Can baking increase the volume/depth of a skate?

[Law Goalie 147]

I tried on a pair of otherwise perfectly-fitted Graf G9s the other night, but they turned out to be just a little bit shallow for my feet. I'd estimate a maximum of 3mm, between the third pair of eyelets from the toe and the third pair from the top.

My LHS claims that if the G9s are repeatedly and heavily baked, we should be able to create that extra bit of depth in the midfoot and quarters. I searched on MSH, and nobody has ever mentioned that baking can increase the depth of *any* skate. The sole exception is the Kor, which will increase noticeably in depth, but not enough to make it an option for me.

So is this baking-->volume possible only with Kors, or does it work on a smaler scale with other skates?

Are there any tricks I can use to force the creation of extra volume in the baking process? I thought maybe pulling upwards on the eyelets just a little might help... or it might ruin them.

(Mods, please amalgamate this with my G9-fitting thread as you see fit: I did ask this question there, but I'm anxious to have it specifically addressed.)

[B-Nads 0]

I tried on a pair of otherwise perfectly-fitted Graf G9s the other night, but they turned out to be just a little bit shallow for my feet. I'd estimate a maximum of 3mm, between the third pair of eyelets from the toe and the third pair from the top.

My LHS claims that if the G9s are repeatedly and heavily baked, we should be able to create that extra bit of depth in the midfoot and quarters. I searched on MSH, and nobody has ever mentioned that baking can increase the depth of *any* skate. The sole exception is the Kor, which will increase noticeably in depth, but not enough to make it an option for me.

So is this baking-->volume possible only with Kors, or does it work on a smaler scale with other skates?

Are there any tricks I can use to force the creation of extra volume in the baking process? I thought maybe pulling upwards on the eyelets just a little might help... or it might ruin them.

(Mods, please amalgamate this with my G9-fitting thread as you see fit: I did ask this question there, but I'm anxious to have it specifically addressed.)

There are people much more qualified to handle this one than myself on here, but I can't see how multiple bakings could increase the depth of a boot - I could see it shortening the life of the boot, but not making it deeper or significantly wider. Punching could give you some width, but not length or depth...of course I could be wrong.

[Law Goalie 147]

I'd still love to get a definitive answer on this...

[Rustpot 1]

It very much depends on the boot construction. My CCM skates have near verticle sides, making it pretty much impossible to add depth to the boot. If the G9 skate is made more like a shoe where the top arches over the foot for lacing, then the sides can be made more verticle and "unwrapped" so to speak. This is how shoes accept various foot sizes.

The old set of leather Bauer skates I have are like this, and they are indeed very accommodating to various size feet.

I assume modifying the boot like this would cause alterations in the fit for the rest of the skate, which is why they make certain skates for certain feet.

[Hockey Fan 51 0]

I'd still love to get a definitive answer on this...

Not really a definitive answer here, but generally the heat moldable materials are located in the ankles, heels and in some skates continue into the sides a little, but given the construction of the skate, the depth is determined by the outsole and the lacing structure.

I'd be very surprised if any amount of molding would stretch the materials enough to make a noticeable depth difference without severely compromising the durability of the skate.

If someone were suggesting that the depth could change I think it would be more from your foot pulling back into the heel of the skate and off the toe (which naturally would add a little volume but not change the structure of the skate).

[Law Goalie 147]

Gotcha. I guess what makes the Kors different is that the outsole is moldable, which, as you say, influences depth.

Point taken about my heel moving back into the skate. The problem is that my foot exceeds the volume of the skate so that moving the heel back a little might alleviate the pressure over the quarters, but not over the midfoot. That might be enough to make the skate playable, but we'll see.

Thanks for the replies. If anyone else wants to chime in on the G9s specifically, or on the theory of baking in general, I'd be much obliged.

edit: Or if you just want to sell me some 8090s in 7.5D or 8D on the cheap, that'd work too. :D

[AnthonyJTa 0]

If someone were suggesting that the depth could change I think it would be more from your foot pulling back into the heel of the skate and off the toe (which naturally would add a little volume but not change the structure of the skate).

My 9K's are killing me lately, and my heel doesn't quite set into my right skate that well... so someone recommended punching it so my heel sits in better + more depth in the boot. The other alternative they offered me was ditch the Superfeet (ie: Thick plastic support under the heel), and go back to a stock footbed.

[Tyler B 0]

same thing with my pumps... the superfeet bring my heal up a bit so it doesnt lock in as well. Its not as noticable when im skating though. I think i might try the stock insoles for an ice time to see if that helps. but i would prefer to not ditch the superfeet.

[JR Boucicaut 3806]

Nope, it cannot.

[Law Goalie 147]

Thanks JR: I appreciate the confirmation. That officially rules out any retail Graf skate.

I found myself a pair of 8090s, so here's hoping they work for me...