API lace bite protection for skates

[Petey21 1]

Just stumbled upon a link to some lace bite protection called API, has anyone tried these, and if so, are they any good?

http://apihockey.com/api.html

Also, if you remove the api.html part in the URL you'll get to a webshop, which is also called API, are those bite protection things their own brand? They carry sticks and stuff of brands such as Flarrow and Tundra too (never heard of Tundra before) and various other equipment.

[Chadd 916]

Tundra is the retail version of Ballistik sticks.

[airl82 0]

I personally like these inserts. I have used the same pair for close to 2 years and with many diiferent skates, even ones with a heavier tongue designed to limit lace bite. I have tried using my many pairs of skates with and without these inserts and always wind up going back to them. They slip in under the tongue allowing you to really tighten up the top 3-4 eyelets without cutting off circulation. I find it helps me keep my heel seated a bit better. They are really quite comfortable too as you have some extra cushion against the tongue when you bend your knees aggressively to skate.

I currently use them with my Vector Pros, Graf G35's, and Synergy skates. I have also used them successfully with my Nike v-12's, VaporX's, Vapor XX's, Graf 704', 705's, and 707's.

IMHO, a great investment of about $20 to $30 per pair. They are very durable as I play 3 times a week year round; at one point last year I was on the ice 6-7 times a week with them.

Hope this helps. Obviously, it is a personal preference thing, so, take my experience with a grain of salt.

[sherwood21 0]

There is absolutely no way that all of those skates fit you properly.

[airl82 0]

You are absolutely correct and I realize that any knowlegeable skate fitter (especially a Graf dealer) would cringe. I know that the fitment of the skates I have, or had, suit a range of foot shapes but I just had to try it. I have gone through much trial, error, and money buying skates (both new and used) to find what works for me due to general ignorance. I had no intention of starting this science experiment and was pretty happy with my Vapor X's, but decided one day to try out a pair of Graf 707's. I didn't like the fit very much and decided to try a different model. Things seemed to snowball from there. Some I have used only once and decided they were not for me. Others I have used for over several months, rotating with various models to experiment with the feel.

Luckily, I have sold several pair recently to finance and keep the G35's, Vector Pro's w/T-Blades, and the Synergy's (original model, not the 1300C). Currently I use the Synergy's more than the others and really like them, so, will likely sell the remaining skates eventually to have some consistency. I got them smaller and narrower than my other skates at the recommendation of the LHS that runs the trial program locally and am surprisingly very pleased with them.

This may sound crazy, but I do this with my other equipment as well. Probably more money (not much) than brains, but you only live once.

[Cavs019 710]

Its called ho'ing, occurs in every sport, especially golf. It took me about 10 pairs of skates to finally find my babies, teh Graf G3.

[JGraz15 53]

Its called ho'ing, occurs in every sport, especially golf. It took me about 10 pairs of skates to finally find my babies, teh Graf G3.

We'll see how long that last ;)

Which ones did you go through Cavs?

[Cavs019 710]

Vapor 10s, 7000s, 705s, Vapor XX, v12, Vapor XX second go, 8090, Vapor XXX, G3.

[sherwood21 0]

Its called ho'ing, occurs in every sport, especially golf. It took me about 10 pairs of skates to finally find my babies, teh Graf G3.

983, Launcher, 905T, 975J, G2, R7..

happens to the best of us.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Ouch...that's a lot of skates. It's fun to experiment, but never on your own dime :)

[airl82 0]

Wow! I think I found my home on this site forum. Some of my fellow players think I'm nuts, but I feel much better to see that I'm not the only one doing this sort of thing. Thanks for making me feel at home guys. I love hockey equipment (fetish?) and hope to contribute positively to other topics posted in the future.

[jeffw 1]

Just stumbled upon a link to some lace bite protection called API, has anyone tried these, and if so, are they any good?

I was intrigued and ordered a pair. What a waste of money. It's nothing but a piece of soft foam rubber enclosed in some material.

Once you lace up your skates the foam compresses and it's hard as a rock and your back where you started.

I tried a suggestion in another thread (neoprene pipe insulation) and it worked great! It's squishy but firm enough that it doesn't compress all the way when you tie your skates so it still provides some padding. A six foot piece was about $5 US at Home Depot.

I would recommend this to anyone suffering from lace bite. Looks like this...

[jjtt99 0]

I chopped up a mouse pad and did something similar. It worked great!

JJ

[carloseb 0]

I got some Dr. Scholls padded moleskin things, then also picked up a Bunga pad that came recommended . Hasn't helped completely yet, but I think the problem might be that I'm not letting it heal up entirely and I'm just reaggravating things. Do you need to stay off the ice until the pain is completely gone? I'm wondering if maybe I've got something other than lace bite (although everything indicates that's all it is).

[jjtt99 0]

I got some Dr. Scholls padded moleskin things, then also picked up a Bunga pad that came recommended . Hasn't helped completely yet, but I think the problem might be that I'm not letting it heal up entirely and I'm just reaggravating things. Do you need to stay off the ice until the pain is completely gone? I'm wondering if maybe I've got something other than lace bite (although everything indicates that's all it is).

Hopefully I nipped it in the bud. Thanks to this board, as soon as I felt the pain escalating I had a good idea of what it was so I took immediate action:

- Because it's summer and I'm only playing pick up, I took a week off skating.

- During the week I took off, every morning and night I iced the affected area for 15-20 minutes a session. (I have a couple of gel packs in my freezer.)

- I also took Advil for 5 days (following the directions of course) to help bring the swelling down. Note: I'm not a doctor, I just get injured a lot so I have a good sense of what does what.

- The first time I went back on the ice I used my mouse pad contraption and felt okay. I used that for the first couple times, now I'm back skating 2-3 times per week and so far so good as I'm trying to get use to looser laces.

Only time will tell if I'm completely cured, but so far so good. I have a funny feeling that depth wise, my skate isn't the best fit though so we'll see how well I manage the symptoms before I have to shell out for new wheels.

Good luck,

JJ

[jeffw 1]

I believe I'm developing calcium deposits. I can feel hard lumps on the bend where the leg & ankle meet.

Sunday I skated with the pipe insulation and Monday there was some slight pain but no swelling. Tuesday pain is gone. I laced up tight, too.

I realized that I didn't have any problem with this until I adjusted my Pitch holders for more forward lean. I'm thinking the extra pressure on the front of my leg triggered it.

[ladystorm3 0]

I believe I'm developing calcium deposits. I can feel hard lumps on the bend where the leg & ankle meet.

whats a calcuim deposit?