going from Grafs to Bauers

[ozolinsh_27 3]

Hey.. sorta new to this place but lurked a long time... :)

I've been using grafs for about 7-8 years now.. had a pair of 705s for 5 years and 704s for 2 years. Since I fit between 5.5 and 6 in Grafs.. I have to use a 6 because one foot is longer than the other, and in Bauers I fit a 5. Cutting about 200-300 dollars off price right there. (Before you ask, I'm a girl and my feet are small :P)

After reading some reviews on the Bauer XXXs, and trying on a pair instore. I've decided to make the switch over after I've had issues with my arches on the Grafs, and I found that my skates are getting heavier due to moisture over the course of a game. I also really love how light the XXXs are. The salesman mentioned that I may have problems with the lack of forward pitch with the Bauers as compared to the old Grafs.

My question is, has anyone else made this transition and is it relatively easy or did it feel awkward or anything like that?

[ktang 34]

I have transitioned from heel-lifted ICMs (very forward lean) to Tuuks, but it was a hard transition. When I "forgot" about the neutral lean I would have problems.

If you don't want to swap holders, perhaps you could add a heel lift to the Lightspeeds and/or reprofile to get the forward lean that you are used to.

[Chadd 916]

Not only will the pitch be different but the Bauer will have much less steel on the ice. Stock profile from Graf is 11' and Bauer is 9'.

[Shagel 0]

I have done it i went from 502 se with tblades to vapor XXX and it wasnt that bad i felt a bit akward after 2 times on ice but you will get used to them reasonable fast

[jimmy 194]

My question is, has anyone else made this transition and is it relatively easy or did it feel awkward or anything like that?

Just have the Bauers steel radiused with a foward pitch. Problem solved. I do it all the time for customers switching from grafs to whatever.

[cobrAA 0]

Question: Is it better to have a heel-lifted or a profile done for a forward pitch( i had a profile done but wondering)??

By the way...i was in CCM prolite3 and t,blades...these 2 holder are pretty the same...(forward) After 7-8 ice time...i still couldn't get used to the pitch of the bauer!

[jimmy 194]

Question: Is it better to have a heel-lifted or a profile done for a forward pitch( i had a profile done but wondering)??

By the way...i was in CCM prolite3 and t,blades...these 2 holder are pretty the same...(forward) After 7-8 ice time...i still couldn't get used to the pitch of the bauer!

IMO, it's always better to have the steel pitched. You can put a heel lift in, but what if a bad sharpener alters the steel, you'd be all messed up with the lift competing with the steel. Also pitching with a profiling put the gliding sufrace under the ball of the foot.

[ozolinsh_27 3]

Ah okay, I got the XXX skates radiused to 11f, which is what I have used ever since my first pair of Grafs. So hopefully, I shouldn't notice the difference much. I do have a pair of Vapor 8s I use for rec skating and never noticed that much of a difference with the boots.

On a funny note, when I first got my 704s my dad got my skates radiused to a forward/defense radius and I felt like I was going to fall over backwards all night the first game I had them. Amazing how a radius can make a difference..

Thanks for everyones insight :)

[sogaduch 0]

if you find you cant get enough forward lean just not do the top eyelot

[jeenyus15 0]

i switched too.. graf 502 with t blades to vapor xxx.. first time you skate the xxx, it feels weird but you get used after 1 session. i like vapors better than my grafs!