Skate pusher?

[Cleophus 0]

Hi y'all -- First post here, so please be kind. :)

I used to play roller hockey in CCM 652s (haven't played in ~6 years!). I think they fit OK (maybe an occasional blister when I was breaking them in).

I'm going to try ice hockey soon, so I went shopping for ice skates. I went to a pretty reputable LHS, they measured my foot and said I have a wide foot. He brought out a pair of Nike Vapors for me to try on. From what I've read, these are not good skates for wide-footed folks, so I was surprised that he suggested them. They fit me rather tightly in the area behind my toes (the widest part of the foot). He told me that a Flexlite might be a better skate for me (I've read that this is a good skate for wide-footed folks) but he didn't have any in stock.

He didn't have me try on any other brands of skates.

I got a call from this shop the other day, saying that they have another type of skate that might fit me: Mission AGX. I have also read that Missions are not great for wide-footed people.

My fear is that they might be 'pushing' me towards certain skates that don't fit my type of foot! (In order to clear inventory or something like that?) I'd like to know if this is a legitimate concern or maybe I am being paranoid.

Thanks!

[TheBert 0]

I wouldn't worry about them being pushy at all. Being fitted for skates means the store is recommending skates to you based on your feedback and what they see. You'll know a skate's right when it fits as snug as possible without being painful.

Did you notice if they tried to fit you in D-width Vapors and Mission skates or the E-width? Going from D to E adds quite a bit of space in the forefoot.

[Cleophus 0]

Thank you for the feedback, TheBert -- I only tried on D-with skates.

[duch 0]

If your looking for a skate with lots of room go with Nikes. They have lots of room at the toe of the skate. Missions are a thinner skate and if you have a wide foot, even the EE width may seem tight on you.

[AnthonyJTa 0]

The sales guy being pushy is fine, as long as you're one step ahead of him and know what you need to find in regards to fit. When I first bought my skates, I literally got hosed.... I wound up in a size too big, D width (I also have a wide foot) all off of him asking me my shoe size. Granted, the more I learned primarily from this board... I ended up going in with more knowledge, and basically taking control of my future purchases. If they didn't have E width, I wouldn't even try the skate on with the exception of the Easton S11, because I knew it was a wider skate to begin with... every other skate I tried on I would keep on for a minimal of 20 minutes... just pacing in them, sitting.

I myself have a very wide foot, and the search for a wide/deep boot has been a tedious one. I will agree with the other guys, the Nike/Bauer Flexlites are a very wide, deep skate- I didn't even need an E width in the Flexlite. I skated in them for about 3 months and just found them to feel a little too 'casty' for my liking. I'm currently in a Mission 90AG, and I actually plan on picking up a pair of Mission AGX soon. My only issue with my 90AG is my heel gets horrible pins & needles, so hopefully the wider heel in the AGX will finally resolve my almost 2 year search for fit.

[schrempsky 0]

the agx can fit very wide in some people, and still works for them, if you get the right width of course, because there is a fair amount of depth with all mission skates

[AnthonyJTa 0]

the agx can fit very wide in some people, and still works for them, if you get the right width of course, because there is a fair amount of depth with all mission skates

IIRC, that extra width is primarily throughout the heel/ankle area... not the forefoot/toebox, right?

[schrempsky 0]

thats true too. another person at my lhs who would wear a flexlite fits a EE AGX very well, and has no pressure whatsoever.

[CannonBall 0]

Give the AGX's a shot, I had Mission S400's and they were too narrow. I now have a pair of AGX's and they fit really well, I don't have any discomfort at all. One thing though is the AGX boot is more for someone who has a wider forefoot and a regular ankle. If you have wider/bigger ankles the AGX may not work out well. It's worth taking the time to try on as many skates as possible.

[starsfan71 9]

American stores dont carry width E correct? Thats what one of the guys at my LHS said.

[hunterphfr 12]

I have probably the most screwed up feet you could imagine. I have very wide, very deep and very short feet. I also have a nasty bunyon on my left toe joint due to a paratrooping accident when I was in the military. Living in Florida now the selection at the LHS leaves a lot to be desired for off-size feet. My skate collection consists of a pair of CCM custom OHL tacks, that are ancient and breaking down. Got hosed on these, was sold a D width by an extremely legitimate LHS when I lived in Canada. I was forced to use a razor blade to cut the non-memory foam out of the sides just to be able to wear them, they never did stop hurting my feet. I bought a pair of Mission 110 XPs EE used off Ebay cheap on a whim, a 1/2 size too large. Depth is nice, 1/2 size too long, but they do cause me some pain in the area you refer to. These are my game skates and the ones that fit me the most comfortably. A pair of GRAF 705s that were beat used off of Ebay more to gauge length than anything, I've never worn these on the ice, they hurt my feet sitting on the sofa. A pair of GRAF G7s that as one of the widest and deepest skates on the market was my ultimate goal. I have had an extreme amount of difficulty getting these to fit without causing me more discomfort that my 110 XPs. I've only been able to skate in them for an hour once while helping coach my son's team.

I had read about the Missions being for a more narrow foot but figured EE, bakeable and cheap I might as well give it a shot. I wear my 110 XPs with less pain and longer periods of time than any of the other skates I have. All have been baked if appropriate. The flexibility of the Pitch 3 holders is nice and the steel is flat out awsome. They cause me more than mild discomfort for most of the first period but do stop hurting by the start of the second.

I have ordered a pair of Kor Shift 1s from HG, figured I might as well give them a shot. Had to send them back for a 1/2 size lager.

[Chadd 916]

Try on as many skates as you can and decide what feels best to you. Having them suggest different skates isn't a bad thing, trying to force you into what they carry is.

[Cleophus 0]

Thank you, everyone, for the feedback -- I appreciate it!

I tried the AGXs on today and they felt pretty good! Even better after baking. (The shop was cool enough to bake BOTH a pair of 9s and a pair of 9.5s for me to try.) So I bought 'em. I can't wait to give them a try.

(The baking process went against a lot of the stuff I've read here and elsewhere: They had me lace 'em up tightly (no 'pull laces 'out' instead of 'up'' advice); had me stand in them, weight forward, almost immediately after lacing (instead of just sitting in them for 8-10 minutes); had me walk around in them after a few minutes. I hope this is all OK and doesn't lead to a busted eyelet or other damage down the line.)

Thanks again everybody.

[Xi Retlah iX 0]

how many inches across would constitute for a wide foot?

[TheBert 0]

Depends on what skate you're trying to fit your foot into.

[YouTuuk 0]

how many inches across would constitute for a wide foot?

What size lenght are you? If your size 11 then its 4.3 inches wide is considered wide. If you size 8 then its 3.9 inches is wide.

[CannonBall 0]

Uhhh, read the manual that came with them. That shop probably just screwed up your skates the manual says to do none of these actions after baking.

Sorry to alarm you, just thought you should know.

Thank you, everyone, for the feedback -- I appreciate it!

I tried the AGXs on today and they felt pretty good! Even better after baking. (The shop was cool enough to bake BOTH a pair of 9s and a pair of 9.5s for me to try.) So I bought 'em. I can't wait to give them a try.

(The baking process went against a lot of the stuff I've read here and elsewhere: They had me lace 'em up tightly (no 'pull laces 'out' instead of 'up'' advice); had me stand in them, weight forward, almost immediately after lacing (instead of just sitting in them for 8-10 minutes); had me walk around in them after a few minutes. I hope this is all OK and doesn't lead to a busted eyelet or other damage down the line.)

Thanks again everybody.

[YouTuuk 0]

Uhhh, read the manual that came with them. That shop probably just screwed up your skates the manual says to do none of these actions after baking.

Sorry to alarm you, just thought you should know.

Did the LHS follow proper procedure to the tee? Probably not

Will they "screw up" your skates? Probably not

These "actions" while frowned upon - will probably not do permenant damage to your skates. In fact if they where tight standing on them will stretch the width a little bit, and forward flex might might stretch the heel pocket a little bit. In my experience when the skates cool off they tend to go back close to their original shape. Most skates are very durable and can withstand alot of "abuse"....

[P5man 0]

(The baking process went against a lot of the stuff I've read here and elsewhere: They had me lace 'em up tightly (no 'pull laces 'out' instead of 'up'' advice); had me stand in them, weight forward, almost immediately after lacing (instead of just sitting in them for 8-10 minutes); had me walk around in them after a few minutes. I hope this is all OK and doesn't lead to a busted eyelet or other damage down the line.)

That's definately wrong. I wouldn't buy from that LHS if that's the way the handle skate fitting. Treating it like that right after taking it out of the oven is just asking for a ruined skate. By walking around in them, you're ruining the way the glue is set, and possibly ruining the stiffness in the upper quarters.

[Cleophus 0]

Well that's a drag.... Indeed, the manual says to not overtighten the laces (to pull them "out" instead of "up") and to NOT stand in them -- just sit for 8-10 minutes.

Hopefully there's no damage but only time will tell.

Merde. Calisse. Tabernac.

Shoot, this shop has a pretty good reputation in this area, so I figured they know what they are doing.

[Xi Retlah iX 0]

well if 3.9 is wide for an 8, i'm assuming i have a narrow foot as i wear a 13 shoe.

[grymicast184rc 0]

Thank you, everyone, for the feedback -- I appreciate it!

I tried the AGXs on today and they felt pretty good! Even better after baking. (The shop was cool enough to bake BOTH a pair of 9s and a pair of 9.5s for me to try.) So I bought 'em. I can't wait to give them a try.

(The baking process went against a lot of the stuff I've read here and elsewhere: They had me lace 'em up tightly (no 'pull laces 'out' instead of 'up'' advice); had me stand in them, weight forward, almost immediately after lacing (instead of just sitting in them for 8-10 minutes); had me walk around in them after a few minutes. I hope this is all OK and doesn't lead to a busted eyelet or other damage down the line.)

Thanks again everybody.

Just curious if you went with your actual shoe size or did you go smaller. I actually received a pair as a gift that was the same size as my street shoes, 8.5 and they feel like they would fit someone that wears a 9-9.5, Now I'm trying to sell them :(

[schrempsky 0]

mission rep told me its about 1 size down from shoe size, but as has been mentioned in other threads, shoe size is not the best way to gauge skate size. hopefully you will be successful selling them, maybe a lhs will let you return?

[Cleophus 0]

Thank you, everyone, for the feedback -- I appreciate it!

I tried the AGXs on today and they felt pretty good! Even better after baking. (The shop was cool enough to bake BOTH a pair of 9s and a pair of 9.5s for me to try.) So I bought 'em. I can't wait to give them a try.

(The baking process went against a lot of the stuff I've read here and elsewhere: They had me lace 'em up tightly (no 'pull laces 'out' instead of 'up'' advice); had me stand in them, weight forward, almost immediately after lacing (instead of just sitting in them for 8-10 minutes); had me walk around in them after a few minutes. I hope this is all OK and doesn't lead to a busted eyelet or other damage down the line.)

Thanks again everybody.

Just curious if you went with your actual shoe size or did you go smaller. I actually received a pair as a gift that was the same size as my street shoes, 8.5 and they feel like they would fit someone that wears a 9-9.5, Now I'm trying to sell them :(

My street shoe size is about a 10.5, so the skates were 1 size lower. Sorry to hear about the mis-sized gift!

Well that's a drag.... Indeed, the manual says to not overtighten the laces (to pull them "out" instead of "up") and to NOT stand in them -- just sit for 8-10 minutes.

Hopefully there's no damage but only time will tell.

Merde. Calisse. Tabernac.

Shoot, this shop has a pretty good reputation in this area, so I figured they know what they are doing.

Well, I've been on the skates twice -- not in games, just in 'public skates' at local rinks -- for an hour each time, and no noticeable problems/damage yet (other than my lack of skating ability).

[grymicast184rc 0]

Cool, Thanks for the input.