Nike Hockey Skates 2024
Updated: January 6, 2024 by Bill Burniece
Does Nike Make Hockey Skates?
No, Nike no longer produces hockey skates under their own brand name.
The Nike Bauer collaboration is done. But you can still buy Bauer hockey skates which are some of the best in the world today.
On this page, we’ll explore the interesting historical connection between Nike and hockey equipment.
I will walk you through the entire history of Nike hockey skates below. In a nutshell, Nike bought the hockey company Bauer, and for a while, you could find hockey skates branded as “Nike Bauer.” The collaboration brought about some nice skate innovations but eventually ran its course.
So, while Nike itself doesn’t make hockey skates anymore, the Bauer brand, which once connected with Nike, continues to be a significant player in the hockey equipment industry.
Who Is Nike?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or don’t follow sports at all, Nike needs little introduction.
The Nike name and trademark ‘Swoosh’ logo is easily recognized around the globe.
What you may not know is that the company had humble beginnings.
Believe it or not, Nike started under the name of Blue Ribbon Sports selling Japanese running shoes at track meets out of the trunk of an automobile. This was in 1964.
Soon they started creating their own shoes and today they design, develop, and produce footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services.
The name Nike represents the Greek goddess of victory and the company is based near Beaverton, Oregon.
In 2020, the brand alone was valued in excess of $32 billion*. Nike is also included in the top 100 companies listed in the Fortune 500.
*Source: wikipedia.org
History Of Nike Hockey Skates
Nike does have an interesting history with their involvement in hockey, particularly with skates.
Their mark in hockey revolves around their acquisition and management of the Bauer hockey brand.
Here’s what happened:
- The Bauer Brand: Bauer predates Nike’s involvement in hockey by several decades. Founded in 1927 in Ontario, Canada, by the Bauer family, the company was the first to produce a hockey skate that had the blade permanently attached to the boot. The was a breakthrough at the time. Today, Bauer is a household name in the world of hockey gear.
- Nike Enters the Scene: In 1995, Nike acquired a company called Canstar, Bauer’s parent company, for about $395 million. This move was part of Nike’s strategy to expand its reach and diversify into different sports – including hockey.
- The Nike Bauer Era: Following the acquisition, Nike began integrating its brand into the hockey world. This included the production of hockey skates that were co-branded as “Nike Bauer.” This collaboration led to advancements in skate technology and design, combining Bauer’s hockey know-how with Nike’s global branding and technological expertise.
- End of Nike’s Hockey Venture: By 2008, Nike decided to move away from the hockey business. They sold Bauer to an investment firm, Kohlberg & Co., for $200 million. After this sale, the Nike branding was phased out, and Bauer returned as an independent brand in the hockey equipment business.
- Legacy: While the “Nike Bauer” era was relatively short-lived, it’s noteworthy for several reasons. Nike’s involvement brought a fresh design perspective and marketing strategies to the sport. Some hockey players and enthusiasts appreciated the innovation and styles that came out of this period, while others preferred the more traditional approaches of other brands.
Since the sale of Bauer, Nike has primarily focused on their core sports and hasn’t made a significant return to the hockey equipment market. Will that change in the future? Who knows.
The Nike Ice Hockey Skate Models
Nike hockey skates featured the following lines:
- Nike Bauer Vapor Series: This line of skates was designed for agility and speed. It included the models Vapor XXXX, Vapor XXX, and Vapor XX
- Nike Bauer Supreme Series: These skates were geared for power and efficiency in each skate stride. Models included Supreme One90 and Supreme One70
- Nike Bauer FlexLite Series: This series focused on comfort and flexibility. Models in this series included the FlexLite 4.0, FlexLite 3.0 and others
Where To Buy Nike Ice Hockey Skates
You can still find some Nike hockey skates out there in the secondary markets.
Obviously, the Nike skates you’ll find for sale will be used hockey skates. In rare cases, you may find an unused pair. In that case, you may want to hang on to them since they may be worth something in the future as these skates disappear.
The best selection of Nike hockey skates that I have found is in the online marketplace SidelineSwap.
You may also find some used Nike skates at your local secondhand store such as Play It Again sports, online community forums like Craigslist, and maybe even at a garage sale.
Nike Hockey Sticks
Did Nike make hockey sticks too?
Yes, in fact, they did. And they were damn good too.
Nike Bauer not only made some great skates, they also made some high-quality hockey sticks. I remember because I used a few myself.
The Nike hockey stick models included:
- Nike Bauer Vapor Series: This was one of their flagship lines and included models like the Vapor XXX, Vapor XX, Vapor X, and others. Vapr XX is the model of stick I used and loved it
- Nike Bauer Supreme Series: Another flagship line focused more on power, including models like the Supreme One90, Supreme One70, and others
- Nike Bauer One Series: This included sticks like the One95
Let’s Wrap It Up
It’s a shame that Nike is no longer involved in hockey.
Their innovative production, capital, and reach were welcomed in the hockey world.
They made their mark. But the party is over.
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