Vapor XXXX Skate baking question

[BearsEatBeets 0]

I was at the my LHS the other day and was trying on the Vapor XXXX skate, which fit ok but not great. But I was thinking that if I got it baked it would be perfect. But the 17 year old kid working there told me that these skates were made to fit right out of the box and that you weren't supposed to bake them. Even if you did, it wouldn't do anything. He seemed pretty confident of this fact like he had some insider knowledge from working there. Since this is a pretty reputable LHS I was thinking maybe he got his info from the more knowledgeable coworkers there. So I was wondering if this is true or not (i.e. Vapor XXXX skates are not made to be baked and that baking won't really make it a more comfortable fit)? Was he just too lazy to bake them for me and just made up this silly reason?

From my understanding all high end Nike Bauer skates (e.g Vapor XXXX and Supreme One95) are meant to be baked to mold to your feet for better fit and reduced break in period. Or am I just wrong about the Vapor XXXX in this case?

Because of this new found information I decided not to buy the Vapor XXXX because if I couldn't bake them there was no point in buying them since I couldn't see them being that much more comfortable. Plus it's takes a lot of time and hassle to break in a new stiff skate.

[Gummer12 134]

He's lazy, but partially right. They're supposed to fit a lot Better than older skates out of the box...but Baking them enhances the fit that much more so, and Can reduce some Minor fit issues. That being said, he was also too lazy to fit your foot to the right skate. If they didn't fit exactly how you would have liked, then they Might not be the right skate. Try on as many different skates as you can to be sure you've got the best fitting skate.

[phoenixgold 0]

make sure they are your size. i bought mine i'm a size 10 shoe and wear size eight. bake em at 175 for 5 minutes. it says right in the instructions to bake them

[Ivan 1]

make sure they are your size. i bought mine i'm a size 10 shoe and wear size eight. bake em at 175 for 5 minutes. it says right in the instructions to bake them

5 mins?

[BearsEatBeets 0]

Thanks for the info guys. So the "Vapor XXXX are not supposed to be baked" stuff the guy was spewing me was B.S. I may have to revisit fitting the Vapor XXXX again.

[interpathway 9]

Vapor XXXX skate, which fit ok but not great.

Remember, baking is for minor fit issues. Not sure what your problem areas were but you have a combination of baking, punching, stretching, and custom insoles to get them right. However...if you need extensive work done, there is a good chance there might be another brand/model out there more suited to your foot right out of the box. Hope your search goes well!

[phoenixgold 0]

i baked mine for 6 minutes and they are sweet

[Jordan 13]

Remember that all of the procedures mentioned - baking , punching, stretching etc.- only make parts of the boot bigger. So if there are any gaps in the fit around any part of your foot, that skate is not the right one for you.

[krwwc6 0]

i baked mine for 6 minutes and they are sweet

Isn't that double the time that bauer recommends?

[interpathway 9]

Remember that all of the procedures mentioned - baking , punching, stretching etc.- only make parts of the boot bigger. So if there are any gaps in the fit around any part of your foot, that skate is not the right one for you.

Ah, excellent point my friend. I have heard that some people put a tongue in between the foot and their skates' tongue to help eat up some volume, along with maybe the Grey Superfeet. But again, chances are there is a better fitting skate out there for you, it's up to you to find it!

[phoenixgold 0]

i think bauer said 175 at two minutes.. i put em in for three, took em out put them on let em cool down and put em back in for another three just sit there pull laces out not up when you tighten them let em cool then don't skate in em for 24 hours. if thats not enough re bake them later on

[CTK30 0]

i baked mine for 6 minutes and they are sweet

Isn't that double the time that bauer recommends?

At 175 it's going to be hard to mess them up

you can put your in the oven at 175

[krwwc6 0]

i baked mine for 6 minutes and they are sweet

Isn't that double the time that bauer recommends?

At 175 it's going to be hard to mess them up

you can put your in the oven at 175

I doubt that. . . . your baking them for double the time you're supposed to. . . . I mean I know 175 isn't super hot, but a frozen pizza cooks for 10 min at 375. . . if you double that to 20 minutes, what is the result? There is a reason these companies put specific times on their boxes for how long to bake things. Not following the manufacturer times is just stupid.

[AWE46M3 0]

i baked mine for 6 minutes and they are sweet

Isn't that double the time that bauer recommends?

At 175 it's going to be hard to mess them up

you can put your in the oven at 175

I doubt that. . . . your baking them for double the time you're supposed to. . . . I mean I know 175 isn't super hot, but a frozen pizza cooks for 10 min at 375. . . if you double that to 20 minutes, what is the result? There is a reason these companies put specific times on their boxes for how long to bake things. Not following the manufacturer times is just stupid.

You're right that a company puts specific times on their boxes, but I would have to guess that they also build some buffer into what they recommend knowing that someone mistakenly, or perhaps on purpose may bake them a bit longer. Also, different ovens heat differently even though they may all be set at 175 and I am sure companies take that into consideration as well.

Don't get me wrong, I am not condoning leaving them in longer or in higher heat than what the manufacturer may suggest but I also dont think his skate will fall apart tomorrow because he left them in for 6 minutes rather than 3. Just my opinion though and for the record, I'd follow what the manufacturer suggest as well.

[phoenixgold 0]

there are a few mission skates with specs of 5 minutes at 200. ccm's at 5 minutes with 195. i read the whole list the manfactures sent. it's all on line if you dig deep enough. I know a pro player in europe (leksands if) that bakes his before every game. the more expensive the skate the stiffer the boot

[krwwc6 0]

there are a few mission skates with specs of 5 minutes at 200. ccm's at 5 minutes with 195. i read the whole list the manfactures sent. it's all on line if you dig deep enough. I know a pro player in europe (leksands if) that bakes his before every game. the more expensive the skate the stiffer the boot

your rationale is idiotic. The specs of mission skates may very well be 5 minutes, along with ccm's. The old bauer 7000's are stiff as hell and their bake time was 7 minutes. . . . that doesn't mean you bake a skate that SAYS to bake it 3 minutes for 6 minutes. . . you are asking for disaster and premature breakdown.

[phoenixgold 0]

i don't think so. More heat means softer more supple material / will conform to your foot a lot more. 175 is not a lot of heat and it's convection heat as well so it's not concentrated one just one part of the skate. I know guys who have baked graf g5's in there own oven for 12 minutes and love them. I baked an pair of vapor xix at three minutes at 175 and the boot didn't even move when i pulled the lace. it all depends on how tight you want the boot. it's not like its gel or air pockets in em anymore it's foam. so as long as your not torching them it's user friendly cheers

[interpathway 9]

Before every single game? Aren't you the one who pointed out...

don't skate in em for 24 hours.

Does he bake them more than 24 hours in advance for each game? Doubtful...

[phoenixgold 0]

ya he bakes them after practice the day before the game. But i know he still does this. He also played for toronto and there are a lot of players who do this as i was in the dressing room quite a bit. but ya it's prolly not 24 hours. with the morning skate

[interpathway 9]

Well that sounds absolutely absurd, haha. Does he heat them so they flex more? You made it sound like that in your original post regarding this subject...If so, why not just get skates with less lateral stiffness?

[krwwc6 0]

make sure they are your size. i bought mine i'm a size 10 shoe and wear size eight. bake em at 175 for 5 minutes. it says right in the instructions to bake them

i baked mine for 6 minutes and they are sweet

i think bauer said 175 at two minutes..

. . . . get your story straight . . . .

[BearsEatBeets 0]

I'm going to hold off on buying new skates for now. Thanks everyone for clarifying my questions.

[phoenixgold 0]

i think he bakes them for more of a form fit... even after you bake them they still lose their shape. I don't think i'll be baking mine more then a few times as the pros don't pay for their equipment and don't care about the break down process. And as for that guy telling me to get my story straight......it was 6 minutes. how about you check out what time i post these before you go throwing your 1/3 cent's in. I wish we could all be as perfect as you are bud.