I've been skating in Bauer one nines for several years & have never been particularly happy with them - first time in twenty-five years of playing that I ever experienced lace bite, despite having almost exclusively worn stiff, top-end skates. It was a problem when they were new and now has become a big problem again as they're breaking down, but almost exclusively in one skate. (I assume I'm overcompensating for the boots getting softer by tying them too tight). I did the pencil test early on, and I don't think it's a volume issue. Also, skate stiffness had never been an issue for me, but the current pair is the first full-composite skates I've worn, so I realize that might be a part of the issue. That said, the fact that the lace bite has persisted even as the skates have gotten softer/more forgiving makes me somewhat skeptical that I could remedy the problem by just dropping down a rung on the Supreme ladder. Over the years, I had liked the Supreme line, and my previous two pairs of skates before these were 8090s and Graf 705s, both of which I had liked a lot. When I bought the one.9s, I tried on whatever the current Nexus was and found it too wide in the heel. I remember liking the Vapors, but for some reason which I have since regretted, went with the Supremes.
I'm looking to replace the one nines, and I'm trying to figure out if my problem was a poor fit or whether I just miss the old material skates (which, would, I guess, mean I'd be in the market for a pair of older model Grafs?). I realize that fit and feel are highly personal, but I want to make sure I'm trying on everything I should when I hit my LHS/going about this right. My current skates have been a real frustration, and I want to make the most informed decision that I can. Any thoughts or suggestions welcome.