Looking for Skate Advice

[MastodonX 0]

I have been having a load of trouble with my skates recently and it has finally resulted in me having to take time off to sort the problem out (I have been told that if I carry on playing with the lace bit I am going to get a permanent lump on my shin because of the damage the laces are doing). I have decided its probably because of my skates not fitting properly.

Currently I am wearing a pair of Reebok 4k's, D width, size 10.5. The felt like they fitted fine at first about a year ago but now they just feel completely wrong. I have quite wide feet at the front but my heels are quite narrow (i can post pictures if it helps).

The problems i am having are:

• Really bad lace bite which has left a massive bump on my shin, but only on my left leg and its now agony to skate on.
  
• My ankles never seems like they are tight in the skate, I feel like I have way to much movement in the ankle from left to right, like i am going to twist my ankle when I go to turn.
  
• I can never seem to get the laces tight enough, but i am getting lace bite.
  
• My heel is starting to slip at the back.
  

Can anyone recommend what sort of skate I should be looking out to fix these problems?

I was thinking of getting the Reebok 5k or 8k pumps, but would this help with the ankle problem?

I know a lace bite guard would be the solution for that problem, but which skates are the most effective at protecting against it?

Also can anyone recommend a skate which is quite wide at the front but will lock my heal in at the back. Any help would be great, because it is really starting to slow my progress down.

[irishlaxburger2 0]

It wouldn't surprise me if you were getting lace bite because the skates you're currently in aren't deep enough. I would go get fitted at a LHS and make sure to do the pencil test (search on here for the pencil test).

[rachael7 1]

Several of the Graf skates have a wide forefoot with a very effective heel lock. The 735/G35 has a very narrow heel, but may not have enough room in the forefoot, depending on how wide you really are. But they have several different fits and a full service shop with a good selection of Grafs will almost certainly be able to put you in a comfortable one.

[Jarick 5]

I had a similar problem with the ankle/heel rolling inside the boot and ended up going to a Graf G35, although I was told the One95 would have been a similar fit (out of stock). It sounds like your skate is too big and you're tightening down on the laces to compensate, causing lace bite. Definitely go to a good shop and have them fit you.

[Jordan 13]

You say that your foot is moving around inside the skate and that you are getting lace bite, while tying your skates really tight.

Seems like your current skate is too wide for your foot. you shouldn't have to lace so tight. Also sounds like you need more depth.

I wouldn't look at another Reebok, sounds like they are too wide for your foot. Maybe a One95, or Graf 709 - I would try narrow and regular on.

Just go to a place that can fit you properly and has a lot of inventory. Try on as many as you can.

good luck.

[MastodonX 0]

Thanks for the advise guys.

I have always been told i have wide feet, but maybe in terms of skate fit they are pretty average.

Is the fit similat in all Bauer Supreme models?

Because although i would love to get some one95's i dont think i have the $$$ (in the UK they are about $750)

[Jarick 5]

I have wider feet up front but narrow heels...I was using skates that were wide to accommodate my forefeet but that caused the foot to roll. What my local shop did was size me up for the narrowest, smallest boot I could comfortably wear, then stretch out the front a bit to make it wider. Much, much better.

The One55's fit similar to the One95's and should still be a step up from the 4k's quality-wise.

[Hockeydog 8]

One55 or One75 skates sound like they may be potential good fits. If I remember correctly the One75 fits a bit deeper than the One55.

[fiimb 1]

sounds like your skates are breaking down. my skates are in about the same point in their life as yours and i've also noticed a significant loss of heel lock.

i would try one of the new rbk pumps, particularly if the other aspects of the rbk skates you still like. the 11k's have a tighter heel, and the pump really does help with heel lock. i'm hoping the new entire line of pump skates will have this new fit.

the new 4k's will also have the pump.

keep in mind the pump won't help with lace bite in the long run, but it will help with heel lock. as the boot breaks down, lace bite is inevitable in a lower end boot. if lace bite is a major concern, look at skates with a good quality tongue, and durable boot that won't break down. and composite (stiff) does not neccessarily equate to durability.

[MastodonX 0]

sounds like your skates are breaking down. my skates are in about the same point in their life as yours and i've also noticed a significant loss of heel lock.

i would try one of the new rbk pumps, particularly if the other aspects of the rbk skates you still like. the 11k's have a tighter heel, and the pump really does help with heel lock. i'm hoping the new entire line of pump skates will have this new fit.

the new 4k's will also have the pump.

keep in mind the pump won't help with lace bite in the long run, but it will help with heel lock. as the boot breaks down, lace bite is inevitable in a lower end boot. if lace bite is a major concern, look at skates with a good quality tongue, and durable boot that won't break down. and composite (stiff) does not neccessarily equate to durability.

I was considering the 5k's because I though that maybe if the ankle is locked in I wouldnt have to tie the laces as tight to get the skate to fit. Thus reducing the lacebite, but as others have said I might have to consider the depth of the skate.

Looking on the web UK suppliers dont seem to have any One55's or One75's. They have the One05, One35 and the One95 but nothing in between.

So unless they have them in store that might not be an option.

[kook 0]

Try these:

Bunga Pads

I used to have really bad lace bite and these completely took care of it. I stopped using them for a while when I got new skates and once they broke down a bit the lace bite came back. I put these back on and it took care of the problem.

[MastodonX 0]

Try these:

Bunga Pads

I used to have really bad lace bite and these completely took care of it. I stopped using them for a while when I got new skates and once they broke down a bit the lace bite came back. I put these back on and it took care of the problem.

They would have been useful a while back.

I dont think they will help wiht the skate fit though , unless the additional volume inside the boot will help with fit.

Cant seem to get hold of any of the Bauer one55 or one75 in the uk, does anyone know when are the new range of skates (one80, 70 , 60 etc) for 2010 being released?

Or when/if they might hit the UK?

[DaveROR 0]

Spring, at least in the US. Not sure about the UK. I'd guess in the next month or two.

[nystromshairstylist 14]

I have been having a load of trouble with my skates recently and it has finally resulted in me having to take time off to sort the problem out (I have been told that if I carry on playing with the lace bit I am going to get a permanent lump on my shin because of the damage the laces are doing). I have decided its probably because of my skates not fitting properly.

Currently I am wearing a pair of Reebok 4k's, D width, size 10.5. The felt like they fitted fine at first about a year ago but now they just feel completely wrong. I have quite wide feet at the front but my heels are quite narrow (i can post pictures if it helps).

The problems i am having are:

• Really bad lace bite which has left a massive bump on my shin, but only on my left leg and its now agony to skate on.
  
• My ankles never seems like they are tight in the skate, I feel like I have way to much movement in the ankle from left to right, like i am going to twist my ankle when I go to turn.
  
• I can never seem to get the laces tight enough, but i am getting lace bite.
  
• My heel is starting to slip at the back.
  

Can anyone recommend what sort of skate I should be looking out to fix these problems?

I was thinking of getting the Reebok 5k or 8k pumps, but would this help with the ankle problem?

I know a lace bite guard would be the solution for that problem, but which skates are the most effective at protecting against it?

Also can anyone recommend a skate which is quite wide at the front but will lock my heal in at the back. Any help would be great, because it is really starting to slow my progress down.

I have average-to-narrow heels, a wider forefoot, and a medium arch, and my LHS fit me into Graf Ultra G70s, and they are fantastic. Left foot fits slightly better, but only because my right foot is slightly smaller... ;( so this is not something that can be dealt with except going custom.

Graf (don't work for them) makes a skate for every foot shape/size, so check out this chart:

http://www.grafcanada.com/hockey_skates/

And go to a good LHS that sells them, and spend a few hours there getting the right fit.