Easton went an entirely new direction with the design of the Mako; the way they went was a positive change to a classic brand. They have moved away from the black and white look and incorporated a bold orange accent color to add a little pizzazz to the skate. The heel now silver makes the skate stick out on the ice. It seems that Easton has shifted their focus to the youth market versus the pro players. 

The boot feels extremely solid and the look matches the feel. There are major improvements from the MLX skates. It seems that Dave Cruikshank knew what he was doing when he decided to partner with Easton. The biggest change from the MLX to the newer model is that they look way more put together. Seems that with financial backing Easton has, they have successfully developed an impeccable product.

One of the most exciting added features for this skate is the liner. Easton has implemented a hydrophobic orange grip-light liner. The feel is exceedingly different from the bio-dry liner. While both are soft to the touch, the new liner helps to keep your foot in place, while maintaining maximum comfort.

The sole has two large vent holes in the sole, near the edge of the arch. This provides good ventilation and has helped the skate to dry more quickly. 

With an influence from the MLX skate, the Mako tongue is thinner than would be expected. This keeps you from experiencing a restricted range of motion. With the lace-bite bar in the front of the tongue, Easton has successfully given us the best of both worlds. Another advantage to the tongue is the extension into the toe box that reduces the amount of empty space.

While every foot carries its own unique shape, it seems Easton has produced a skate that should fit comfortably on all. With a snug fit from mid-foot to heal, the cap opens up and offers room for the foot to be comfortable. 

The initial fit did prove to have a little discomfort after wearing them for about an hour, however with the skates’ ability to mold to your foot, after just a few wears that discomfort has been eliminated. 

Easton is moving forward with their product development. The presentation as well as the construction is above and beyond their past endeavors. If you are a fan of the MLX boot, you will find yourself equally as pleased with the Mako.

With a history that is less than squeaky clean, Easton has done a great job at reestablishing their brand. It is sound financial advice that the new Mako skate is a good investment. Priced at $799.99 this new skate is still lower than the new APX2 skate and around the same price as the CCM RBZ are expected to cost. For a top end skate, this is pretty typical pricing. 

If you are in the market for a new pair of skates, I would give a thumbs up to Easton's latest product because its an excellent investment for any skater. If you are unsure if this is the right skate for your needs, there is no harm in trying a pair on. While you will never know the value of a skate until long after the purchase, you will be able to get a pretty good feel for what I am talking about.