Skate Bake Advice - KOR & One95

[goodguy 7]

Got my kid some KOR Shift 2's. Doing a home bake with a convection oven per the included KOR instructions.

When heating the skate, the manufacturer says do 7 minutes, test to see if heel is "pliable" if not, heat an additional minute, test again ... not to exceed 12 minutes.

I think I got to 10 min before I didn't want to keep going and proceeded to fit them on my kid. Everything seemed to go fine as I have done this before with Vapors.

But since I have not done a non-foam skate, I do not know exactly the level of "pliability" they are talking about. Are we talking still firm but just warm and "loose" a bit -or- are we talking something like you can feel the plastic molding very easily to your hand (not melted mind you...lol) but malleable.

What I felt was the boot was definitely warm and pressing the sides of the heel inward prior to fitting had flexible give (much more so than cold) - but it was not as if I had "total" pliability and could completely mold the shape of the boot.

I did lace it up snugly and pressed in around the boot/ankle bones, etc. to attempt to take out any spaces. I also did a (medium tension) wrap around the mid boot to get the correct shape as he sat in the chair, applying pressure, having him flex forward, knee over the toe. Everything seemed to fit well and it seemed to do the job.

Question: Do you really notice the boot "molding to the foot" (by feel) or is it hard to tell it is happening. You know it is working but you don't see/feel a lot of change. I am assuming it worked as it is the same as I have done in the past (which worked fine). But this moldable "shell" concept has me wondering if I heated them enough. I would think 10 min would do the trick. But since I don't have the feel for how "moldable" they can get - I was just wondering if someone had some experience. Can you really shape these things or can you slightly shape them.

Also, do the CCM bladder F.I.T. systems really do that much? They seem sort of an inexact science and I'm thinking you can get the same effect by pressing on the outside of the boot (or doing a wrap in key places). Besides, not every shop has the bladder machine - are they really necessary or crucial to getting a "good mold" or can you get close enough by hand?

[jcp2 2]

If I recall correctly, the KOR skates are the exception to the rule that one does not stand up during skate molding. I stood up with my full weight on the skates in a slightly forward flexed position, as though I was gliding forward or skiing. I didn't use the FIT machine the first time in JR's old shop in Michigan. I did the second fitting at home the same way. Both times the result was a good fit with almost instant break-in, no discomfort. The sides of the skate was pliable, but by no means like a soft leather or jelly. I did press in around the ankles with my hands, but it was the lacing that made most of the difference in shaping the skates.

Also, the skates are really, really stiff, so if you lace then up tightly to the top while skating, you'll get a cast like feeling and not get any forward flex. I generally let the top two eyelets have a little give, while making sure the ones at the bend of the ankle/instep area is more snug (wax laces help). If they don't seem quite right the first time, bake them again. Hope this helps.

[BreakingParadigms 0]

Got my kid some KOR Shift 2's. Doing a home bake with a convection oven per the included KOR instructions.

When heating the skate, the manufacturer says do 7 minutes, test to see if heel is "pliable" if not, heat an additional minute, test again ... not to exceed 12 minutes.

I think I got to 10 min before I didn't want to keep going and proceeded to fit them on my kid. Everything seemed to go fine as I have done this before with Vapors.

But since I have not done a non-foam skate, I do not know exactly the level of "pliability" they are talking about. Are we talking still firm but just warm and "loose" a bit -or- are we talking something like you can feel the plastic molding very easily to your hand (not melted mind you...lol) but malleable.

What I felt was the boot was definitely warm and pressing the sides of the heel inward prior to fitting had flexible give (much more so than cold) - but it was not as if I had "total" pliability and could completely mold the shape of the boot.

I did lace it up snugly and pressed in around the boot/ankle bones, etc. to attempt to take out any spaces. I also did a (medium tension) wrap around the mid boot to get the correct shape as he sat in the chair, applying pressure, having him flex forward, knee over the toe. Everything seemed to fit well and it seemed to do the job.

Question: Do you really notice the boot "molding to the foot" (by feel) or is it hard to tell it is happening. You know it is working but you don't see/feel a lot of change. I am assuming it worked as it is the same as I have done in the past (which worked fine). But this moldable "shell" concept has me wondering if I heated them enough. I would think 10 min would do the trick. But since I don't have the feel for how "moldable" they can get - I was just wondering if someone had some experience. Can you really shape these things or can you slightly shape them.

Also, do the CCM bladder F.I.T. systems really do that much? They seem sort of an inexact science and I'm thinking you can get the same effect by pressing on the outside of the boot (or doing a wrap in key places). Besides, not every shop has the bladder machine - are they really necessary or crucial to getting a "good mold" or can you get close enough by hand?

By pliable, what is meant is that the skate softens, you can see it in the oven while it heats up that the collar will open slightly, this is because the tension of the fibers is acting on the softened PU walls.

What is recommendable is to pre-heat the oven to around 175F, then put the skates in and 8~9 minutes should do the trick.

Tie them up and move around, you'll feel how the pressure areas open up, and wrap them with your hands as they cool down to come closer to your feet where you need them to be.

EZ