nystromshairstylist

If you do a search online you can find them. I ONLY wear Bauer gloves, and only with a double-nash palm. It is not a leather, it is an artificial/man-made material.

I'm cheap, but these have held up well for me and can be worn in both summer and winter, and I wear them outdoors and are fine until about 10 degrees. Then I need another dry-fit shirt underneath. https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Sleeve-Double-Performance-T-Shirt/dp/B01DAQT17I/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=champion+long+sleeve+shirt+men&qid=1641659747&sprefix=champion+long+sle%2Caps%2C244&sr=8-7

My advice would be to start fitting and getting a replacement pair NOW, so you are operating on your schedule, not forced into scrambling for a new pair when your current ones fall apart, which could happen in the middle of a game and then you are screwed. Better off transitioning into the new pair by alternating between them over a few weeks/months so you can get totally comfortable in the new pair. Then you'll always have a spare (the old ones) you can keep around just in case. Just MO.

The quality of my PK7900s is superb, best constructed skate I've seen, and as good as anything I looked at from Bauer or anyone else. The boot is very light, and very stiff, and while the blade may not be my preferred (I stuck Step Steel blades in them as I did not like the profile of the blade that came with them and did not want to spend more $$ to change them) the boot itself is outstanding.

Was in a similar situation this past Summer, had my G70s for 11-12 years, cycled two pairs as I was on the ice 4 times per week until one pair completely fell apart. My experience as I refuse to leave Graf, as told in another recent thread... A few months ago I bought a pair of Graf PK7900s (which are now on sale at IW) and have been skating in them 2-3x/week and they are VERY comfortable. Very different approach and feel by Graf as they are a heel-locking skate - not a tight-fitting boot like the G70s and they require you to use your edges, not the boot, to turn. Were pretty comfortable out of the box, just have required an adaptation in my skating style. I learned how to ice skate in middle age and relied upon the boot to turn and maneuver, so they can be a bit challenging sometimes but this is the future of ice hockey skate fitting; the heel is locked in from the back and there is a lot more room up front, so your foot should never be in pain during/after skating. The heel will feel tight when you first buy the skate even if they are the absolute perfect fit, but will soften over time. From the skate boot forward from the heel there is so much more volume than the prior generations of Graf skates, so you shouldn't really experience foot pain, ever. Note that the skate cannot be tightened for a "traditional" snug fit around your foot no matter how hard you tighten the laces, but again it is meant to provide the front of your foot with a lot of volume for comfort. These are skates meant to get people comfortable on their edges (which I mostly am, sort of...;) Not surprising all of your gear is falling apart at the same time, the manufacturers of a lot of household products seem to have perfected the art of products failing right after the warranty ends...

My G70s did as well, or at least one pair of them, the other pair was wider despite being the same size - an example of the QC issues Graf had 10-12 years ago. The slightly older pair of G70s was actually a bit more comfortable than the newer ones, which I still have. The older pair were practically unusable even before I took a hiatus for surgery in 2019 well before the pandemic, as the boot had gotten softer than jello. I am hoping the PK7900s continue to work well so I can toss the other G70s even though they might have 6 months of life left in them. The 7900s are much more comfortable and don't hurt my feet at all, which is amazing given the boot is stiff as granite. I would like everyone to be clear on one point, the fit of the PK7900s like all Grafs, are built for a certain foot shape. Other Grafs, even those in the newer PK series, will be designed to fit a different foot shape and also might have a different feel on your foot. The more "classic" Grafs like the "classic" 703s that Graf is still making are likely to be snugger than the "newer" 7900s. I cannot stress enough the importance of doing proper research with a knowledgeable Graf dealer, or Graf itself, to find a model designed for your foot. There are differences even within the Peakspeed series as the 7900 is for a medium heel while the 5900 is for a wide one. I am not sure why Graf does things this way but I think with sufficient research most people can find a model that is suitable for them.

I am not sure if that is a positive comment, or a blistering, underhanded and brutally severe insult in the grandiose style of Mark Twain at his most cutting.

I don't think it is any more of a forward lean/as aggressive as some of their other models like the G75s I tried on years ago. Here is some more details on it: https://grafhockey.com/skates/ice/player/peakspeed-pk7900/ One thing I will add is the blade steel Graf is using with the 7900s is very, very good; after several scrimmages and some 6-7 hours on the ice with the skates there is barely any nicks on the edges. I had been using the mid-tier Step Steel blades and they never held up this well.

Hi there. I've skated in a few open hockeys and each time I try to work them hard, pushing myself to take hard stops, turns, quick transitions, etc and I've gotten more and more comfortable/stable each time. They are incredibly comfortable as they provide plenty of volume for the forefoot, and the heel remains locked in - but not to the point where it is being pinched. Coming out of the scrimmages, my feet feel great as there is no pressure being applied on them - the heel is locked in and the skate is not pressing against any part of my foot, yet my foot is not swimming around in them - room but still control. This fit is definitely a paradigm change in how skates should fit/feel...ten years ago my Grafs were snug, fitting like a slim-fit pair of jeans or a paid of gloves. Today's skates seem to be more like a "classic" fit dress shirt, much more room so as not to press on the sides/top of the foot which avoids lace bit and can cause bone spurs, but the boot retains its stiffness long-term so the skates will last for years (hopefully). You are no longer relying on the boot to do the work, you need to be more confident on your edges for sure, which as I said I'm working on. The roominess above the foot will take some adjusting, but will possibly extend the playing/skating careers of many people because the skates are not compressing their feet. I think a good example as far as describing the feel: going from very snug-fitting compression jocks to those orange bauer briefs; you have a lot more room down there LOL but still can maintain control without having to squash your feet. If you can get use to that change in fit/feel, these skates are amazing and even I, and old codger, am adapting and finding I can make them work. I was panicing the first time I tried them on as it as such a different approach, but the skates are built for my shaped foot - it was in my mind in how to skate/how skates should feel, not the boot. I recall an exercise from an old coach who made us untie our skates to force us how to use our edgers, at first I though I was going to fall right away but he showed us how to properly rely upon our edges and not the skates. That is kind of how these feel, a lot more room than the past - but I think they HAVE to be, as a boot this stiff that is wrapped tight around one's foot would be excruciating. That said, I might swap the blade out as I think the stock one is 13', and I am used to a 9'. It is DEFINITELY a way to skate faster if that is your thing, but as a defenseman transitions and turning are key so I might test out one of older step steel blades with a shorter profile to see how it goes. Can I manage with the 13's, sure but in a game I will need maximum control/turning and I am not sure if I can adapt to a new skate feel AND a new profile in a few weeks before the season starts in Sept.

I remember seeing someone who used 2 laces per skates, a longer, tightly-tied one for the bottom eyelets, and a separate lace that they tied less tightly for the top 2-3 eyelets. Simple solution that seemed to work well for them.

I went with and picked up a pair of Bauer vapor team pros which have double layer nash palms. Comfortably the most expensive gloves I've ever bought, but hopefully will be around for many years.

I can't say as I have not seen a recent pair of Swiss-made Grafs in person, but the current Graf/Vaughn line I have are superbly constructed. I'm a leather jacket guy who knows what high-end stitching/manufacturing looks like, and the Grafs I've seen in person for fitting purposes from Vaughn such as the G755s, G735, PK7900s have been first class manufactured. I've heard they are "designed in Canada, made in Asia" like many things today, but that does not mean the fabrication is not top notch. Would it be nice to get on a plane and fly to Switzerland and see Graf's mothership in person, sure - but given that no hockey news media or anyone else is sending me it probably won't happen for a while, sadly. 😉 Though I've heard it is possible to order from Switzerland for shipping to north america, but given that Vaughn and Graf are now closely partnered, it probably makes the most sense to reach out to Vaughn if you see a pair of skates on the www.grafhockey.com website that say "made for Europe" that you want to get your hands on. Maybe they can be imported, or manufactured for you by Vaughn/Graf Canada...

Hi all. I'm looking to replace a pair of ripped gloves, but only want models that have what the title says, a dual layer ivory nash palm - I found Bauers but does anyone know if any CCMs or other manufacturers also use this material for the palms? I've found it makes the glove last much longer.

I can't speak from experience on the Vaughn-manufactured Grafs about holding up over time as I just bought these, but I do know Vaughn's products are respected, and an inspection of my 7900s gives me the impression these are as well made as my 10+ year old Grafs, or anyone else's product currently in the marketplace. I plan to skate on these a few more times to get comfortable, and possibly buy another identical pairs as I normally rotate my gear, and usually bring 2 pairs of skates to the rink as I block a ton of shots and have broken blades before. Rotating skates, especially once I start playing a few times a week again (hopefully, pandemic permitting) helps keep them "fresh" and able to last for hopefully 10 years, which I've heard is a lot longer than most people keep their skates. Given that some of the past 10 years I was on the ice 4-5x per week, I'd have to say I got my money's worth with my G70s. I hope to do the same with the new 7900s.