sticktime

Started about 5 yrs ago. Play all positions except goalie. So here’s what is did: My right foot is wider than my left at the forefoot so I switched back to using my skates I originally bought when I started out, Bauer Nexus the black and white ones, and we’re recommended by LHS when they measured my feet. But, my left foot I use a CCM because I had those too and since that foot’s narrower it works, the left Nexus was like throwing a hotdog down a hallway. Anyway, it finally feels like my foot can sit flat and spread out in the Nexus, as opposed to all other skates I tried that made it feel as though my right forefoot was being squeezed - think of making a fist. I thought there would be some earth shatteringly bad result of using two different skates but I can’t tell the difference. I think if it as a custom fit. Next thing I did was get a different contour on the blades. So I tried a +3 which rocks you forward pretty far, and while I liked the quick starts I just didn’t like the sort of generally unstable feeling it gave when doing everything else. On another set of blades I tried a -3. Which for me, as someone that’s flat footed to begin with, it pushed the balance point forward so that natural arch of the skates wasn’t forcing an arch into my foot. This felt very natural and I didn’t feel like I was falling backwards or sliding out the back in hard turns. Tomorrow I’m going to try out a neutral profile and see how I like that. This is all on a 9’ radius size 7 skates.

The goal is to see if I like being in more of a forward lean, whether that’s by adding some padding under my heel, between the boot and holder, or by having the blade profiled. Just curious to see whom may have done any of those methods and how they liked it.

Currently have a 9’ radius, neutral profile (meaning balanced front to back, pivot point is probably in the middle of my foot, hence a flat stance), 5/8 sharp. I’ve put pieces of a cut up insole under my heel, varying thicknesses and length, meaning from just under my heel to all the way from under my heel (touching the back of the skate) coming forward 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch and so on to about the mid foot. They all just make it feel like I’m on high heels so I’m wondering if moving the pivot point back towards the heel by taking off steel from the front half of the blade will feel any different. I see that some relied already that they have done this slightly and they didn’t like it felt too much on toes. So ultimately what I’m asking is if anyone really likes being forward and up on their toes like they had a big heel lift?

Simply asking if anyone had their skates profiled to have an extreme forward lean, which would be achieved by moving the balance point back towards the heel by varying degrees. Hence, the +1, +2, etc that I described in my original post. Thats how it’s done at least here in Pgh.

Been a minute since I’ve been on but I have a question that could basically be posed to all though I imagine only applies to a small group: Does anyone have an extreme pitch on their blade? Meaning, instead of a neutral 9’, 10’, 11’, 12’ etc. radius, you have then had some of the front of the blade ground down to give a +1, +2, +3, +4 or even +5 pitch? Thinking about trying some pitch on my skates and want to see if anyone is at either end of the spectrum.

Just wondering if anyone increased the radius to a 10' or '11'' but kept the stock pitch of +1? Did it hurt the turning ability at all if so? Incidentally, when I a new set of runners checked for profile and pitch, my sharpener said one was 9' and the other was 10', BUT WHAT WAS EVEN MORE UNBELIEVABLE, was that one skate was a +1 and the other was a +4!! So just echoing what so many here say - get your new skates or runners checked for evenness of radius and pitch. Those that just "just get them sharpened out of the box" are doing themselves a disservice. Of course this applies to any skate not just Mako.

Has anyone had luck with narrowing the heel/achilles area, if even a smidge? I want to try to get back into these and that area on both feet is narrow. And how did you do it?

Is there a difference in in the end result if you use fbv or bfd? I know that it's blackstone and blade masters versions. Also, I did try the bfd in a 1/2 equivalent, think it was x6? Not sure. But, what I noticed, apart from the INSANE ice that you get, is that the first 2 or 3 steps when you quick start or really trying g to dig in to get going if just gliding seem to be slippery, as in my skates were sliding out. I'm wondering if I went with the 3/8 equivemt of the bfd if that would grip more AND have the same great glide? And would this hold the same for blacktone's version.

As for fit my issues were - Right foot second toe was hitting end of boot causing some tenderness that wouldn't subside. Could deall with it though. Left foot outside of little toe developed a bump. Had them punched out and it alleviated it a little bit. Left inside ankle bone was bruising when doing crossovers to left. The hard section right behind the eyelet was pressing on ankle bone. Had them punched out here and again it helped a little but still an issue. So, due to these issues I switched to Supreme 190's. Always missed the fit around the entire foot, you guys know what I'm talking about. The Supremes just have too much negative space in comparison. So now my experiment is switching out the footbed in the Mako with those basically paper thin insoles you can buy at any supermarket or pharmacy. Haven't skated yet but laced up walking around my gameroom they definitely gave me the feeling of slightly more room for the toe issues. Hoping the ankle bone issue will be sorted too. If not I'm going to use either the Bunga Maleolar sleeve with the gel disc they sell separately and stick to my ankle. I think they're the same discs whether in the sleeve or on their own. I so much miss the fit of these damn boots. I had my Supreme blade profiled to a +2 to give me the pitch of the Makos, but there's nothing like the fit! I'm going to make them work however i can, damn it!

Out of the box are the Mako 2's a 9 or 10 ft. radius? If I want the same feel as my supreme 190's that have a +2 pitch any suggestions on how to get blade profiled? Or put the Tuuk and +2 blade on the Mako?

Been thinking about getting these for my 190's. My ankles/heels are on the narrower side and while my foot is locked in left skate, my right has a minute amount of possible side to side movement. It's weird, my heel doesn't lift but I feel like it could be more locked in. I also use cheap dollar store flat insoles under the stock insoles to give a slightly snigger fit. I wish Vapors would work but the 6.5 is too small and the 7 is too long. But the way it grabs my foot is what I'm trying to replicate in the supremes. And with these booties they may do it. Incidentally, I tried skating barefoot last week and I can't wear socks ever again. It's that much better; can just feel the blade and ice better. The only other boot that works is the Ribcor 28 or 30k, it's snug like a vapor and grabs my heel. But I don't want to drop another 4 bills. So going to go e these booties a try in my right skate.

That's what I'm thinking - don't really want to take any more off of the toe to get more pitch. So sounds like it's either 2 or 3 mm heel lifts combined with the +1 I've already had done to the blade, or possibly switching out the holder for the CXN from my Mako?

If I want to a bit more on my toes then maybe heel lift of 1-2 mm, in conjunction with the steel already being profiled to a +1 is the way to go? Maybe it isn't a good idea to take more steel off the toe? idk. All I know now is that I know that I like the aggressive/attack stance that the Mako put you in (and I guess Graf's do the same), and I want that for my 190's. RIght now it's as simple as the +1 didn't put me back to that. So I'm looking for suggestions/insight. After I get this dialed in I should be GTG.

What you're referring to in you post about being in Supreme's with either a heel lift or a significant heel lift is exactly what I was going to post about. Here's where I'm at - I had to give up on the Mako's due to the pain on my inner left ankle bone. Had them punched out in that area, and it did create a pocket however the problem area was the steel row of the eyelets, that is what was pressing on my ankle. That area cannot be moved. It was only a problem when doing crossovers to the left, but it was to the point of being unbearable. So spent a good many hours this week over the course of a few days days and the the only skate that locked in my heel and fit everywere else was the Supreme 190. I had them profiled to a +1 so I could see if I like the middle ground between the pitch of the Makos (I know it's not just the blade of them that gives the pitch, I think it's the CXN holder that's also slightly taller than the Tuuk?), and I still felt like I was on my heels, like I could fall backwards. So now I don't know what direction to go as far as further profiling of the blade and have LHS shave more off of the toe and how much, or have heel lifts put in? Anyone have suggestions either way?

I like flip12's take above which is to go back to the go back to the stock mako blade and go with a longer radius of 10" or 11". Seems logical that it would afford more stability. I skated in my Nexus 600's and my now-neutral Mako's yesterday at public skate and they are almost identical as far as that flat footed/neutral stance. And I don't like it. It feels to slow. But there's still that issue of the pain on the inside ankle bond of left foot. So I tried on vapor x100's and reebok 28k's yesterday and they both have good padding in that area, actually the reebok has way more than the vapor. So I'm not sure what I'm going to do now.

Just had the blade profiled, if that's the correct term, ground down to a neutral pitch to mimic the nexus 600's that I learned to skate on. I had been skating on the mako 2's for about two months now, and while I could do everything I wanted, I just quite couldn't get used to the elevated feeling of the steel in the back. I just felt like I was skating on high heels. So, I've had two skates now at stick and puck and I've quickly noticed two things: 1. I feel much more "stable" when doing everything, 2. The tradeoff that I don't feel that ease of skating as did prior, meaning getting going and keeping going just feels so different, so much so that I'm like I want the pitch back! Maybe I could get replacement steel and have them profiled again but splitting the difference? Oh yeah, one other annoying thing that developed a few weeks ago even before I had them profiled and is still present - like one of the prior posts above about the skate pressing on the inner ankle, so does mine and it hurts. Use two Elite gel pads there and it did alleviate some pressure but it's still an issue. Any thoughts on that also?

I've been skating in these for 2 months now, and couple of issues nothing too major. 1. My left pinky toe has a bump on the outside of it. Had the skate punched out in that area and this slightly alleviated it. The main reason for the bump is that toe was a bit stubbier than my other pinky to to begin with, and with such a tight fit of the mako's it irritated it a bit. Nothing i can't skate through though. 2. This one came out of nowhere a few days ago - the ankle bone on the inside of my left foot feels like a piece of steel or something hard is pressing on it when i do crossovers to the left. Maybe the padding there needs to be more substantial. I tried lacing less snug at the top two eyelets and that didn't do it. By the way, I like the laces loose until it starts the bend, then I crank those to keep my heel locked and then also tie pretty tight the remaining 3 eyelets. With such a low cut skate I feel like I need that support, it just feels so much better maneuvering with them tight at the top as opposed to looser. So basically I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this pressing in the ankle area and if a piece of foam or rubber or something glued onto the inside of the boot in that area may alleviate the pain, or even a gel pad stuck over my ankle bone. Or whatever.