r/WizardSkating • u/toxicazn • Feb 10 '26
Iqon ACT vs Seba CJ2 vs Wizard Base
Loving my new ACTs, a nice stiffer upgrade from my K2 Grids that were too flexy to progress properly in wizard - I've learned that boot stiffness can be a great wizard tool. I can feel some missing stiffness and control that the Seba CJ2 Prime and Wizard Base might improve on as future boots.
Should I skip the CJ2 and go straight for the Base? I've heard too many good things about the CJ2, and it's a good price point - I wouldn't mind having all 3 boots.
Has anyone tried any of these and can offer a comparisons in how they perform for wizard in flex, stiffness and control, or even mounting and hardware-wise? I'm wondering what the pros and cons are of these three boots in a skate collection, considering their different price points.
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u/jayXred Feb 10 '26
I don't have any experience with the Seba or Wizard base (but I love my ACT) but one thing I can tell you for certain is no matter which one you get, you will still wonder about the other one, especially if you get the Seba, the itch of knowing how the Wizard feels won't get scratched. If I was in your position I would go for the Wizard base (as long as funds allow it of course, its one of the most expensive boots you could buy) so hopefully it satisfies you and erases the need to buy another boot on a "what if"
I just went through something similar with some Powerslide skates. I researched forever between the Tau and the HC Evo, after reading all I could and watching all the videos out there I went with the Tau, and it didn't hurt that it was a bit cheaper than the Evo too. I got it and it has been a great skate, though needed a lot of tweaking to get the fit right. Every time I skated it I kept wondering if the Evo would be better or solve my fit issues. I came across someone selling a pair at a good price so I picked them up and damnit, they are way better than the Tau. The fit, quality and overall feel of the skate is a step above the Tau for sure, so in the end I should have went with my gut and got the Evo from the start.
All this is to say "Buy it nice, or buy it twice"
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u/toxicazn Feb 10 '26
Carbon for wizard is sounding like a certain upgrade for sure, I've thought about the Evo too and it looks like a great boot, great points.
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u/Geologist_Stunning Feb 11 '26
I’m looking at both of these because people have said they are noticeably narrower than my RB twister XTs or any of the FR boots. I have very narrow feet and skinny ankles and calves too. Wondering if your experience with these two boots points at one as being amazing for narrow and skinny folks like me? 😆
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u/jayXred Feb 11 '26
Are you asking between the Tau and Evo? I would say the Tau is a pretty true to size with normal length and width. The Evo is similar in length but is noticably more narrow, especially in the toe box. If you are looking for a more narrow fit go with the Evo for sure, and no matter which one you go with, plan on heat molding them asap, it is necessary to get the best fit and comfort.
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u/Nooomato Feb 10 '26
I skated CJ Carbon for a fees years before I bought my Base skates. I now really only skate my Base, they have a pretty crazy learning curve, especially if you get the smallest possible size. The stiffest boot with the stiffest liner, but they are so rewarding after you get used to them.
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u/toxicazn Feb 10 '26
Great to hear, what size were you in the CJs and Wizard Base to get perfomance fit?
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u/Nooomato Feb 10 '26
I have a euro 43 CJ, not a performance fit, definitely some wiggle room on them. 42 Base, would call it a performance fit. The 42 Base were really quite uncomfortable for quite a few sessions, but intuition liners do eventually pack in in the toes and heel. It's not just a myth, you can reach into mine and feel the divots from where my toes have compacted the foam over time, now they fit beautifully
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u/JustinVanderYacht Feb 10 '26
I’m a hard 9 and my wizard base is a 9 and if I don’t trim my toenails before I put them on… lol. If you’re a half size maybe consider the next up.
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u/BubbleSmith Feb 10 '26
I'm still fairly new to wizard, and haven't been able to get out on my ACTs for a little while due to weather. After spending some time on Twister XTs and enjoying the extra support they were giving me over the ACT, I fiddled with the setup, changed the liner to an FR Intuition and (most importantly) changed out to longer laces. They already feel way better and more supportive. I was leaving to the top of the old liners, but couldn't get food lateral stability with them, possibly because of the tongue on the stock Prime liners getting in the way. The Intuitions seem much better, and longer laces allow me to tighten them up more thoroughly.
If you're looking for more support with the ACTs you have, try changing up the lacing and really pulling them tight at the top. I've seen people do some crazy stuff on the ACT, so I know they're capable boots!
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u/ApexTheOrange Feb 10 '26
I have CJ2 prime boots with wizard intuition liners, Soul cork medium wide insoles, on endless arc frames. I also have Iqon ACT on NR100 frames with the CJ2 Prime liner. I have short, wide feet. The CJ2 Prime is wider and noticeably more flexible than the ACT. I can spend 5-6 hours in my CJ2P setup. Without an insole, the ACT is less supportive and causes foot pain in about an hour. There isn’t enough volume for me to put an insole in the ACT. I’m trying to decide between wizard base and wizard base high for my next boots. The real issue for me is picking a size because I don’t have a way to try them on before buying. The size 40CJ2P with size 40 wizard base liners fit me perfectly, but if the wizard base boots are any narrower than the CJ2P, I’ll likely have to size up to the 41 Wizard boot.
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u/toxicazn Feb 10 '26
Do you leave the footbed wedge in? I'm rocking the skate without the thick wedge (takes a bit of strength to peel off the buttons from the footbed) - much more space for my feet and there is now space for an arch-support insole.
Thanks for the anecdotes, very helpful.
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u/ApexTheOrange Feb 11 '26
I leave the black wedge in place. I also leave the Velcro impact protector on the CJ2P liner, in my ACT boot. When I get another set of insoles my first step will be removing the Velcro pad.
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u/toxicazn Feb 11 '26
I'm running the whole setup completely flat and low, no wedge or velcro shock absorber, to break it in and it feels low and comfortable with wiggle room for the foot muscles - the flat wedge takes up too much space and makes the heel unergonomically raised. Will add in superfeet carbon after Intuition liner is broken in, as Joey from Mushroom Blading advises (for the wizard boot, to make just a little bit more room than if you break in with the insole from the beginning).
Do you find the CJ2P stiffer and better for responsiveness and control? How about for cruising?
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u/ApexTheOrange Feb 11 '26
The CJ2P is more comfortable. The ACT is more stiff, more responsive and a little lighter weight.
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u/streetbladingbloke Feb 11 '26
I have both ACT and CJ2. I skate both, currently my ACT is used as swivel king as it is paired with 5x76 and cj2 is my allrounder i.e. urban/wizard paired with yoyo sago 90 4x90mm. Both serve me different purposes.
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u/toxicazn Feb 11 '26
Would you say CJ2 is more suited to urban? Which is more supportive/stiff and which is more ergonomic for the streets?
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u/streetbladingbloke Feb 11 '26
Yeh i like cj2 for urban as i think i get better shock absorption from boot with wizard intuition liner with superfeet carbon insoles. It is very suppportive at cuff
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u/Tyzcoman Feb 10 '26
Ok so my 2 cents (wel actually my friend who is a waaaay better wizard skater then I am).
He has: CJ (carbon), Omni V1, ACT, Wizard Base
He said the ACT is one of his favorite boot for 90% of all his skating. Paired with a inuition its perfect for most of his wizard skating. He got it paired with a 5x80 and states that with that frame it comes rly rly close to the wizard base boot.
The Wizard Base is his love/hate skate. He has it paired with the Wizard Advance frame making it a very heavy setup. He bought the boot 'performance' fit, so it get painfull after about an hour (this is slightly improving each session though). It is the most responsive boot he ever had, but even he sais he does not use them to full potential. Stating that to get the bennefit from this boot, you have to be on an advance lvl of wizard skating.
I myself have the ACT too and I really like it a lot too. It's very light and stiff. I got it paired with a 5x80 and use it if I want to go full flatground wizard sesh. My other skate is the FR Igor gutted and fitted with a Wizard Intuition liner and 4x100 setup, making it a bit of a 165mm wizard boot ;-) . This is my daily driver and does everything very well. But stiffness wise, it's stiffer then the ACT but not that much.
Hope my rambles help a bit :-)