Pablo's Skate Build Diary: Bauer Vapor X2.5 on Playmaker Plates and Air Waves wheels

Oct 2

5 min read

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cX5EZT5DPkI

Some builds start with a pair of boots arriving at the workshop. Others start with us having to find the boots first. This build was for a customer in Germany who got in touch looking for a pair of Bauer Vapor X2.5 boots in EU 44.5, converted into a complete set of quad roller skates. We managed to source the right boots and put together a tried-and-tested Pabloskates setup using Playmaker plates, clear red Air Waves wheels and ABEC 7 bearings, along with our full carbon fibre reinforcement treatment underneath.

Sourcing the Bauer Vapor X2.5 Boots

The first part of this build was actually finding the boots. The customer was specifically looking for Bauer Vapor X2.5s in EU 44.5, so rather than compromising with a different model or size, we sourced a suitable pair specifically for the conversion. That's something we can sometimes do for customers who want a particular Bauer, Nike Bauer or other hockey boot but don't already have the boots themselves. Once they arrived at the workshop, we could get on with turning them from ice skates into quads.

Stripping the X2.5s Back to the Boots

As with any ice-to-quad conversion, the original ice blade holders first needed to come off. Removing the holders gives us access to the underside of the boots and lets us properly inspect what we're working with before fitting the quad hardware. Hockey boots weren't originally designed around roller skate plates, so this stage is important. Rather than simply removing one thing and bolting another into the same holes, the quad plate needs to be positioned independently according to the boot and the geometry we're trying to achieve.

Full Carbon Fibre Reinforcement

These X2.5s received the full Pabloskates carbon fibre treatment before the Playmaker plates were fitted. Once the original blade holders had been removed, the boots were reinforced internally with carbon fibre to create a much stronger mounting platform for the quad plates. Hockey boots are designed around an ice blade holder, which spreads loads very differently to a quad plate, so on boots where reinforcement is required we don't simply drill through the original sole and hope for the best. The carbon fibre becomes part of the structure of the conversion and gives us a solid base for the new mounting hardware.

Eight Rivets Per Boot

Each boot was secured to the internal carbon fibre reinforcement using eight rivets, helping to spread the load across the reinforced sole. The rivets don't just hold everything in position. They pull the different layers of the boot firmly together, including the outer sole, internal carbon fibre reinforcement and toe box. This restores the solid, unified structure the boot originally had when the ice blade holder was fitted, while also creating a strong and secure foundation for mounting the quad plate.

Why We Chose Playmaker Plates

For this build we went with Playmaker nylon plates, which have become one of our tried-and-tested options for hockey boot conversions. They're a straightforward 10-degree nylon plate that provides a solid platform without adding the weight of a large aluminium plate underneath an already substantial hockey boot. They're also compatible with the Air Waves wheels chosen for this build and make a lot of sense for somebody looking for a dependable recreational quad setup without paying for features they simply don't need.

Mounting the Playmaker Plates

Plate positioning is one of the most important parts of any custom conversion and there isn't a universal position that works for every boot. The sole shape, boot size, plate dimensions and intended setup all need to be considered. We establish the centre line of the boot and use the axle positions as our main references, with particular attention paid to getting the front axle correctly positioned beneath the ball of the foot. The goal isn't simply to make the ends of the plate visually line up with the ends of the boot. It's to put the wheels where they need to be once the skates are actually being used.

Clear Red Air Waves Wheels

The customer wanted clear red Air Waves, and they work brilliantly with the black and red detailing on the Bauer Vapor X2.5. Air Waves are 65mm 78A wheels, giving the finished skates a soft wheel setup that's well suited to recreational skating and less-than-perfect surfaces. They're also one of those wheels that can completely change the appearance of a hockey boot conversion, and the transparent red against these Vapors gives the finished build a really distinctive look without going completely over the top.

ABEC 7 Bearings and the Complete Setup

Inside the Air Waves we've fitted ABEC 7 bearings, completing the rolling setup and making these a proper ready-to-skate build rather than simply supplying converted boots and leaving the customer to source the remaining components. One advantage of building the complete setup is that we can check the compatibility of everything together before it leaves the workshop. The boots, plates, wheels, bearings and mounting are all treated as parts of the same build rather than a collection of components bought independently and hoped to work together.

A Proper Red and Black Bauer Build

Visually, this is one of those combinations that just works. The Vapor X2.5 already has the classic predominantly black Bauer appearance with red detailing, and the clear red Air Waves carry that colour through to the bottom of the skate. The black Playmaker plates sit relatively discreetly underneath the boots, so it's the boots and wheels that do most of the talking. There's nothing overly complicated about the colour scheme, but that's exactly why the finished skates look so cohesive.

From the UK to Germany

This pair is also heading a little further than most of our builds. Once completed, photographed and checked, they're being packed up and shipped from the Pabloskates workshop in Derby to their new owner in Germany. Pabloskates might be a small UK workshop, but there's no reason our conversions have to stay in the UK. For international customers, we can discuss the required setup, source components where necessary, complete the conversion and ship the finished skates once they're ready.

The Finished Bauer Vapor X2.5 Quad Conversion

The final result is a proper full Pabloskates conversion: Bauer Vapor X2.5 EU 44.5 boots, full carbon fibre reinforcement, eight rivets per boot, Playmaker nylon plates, clear red 65mm 78A Air Waves wheels and ABEC 7 bearings. From a pair of ice skates sourced specifically for the customer to a fully reinforced, ready-to-skate quad build heading all the way to Germany. The red Air Waves look spot on against the Bauer colour scheme, but underneath the boots is where most of the important work has happened.

Want Your Own Hockey Skates Converted?

If you've got a pair of Bauer, Nike Bauer, CCM or other hockey boots that you'd like converting to quad roller skates, Pabloskates offers a complete conversion and plate-mounting service. If you don't already have the boots, we may also be able to help source a suitable pair like we did with these X2.5s. You can supply your own plates and components or we can help put together the complete setup, and two-way shipping means you don't need to be anywhere near Derby to have a pair built. 🛼

Got a pair of old Nike Bauers hiding in a cupboard? They might not be finished yet. 🛼 Get in touch with Pabloskates and let's see what we can build.

Every skate featured in our Build Diary is individually hand-built in the Pabloskates workshop. Since we use pre-owned hockey boots, each pair is unique and no two builds are ever exactly the same.

Browse our latest converted skates or get in touch to discuss your dream setup only at Pabloskates.com.

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