What's the consensus, do U+ skates need to get baked?

[f2racer 0]

I just got my U+ 09 (not the 2008 Vector U+ Pro nor the 2009 U+ Pro Reloaded) skates (replacements under warranty). CCM's website seems to talk up the U Foam as being "Extremely REACTIVE when heat molded..."

What's the consensus on this board, do I need to get them baked for the best performance? I'm 38 and have never gotten skates baked, even the relatively new (old stock) Tacks which these replace. Would it take forever to break in the skates if I don't get them baked? I'm also in the process of breaking in a pair of new (old stock non-pump) Reebok 8k skates which seem to be molding (pain is lessening after a couple of skates) without baking.

Thanks!

[aarondevera 0]

If you've never baked skates before, you just picked up the single most heat-moldable skate available to you.

Bake them, you're supposed to. If they feel good now, I can guarantee they'll feel better.

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

I just got my U+ 09 (not the 2008 Vector U+ Pro nor the 2009 U+ Pro Reloaded) skates (replacements under warranty). CCM's website seems to talk up the U Foam as being "Extremely REACTIVE when heat molded..."

What's the consensus on this board, do I need to get them baked for the best performance? I'm 38 and have never gotten skates baked, even the relatively new (old stock) Tacks which these replace. Would it take forever to break in the skates if I don't get them baked? I'm also in the process of breaking in a pair of new (old stock non-pump) Reebok 8k skates which seem to be molding (pain is lessening after a couple of skates) without baking.

Thanks!

Being one of the lucky ones here that got to go to the factory ....yes there is no way ou can mold those skates without heating.....it takes 200 degrees to warm them up and unless your an alien.....I doubt your body would ever get that warm.....now drive here in Toronto.......maybe!

[tamtamg 12]

i have a pair of u+ pro reloaded. they felt absolutely horrible on my feet before the were baked. It was really sloppy in some areas and really tight in others. after baking they fit like a glove. you must bake them to get an idea of how they will fit your feet.

[hockeyray 0]

Along with the question of U+ needing to be baked, I was just wondering whats the consensus that the U+ will fit any foot? it seems that tamtamg helps to prove this.

[aarondevera 0]

I don't know if I would go so far as to say EVERY foot... Because they sure as hell don't work for me even with a bake, which is unfortunate because I used to be a huge advocate and user of CCM skates in the past.

Actually, I'd say if you have a really wide foot and there isn't too much of a difference in width between your midfoot and forefoot, the U+ Pro Reloaded probably won't work for you. I've got a few buddies who are in them right now. Some love them, and those with feet similar to mine hate how they feel.

[LkptTiger 1]

The only way I would describe the U+ boot pre-bake would be "shapeless" - it's pretty much a blank canvas (and - I would imagine - relatively difficult to be comfortable in). The only way to mold the foams properly is to bake the skate...and when you bake the skate, those foams really, REALLY mold.

[SolarWind 23]

...you just picked up the single most heat-moldable skate available to you.

it's an off-topic, but U+ isn't "the single most heat-moldable skate" since only the foam inside reacts to heat which isn't any diffeerent then a bunch of other skates, except One95 - this is got to be the one - after baking the entire boot is soft & can be formed into anything with your fingers!

[epstud74 24]

There is no point in buying the U+ if you're not going to bake the skate. The skate was designed to be heat molded to your feet.

...you just picked up the single most heat-moldable skate available to you.

it's an off-topic, but U+ isn't "the single most heat-moldable skate" since only the foam inside reacts to heat which isn't any diffeerent then a bunch of other skates, except One95 - this is got to be the one - after baking the entire boot is soft & can be formed into anything with your fingers!

??

[chk hrd 164]

The only way I would describe the U+ boot pre-bake would be "shapeless" - it's pretty much a blank canvas (and - I would imagine - relatively difficult to be comfortable in). The only way to mold the foams properly is to bake the skate...and when you bake the skate, those foams really, REALLY mold.

I Tried my son's on when we first took them out of the box. When you try them on it is like wearing a shoebox, no real form or fit, just square feeling. After baking it is completely different. When we baked the skated it was really wierd, they came out of the skate oven and were so pliable I thought they were overheated, but they come with a nifty little heat gage that tells you when to pull them out so I new they were still okay. Between the foam and pliability they formed to his foot perfectly. They are the first skate that he has worn that did not require any break in. His first skate was a public skate to test them. He literally put them on and skated without any sore spots, hots spots or pain. They we so fitted that he did a very tough private training skate the next day with no problems. We have always wore CCM/RBK skates and these have been the best ones yet. We are still waiting to see how they hold up (his 1st & 2nd gen U+ Pro's were bad). but it looks like they worked the problems out.

[tamtamg 12]

Along with the question of U+ needing to be baked, I was just wondering whats the consensus that the U+ will fit any foot? it seems that tamtamg helps to prove this.

I don't know about every foot. I have a relatively high volume, wide foot with a low-average arch. I think people with skinnier feet might have some issues because the foam would have to expand much more to fill in the negative space.

[duch 0]

The U+ is made to be baked. Bake them before using them for the best possible fit, it's that simple.

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

...you just picked up the single most heat-moldable skate available to you.

it's an off-topic, but U+ isn't "the single most heat-moldable skate" since only the foam inside reacts to heat which isn't any diffeerent then a bunch of other skates, except One95 - this is got to be the one - after baking the entire boot is soft & can be formed into anything with your fingers!

Better read up on the skate. The whole outer piece of the boot is very moldable. All the inner foam does is get soft and mushy it doesnt form only the shell of the boot does!

[kovalchuk71 212]

Do they mold better than the One95 or are they two different technologies?

[joana 0]

I don't know if I would go so far as to say EVERY foot... Because they sure as hell don't work for me even with a bake, which is unfortunate because I used to be a huge advocate and user of CCM skates in the past.

Actually, I'd say if you have a really wide foot and there isn't too much of a difference in width between your midfoot and forefoot, the U+ Pro Reloaded probably won't work for you. I've got a few buddies who are in them right now. Some love them, and those with feet similar to mine hate how they feel.

Why? Is the forefoot much wider than the midfoot on these skates?

[GSH13 0]

Do they mold better than the One95 or are they two different technologies?

I felt like the One95s didn't mold to the same extreme as the U+. The One95s seem to have more shape out of the box than the U+ which felt really shapeless to me before baked.

[aarondevera 0]

Exactly. The One95 molds mostly around the ankle area, as is the case with the vast majority of moldable skates on the market. What sets the U+ apart from these skates is that the whole boot (meaning the ankle AND the foot) is pliable and reacts to heat. They just didn't work nearly as well for me as they might have for someone with a different shaped foot.

[GSH13 0]

Exactly. The One95 molds mostly around the ankle area, as is the case with the vast majority of moldable skates on the market. What sets the U+ apart from these skates is that the whole boot (meaning the ankle AND the foot) is pliable and reacts to heat. They just didn't work nearly as well for me as they might have for someone with a different shaped foot.

Same here. Even though they molded a ton I still preferred the fit of the One95.