct power transfer. This makes them an excellent platform for a custom roller skate conversion..

The Boots We Usually Recommend

Over the years, we've found that some Bauer models consistently make excellent quad skate conversions. These models generally provide a good balance between support and flexibility, making them particularly well suited to quad skating.

These models can be found in the below table:

Modern Bauer Quad Skate Conversions

Boot Model	Flex Rating for Quads	Carbon Fibre Recommended	Build Diary
Bauer X	⭐⭐⭐Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer X-LP	⭐⭐⭐Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer X-LS	⭐⭐⭐Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer NS	⭐⭐⭐Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer NSX	⭐⭐⭐Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]

Classic Bauer Quad Skate Conversions

Boot Model	Flex Rating for Quads	Carbon Fibre Recommended	Build Diary
Bauer 22 (Silver Surfers)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Bauer Flexlite 1.0	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Bauer Flexlite 2.0	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Bauer Flow	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Bauer Nexus N5000	⭐⭐⭐Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer Supreme One.4	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer Supreme One20	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer Supreme Elite	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer Supreme S140	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer Vapor II	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Bauer Vapor Speed Ti	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer Vapor X:01	⭐⭐OK	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer Vapor X200	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer Vapor X300	⭐⭐⭐Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer Vapor X400	⭐⭐OK	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]
Bauer Vapor Elite	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Not essential but can add for longevity	[View Build]

Classic Nike Bauer Quad Skate Conversions

Boot Model	Flex Rating for Quads	Carbon Fibre Recommended	Build Diary
Nike Bauer Flexlite 2R	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Flexlite 14	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Ignite 22	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Ignite 44	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Supreme 11	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Supreme Enforcer	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Supreme One05	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Vapor VII	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Vapor IX	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Vapor Enforcer	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Vapor Race Ti	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Vapor S Force	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Vapor Speed	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Vapor Speed Ti	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Vapor Stream	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Bauer Vapor Striker	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good	Yes	[View Build]

Classic Nike Quad Skate Conversions

Boot Model	Flex Rating for Quads	Carbon Fibre Recommended	Build Diary
Nike Flexlite 2	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Flexlite 3	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Flexlite 5	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Flexlite 7	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike N-Dorfin	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Quest V2	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Quest V Ti	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Quest V3	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]
Nike Quest V4	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent	Yes	[View Build]