Graf G9 fit: some confusion

[Law Goalie 147]

[NB: re-titled to reflect skates I've actually found and tried on.]

It became apparent to me recently, after discovering the 3rd-eyelet pencil-test, that my Daousts (7.5D) are too shallow for my feet - this also explained some of the foot pain I'd been experiencing, even though the Daousts were a massive improvement over my old skates. I headed down to my LHS in Toronto, in search of a proper fit. I tried some Graf 705s, which were ever shallower, but a good length-fit in an 8R (if a little tight in the forefoot). This is where things got a little odd, and I need some advice from the board.

The shop doesn't carry G9s or 707s (which the senior skate guy and my own reading had led me to believe are the deepest boots in the Graf line) but they did have a pair of Ultra G70s in an 8W. These were *still* not deep enough for my freakishly high arches and thick feet, and a little too sloppy in the width, so the skate guy said I'd have to order some G9s in 8R. Being somewhat hesitant to order $500 skates without trying them on, I figured I should ask here first.

1. Do the G9s fit deeper than the G70s??

2. Apart from depth, do G70s otherwise fit the same as G9s?

3. Do the 707s fit as deep as the 709s?

4. Would a 707 in 8W be more or less the same fit as a G9 in 8R?

I'm also keeping my eye out for Nike Flexlites, Bauer 8090s and Mission S500, since I gather they'll be similar in fit and function. I'd prefer to end up in the 707s, since I like some ankle flexibility, but I'm more concerned with proper fit than anything else.

Cheers.

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

G70 is an updated 709, so, same fit

709 deeper than 707

[Law Goalie 147]

Oh bloody hell... I guess the guy at the LHS was mistaken when he told me the 709s fit deeper than the G70s.

So, I'm definitely too deep for a 709. That would pretty well completely rule out the 707s and S500s as well, I assume.

Any other options? What's the deepest fitting skate around? Or will I have to go custom to get a proper fit?

I'm not married to Graf, by any means - I just heard the 709s were nice and deep. I'll try anything as long as it's got a chance of fitting.

[TBLfan 25]

What other skates have you tried on? Anything come close to being deep enough for you?

[Keith 0]

Honestly, nothing is deeper than 709 retail-wise... Maybe those Salming f1 boots. Ask Chadd or someone who had a pair.

[jimmy 194]

A Custom 709 Graf, about $100 more.

[Law Goalie 147]

You're killing me, jimmy. :( Will that approx. $100 just cover the increased depth, or will it also afford me some other room to play around (eg. 1/4-sizing, extra eyelets, choice of tongues, etc.) If I've got to go custom, I figure I may as well get my money's worth and end up in a perfect skate.

Keith: thanks for the tip on Salming. I may actually be able to find a pair to try on.

TBL: Apart from my Daousts, I've tried 705s, G70s (and thus by extension the 709s), XXXXs, and One90s. Every time, same problem: my foot burst out across the arch like a rising loaf od bread. The G70s were the closest, though. I've also tried a few pairs of goalie skates, all to no avail: the RBK 9K, Vector 6.0, Vapor XIX, CCM 852, and Graf 750. Of those, the 750 was the only thing that was even vaguely acceptable, and I found it way too sloppy in the heel.

I don't know of any shops around here with Kor (I suppose Just Hockey up in Don Mills might), and I don't know anyone who carries the top-of-the-line Mission stuff. I guess my best bet is to save up and stretch my custom fee as far as Graf will carry it.

Any other advice would be very much appreciated.

[Law Goalie 147]

Oh, and one additional question:

What size of Pitch holders would I need for an 8R Graf skate?

[Law Goalie 147]

Yet another line of inquiry:

It seems that there's some anecdotal evidence for the Nike Flexlites fitting even deeper than the 709s. Since these are a discontinued skate and I've never seen them in a store, I'll probably be limited to finding a pair online.

How do the Flexlites fit, lengthwise, relative to my Daousts (7.5D) and the Grafs I've tried?

(I understand they fit more or less like 8090s/Microns, so I'm guessing I'd be a 7.5 or an 8).

[wristshot19 0]

Last year's model of Flexlite 12 has been discontinued but the "new" Flexlite 18s are still offered which should be built from the same last as the old 12s (somebody with more knowledge of the 18s can correct me if I am wrong). You can find the 18s many different places.

[cbart 1]

I've researched this as well. I have the same feet as you...Flexlites deeper than G70. Wide toe box as well (wider than Graf)

[Law Goalie 147]

cbart:

Thanks a bunch - that confirms it for me. I think your name popped up a few times in my searches. :) Any idea what kind of length I'd be looking at in the Flexlites if I'm an 8D (or R, in Grafspeak) in the G70s?

wrist:

I'd be *very* interested to know if they are built on the same last and with the same depth in the quarters. I'll keep an eye out for the Flexlite 18s, but I've never seen a single Flexlite skate around here. I probably need to haul my ass to Just Hockey.

[Keith 0]

I had v12s. They weren't deeper than 709 imo.

[pjf 0]

Law G

I would try on a pair of 709 and see how they fit even if they are not the correct width. I 709 does fit deeper then the new G70.

If the 709 does fit you correctly for volume then just order in the correct width. The volume does not change between a regular and wide width.

P

[cbart 1]

cbart:

Thanks a bunch - that confirms it for me. I think your name popped up a few times in my searches. :) Any idea what kind of length I'd be looking at in the Flexlites if I'm an 8D (or R, in Grafspeak) in the G70s?

wrist:

I'd be *very* interested to know if they are built on the same last and with the same depth in the quarters. I'll keep an eye out for the Flexlite 18s, but I've never seen a single Flexlite skate around here. I probably need to haul my ass to Just Hockey.

I'm a 9.5W in Eastons, Graf, RBK, but about a 9R in Flexlites. The new Flexlite 18 hasn't hit the shelves at my LHS yet and I haven't seen much online either.

[Law Goalie 147]

Thanks again, cbart. That was more or less the standard line on Flexlites, but I'd never had them compared directly to the Grafs before.

---

One other thing occured to me: would I be able, perhaps, to 'fake' some extra depth into my Daousts by swapping out the gorgeous but insanely thick white felt tongue for a thinner one?

[blues_91 0]

Not to threadjack, but how does the depth/width of the 709/G9 compare to the 8090?

[Law Goalie 147]

I'd like to know that myself - though I suspect that the 709 and the Flexlite are both deeper than the 8090. The G70s are definitely deeper than my Daousts, which ae comparable (as I understand) to the Microns on which the 8090 is based.

[blues_91 0]

Actually, I think that the 8090s may be deeper. If I can recall correctly, my 8090s fit deeper than my V-12s, and I assume V-12s fit the same as flexlites?

[Law Goalie 147]

OK, now I'm really interested.

Can anyone say for sure whether the 8090s are deeper than the Flexlites?

And why the hell I can't find any pairs of these skates in Toronto?

[donkey87 0]

And why the hell I can't find any pairs of these skates in Toronto?

The 8090s were discontinued. Best place to find them is on ebay. The Supreme 70 is the current NBH skate with the closest fit to the 8090.

[Law Goalie 147]

True, but I would think a few pairs - even beat to hell - would be turning up somewhere as trade-ins or on consignment.

I've tried a Supreme 70, and my foot burst out of it like a muffin.

[fatwabbit 93]

The Flexlites were supposed to be deeper fitting... best way would be to try those on.

Ebay has a few going at the moment (or last time I checked). There should be a size 8 i think...

[Law Goalie 147]

That's just it - I can't find a single pair of ANY of these skates in Toronto to try on. Some sound great, but I'll never buy before I try, and I try only to buy online if the LHSs really come up short (as they have here). Basically the only things I can find are the basic Graf models, Vapors and One90s.

I also think I'm probably a 7.5D in the Flexlites, based on what I've read. Shame though - those 8Ds with the Custom+ holders look great.

Ah, and for those wondering about the Flexlite 18s, they're up on EastWest Hockey, and described as "this year's replacement for the Flexlite 10."

[srv2miker 0]

Graf 727s are quite deep, and they have excellent ankle movement. They might be worth checking out, if you can find a pair.