do i need to try custom skates?

[s4gobabygo 0]

here's a list of the 3 pairs that i've been fitted in over the past 13 months. none of them feel great to me. i'm not so happy with my local shops, as far as fitting goes, and am wondering if it would be worth it for me to meet up with a rep to have a custom pair made for me (although i'm very hesitant about spending that much money on a pair of skates, i've had to buy 3 pairs over the last year, so maybe that's actually the cheaper option?)

i've noticed that in all pairs, when i tie the skates up, i end up with longer laces on the right than the left, so i think my right foot is slightly smaller, or at least shaped differently.

NBH one90 8.5D: these feel the best of what i have, so i use this pair normally. they are VERY low on depth for me, but no lace bite. they fail the pencil test by a LONG shot. occasional dull pain on the outside edge of my right foot, about 2 inches behind the base of my pinky toe. the width seems ok, perhaps a little narrow. they give me great heel lock.

CCM 892 Tacks 8.5D: these are pretty comfortable, but they give me more of that dull pain on the outside edge of my feet (especially the right, but also a little in the left). they are better on the pencil test (still not QUITE enough depth, but much better). the heel lock is not good. i rarely use these skates.

NBH XXV 9.0D: these are initially very comfortable, but also give me the dull pain on the outside edges of my feet (again, mostly the right foot). the heel lock is great, like the one90's. i get a lot of pressure on my right pinky toe from the toe cap. the pencil test is perfect in these boots

CCM 852 Tacks from 2001 8.5D: these fit great. i'd used these skates since 2001, but they were ruined a little over a year ago, and i havent been able to find anything that feels good since. i remember them being very uncomfortable when i first got them, but i think they stretched and molded nicely to my feet simply due to the hundreds and hundreds of icetimes they had.

to clarify the dull pain i feel, it's not numbing, but it's sometimes so intense than i have to grit my teeth and stomp my right foot on the bench because it's such an uncomfortable feeling. again, it's not a specific or sharp pain, but a general ache, always the worst on my right foot, about 2 inches back from the base of my pinky toe.

sorry about the long post. i hope someone has the patience to read through it all and provide some good experienced advice. at this point, i'd probably be willing to shell out the cash for customs if it makes my feet stop hurting. the pain is starting to cross over to every-day walking around as a result.

[Ahriman 1]

Sounds like most of those would be fine if you left them at a shop who can stretch them for a few days in that particular area. You can get a lot more room both length or width than most people would think.

[s4gobabygo 0]

i should have mentioned that all of the above pairs have been stretched and baked by "professionals" during the initial fittings, and stretched again later to try to fix the dull pain.

[x-track 8]

sorry to hijack .....could someone please explain the " pencil test " to me !!???

[s4gobabygo 0]

pencil test

[diehardfan 0]

sorry to hijack .....could someone please explain the " pencil test " to me !!???

use search next time my friend,

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index...hl=pencil++test

[s4gobabygo 0]

ok lets get back on track... it's the off-season for me, since spring/summer season wont start for another 5-6 weeks, so i want to do something about this fit problem ASAP.

[epstud74 24]

Do you use the stock footbed in the skate? Have you considered maybe getting an orthopedic footbed?

[s4gobabygo 0]

i've tried the stock footbeds, shock doctors, and superfeet yellow. i've also tried all different combinations. the best combinations seem to be the stock one90 footbeds in the one90's, the shock doctors in the XXV's and the superfeet yellows in the 892's. unfortunately, only the stock footbeds work in the one90's, because they're so low on volume that the superfeet and shock doctors make them not fit at all. i imagine orthopedic footbeds will be too thick for the one90's as well.

[s4gobabygo 0]

i think i've probably exhausted my options for using the skates i have... can anyone suggest other skates or sizes they think i should try getting fitted for? are custom skates likely to fix the problem, or no? maybe i should see a doctor? open to any suggestions.

i have short fat hobbit feet, so i know one90's are probably the last thing i should be using, but for some reason they give me the least pain. when i lace them up, i always get comments that it looks like my feet are bursting out of them. when i skate, i can feel snow coming through the cracks between the tongue and the uppers... there isn't much overlap because my feet are so fat.

[yatyas 0]

Have you tried Graf skates yet?

[aarondevera 0]

If you've got the chance to test out a pair of Graf 709/G9s, give them a shot. They're fix your depth issue.

Or you could try getting your One90s stretched.

[s4gobabygo 0]

i've uploaded pictures in the link below. for some reason MSH blocks the pictures? there are 2 "pencil test" pictures per foot because i "rocked" the pen from left to right to show the gap. have a good laugh at how my feet are bursting out of the skates!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fourtailpipes/

[schrempsky 0]

i would say try a graf and a easton, probably the synergy series as they have more depth. If you really like the heel lock of the one90, i would try something like a 735 first, and see how the depth is in that boot, then decide if you need to go to a 709.

[Chadd 916]

i've uploaded pictures in the link below. for some reason MSH blocks the pictures?

You can insert pics posted elsewhere but we do not host uploads anymore. The upload directory has been exploited in the past and it is easier to manage it this way.

[chilimax21 0]

Sounds like you need a wider and/or deeper fitting skate. Try the one95's. I have them currently in a 8.5EE. Heel lock is great and width is good without any pressure points. I have wide feet. They are a slight bit long, but if I push my foot more into the skate there is pressure on my pinky toes due to the shape of the toe cap.

[s4gobabygo 0]

cool. i'll add those to the list. i'm going to a shop that has a huge inventory of high-end skates this week. it's a pretty long drive, but hopefully i can try on a ton of different skates. so far i'm planning to look at graf (i'll probably try many models), one95 and XXXX both in EE width, and easton se16.

i know it's early, but are there any indications on how the retail X60 will fit compared to the XXXX/XXV?

[Alan 0]

I would try a CCM Vector 08, or an RBK 5k in an E width if I were you, they seem to have a lot of volume, moreso than Bauer skates.

Also, like other people have stated, try some of the graf 700 series skates or even a G7. They have TONS of volume for feet like yours.

I am not saying that any of these skates will work for you, but give them a shot because you may be surprised!

[s4gobabygo 0]

yea i'm definitely going to try on some grafs. i have no prior experience with graf, so i'm not particularly well versed in their models and how they fit, but the shop i'm visiting claims to have an enormous inventory of graf skates, and i hear their fitting professionals are much better than the preteens at the crappy shops closer to me.

[Ltrain 0]

Watching this thread. I am curious how the G70's work for you in comparison to what you've tried.

On a side note, I tried on the new '09 Easton Stealth S12's. This was the first Easton skate I have tried. I was pleasantly surprised at how wide the fore foot was for a regular width. I tend to have a similar problem with forefoot width just behind the pinky toe. It feels wider than my RBK 9k in E width with considerably narrower heel (which is a good thing for me). Also its not near as deep as the 9k but acceptable for me (I think I have mid depth ankle - in other words, Bauer One75's are a bit shallow for me) I have yet to try a Synergy and have also heard they are a bit deeper too.

-L

[s4gobabygo 0]

much to my disappointment, i found out that the "awesome" skate shop that everyone's recommending doesn't carry wide sizes. they say that if the D width isn't right, they'll order an EE for me. is there any way i can TRY ON an EE before committing to buy? do ANY shops carry them? i'm just too sick of buying skates to buy something i haven't tried on. i know tracings are stupid, but can someone who is comfortable in a 8.5EE chime in with how wide their foot is so that i can corroborate the decision to order an EE if that's what it comes to? i'm just out of ideas here. i need to be properly fitted!!!

[JR Boucicaut 3809]

Why do you say tracings are stupid?

Whoever told you that is stupid.

[s4gobabygo 0]

actually the shop that doesn't carry EE's told me tracings are stupid haha!

[chilimax21 0]

I'm the guy with the one 95's in a 8.5EE. The widest part of my forefoot is 4 1/4" on my right foot, which is 2 3/4" from the tip of my big toe down to the bone( towards the heel) and 2" from the tip of my pinky toe down to the bone (towards the heel).

[s4gobabygo 0]

great info! i measure 4 1/2 wide on the left (same distance back from the tip of my big toe), and 4 5/8 wide on the right (also same distance back). are you happy with the fit in your one95's? how's the heel lock compare to a D width? i've never worn a EE boot, but if you're comfy in yours, it seems like i should find some to try on!