New guy here looking to get new skates

[icefish 0]

I did ask if they would pricematch, and the obvious answer was no. I then asked if there were any discounts whatsoever, as someone at work who buys tons of stuff from them referred me to them, and they also said, no. They just said to me, if you buy that stuff online, youll be coming back here to pay alot to sharpen and heat mold them.

The lowest that I found the missions were for 229. They have them for 199 but that's specific sizes only.

My shoe size is 8.5, not really sure if I should order the 8.5 or 8 skate.

[althoma1 575]

You should really go somewhere to try on the skates. If you wear a size 8.5 dress shoe then based on how the Missions fit me when I tried them on you'll want to go at least a size down.

I wear a size 10.5 Running Shoe, a 10 dress shoe, 10 sandals and when I tried on Mission S500s the 9EE's were snug, but I could fit into an 8.5EE...it was pretty tight, but not painfully so. If I had decided on those skates I would've went with the 8.5EE's as according to other posts I've read on this board the Missions break in about a 1/4 size and it's always better to go with the snuggest skate possible that doesn't hurt your feet...even then you can look into getting a skate punched out in certain areas or with some skates (like the KORS) the baking process will relieve any pressure points.

I have an average to narrow heel, a mid-high arch, and a fairly wide forefoot. I found the Missions to fit snuggly and couldn't imagine trying to squeeze into a D width. You have to take width into consideration too so trying them on is in your best interest.

For comparison I'm wearing 8.5D Kor Shift 1's now and also tried on Vapor XX's a while ago and my best size in those would've been 8EE (they felt great when I tried them on and some of my teammates loved them, but the durability issues I've read about and the bent/weak steel persuaded me not to buy them). It was when I bought the skates I wore before the Shift 1's..the Vector Pros. I made a sizing error on those - they were good skates, but the 8.5D's were about 1 size too long for me while at the same time a bit narrow. I should've looked for a 7.5E in Vector Pros, but was tempted by a great deal on 8.5Ds or 8Ds..I tried on the 8Ds and it felt like the toecap/forefoot area was a vice so I ended up foolishly going for the 8.5's even though there was about 1cm (1/2 inch) too much room length wise in those.

I'm not sure what your foot type is, but based on my experience trying on skates I'd say you're probably about a 7 or 7.5 in the S400's if you wear an 8 dress shoe. If you're talking about running shoes then you'll probably need to go at least another half size down. I don't know if you'll need a D or an E as I don't know what your foot type is...but you should really try them on somewhere to see if you like how they feel and test the fit. I definitely wouldn't order an 8.5 or 8 online if I were you as you don't know what width you need plus if you wear an 8.5 shoe 8.5 skates would be way too big for you.

[icefish 0]

althoma1, thanks for the help! I cant believe I'm doing this, but I took a picture of my foot next to the 8.5 Bauer supreme 3000 that I've been using. A guy at a skate shop said I'm definitely a 7.5 in Bauer skates.

I would have loved to go with Vector pro's but from all the stuff I've been hearing about them, they're just plain stiff. I kinda like the idea of slightly flexible skates, or something at least comfortable. I also hear that for my weight, too much skate can be a bad thing, otherwise I'd be all over S500, Synergy 1300c, and Vector pro skates.

[Chadd 916]

I'm not sure what your foot type is, but based on my experience trying on skates I'd say you're probably about a 7 or 7.5 in the S400's if you wear an 8 dress shoe. If you're talking about running shoes then you'll probably need to go at least another half size down. I don't know if you'll need a D or an E as I don't know what your foot type is...but you should really try them on somewhere to see if you like how they feel and test the fit. I definitely wouldn't order an 8.5 or 8 online if I were you as you don't know what width you need plus if you wear an 8.5 shoe 8.5 skates would be way too big for you.

Mission is usually the same as Bauer. For me it's about one full size down from my dress shoe size.

[Project_2501 0]

I'm 160lbs and in Vector Pro's. The best thing I ever did was not lace the top eyelet. Oh my, what a difference. They're stiff, but it makes everything feel great imo.

[althoma1 575]

Unless you wear your shoes extremely tight or the size isn't standard it seems weird tha you'd have an 8.5 shoe size and fit a bauer 8. Usually most people fit bauer skates 1 1/2 to 2 sizes smaller than shoe size based on what I've read on this site, other hockey sites, and my personal experience trying skates on. I'm not sure if the guy at your LHS correctly sized you.

If you must buy without tyring them on in the store (still not recommended), sit down, trace both feet on blank pieces of paper, then measure the length of the traced image at the longest point and also measure the width. Then, wet your foot and step on a piece of light coloured construction paper and remove your foot - if you see a wet image of the balls of your feet and the heels, but not much else (or a very thin stripe) you probably have a high arch, if you see a foot image with a little missing in the middle you probably have a mid-sized arch, if you see the entire foot then your arch is likely flat.

With those measurements and knowing approximately what type of arch you have it'll be easier for people to recommend skates and sizes. Still, nothing beats trying them on, but if you can't do that then you'll want to take some measurements so that you can get as close to the correct size as possible.

[hurricane 0]

The LHS sells CCM Pro vectors for 469, where the online sites sell them for 279. I just cant understand at all where that difference can come from. Why cant the LHS order CCM pro vectors online and then sell them at a slightly higher price instead of near double?

If the LHS had maybe $30-40 price tags than online, I'd definitely buy them there, but I cant justify paying double.

Everyone says the Pro vectors are stiff, so I guess I should lean towards the graf. I heard that Graf 709 might be too stiff for my weight, so I considered the cheaper 609/625.

Anyone know what the differences between the 609 and the 625 are?

because no one is there to size you, bake the skates for you, give you your first time sharpening, share their knowledge with you and who even knows if that model skate will even fit you? At least i'm pretty sure tahts why it's cheaper..

Thats why you only buy suff online when you know it works for you....Second pair of skates....Extra sticks.....Gloves.....ETC.so you can save big! Bottom Line!

[icefish 0]

I have a mid arch, and I dont think I can fit a wide.

So far, from what it seems, I'm leaning towards the S400 7.5D

At most, I guess I'd be a 8.0D but then again the mission skates widen by 1/4.

Thanks again

[jimmy 194]

I did ask if they would pricematch, and the obvious answer was no. I then asked if there were any discounts whatsoever, as someone at work who buys tons of stuff from them referred me to them, and they also said, no. They just said to me, if you buy that stuff online, youll be coming back here to pay alot to sharpen and heat mold them.

The lowest that I found the missions were for 229. They have them for 199 but that's specific sizes only.

My shoe size is 8.5, not really sure if I should order the 8.5 or 8 skate.

That's sad they wouldn't deal with you. I will always sell skates at online prices, however, you get zero services with that price, sharpening, molding, fitting, that all will be extra $$$.

[Project_2501 0]

I have a mid arch, and I dont think I can fit a wide.

So far, from what it seems, I'm leaning towards the S400 7.5D

At most, I guess I'd be a 8.0D but then again the mission skates widen by 1/4.

Thanks again

How do you figure out what size you'd need by doing this? I'm going to trace my foot right now to get a measurement. I'm tired of ill-fitting skates.

Edit: just did it. It's about 10.4 inches long from heel to large toe down the middle of my foot. What does this mean? An 8D CCM Vector 7.0 was a little narrow and a touch short (broken in) so that would mean I'd need an 8.5E? I currently have 9.5E Vector Pro's.

[althoma1 575]

This is the information I got from the comprehensive KOR Shift 1 Fit Guide:

24.8cm = 6 25.2cm=6.6 25.6cm=7 26.0cm=7.5 26.5cm=8 26.9cm=8.5 27.3cm=9 27.8cm=9.5 28.2cm=10 28.6cm=10.5 29.0cm=11 29.5cm=11.5 29.9cm=12

CM Measuring System

If the athlete is measuring his foot using the web based measuring system, or providing his measurement over the telephone, then he should use the following CM chart for reference.  KOR sizes are one size down from US Men’s sizes

I measured my feet several times and they were about 26.5cm (about 10.5 inches) varying depending on when I measured them. They were approximately 11.5cm (about 4.2 inches wide) at their widest point.

Based on the length measurement an 8 in KORs seemed appropriate, but when I tried on an 8 in the store my toes were bent with no room in the heel even with the skates tied and the knee over the toes - it could've been because I was wearing normal sport socks when trying them on, but I usually use those or the Salming socks to skate in (which are about the same thickness) - maybe I could've worn the 8s if I was wearing bare feet, but they were VERY tight, my toes were obviously bent. Or perhaps it was because the skates were too narrow for me before being baked and would've expanded enough width wise after baking to make the length OK, but my big toe was bent in half and I wasn't sure that would happen. The 8.5s was still snug and I had pressure points at the sides of my feet. These pressure points went away after the skates were baked and I'm happy with the size - they feel much snugger than any other skates I've owned without hurting. I tried on a pair of 9s as well and could tell they were too big as I experienced heel lift when walking around in them.

People say KORs usually fit a half size bigger than Bauers which made sense to me since I fit into an 8EE Bauer Vapor XXs with my toes brushing the end. Plus when the guy measured my feet with the Bauer measuring tool he said I should be an 8 or 8.5 in Bauer according to that tool. The KOR fit guide says the skates generally fit 1 size down from US shoe size - now I normally take a 10 dress shoe, but I usually leave about thumb nail of space at the end of my shoes for comfort and usually take an E width. If I can't find an E width I'll sometimes go up a half or full size. If I found a very wide 9.5 dress shoe it'd probably fit me snugly, but I know a regular width 10 wouldn't fit.

As far as the width is concerned I figured out my foot is wide by using a Shoe Fitting Guide I found on DicksSportingGoods site: http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/sm-deter...-bg-222865.html

According to that site I should take a 9.5 shoe and my width is wider than an E...which would explain why I can never fit into a 9.5 in running shoes. In most running shoes a 10.5 feels snug for me and in dress shoes a 10 feels right.

Oh, and I found out about the water test thing for the arch on a foot site...according to the test I have standard to maybe slightly higher than standard arches: http://www.footdefense.com/knowyourarch.htm

[althoma1 575]

Oh, and icefish based on the measurement in the pic it seems your foot is just over 9 inches...mine is over 10 inches and I can fit into an 8 Bauer so I don't know how that could also be the same size for you. You should be a few sizes smaller. Guys like Chadd, Jimmy and JR have fit guys for years so would know a lot better than me, but I'd say the LHS guy who sized you sized you a few sizes too large based on that pic.

I saw one post where Chadd said to keep trying on skates until you find one that's too small and then go up a half size. That sounds like very good advice. If you can go into a store and do that then that is your best bet.

[althoma1 575]

Edit: just did it. It's about 10.4 inches long from heel to large toe down the middle of my foot. What does this mean? An 8D CCM Vector 7.0 was a little narrow and a touch short (broken in) so that would mean I'd need an 8.5E? I currently have 9.5E Vector Pro's

I'd say more like 7.5E or an 8E, but that's just a guess. You should go try them on. Another tip I've read is to take out the footbed and put your foot on it..if your toe goes over the tip then they skate's too small, if there is room at the end it's too big and if it's even with the end it's just the right length. This won't help with the width only the length. I couldn't do this with the KORs as the footbeds are sewn in, but wish I would've read about it before I bought the 8.5D Vectors as I can take the the footbeds out in those and there's about an extra cm of space past the big toe. I'm pretty sure 7.5E's or 8E's would've been right for me in the Vectors, but I've only ever seen D's in the stores I looked at..I probably would've had to special order the E's.

If the 8Ds were only a little too short and tight (the 8D Vector Pros felt like that when I tried them on too and my feet are similar to yours length wise) I don't know how you went up to a 9.5E...I'd think those would have quite a bit of room.

[Project_2501 0]

Edit: just did it. It's about 10.4 inches long from heel to large toe down the middle of my foot. What does this mean? An 8D CCM Vector 7.0 was a little narrow and a touch short (broken in) so that would mean I'd need an 8.5E? I currently have 9.5E Vector Pro's

I'd say more like 7.5E or an 8E, but that's just a guess. You should go try them on. Another tip I've read is to take out the footbed and put your foot on it..if your toe goes over the tip then they skate's too small, if there is room at the end it's too big and if it's even with the end it's just the right length. This won't help with the width only the length. I couldn't do this with the KORs as the footbeds are sewn in, but wish I would've read about it before I bought the 8.5D Vectors as I can take the the footbeds out in those and there's about an extra cm of space past the big toe. I'm pretty sure 7.5E's or 8E's would've been right for me in the Vectors, but I've only ever seen D's in the stores I looked at..I probably would've had to special order the E's.

If the 8Ds were only a little too short and tight (the 8D Vector Pros felt like that when I tried them on too and my feet are similar to yours length wise) I don't know how you went up to a 9.5E...I'd think those would have quite a bit of room.

That would be courtesy of my LHS and my mother... Ugh. She wanted my foot to have room to grow. Big mistake. So, my LHS put my in the 9.5 she figured I should have, not knowing what a properly fitting skate should feel like at the time, I said Okay. So I feel as if it wasn't a good purchase.

I tried on my friend's Vector 7.0's (8D) and they felt mostly fine, a little short and a bit narrow. My first two or so toes could touch the end cap, but I think it's because it was broken in for him, and I didn't lace the skate up, maybe that was the problem, in fact. Now that I think of it, had I laced the skate up, it would have been much better...

Looks like I gotta sell some stuff and get money for another pair of skates, maybe I can find Vector 7's for about $200 somewhere.

[Fredrik 0]

Edit: just did it. It's about 10.4 inches long from heel to large toe down the middle of my foot. What does this mean? An 8D CCM Vector 7.0 was a little narrow and a touch short (broken in) so that would mean I'd need an 8.5E? I currently have 9.5E Vector Pro's

I'd say more like 7.5E or an 8E, but that's just a guess. You should go try them on. Another tip I've read is to take out the footbed and put your foot on it..if your toe goes over the tip then they skate's too small, if there is room at the end it's too big and if it's even with the end it's just the right length. This won't help with the width only the length. I couldn't do this with the KORs as the footbeds are sewn in, but wish I would've read about it before I bought the 8.5D Vectors as I can take the the footbeds out in those and there's about an extra cm of space past the big toe. I'm pretty sure 7.5E's or 8E's would've been right for me in the Vectors, but I've only ever seen D's in the stores I looked at..I probably would've had to special order the E's.

If the 8Ds were only a little too short and tight (the 8D Vector Pros felt like that when I tried them on too and my feet are similar to yours length wise) I don't know how you went up to a 9.5E...I'd think those would have quite a bit of room.

That would be courtesy of my LHS and my mother... Ugh. She wanted my foot to have room to grow. Big mistake. So, my LHS put my in the 9.5 she figured I should have, not knowing what a properly fitting skate should feel like at the time, I said Okay. So I feel as if it wasn't a good purchase.

I tried on my friend's Vector 7.0's (8D) and they felt mostly fine, a little short and a bit narrow. My first two or so toes could touch the end cap, but I think it's because it was broken in for him, and I didn't lace the skate up, maybe that was the problem, in fact. Now that I think of it, had I laced the skate up, it would have been much better...

Looks like I gotta sell some stuff and get money for another pair of skates, maybe I can find Vector 7's for about $200 somewhere.

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/ccm-vector-ice-skates-sr.html

[Project_2501 0]

Well, now I need to find the $200 for them. Honestly, I think I'll just keep skating in these and save for Kors. That will give me everything that I want.