Foot pain

[Adambomb 0]

Need some insight/help. I'm skating in brand new Graf 705's and am having difficulty getting them tied correctly. I'm a size 8.5 shoe and these are 6.5 regular width skates. I have an average foot meaning, not flat foot, no high arch, not wide etc. I've been tying them tight in the toe cap, a little looser in eyelets 4-7 and then tight on the top three. Poblem is, by the end of the game both big toes are extremely painful. I've tried tightening my skates a half dozen different ways and either I have pain or my foot is swimming in the boot. I really believe I have the right size skate, moving up a half size and my heels never lock in. Ideas????

[bbruins8 0]

I'm skating in new G5s...same fit as 705s. I'm having a hard time adjusting as well and I am having pain in the forefoot area just behind the toes. Go bake them, and tie them tight and break them in. I notice the pain is less and less every time I skate.

[Adambomb 0]

Thanks, I did have them baked when I bought them and I wear them around the house a couple of times a week. Just a little frustrated that I can't ;dial them in". I understand the pain when you break them in and overall they are comfortable as hell.

[Hockeydog 8]

Is your toe banging against the end of the toe cap, or is it pain from getting pinched from the sides? If it is pinching on the sides try experimenting with the tightness of each set of eyelets individually. You should have waxed laces with the Grafs, so each pair of eyelets should stay were you put them.

[NTKT10 0]

IMO I think the footbed is rather slick. If you're wearing a thin sock and your foot isn't solidly in place (or even if it is), your foot may be sliding forward just enough that your big toes are slamming into the toe cap. It sounds like this is what is happening to you. If you like the Graf footbed you could try a sock with a grip zone on the bottom to help your foot "stick" a little better. Something like a Synergy or Bauer skate sock.

I had the same problem with the big toe on my left foot. I have a pair of G5's and found that my best option was to lace them however they felt most comfortable and use a sock with grip on the bottom. Sometimes my toes are fine after I skate other times my toe may hurt, I just put up with it now since I don't really notice any discomfort when I'm skating.

[Adambomb 0]

Ordinarily, how do you all tighten your skates? Iv'e read a lot of different theories and generally I went by what I read in Laura Stamm's book.

As far as the footbed, I agree the Graf is rather slick. I did buy the Shock Doctors when I bought the skate but I pulled them out thinking that they might be causing me to have more "volume" and thus causing my problem. Maybe I should give them a second chance?

[NTKT10 0]

I bought a pair of the Shock Doctors for my Vector 10.0's and laced the Graf's up with them in, but didn't skate in them. They added too much volume and I find I don't need the added support of a Shock Doctor or Superfeet footbed. My feet are very neutral, I neither over nor under pronate.

As far as lacing goes: loose in the toes (first 1-2 eyelets), medium tight before and after the arch area (to not forcefully compress my arch), medium in the arch, and as loose as I can possibly go while still maintaining some supportive feeling in the last 2-3 eyelets.

[bbruins8 0]

I solved my problem today with the pain in the forefoot. I actually got rid of the waxed laces and switched to regular laces. The waxed laces just don't give at all and it's like tying your skates with braided steel. I can actually tie my skates tighter now in the forefoot area, and not have anywhere near the pain I had before.

[nyrslr21 0]

I figured I'd tack my issue onto an existing thread instead of creating a new one....I'm in the process of breaking in new skates and I'm having a few problems in the arches. I wouldn't quite call it pain, more like my arches feel extremely fatigued when I skate. I suspect it has to do with having a lot more lift in the heels than the old skates, and wasn't all that concerned, but when I took my skates off I noticed the outside of my left foot was very swollen. Basically along the bottom and outside of the fifth metatarsal. Again, it doesn't really hurt, but I can feel the swelling when I take a step. Is this sounding more like a new skate break-in issue or a new skates that don't fit issue?

[Law Goalie 147]

've been tying them tight in the toe cap, a little looser in eyelets 4-7 and then tight on the top three. Poblem is, by the end of the game both big toes are extremely painful. I've tried tightening my skates a half dozen different ways and either I have pain or my foot is swimming in the boot.

Get the toecap heated and stretched medially (that is, to the side of the big toe). It's easy with Grafs.

[Caustic Mick 0]

Are you a new skater?

[bovid 0]

im in the same situation as you are in right now. i have been wearing a pair of graf 703 for years like that, i have had them stretched many times and still no relief, i lose my big toe nail at least once a year. my toe is sore for like 3 days after each skate. i have custom made orthotics in my skate and still no difference

i gave up and in search of a new skate now...

[nyrslr21 0]

Are you a new skater?

I played for quite a few years when I was younger, didn't step on ice for 4 years and have been skating or playing about 3 times a week for a year, and have never had foot fatigue before. I had a lot of ankle fatigue when I was working on my left footed stops and clockwise backwards crossovers though a few months ago.

[Caustic Mick 0]

Are you a new skater?

I played for quite a few years when I was younger, didn't step on ice for 4 years and have been skating or playing about 3 times a week for a year, and have never had foot fatigue before. I had a lot of ankle fatigue when I was working on my left footed stops and clockwise backwards crossovers though a few months ago.

Foot fatigue was actually my suggestion for a new skater. They say most mammals have a tendency to grip with their feet/hands when the feeling of falling is experienced, and sometimes with new skaters that can cause arch pains in some instances. Not because of the skates, but because of the fatigue of gripping with the feet.

[nyrslr21 0]

I think I may be experiencing something along those lines from being up on my toes more and having my feet not be used to that. I figure it'll go away in a few weeks, hopefully anyway.

[docar15 1]

Just to add to the discussion. The toe cap on your 705 is heat moldable as well. Please do not attempt to do it at home with your wife's heat gun. Shops that sold you the Grafs should have atech who is trained to do it. If not, have them ask a Graf rep. If you are in US, some Graf reps are more knowledgeable then others. I think there are a couple of posts here on molding the graf toe cap.

Also, did your Grafs come with a think black 'old-kind' footbed or the new Sidas? Sidas has an almost 4mm heel rise and it keels my toes. Cobra holders are already pitched 5mm higher. Who thought of adding a stock factory heel lift footbed is beyond me. Again yoru shop should be able to swap the sidas for standard footbed. Make sure the boot fits, then improve the fit with footbed.

Just an opinion, do what works best for you.

Good luck.