Blades need to be sharpened before first use. Bauer X-LP are created for people who are seeking their very first pair of “real” hockey skates for recreational and amateur play. There’s no denying that below certain price threshold it is very hard to balance cost and quality, but Bauer has managed to pull it off and result is impressive. X-LP may be low tier, but they are also a great introduction to playing hockey. X-LP are based on polycarbonate, injection molded shell. It is lightweight and offers a good trade-off between ankle support and flex – just right for beginners. The thick padding is covered by fabric made out of wool, making the boots comfortable and warm. The felt tongue comes with additional reinforcement to protect foot and shin better. It also help locking your foot in place. Symmetrical toe cap provides additional room and enhances comfort even further. The LS Pro II blade holder used in X-LP does not allow for swapping blade, but other than that, it is of design very similar to one found in higher end models, preserving the benefits like rigidity, precision and level of control. The blade has wider curve, being flatter than in higher end models which is once again by design to make X-LP more welcoming to newcomers, providing a more stable base. The blade is not pre-sharpened, so be sure to take care of it before first use! In our humble opinion, these skates are perfect choice if you want get basic, but decent skate to start playing hockey. It is affordable and comes with everything you need.