Breathing new life into my skates

[Rink Rat 0]

I got XXVs in February '09. They made me feel like I was falling backwards (I came from mission fuel 75s). So, I had them contoured and shittily baked. The salesman decided to not charge me for it, and they didn't feel near hot enough. I think he just messed up setting the oven. When I skated with them after the contour and bake they felt alright, but I still felt like I was falling backwards a bit, so I took a half sheet of paper towel, folded it a few times, and stuck it under the heel on the foot bed, for both skates. It was a quick fix but I think it doesn't have an affect anymore.

Now, the paper towel is pretty much not there and the contour might be wearing off. Also the foot beds suck and it hurts the bone behind my big toe on both feet all the time. So, onto the questions...

What are the best foot beds I can get? Possibly these grafs?

Can I bake the skates again? (by 'I' I mean my LHS)

How much lift should I have put under the heel? (permanently by a professional, thinking around 3mm)

And while I'm at it, what are the best laces for keeping skates tight, or what am I doing wrong when I tie my skates? I pull every lace tight and they always come loose during practices and games. I hate the waxed laces at my LHS though, they're thin and really hard to pull.

Hopefully your answers will help the skates feel right and perform like they're meant to.

Thanks! :)

[reyno2ac 0]

If you can find thicker waxed laces that would be the way to go. I hate thin waxed laces too, they give me horrible blisters.

Super feet will probably be the best insoles you can find. http://www.superfeet.com/activity/hockey.aspx

[Jesse_01 0]

I put superfeet insoles in my grafs and love them. http://www.superfeet.com/activity/hockey.aspx

Also if it feels like your falling backwards it could be the rocker on the skates. Paper towel is not a very good fix lol. Might as well duct tape the paper towel so it wont wear down :P lol

[87vert 0]

Also the foot beds suck and it hurts the bone behind my big toe on both feet all the time. So, onto the questions...

What are the best foot beds I can get? Possibly these grafs?

Hopefully your answers will help the skates feel right and perform like they're meant to.

Thanks! :)

I got the same skates and had the same problem after about 20mins on the ice. Switching to the Shock Doctor hockey beds helped. I may still go to superfeet just to see if there is a difference.

[Moose 1]

Same skates. My issue was heel popping up some and feeling loose. I'm a vapor guy for the last 9 years.

I changed the way I tied the skates, changed to waxed laces, and added yellow superfeet. It's the first time I was able to not worry about my skates while playing since I got them in '08. I bought superfeet off ebay with a "make and offer" free shipping price so it was cheaper then retail.

*note on superfeet- buy them in the size of your shoe, not the size of your skates

[flyers10 57]

Footbeds: Superfeet or the Shockdoctors. I use each. One feels better in my E60s and other feels better in the U+Pros. For the Superfeet definitely make sure the arch aligns with your foot's arch to get the proper size for you. You may have a bunch of excess in the forefoot but no big deal, just trim it off.

Baking: It should be no problem to bake them again. Make sure they preheat the oven.

Lift: Not sure about this. Consult a good fitter and consider having the blades profiled. Also, the Superfeet tend to lift the heel some so if you get those maybe try them first without a lift to see how it feels.

Laces: Lot of people like Elite. I have AR or A&R from my LHS and they are ok; fairly thick though.

[Hockeyman11385 1]

I would do the insole change before you add lifts because the new insole will alter your pitch a little bit depending on the insole.

[farhanshak 1]

i have a pair of graf 703's with tuuk ls2 on em and have superfeet insoles (yellow) in the skates, along with a 2mm heel lift.

i also have a pair of Bauer Supreme one55's with superfeet insoles and have the same problem of feeling as though i am falling backwards...going to have 2 mm heel lifts installed in these a well...i like to stay on the balls of my feet when skating (which the grafs are good for) and always have good knee bend.

hope this helps...

i used waxed laces (get em from wal mart the have ovechkin on them and most local pro shops have the same laces) as i have a problem with my skates staying tight as well. if you are having a hard time pulling the thin laces (i have no idea if mines are thin, they look pretty normal) there is a tool you can get that looks like a cork opener and has a hook coming out of it...skate tightening thingy majiggy that helps with pulling them tight alot of the guys on my team use these.

I had my bauer supreme one55's baked twice (a few weeks apart) and they are still holding up.

hope all this helped.

[Rink Rat 0]

Thanks guys. The superfeet look promising. Come to think of it, not only are my feet hurting because of my crap insoles, but my feet lean outward and it doesn't feel supported at all. I also feel like I'm working much harder and not skating as fast as I used to. I probably won't be getting heel lifts, and if I decide I need them cardboard will suffice until I can get the real thing lol.

[jumtao 0]

Like others have suggested, Superfeet yellow is a fantastic product. I use it myself and have noticed a huge difference. My feet are properly supported (feet don't tire out after the 1st period), and a provides a slight forward pitch.

Also, if you decide to get Superfeet, make sure that your heel fits flush with the cup and that the arch is supporting where it needs to be. The sizing chart serves as a good reference point but in my experience has not been the most accurate.

[K9 Unit 1]

i believe mission fuels 75s had pitch3 holders? what setting did you skate on that?

[GimpIndustries 1]

I would add superfeet and even try adding new laces, some times that can make a difference as you won't have your "normal" wore in tightening spots anymore.

[Chadd 916]

i believe mission fuels 75s had pitch3 holders? what setting did you skate on that?

First step should have been to put the skates on +1. I would hope the shop did that before profiling.

[Rink Rat 0]

I didn't have them profiled, and I didn't mess with them when I got them, I was 13 at the time.

Anyway, Moose, I laced my skates up like you suggested and it help a lot, still need waxed laces though, it's a lot easier to tighten.

[Moose 1]

Someone on here suggested that to me and it helped some. Glad it helped you. I was at the point where I tied them as tight as I could and not only did it feel way too uncomfortable it didn't help. The new way of lacing them up was a big help.

I switched to wax recently and (with the superfeet) was the final measure of success.