Best forward-flex high-end skate

[Law Goalie 147]

The boot with the best combination of forward 'flex' and lateral stability would be hinged like a ski boot -- eg. the old Micron exoskeletal boot.

The problem is that when we say we want flex, what we really want is a particular degree of resistance distributed in a certain way. It's very personal.

The ideal skate boot would, to my mind, allow a full range of foot motion but would snap back to its stable 'neutral' shape as soon as the force of the foot and lower leg lessened. It would never let you flex far enough to strain the joint; would support rather than allow your movements.

[TomMc#4 0]

Synergy 1500 and stealth s15 both have good lateral support but a good forward flex.

[tsanga 0]

The boot with the best combination of forward 'flex' and lateral stability would be hinged like a ski boot -- eg. the old Micron exoskeletal boot.

I've thought about this myself, but haven't got any answers. How come skates aren't made more like ski boots, especially now with co-injection molding techniques used in ski boot manufacturing that allow different materials to provide different flex in select locations?

Is it durability of taking impact from skates and pucks? Or too bulky and heavy? Or is it that skating really requires much more ankle flexibility than skiing?

[Leafsrok 0]

im asking cause i dont like my vapor 8's, i have lots of pain and when i did that test the pen hit my foot

then you need a deeper boot. but first, i would try unlacing the first couple eyelets and see how they feel then.

[k-ody.m 0]

they jsut feel worse with the top eyelests undone, and it feels awkward, what are some deeper boots? s15? graf supra G5, vapor xxxx? rbk 9k? any of them will the one95 be a deeper boot?

[k-ody.m 0]

anyone?

[hunterphfr 12]

"the lower front of my leg kills me after each game."

Why does this sound like lace bite to me? Maybe you're foot is jut too big for that skate. What about the good ol' pencil test? You just may need a different type of skate that will fit the mass of your foot/ankle.

Sure sounds like lace bite to me. I have a similar pain in my 110 XPs. The thin tongue combined with the high ankle causes pain at the base of my shin. Goes away if there is a week or two between seasons. Because my 2 beer leagues have at most 1 day in between I wripped a chunk of thin foam from one the inserts in my girdle and insert under the toungue in that area. Gives me some relief.

[cbart 1]

anyone?

here

[djosbun 0]

Sorry I haven't posted follow-up information (i've been out of town on business). I broke my tibia and fibula completely through directly above my ankle, so it's in the very low leg/upper ankle area. I have severe pain in that area because of nerve damage. The pain is greater with my One90 skates than when I had my VaporXX skates. I can't say it's 100% positive because of the One90 because of nerve regeneration thru time. After playing one hour of men's league hockey I can't even touch that area of my leg for 3 to 4 days.

I'm just trying to find a skate that might be easier on that area. I did slip my foot into my friend's Easton 1500 skate and it was a comfy as a slipper inside. I just don't know how my leg will respond during game play. That skate seemed to be wider, too (I wear EE in the One90).

I did try skating one game with the top two eyelets undone but I was so wobbly it wasn't worth it. I'd rather deal with the pain than suck on the ice skating like that.

Dave

[krwwc6 0]

Sorry I haven't posted follow-up information (i've been out of town on business). I broke my tibia and fibula completely through directly above my ankle, so it's in the very low leg/upper ankle area. I have severe pain in that area because of nerve damage. The pain is greater with my One90 skates than when I had my VaporXX skates. I can't say it's 100% positive because of the One90 because of nerve regeneration thru time. After playing one hour of men's league hockey I can't even touch that area of my leg for 3 to 4 days.

I'm just trying to find a skate that might be easier on that area. I did slip my foot into my friend's Easton 1500 skate and it was a comfy as a slipper inside. I just don't know how my leg will respond during game play. That skate seemed to be wider, too (I wear EE in the One90).

I did try skating one game with the top two eyelets undone but I was so wobbly it wasn't worth it. I'd rather deal with the pain than suck on the ice skating like that.

Dave

Several years ago I broke my lower fibula into several pieces right around the ankle area. After having 3 screws put in, I had trouble finding skates that would fit with no pain. I ended up with mission amp flyweights.

After those broke down (3 years of use?) I began wearing s500's. I didn't have pain, but ended up having a very bad ankle sprain on my other foot. Ever since then I've had lots of trouble with pain in the ankle area when playing and afterwards. I tried many different skates and none seemed to work at alleviating the pain.

I finally went with the Graf 707 and it is the only skate that I've found I can skate pain free with. I'd say give them a try, but you need to have strong ankles in order to use them. I do ankle & balance exercises regularly to improve my ankle strength.

[djosbun 0]

I think I would fail with the 707's because my ankle's are probably weak. Maybe the G5 Ultra or G70 Ultra.

[BGM 0]

I would address why you have the pain by talking to your physical therapist before trying to find skates that don't cause you pain--that can be expensive, too. You need to find out if there's something else going on that you need to do some therapy on to help the area in question.

[djosbun 0]

The pain is because of permanent nerve damage.

[krwwc6 0]

I think I would fail with the 707's because my ankle's are probably weak. Maybe the G5 Ultra or G70 Ultra.

My ankles were also a little weak when I began skating with the 707's. The biggest difference between the 707 and the other skates is that the ankle area is basically separate from the other parts of the skate. If you pick up a pair you'll immediately know what I'm referring to. I use two sets of laces so the upper 3 eyelets can be less tight than the lower eyelets.

I began using a half swiss ball at my local gym. I stand on it with one leg, and throw a medicine ball (3lb) against the wall then catch it, alternating hands. I've since moved up to the 15 lb medicine ball and throw it very hard against the wall (place the half swiss ball back farther from the wall because the medicine ball bounces back fast). I've now moved on to balancing on a 18lb medicine ball and throwing another medicine ball against the wall. It takes a lot of time and patience to get better. (I looked really goofy when I began doing this a year or so ago, because I couldn't keep my balance at all, now its just second nature)

I'm sure there are some workout experts on here that can give you some other great exercises to improve your ankle strength. And your doctor may be able to give you some valuable rehabilitation exercises you can do to gain strength also.

[BGM 0]

The pain is because of permanent nerve damage.

But have you gone into your PT and told him what's been going on ? I think that building strength, doing exercises, etc in the area would be benefit you more than going to another skate you aren't sure about.

[Wolfpack_1986 154]

Sorry I haven't posted follow-up information (i've been out of town on business). I broke my tibia and fibula completely through directly above my ankle, so it's in the very low leg/upper ankle area. I have severe pain in that area because of nerve damage. The pain is greater with my One90 skates than when I had my VaporXX skates. I can't say it's 100% positive because of the One90 because of nerve regeneration thru time. After playing one hour of men's league hockey I can't even touch that area of my leg for 3 to 4 days.

I'm just trying to find a skate that might be easier on that area. I did slip my foot into my friend's Easton 1500 skate and it was a comfy as a slipper inside. I just don't know how my leg will respond during game play. That skate seemed to be wider, too (I wear EE in the One90).

I did try skating one game with the top two eyelets undone but I was so wobbly it wasn't worth it. I'd rather deal with the pain than suck on the ice skating like that.

Dave

It's probably because your foot is likely still swollen. I had a tib-fib fracture (bimalleolar), yours sounds higher than mine. I know i cant go forward all the way, just because my foot is still a little fat.

How long ago was yours?

[djosbun 0]

My break happened in 2001, so it was a long time ago. I've seen many doctors, including the Cincinnati Red's team physician. I've also flown to St. Louis to see the only nerve specialist in the U.S. (Time magazine even did an article on her).

Not much you can do when nerves are severely damaged like mine. I use an electrical stimulation machine a few hours per day to help keep the pain away. I also just started taking Lyrica, which I had to fight with my insurance company to cover (even though my co-pay is $60 month for this drug).

The pain is because of permanent nerve damage.

But have you gone into your PT and told him what's been going on ? I think that building strength, doing exercises, etc in the area would be benefit you more than going to another skate you aren't sure about.

I do need to build more strength on that ankle. I do exercises from time to time, but i'm just sooooo busy. I'm low on free time since i'm not a kid anymore.

[bbruins8 0]

All Graf's have lower cut boots...and unless you are a really strong skater or have really strong ankles, the transition is not going to be fun regardless of the model...thats my opinion anyhow.

[krwwc6 0]

All Graf's have lower cut boots...and unless you are a really strong skater or have really strong ankles, the transition is not going to be fun regardless of the model...thats my opinion anyhow.

I completely agree with you bbruins, no matter what, the transition to a skate that allows more flex in the ankles, like grafs, won't be fun.

You've gotta start doing that rehab dude! I know it sucks, but you've got to make time for those exercises.

[bbruins8 0]

All Graf's have lower cut boots...and unless you are a really strong skater or have really strong ankles, the transition is not going to be fun regardless of the model...thats my opinion anyhow.

I completely agree with you bbruins, no matter what, the transition to a skate that allows more flex in the ankles, like grafs, won't be fun.

You've gotta start doing that rehab dude! I know it sucks, but you've got to make time for those exercises.

Merrr...my knee is actually feeling really good lately with the amount of running I have been doing at work (valet) and the amount of skating I have been doing to break in the new Grafs...I am getting used to the lower cut boot though back on topic, though I am a strong skater and have been skating since age 5ish.

[Chadd 916]

All Graf's have lower cut boots...and unless you are a really strong skater or have really strong ankles, the transition is not going to be fun regardless of the model...thats my opinion anyhow.

I wouldn't call a 709 low cut

[bbruins8 0]

All Graf's have lower cut boots...and unless you are a really strong skater or have really strong ankles, the transition is not going to be fun regardless of the model...thats my opinion anyhow.

I wouldn't call a 709 low cut

In comparison to say...a XXXX boot you wouldn't call it a lower cut? Even though it is a deep boot, I would still call it a low cut by comparison...

[swede 49]

All Graf's have lower cut boots...and unless you are a really strong skater or have really strong ankles, the transition is not going to be fun regardless of the model...thats my opinion anyhow.

I wouldn't call a 709 low cut

In comparison to say...a XXXX boot you wouldn't call it a lower cut? Even though it is a deep boot, I would still call it a low cut by comparison...

ehh.... i thougth the 709 together with the flexlites were the deepest retail skates on the market??

[bbruins8 0]

All Graf's have lower cut boots...and unless you are a really strong skater or have really strong ankles, the transition is not going to be fun regardless of the model...thats my opinion anyhow.

I wouldn't call a 709 low cut

In comparison to say...a XXXX boot you wouldn't call it a lower cut? Even though it is a deep boot, I would still call it a low cut by comparison...

ehh.... i thougth the 709 together with the flexlites were the deepest retail skates on the market??

Dunno when I was trying them on they seemed a little shallower than anything in the Bauer line still, maybe I was just in awe at how well I fit the 5 series and wasn't really paying attention though I know it is supposed to be their deepest boot though...wonder when they are gonna come out with a G9? Should be soon...anywho, for the most part Graf skates ARE lower cut, but after some getting used to...crossovers etc. are as smooth as my ass after shaving :lol:

[Jordan 13]

crossovers etc. are as smooth as my ass after shaving

I had been enjoying this thread...peeeeeeeeeuke!