CCM SpeedBlade XS Runners Buying Guide: Bladetech vs JRZ vs STEP

If you're looking for replacement CCM SpeedBlade XS runners, often called CCM XS blades, SB XS runners, or replacement skate steel, there are several excellent premium options available.

Bladetech, JRZ and STEP all make high-quality runners for the CCM SpeedBlade XS (SB XS) holder, but each offers something different. Bladetech stands out for its Flex Force technology, wide range of finishes and custom etching options. JRZ offers excellent fit and finish, a particularly impressive Blacksteel coating and generous steel height. STEP remains one of the best-known premium steel options for CCM skates.

All of these runners can also be professionally profiled before use, making a new set of steel an ideal opportunity to establish or reproduce your preferred skate profile. Check out our Elite Profiling and Prosharp Profiling write ups.

All three are quality runners. The best choice depends on what you value most: technology, finish, customization, blade height, compatibility, availability or simply familiarity with a particular steel.

Bladetech, JRZ or STEP: Quick CCM XS Runner Comparison

All are high-quality premium runners. Bladetech offers the widest range of technology, finish and customization options. JRZ stands out for its excellent fit and finish, premium Blacksteel coating and generous steel height. STEP remains a proven, well-established premium option for CCM players.

Bladetech's 24K Gold is a gold-colored DLC-coated runner, providing a premium coated finish rather than simply a decorative gold-colored stainless blade.

Bladetech CCM XS runners offer a different approach to premium skate steel by combining high-quality runners with Bladetech's Flex Force technology and a broad range of customization options.

For players who want more than a conventional stainless or black runner, Bladetech offers one of the widest selections available for the CCM SpeedBlade XS holder.

Bladetech Flex Force Technology

The defining feature of Bladetech runners is Flex Force technology. Bladetech designs the front portion of the runner to flex slightly upward into the holder as the blade is loaded during the skating stride. According to Bladetech, the runner then returns toward its original position as the skater completes the stride, creating an energy-return effect.

The technology is built directly into the runner, so no special skate or holder is required. A CCM XS-specific Bladetech runner installs directly into a compatible SpeedBlade XS holder.

For players interested in trying something different from conventional rigid skate steel, Flex Force is one of the main features that separates Bladetech from other premium runner options.

Bladetech Finish Options

Another major advantage of Bladetech is the number of available finishes.

Depending on the runner and size, options include:

• Mirror Stainless Steel
• Black Diamond DLC
• 24K Gold DLC
• Custom Color finishes

Mirror Stainless provides the Bladetech runner design with a highly polished stainless-steel appearance.

Black Diamond DLC adds a Diamond-Like Carbon coating with the familiar premium black-steel appearance. DLC coatings are designed to provide a hard, durable surface while helping protect the runner and maintain its finish.

The 24K Gold DLC option uses the same premium DLC concept but with a distinctive gold-colored finish. It isn't simply decorative gold plating over ordinary steel; it is a gold-colored DLC-coated runner, giving players the benefits and durability of a premium coated blade with a much more unique appearance.

For players who want something even more personalized, Bladetech also offers custom-color runners. These can coordinate with team colors or simply provide an alternative to the traditional stainless, black or gold options.

This range of finishes is one of the biggest differences between Bladetech and more traditional premium skate-steel manufacturers.

Custom Laser Etching

Bladetech also offers custom laser etching.

Names, numbers, team logos and other graphics can be etched directly onto the runner. This adds another level of personalization that isn't commonly available with replacement hockey steel.

Etching can also make it easier to identify multiple sets of runners in a team environment or distinguish between different profiled sets.

The combination of Flex Force technology, DLC finishes, custom colors and laser etching makes Bladetech one of the most configurable premium runner options available for CCM XS skates.

Bladetech CCM XS vs Flex Fit

Bladetech also offers Flex Fit runners, which are designed to provide compatibility across multiple holder systems.

Flex Fit can be useful for players who need one runner option capable of supporting both CCM and compatible Bauer applications.

If the runners are only going to be used in a CCM SB XS holder, however, the dedicated CCM XS version is generally the more straightforward choice. There is little reason to choose a multi-fit runner unless the additional holder compatibility provides a real benefit.

For a dedicated CCM setup, stick with the Bladetech CCM XS runner. Consider Flex Fit when cross-brand compatibility actually matters.

JRZ CCM XS runners are another excellent premium replacement option, particularly for players who prefer a more traditional approach to skate steel.

JRZ runners have very good machining, fit and overall finish quality. They are available in both stainless steel and JRZ's premium Blacksteel finish.

JRZ Stainless Steel

JRZ stainless provides a high-quality polished runner without the additional cost of a coated finish.

It's a strong option for players who want premium replacement steel but don't necessarily need a black coating.

The generous amount of steel offered by JRZ also makes the stainless version particularly attractive for players who plan to have their runners professionally profiled.

JRZ Blacksteel

JRZ Blacksteel is one of the standout options in the lineup.

The coating has a clean, premium appearance, and the overall fit and finish of the runner is excellent. For players specifically looking for black-coated CCM XS replacement steel, JRZ Blacksteel deserves serious consideration.

It offers a more traditional premium-runner design while providing a high-quality coated surface and excellent overall construction.

JRZ Runner Height

One of the most useful characteristics of JRZ runners is their generous steel height.

JRZ CCM XS runners are generally taller than comparable STEP XS runners, giving the skater more usable steel.

That matters for both profiling and long-term runner life.

Custom skate profiling intentionally removes material from the bottom of the blade to create the desired geometry. Every future sharpening also removes a small amount of steel.

Starting with a taller runner gives the profiler more material to work with and leaves additional steel for repeated sharpening afterward.

For players investing in premium runners and a custom profile, that extra height can be a meaningful advantage over the life of the steel.

JRZ Multi-Fit Runners

JRZ also produces a Multi-Fit runner for players who want compatibility across more than one holder system.

The Multi-Fit design can be used with CCM SpeedBlade XS and compatible Bauer holders, including Powerfly, making it useful for players or families who use multiple skate platforms.

Multi-Fit runners can make sense if:

• You use both CCM and Bauer skates.
• Different players in the family use different holder systems.
• You want backup steel that can work across multiple setups.
• You may change skate brands but want to retain compatible runners.

If you're using only CCM SpeedBlade XS holders, a dedicated JRZ CCM XS runner remains the straightforward option.

STEP has been one of the best-known names in premium hockey steel for years and remains an excellent option for the CCM SpeedBlade XS holder.

STEP developed a strong reputation for steel quality, consistency, runner height and premium finishes. Many CCM players already know exactly how STEP steel feels and prefer to stay with it.

STEP Steel, V-Steel and BlackSteel

Depending on availability, CCM XS runners can be found in several STEP configurations.

STEP Steel provides the familiar premium stainless-steel option.

STEP V-Steel uses a highly polished mirror finish and has a distinctive bright appearance.

STEP BlackSteel adds STEP's premium black coating and remains one of the most recognizable high-end skate runners in hockey.

All are proven premium options.

STEP Availability

The main challenge with STEP is often availability rather than quality.

Certain CCM XS sizes and finishes can be harder to find at any given time.

If the STEP runner you want is available, it remains an excellent choice. Players who already know and prefer STEP have little reason to change simply for the sake of changing brands.

At the same time, the growth of Bladetech and JRZ means CCM players no longer need to hunt indefinitely for a particular STEP runner when inventory is limited. There are now several legitimate premium alternatives for the SpeedBlade XS holder.

Bladetech, JRZ and STEP all make high-quality CCM XS runners. The differences are primarily in features rather than one brand simply being better than another.

Bladetech: Technology, Finishes and Customization

Choose Bladetech if you're interested in Flex Force technology or want more choices in how your runners are configured.

Mirror Stainless, Black Diamond DLC, 24K Gold DLC, custom colors and laser etching give Bladetech considerably more customization options than traditional replacement steel.

The 24K Gold DLC is particularly interesting for players who want the properties of a premium DLC-coated runner but prefer a gold appearance instead of the traditional black finish.

The dedicated CCM XS version is the logical choice for most CCM players, while Flex Fit is worth considering when compatibility with multiple holder systems is useful.

JRZ: Fit, Finish and Steel Height

Choose JRZ if you're looking for extremely well-finished premium steel with a more traditional design.

JRZ's Blacksteel finish is particularly impressive, and the generous runner height provides plenty of material for profiling and repeated sharpening.

The JRZ Multi-Fit option also adds flexibility for players who need compatibility across CCM and Bauer holder systems.

STEP: Proven Premium Steel

Choose STEP if you're already familiar with STEP steel and prefer its established feel and construction.

STEP remains a high-quality premium runner with an excellent reputation. The biggest consideration today may simply be whether the exact size and finish you want is readily available.

Before ordering replacement CCM runners, make sure you know which holder is on your skates.

CCM SpeedBlade XS, also called SB XS, is CCM's quick-release holder system.

CCM SpeedBlade +4.0, or SB +4.0, is the older holder design.

These systems use different runner attachment methods, and SB XS and SB +4.0 runners are not interchangeable.

This guide specifically covers CCM SpeedBlade XS / SB XS runners.

If your holder is marked SB +4.0, you need steel designed specifically for that holder.

When replacing CCM SpeedBlade XS runners, the runner size needs to match the holder installed on your skates. CCM runner sizes are measured in millimeters, and each runner size corresponds to a specific range of skate sizes.

Here is the official CCM sizing relationship for SpeedBlade XS / SB XS runners:

For example, a CCM size 7 or 7.5 skate normally uses a 263 mm CCM XS runner, while a size 8 or 8.5 normally uses a 271 mm runner.

Even though the skate-size chart is useful, the safest method is still to verify the runner size marked directly on the holder before ordering replacement steel. Holders can be replaced or changed, particularly on used or customized skates, so the size printed on the actual holder should take precedence over the skate size.

Bladetech, JRZ and STEP replacement runners should be ordered according to this holder/runner size, not simply by selecting your skate size.

Replacing your runners is also one of the best times to establish a skate profile. A profile changes the geometry of the runner to tune characteristics such as acceleration, mobility, glide, stability and pitch.

Starting with new steel gives the profiler a clean, matched pair of runners with maximum blade height. If you already have a profile you like, it can be reproduced on the new runners. If you're changing profiles, the fresh steel provides the best starting point.

CCM XS runners from Bladetech, JRZ and STEP can all be profiled with options such as Quad, Zuperior, Ellipse, CAG, Elite SCS and Polaris profiles.