Graf 704 problem

[bazli21 1]

hi guys! My last skate was a size 8.5 Bauer Supreme 7000 which was a bit too narrow in the toe area.. my baby toes were killin me after every skate..

I bought a pair of size 9 Graf 704 while i was in Finland in June. They're Swiss made ones.. which i've only heard good things about on MSH.. They felt really good in the shop. Comfy and snug.. no pressure points. First few skates I was suprised that there was no pain at all! I was very happy with that.

However after skating on them 3-4 times a week for 1 month, they started feeling a bit big. i could not control my edges as quickly as i wanted. i tried putting in an extra insole and wearing thicker socks to make it feel more snug and that helped for awhile.. but now it's starting to hurt my feet... and the boots feel a lot softer than when i started with them.. going from no pain to pain is a first for me for skates.. what should i do?

[shifter 0]

did you try to tighten them but not overduing it?

[bazli21 1]

if i tighten them to the point where there is no more slack, my foot goes numb after a few minutes of skating :P i've been trying a lot of lacing configurations but it's either too loose or too tight.. never had this problem with my bauers..

[djinferno 2]

i think your struggle is with the lower cut on the boot...

[jestrs 0]

Skates always get bigger when you break them in. Were your toes feathering the toe cap when you tried them on?

[bazli21 1]

i think your struggle is with the lower cut on the boot...

what makes you think it's the lower cut?

Skates always get bigger when you break them in. Were your toes feathering the toe cap when you tried them on?

with my heels all the way back, my toes weren't touching the toe cap yet but they were really close..

[swede 52]

with my heels all the way back, my toes weren't touching the toe cap yet but they were really close..

Then they are to big.. all boots will stretch, so when you buy skates the toes are supposed to touch the toecap..

The 704's are a full leather boot, and if u skate 4 times a week, the skate doesn't have enough time to dry between each ice session, wich will make them soft and sloppy..

Make sure your skates a all dry before you skate in the again. Use a fan or something to make them dry faster.

[bazli21 1]

Then they are to big.. all boots will stretch, so when you buy skates the toes are supposed to touch the toecap..

The 704's are a full leather boot, and if u skate 4 times a week, the skate doesn't have enough time to dry between each ice session, wich will make them soft and sloppy..

Make sure your skates a all dry before you skate in the again. Use a fan or something to make them dry faster.

the skates dry no problem cos i take the insoles out and leave them out infront of a fan...

[bekster 0]

As far as i know the bauer 7000s were one of the stiffest skates ever made, so i'd say its no suprise that the softer (softer compared to todays standard) and lower cut Grafs must feel soft after the brake in!

When i first skated in my Graf 604 they almost felt too small but after a few weeks the padding moulded around my heel / ankle. Now they feel like slippers and my toes only touch the toecaps when i stand upright.

I would say your skates are at least half a size too big! I'd try to sell them sice they are still pretty new and get a pair in size 8.5.

But they will probably still feel softer than your old 7000s!

[jestrs 0]

I agree with bekster.

[Hockeydog 8]

When i first skated in my Graf 604 they almost felt too small but after a few weeks the padding moulded around my heel / ankle. Now they feel like slippers and my toes only touch the toecaps when i stand upright.

I made the same mistake with my 704's ( bought in US in 1997)

because of all the heel padding they felt just a tad too long in the store but after some usage my ankle pads molded well and I was left with a lot of space.

My LHS at the time fit me too large anyway and this issue made it even worse.

Mine were a 9 W, I am waiting for my new 735's to arrive, I went with a 7.5.

The more ankle padding a skate has, the more room your feet have to slip back.

[bazli21 1]

anyone looking for a size 9 704? hahahaha

darn.. so nothing else i can do huh?