Need serious skate advice...

[SanderNL 0]

OK, as long as I'm playing hockey I've got trouble with my skates. This probably is due to buying pretty cheap skates as well as having no professional support while buying them at all. Now I need new skates and I just can't make a decision.

I don't know how skate fitting and buying works in Canada or the US, but here in the Netherlands, and especially where I live there is no one with some experience on ice skates. Because I have a pretty big sized feet (12) I allways have to order skates and that takes time. Furthermore, you can not skate in skates before you buy them (maybe this is standard procedure but it seems strange to me, buying something for hundreds of dollars and not testing it before you purchase...)

The skates I have now are CCM Tacks 492 and I really hate them. I had Bauer Impact 50's before these and I didn't really like them either. I will explain why. The Impact 50's are and where offcourse very cheap skates, I didn't like them because they offer no support on the ankles.

At the time I didn't know it was better to stick to the brand of hockey skates you previously owned and I followed the advice of the person at my LHS and got CCM Tacks. I absolutely hated them, they felt pretty nice in the store, I walked around in them and they were ok, at least they felt pretty tight and had some support. All seemed nice untill I stepped on the ice. They felt like skates from Mars and it took me half a season to learn how to skate in them (once or twice a week) I fell alot especially when turning from forward skating to backward skating.

I can think of two reasons they were so bad for me, one the skate was just so different (longer and flatter steel, different angle etc etc) or it was because they were a little too big. Since the person in the shop didn't knew anything about skate fitting and I didn't either this is a pretty good possibility. I think my feet grew a little since I bought them and now, when I get the laces out of my skates and I press my tows against the front of the skate I can easily put a finger, maybe two between my heel and the back of the skate. I really can't get into my Bauers anymore so I think they definitely were a size too big when I bought them, if not more.

Now I just got an offer for some '08 RBK 6k pumps for €180. This is a very good deal for me since skates aren't cheap here but I'm just wondering how much better these skates are than the Tacks 492. Also I read that they have a much wider heel than the old CCM's. In the 492's the heel is actually the only thing that's good for me in this skates. I also would like to know if you guys think it would take me a long time to adjust to Nike Bauers again. I was originally thinking of getting a pair of xxxx or xxv's before I got this offer.

Thank you for reading this and please advise...

[Datsyukrulez13 0]

OK, as long as I'm playing hockey I've got trouble with my skates. This probably is due to buying pretty cheap skates as well as having no professional support while buying them at all. Now I need new skates and I just can't make a decision.

I don't know how skate fitting and buying works in Canada or the US, but here in the Netherlands, and especially where I live there is no one with some experience on ice skates. Because I have a pretty big sized feet (12) I allways have to order skates and that takes time. Furthermore, you can not skate in skates before you buy them (maybe this is standard procedure but it seems strange to me, buying something for hundreds of dollars and not testing it before you purchase...)

The skates I have now are CCM Tacks 492 and I really hate them. I had Bauer Impact 50's before these and I didn't really like them either. I will explain why. The Impact 50's are and where offcourse very cheap skates, I didn't like them because they offer no support on the ankles.

At the time I didn't know it was better to stick to the brand of hockey skates you previously owned and I followed the advice of the person at my LHS and got CCM Tacks. I absolutely hated them, they felt pretty nice in the store, I walked around in them and they were ok, at least they felt pretty tight and had some support. All seemed nice untill I stepped on the ice. They felt like skates from Mars and it took me half a season to learn how to skate in them (once or twice a week) I fell alot especially when turning from forward skating to backward skating.

I can think of two reasons they were so bad for me, one the skate was just so different (longer and flatter steel, different angle etc etc) or it was because they were a little too big. Since the person in the shop didn't knew anything about skate fitting and I didn't either this is a pretty good possibility. I think my feet grew a little since I bought them and now, when I get the laces out of my skates and I press my tows against the front of the skate I can easily put a finger between my heel and the back of the skate. I really can't get into my Bauers anymore so I think they definitely were a size too big when I bought them, if not more.

Now I just got an offer for some '08 RBK 6k pumps for €180. This is a very good deal for me since skates aren't cheap here but I'm just wondering how much better these skates are than the Tacks 492. Also I read that they have a much wider heel than the old CCM's. In the 492's the heel is actually the only thing that's good for me in this skates. I also would like to know if you guys think it would take me a long time to adjust to Nike Bauers again. I was originally thinking of getting a pair of xxxx or xxv's before I got this offer.

Thank you for reading this and please advise...

Yes the Reebok skates are a lot wider than most ccms (IMO)........but thats why there is that pump. It depends on how narrow or wide your feet are. Ive heard that the vapor series are somewhat narrow

[SanderNL 0]

I think I've got a pretty wide forefoot and a narrow heel. i actually think the fit in width is pretty good with the Tacks, sometimes my forefoot can hurt a little on the sides but thats probably because I lace them too tight...

Don't know if it helps but I measured my feet for my LHS. the length is between 30,5 and 30,8 cm. The width on the widest part of my forefoot is 10,7 cm.

[duch 0]

Groetens from a fellow Nederlander in Canada. I was born in Amersfoort but came over here when I was four. To answer your question the CCM skate is probably about the widest skate for your forefoot on the market. I would however suggest you definitely try the Bauer Vapor XXXX or XXV because it gives you a lot of room in the forefoot as well and a narrower heel than in the Reebok 6K. The Reebok skate has a wider heel for sure and it doesn't suit a lot of hockey players. The Nike/Bauer Vapor is a very nice skate and fits a wide variety of feet. If you need more room you can go to an E or EE width. I would also consider trying the Nike V16 or 18 skate which also has a load of room at the forefoot. A lot of guys won't wear this skate because they find it too loose a fit at the forefoot but it may just be what you need. The Nike skate also sports a narrower heel than the Reebok skate. The only real way to get a decent fit though is to find a Sport Store and try on different models. Get the one that feels the best to you and then stick with that model.

[Rags81 0]

Be careful if you are thinking about the Vapor series.

Many people, myself included, had serious pain issues in the ankles.

The padding in the ankle pockets break down quickly, and they are also a shallow skate. The eyelets are pretty much right up on your ankle bones.

Sure, the skates perform very nicely. But it is not worth the pain.

The Supreme line is a deeper boot. And conform more to the shape of your foot. More comfortable.

Supremes are better skates, just my personal opinion.

[kuazzi 0]

I would suggest a different line of thought. Each skate brand from model year to model year is going to have minor changes in feel and materials, thus it's hard to even say that you will feel comfortable if you always buy Bauer. Of course it will be easier going from Bauer to Bauer than to another brand. If you are looking for consistency, and don't mind getting used to another skate, I would go with Graf. With any change in model, there will be a little bit of getting used to and breaking the skate in.

If the CCM's felt comfortable in the store, and your only complaint was the skating, then that has little to do with the boot, and all to do with the holder/steel setup. I would have suggested your hockey shop to sharpen your steel to more of a rocker, if you thought the blade was too long and flat. Or perhaps sharpen to give you more of an aggressive lean if that's what you were used to. Worst case scenario, replace the new holder with your old holder, or a new version of your old holder.

Anyway, just food for thought.

[jww83 0]

Not to take over the original poster's thread or anything, I think this question applies to the direction this thread is going.

I have (what I assume is a haglund lump) a large lump on the inside of my left foot, but not on my right. After having tried on both the one95 and xxxx skates to compare which one is more suited to my foot, I came across a bit of a problem. While the xxxx's accomodated the bump on my ankle very well with little pain the heel lock that I got was not 100% in those skates. However in the one95's heel lock was perfect, but my left foot suffered alot on the point of the haglund bump (yet the right foot was perfect).

After trying them on I came to the conclusion that the one95 was wide in the forefoot but narrower in the heel, while the xxxx's are an overall wide fit. Am I completely wrong in this conclusion? Also my main question is, are the one95's really formable to the point that they are reported to be (meaning, will they form to accomodate my haglund) or would I be better off with the xxxx's hoping that as they break in to my foot shape heel lock will improve?

Sorry for the long post, thank you in advance for any advice. Unfortunately I can't afford to make a mistake on these skates and then replace them after picking the wrong ones.

[mwerth 5]

For those with a wide forefoot, it seems like many MSHers have suggested the Bauer Flexlites as being a great option. As a bonus, these skates are also a bit cheaper than the Vapors and Supremes.

[Chappie 0]

From Widest to Narrowest in the NBH line, it goes: Flexlite, Supreme, Vapor. The Flex's = widest and vapors = narrowest.

[SanderNL 0]

I would suggest a different line of thought. Each skate brand from model year to model year is going to have minor changes in feel and materials, thus it's hard to even say that you will feel comfortable if you always buy Bauer. Of course it will be easier going from Bauer to Bauer than to another brand. If you are looking for consistency, and don't mind getting used to another skate, I would go with Graf. With any change in model, there will be a little bit of getting used to and breaking the skate in.

If the CCM's felt comfortable in the store, and your only complaint was the skating, then that has little to do with the boot, and all to do with the holder/steel setup. I would have suggested your hockey shop to sharpen your steel to more of a rocker, if you thought the blade was too long and flat. Or perhaps sharpen to give you more of an aggressive lean if that's what you were used to. Worst case scenario, replace the new holder with your old holder, or a new version of your old holder.

Anyway, just food for thought.

I've done the special sharpening but the skill of sharpening skates isn''t high here either. It helped a little though. I really need to replace the skates now because of lacebite on the top of my right foot. The tongue is devided in a hard and soft part, now it has worn down so much the edge of the hard part drills into my foot, I get pretty bad bruises and bumps on that foot now so keeping them is not an option. Thanks for the suggestion though.

I think I won't go for the RBK 6k's because of the wide heel. I might try them on if it isn't too much trouble for my supplier.

[interpathway 9]

I think I've got a pretty wide forefoot and a narrow heel.

Eastons?

[ahbroody 1]

How about Grafs.

Graf G35 to me fit a lot like the tack 992s I have and love.

The 500 and 700 series being all leather are a little heavier, but so damn comfortable. As weight doesnt appear to be an issue here but comfort is, I think Grafs definetly deserve a look.

Seems he could actually get quality Grafs over there to. Also Graf has so many different boots to deal with different types of foots.

To the OP if you spend a little time determining what type of foot you have as to heel width, forefoot width, volume and arch. Then research all the different types of Graf boots I am sure you can find a boot that fits you very well. One day when I stop being broke and can buy more than just food again I will be buying some grafs.

[xstartxtodayx 343]

I think I won't go for the RBK 6k's because of the wide heel. I might try them on if it isn't too much trouble for my supplier.

I wouldn't rule them out until you get a chance to try them on. I'm not sure how much the pump can snug up the heel/ankle but it may be worth a shot to try them on and play with the pump to see how snug of a fit you can get with it.

[SanderNL 0]

I think I won't go for the RBK 6k's because of the wide heel. I might try them on if it isn't too much trouble for my supplier.

I wouldn't rule them out until you get a chance to try them on. I'm not sure how much the pump can snug up the heel/ankle but it may be worth a shot to try them on and play with the pump to see how snug of a fit you can get with it.

True, that's why I'm going to try them on but I read some bad things about the pumps. I read they can come through the boot and give blisters or they can just break down. If I would rely on them to get a good fit it would be pretty bad if they broke after a season...

[duch 0]

SanderNL proberen eerst de Vapor of Nike Flexlite 16 of 18 as jij kan zijn vinden. Ik heb altight goed geluk met zijn gehad. Ik bin nu in Eastons want ik vijnt zij ardig ook goed voor ruimte maar ik wet niet of jij zal van composite shoen houwen. As ik vroeger zeght, mischien kan jij naar en E of EE gaan. Hopen dat ik heb jij en beetje gehelpen. Dag van Canada.

[mwerth 5]

Now that's just showing off... I always find it really interesting how some words are universal regardless of language. I work with a number of people located in many different countries, but some words just resonate with anyone. Email, for example, is amazingly understood everywhere.

I guess we have our own universal hockey jargon on this board, pretty interesting phenomenon if you think about it.