skate dilemma

[Fivehole101 0]

Im in the market for a new pair of skates, but the dilemma is that my feet are a wierd shape. I dont have the funds to go custom, so I am looking for close retail skates. All my life I have had trouble with shoes, so my feet are not sensative to slightly incorrect shoes or skates. I have had a number of skates over the years, most recently flexlites. The reason being because I have a very wide forefoot. But they have way too much volume for my feet. I am looking at possibly u+ or XXXX because of the clearance prices that are available. what would you guys suggest for me?

This is what my feet look like:

http://img520.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=dscn0501066.jpg

[Datsyukrulez13 0]

i prob wouldn't go wit the U+, they're on clearance because they've had issues, i believe. But if u kinda like the form of the U+, i would recommend the new Ccm U+ 07, its priced at a reasonable price for nice skates, again IMO, but u should go down to a LHS and try on some skates that u are comfortable with until you find the right one

[Leafsrule16 5]

Your feet look quite a bit like mine. Theres a model of graf i would recommend but im not sure the number, the salesman called them 'duckfeet'. Try on a few pairs of graf models throughout there top range they have a few different boots all together. The ones ending in 9 should be pretty wide, i wore graf g9's for a season without any problems at all.

[Fivehole101 0]

Thanks for the ideas, I plan to go to a lhs, but the closest is out of state, and over an hour away. I want to know what I'm doing when I go there so I dont have to make two trips. As for the U+07, I really want to go towards a higher end skate, possible the 09, how do those compare. I will look into graf, thanks

[Leafsrule16 5]

High end grafs are like weaing a pair of sneakers. There not the flashiest or prettiest but they get the job done. They do tend to put you on your toes a bit but this is supposed to be the correct position anyways, another thing you might notice is the g vs the 700 series, the 700 has been around for ever and there very well made, will withstand anything. The g series is more lightweight and what not but you sacrifice durability a bit. 700's are made to last forever and still have great performance, there just leather pretty much. The g9's i had however still lasted a very long time, there still around today actually. Try a 709 and a g9 for sure and try and try on the other models, if a ccm fits you and you want it great but i suggest trying a pair of grafs. There range of fit is unbeatable.

[K9 Unit 1]

Thanks for the ideas, I plan to go to a lhs, but the closest is out of state, and over an hour away. I want to know what I'm doing when I go there so I dont have to make two trips. As for the U+07, I really want to go towards a higher end skate, possible the 09, how do those compare. I will look into graf, thanks

just don't take the out of box feel of the u+'s and go they don't feel good...u+'s are meant to be heat molded to your foot, so you gotta give that a chance

there's a thread on the 09 u+ around here

[Officer Dangle 0]

I would stay away from Vapors unless you get them fitted in a wider width. I have pretty narrow feet and the average width felt a little tight in the forefoot for a while.

[Fivehole101 0]

If I went with either the XXXX or the U+, I would go with EE width. I guess I may have to make two trips down to the shop.

[Ahriman 1]

i prob wouldn't go wit the U+, they're on clearance because they've had issues, i believe.

They're on clearance because they're the last years model, same as the XXXX.

The reason being because I have a very wide forefoot. But they have way too much volume for my feet. I am looking at possibly u+ or XXXX because of the clearance prices that are available. what would you guys suggest for me?

This is what my feet look like:

http://img520.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=dscn0501066.jpg

Neither of those two skates are going to make you're foot feel great, though the U+ would be a lot closer to the correct fit, hell, they just might even work if you can nail down your length and get an E width. The Vapor skates, any skate in that line, you're just gonna bust out of, there simply isnt enough space in a vapor boot for a foot shaped like that. Try on a pair of One75s (or One95s even if it is out of your price range, just for reference) and see how those feel.

Unfortunately no matter what you do with the U+ you wont really know how they fit you until they are baked, so you're going to have to charm the ass off the skate shop employee to let you bake them before buying them.

[$m0k3 0]

Do you only have problems with the width or the arch also?

[Fivehole101 0]

The main problems I have faced while wearing on skates is the toebox width, and the volume of the boot.

[rmnyi 0]

The main problems I have faced while wearing on skates is the toebox width, and the volume of the boot.

I couldn't see your pics but I'll add my 2 cents. I recently tried on XXXX, One75 & One95, all in 9EE. I currently wear graf 709's in a 10W. First off, I ended up in Graf because of a high instep. I would bust out of most skates. The XXXX fit better than expected but a little tight in the toe box area. Probably could be punched. The One75 felt very snug all over, a little too tight (even after baking). The One95 felt a little loose. I probably should have tried the One95 in a regular width. It's probably safe to assume that the One75 would be too small. The XXXX and One95 are worth trying on if possible I would also try a 709 if possible. Hope that helps a little.

[Leafsrule16 5]

Ahriman, you are partially right on the fact that the u+ pro's are last years model, however they woudlnt have had to make a new model if the first ones didnt have so many issues (steel, boots holding up, heel lock, tongues). The new u+ is just the old one fixed so that you can actually get more then a month or two out of it. I know a few guys whos skates bubbled on the sides i guess you could call it. The rocket runners were harder to sharpen too, not a lot of places around here would do it.

[Ahriman 1]

They are on clearance because they fixed those issues with a new model; if they hadn't introduced the new model, those skates would not be on clearance. Besides, I'd hope that anyone who joined here in Feb of 2007 would have known of the issues by now. :P

[starsfan71 9]

Ya it's not because of the issues that they are on clearance however I would not suggest them seeing as what happened to mine in the 2 weeks I had them.