Above40

I have given Superfeet (both yellow and carbon) a good testing over the last 6 months or so and they don't seem to be an upgrade for me. I originally started using them due to arch pain in new skates and having a semi low arch, combined with a wider forefoot. Just trying out footbeds to deal with general issues with fit. To summarize why I think they aren't working for me, it basically feels like I am skating on my arches and find it difficult to get my weight on the balls of my feet. It (feels like) it takes too much ankle flex to get into a position where i can use the front half of my blade when maneuvering. Heels and apex of radius are readily accessible. I'll admit, some of this might be technique (being back into the sport after a long many ears away) but I've had enough skates in to where I want to perhaps try something else. I'd like to know if anyone can chime in regarding balance point and the possibility of moving the radius apex fwd/back might help feeling better balanced over my skates. When I drop two eyelets I can flex my ankles enough to get things feeling ok but I lose a lot of lateral stability and my upper ankles start knocking around in the top opening (Tippiness). If I tighten them down and really lock my ankle in, things get much worse and Im basically skating on my heels or getting sever lace bite pressure when trying to get balanced/neutral. Im in newer Tacks model 9070. Stock radius on aftermarket hyperglildes. I've experimented with shimming under heel and forefoot (within the boot) trying to slightly change my foot position inside the boot but doesn't really seem to help that much. Walking around the house it seems it feels slightly more natural when i use the stock footbed (pretty thin) with a second layer of stock footbed under my forefoot (slightly less than half). Would moving the balance point /apex back a little ways help me get over the balls of my feet easier? Essentially is this the same as getting a fwd pitch or is there a difference? My intuition might be wrong but I don't think shaving down the toe of the skate is going to help...all else being equal wouldn't that make matters worse? (Front of blade would be even further out of reach if balance point of blade on boot remained the same?) I'm thinking something like an 11' radius but just slightly moved back... .I'm relatively new to all this. Forgive me if I sound like a dope. If anyone can see a clearer picture of what might help me...I'm all ears. Thanks

I'm skating now almost a year back into it after 25 away. To summarize my experience with the new stiff skate boot offerings... From 9060's to Super Tacks and a few in between, They all felt hard as a rock. ( Im 200lbs, not hockey agility fit but relatively fit) I think the major problem for me with an ultra stiff boot was the heat molding and break in, wanting the boots to feel like part of my feet rather than an obstacle to overcome. Even after bakes and punches they always felt a bit "tippy" for me when going inside to outside or neutral to an edge. Abruptness/ un-smooth transitions across the edges because my ankles apparently aren't strong enough yet. Basically/probably relying on the boot for most of the support. I think this could have been avoided by starting with a flexible boot that I could lace up nice and snug where I feel supported but that still move "with" me, rather than an imperfect shell around my foot. Something with more natural/gradual deflection/bending that feels like more of an extension of what I'm trying to do out there. Perhaps a NS/NSX rec-level skate? I'm not clanking around inside of my 9070's but there is that brief moment when doing certain things where I know the skate is gonna "tip" that tiny bit where it doesn't feel like part of my foot and I'm not in control at that time. Figure 8 kind of edge drills etc. I just started practicing 1 ft slaloms and they are truly frightening but doable. Things have gotten much better but it seems like I'm still not in sync w my skates.

Any advice on a helmet with a deeper fit for better ear coverage? Should my entire ear be covered? Personal preference, I'd like them covered best I can. My coconut is bigger /taller than avg. My old CCM bucket is from 1993 and it has more or less these slotted panels that completely cover my ears down to my jaw bone. I tried on a V08 which I thought would fit pretty deep from what I've read but only covers about half my ears! I can handle an earlobe hanging out but it does look kinda silly when the earhole doesn't come close to lining up with the hole. I tried next size larger and it sits almost exactly the same depth. I'll probably eventually make it to the hockey shop/store and see what they have to say on the matter but until then...I'm open to any advice on brands/models to try out or possible aftermarket solutions? Looking in the $80-150 range. Also, I have enough head volume as it is and I'd like to avoid models with excessively thick padding/shell thickness. To borrow a phrase I read elsewhere... trying to avoid the upside down armchair-on-my-head look. 🙂