Skate Concerns

[Derek 0]

Those are my new skates. Ultra G3, Graf. I want to be sure I got the best skates for my foot type, but it's not easy to do that. Amazingly enough, I have thirty days to skate on these, and, if I don't like them, I may take them back. So here is why I am coming to you all for help: I am inexperienced, so I don't know what to expect simply because they are new skates, and what to expect which would possibly suggest the skate isn't right for me. I would consult a professional skate retailer, but I don't think they are trained anymore.

In the absence of being able to try on different Graf skates, I have to guess at what I might take. The G3 might be just right, or maybe the G35 is better, because maybe my heel instep depth isn't shallow. I don't know!

Some foot shots after today.

Some minor contusions. Maybe I need to break them in, or maybe it is not the right skate. I am not sure. The G3 is designed for a narrow heel (check), shallow instep depth (Not sure, but I passed the so-called "pencil test"), and a pronounced heel (Check, probably). Is one way to tell if the skate is wide enough is by taking out the footbed and placing my foot on it?

Thoughts?

Thanks.

[Derek 0]

I have to face the facts. I haven't wanted to because the truth isn't a pleasant one. If Graf has one flaw, it is providing too many options. This can hardly be called a flaw. I just took out the footbed and put it to the bottom of my foot. This footbed is narrow, and I can not deny that my foot exceeded its width. Surely this is a fine way to see if the skates width fits your foot. I probably have a regular foot width, but not narrow. Heel width may be narrow; I could get away with that. Heel instep depth, probably medium. Hard to say. I could either take the G3 or the G35, based on this. This is what I had suspected. I would have to try both. Right now I have the G3, but with a narrow width instead of regular because they didn't have regular...I think. They don't know. This is very disheartening. I am going straight back to Pure Hockey and having them order the G35 with regular width, and the G3 with regular width. At least I know I take an 8.5 size in Graf.

I am extremely disappointed with the retail of skates. Quality shops are sparse.

[The Mafia Line 0]

I just got the same exact skates in early April, and even with a pretty narrow foot, they squeezed on the sides of my forefoot. I got them punched, but the g35s have a wider forefoot. Is there no shop by you, where you can try on a different array of grafs and see which ones you like best?

[Derek 0]

I just got the same exact skates in early April, and even with a pretty narrow foot, they squeezed on the sides of my forefoot. I got them punched, but the g35s have a wider forefoot. Is there no shop by you, where you can try on a different array of grafs and see which ones you like best?

That is correct. There is a terrific place in Michigan I found online called Bruno's Hockey Shop. But I am nowhere near there. I am going to call Bruno tomorrow, though, and discuss my concerns with him.

Your post is very helpful. You tried the G3 and the G35, and both were narrow width? Did the deeper instep heel depth on the G35 make a big difference for you?

[puckhoggy 0]

I bought a pair of graf g35s and even after several months I'm still getting used to them and I'm on the ice quite frequently. My advice is make sure you do the best job to get fitted on any pair of skates. My fear is I didn't get fitted properly.

I found myself going to diff lhs trying on the g3s to confirm my suspicion about my problem stated above, but still couldn't decide which ones I should have gotten. I passed the pencil test for the g35s and found that I have to tie the laces barely firm on the first bottom 4 eyelets to prevent any foot pains during and after an ice session, even though I used to tie my previous pair of skates nice and firm and enjoyed them quite immensely. I even think I got a half size to large which adds to my worry on dropping so much dough and not getting a peace of mind.

One thing I did overlook when buying a new skate is getting a great heel lock fit. Don't forget about a nice insole, as well as baking your skate to determine if it is right for you in a quicker timeline. However you did say you have 30 days to try them out, which I have to say is a BLESSING considering a common theory, you wear 'em they're yours!

[duch 0]

You may possibly need a wider forefoot. In that case I'd opt for the G7 or G9 the latter being one of Grafs widest skates. Moving to the 735 will give you a slightly wider forefoot but I found the difference very small. In fact it's a very similar fit to the G3. If you want a slightly deeper skate and a bit more of a step up on the wide side you can go to the G5. The higher the number with the Graf G series ,generally the wider the boot but not necessarily the deeper the boot. A lot really depends on your personal preference as well, whether you like to wear a tighter or looser skate. Hope some of this info helps you. Get the guy at your local hockey shop to take some time to try out different models if you decide to take em back. And a word of advice, leave yourself plenty of time when fitting other skates because it's an expensive proposition and it's good to get it right from the start.

[Derek 0]

Thanks, everybody. Duch, The G3s come in narrow, regular, and wide, so I will probably just request them to get the G3 in regular and the G35 in regular. I want to make as few changes as possible so that I can maintain constants, and in this way know exactly what changes were necessary. Puchhoggy did get me thinking a little bit more about the heel, though, but I think I have that part right.

Oh, that thirty day try-out thing is a policy of Pure Hockey.

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

Thanks, everybody. Duch, The G3s come in narrow, regular, and wide, so I will probably just request them to get the G3 in regular and the G35 in regular. I want to make as few changes as possible so that I can maintain constants, and in this way know exactly what changes were necessary. Puchhoggy did get me thinking a little bit more about the heel, though, but I think I have that part right.

Oh, that thirty day try-out thing is a policy of Pure Hockey.

Really? Even if you bake them and have them sharpened?

[Derek 0]

Really? Even if you bake them and have them sharpened?

Yes. Pure Hockey will take back skates within thirty days, no matter what. And they should! God damned shops don't carry the right skates and nobody knows how to fit for skates. The least they can do is permit you to return them.

I stopped in today, first thing. I asked the guy if he would order a couple so that I could try them on, and I told him about my concerns. He told me that Graf only has one size and they run narrow. Are you shitting me? I couldn't believe he was giving me this bull shit. He was being critical of Graf, too. What an ignoramus. They don't deserve to be selling skates.

Anyway, Bruno is helping me. Bruno told me of Graf's measuring instrument which determines your foot dimensions. He said every Graf retailer should have one. Pure Hockey sells Grafs, so how come this is the first time I am hearing about this after I spent $600 and ran myself flat broke. Fuckin eh!

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

Yes. Pure Hockey will take back skates within thirty days, no matter what. And they should! God damned shops don't carry the right skates and nobody knows how to fit for skates. The least they can do is permit you to return them.

I stopped in today, first thing. I asked the guy if he would order a couple so that I could try them on, and I told him about my concerns. He told me that Graf only has one size and they run narrow. Are you shitting me? I couldn't believe he was giving me this bull shit. He was being critical of Graf, too. What an ignoramus. They don't deserve to be selling skates.

Anyway, Bruno is helping me. Bruno told me of Graf's measuring instrument which determines your foot dimensions. He said every Graf retailer should have one. Pure Hockey sells Grafs, so how come this is the first time I am hearing about this after I spent $600 and ran myself flat broke. Fuckin eh!

The seems like a big risk for pure hockey. What the hell would they do with used skates, they can't resell them for full value.

[white91 0]

Yes. Pure Hockey will take back skates within thirty days, no matter what. And they should! God damned shops don't carry the right skates and nobody knows how to fit for skates. The least they can do is permit you to return them.

I stopped in today, first thing. I asked the guy if he would order a couple so that I could try them on, and I told him about my concerns. He told me that Graf only has one size and they run narrow. Are you shitting me? I couldn't believe he was giving me this bull shit. He was being critical of Graf, too. What an ignoramus. They don't deserve to be selling skates.

Anyway, Bruno is helping me. Bruno told me of Graf's measuring instrument which determines your foot dimensions. He said every Graf retailer should have one. Pure Hockey sells Grafs, so how come this is the first time I am hearing about this after I spent $600 and ran myself flat broke. Fuckin eh!

Unbelievable

[Derek 0]

Update: Pure Hockey here doesn't have the Graf measuring device. Seriously. Those guys don't like me very much. Even the guy who sold me the skates has been very taciturn with me. What a bummer. You may return the skates, but you will make an enemy out of everybody who works there.

[Krev 86]

Take your business elsewhere since they're being asshats.

[gerbe3:16 19]

Hey... ah... which Pure Hockey are we talking about? Want to make sure I don't end up there!

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

Hey... ah... which Pure Hockey are we talking about? Want to make sure I don't end up there!

I find that pure hockey's service is fine. I have bought skates from two places, Pure hockey and cooks. Neither of them were as knowledgeable as the folks on msh, However the service I have received from them has been great. I think you should just try on as many skates as possible, so you know what you choose will definitely work. PH has lots of sizes so that makes things easier. Cooks never had wide widths.

[IceBuckeye88 0]

Take this for what it's worth.

I bought a pair of Ultra G5's about 6 months ago. When I bought them I also tried on Reebok 9K, CCM U+ Reload, Bauer Flexlite and Vapor 60's. I found the Graf to be the best fit for my foot and have had no discomfort or issues with them. I love the skate pure and simple.

What I'm getting at is this: Although there is a 'break in period', I've found that if a skate isn't good from the get go, get going - to another pair, size, and/or brand. Buy a skate that fits your foot, regardless of brand. Don't try to make your foot fit the skate, the skate should fit your foot. If you have to have extensive work done on a skate, ie, stretching, punching, etc., it's probably not the right skate for you (assuming you are a full grown adult).

I've gone through at least 6 pairs and a lot of pain in the past 4 years to figure this out and get a skate that's right for me.

Hope this helps ;)

[Derek 0]

Take this for what it's worth.

I bought a pair of Ultra G5's about 6 months ago. When I bought them I also tried on Reebok 9K, CCM U+ Reload, Bauer Flexlite and Vapor 60's. I found the Graf to be the best fit for my foot and have had no discomfort or issues with them. I love the skate pure and simple.

What I'm getting at is this: Although there is a 'break in period', I've found that if a skate isn't good from the get go, get going - to another pair, size, and/or brand. Buy a skate that fits your foot, regardless of brand. Don't try to make your foot fit the skate, the skate should fit your foot. If you have to have extensive work done on a skate, ie, stretching, punching, etc., it's probably not the right skate for you (assuming you are a full grown adult).

I've gone through at least 6 pairs and a lot of pain in the past 4 years to figure this out and get a skate that's right for me.

Hope this helps ;)

You're exactly right. And Graf is all about fit. I just ordered a pair of skates from Bruno at Bruno's Hockey Shop in Michigan. They are going to be here by Friday, he said. That is so quick. He helped me out over the phone for as long as I needed; he told me how to properly fit skates and how to bake them. This guy is great. He is a Graf dealer. I gave him the measurements in inches of my feet; he converted them to Graf's metric, and he prescribed the right skate for me according to Graf's chart.

There is no other way to go. See a Graf dealer if you want the right skate.

[wrangler 157]

You're exactly right. And Graf is all about fit. I just ordered a pair of skates from Bruno at Bruno's Hockey Shop in Michigan. They are going to be here by Friday, he said. That is so quick. He helped me out over the phone for as long as I needed; he told me how to properly fit skates and how to bake them. This guy is great. He is a Graf dealer. I gave him the measurements in inches of my feet; he converted them to Graf's metric, and he prescribed the right skate for me according to Graf's chart.

There is no other way to go. See a Graf dealer if you want the right skate.

Very interesting. I'm looking forward to hearing how the telephone measurement works out.

[Derek 0]

I returned the G3s today. That was anything but easy. Let me add to something I'd said earlier. Pure Hockey will give you a credit if you used the skates. You will not get your money back. It all worked out for me, but god that was uncomfortable and nerve-racking.

[wrangler 157]

I returned the G3s today. That was anything but easy. Let me add to something I'd said earlier. Pure Hockey will give you a credit if you used the skates. You will not get your money back. It all worked out for me, but god that was uncomfortable and nerve-racking.

Too bad. I hope the Bruno's experience is a lot better.

[Derek 0]

You can find my review of The G70 skate at hockeyus.com. I won't go into much here.

I just received the G70s. I baked them and I skated in them since. I don't really know what to say. This whole process has been so discouraging.

I have now tried the G3 with an R width, and the G70 with an N width. Both skates were 8.5 length. Here are some unexpected differences I found.

1. The N width in a G70 is not as tight on the sides as the G3 with an R width. N is for narrow; R is for regular.

2. The 8.5 in the N G70 is longer than the R G3.

Some expected differences I found are:

1. The boot is deeper in the G70 than it is in the G3. It is advertised this way. But in light of this, there is an unexpected difference. It is:

- I felt that old familiar threat of lace bite in this boot. There are two possible causes. (1) Contrary to the myth that lace bite results from too shallow a boot, lace bite results from too deep a boot; it results from both, really; (2) lace bite caused by the G3, because it never healed, will hurt in any boot.

I believe both of these to be the case. Once lace bite gets started, good luck fixing that. Both boots I owned previously were deep boots, and in both cases the lace bite was excruciating. Too shallow a boot and too deep a boot can cause lace bite, and the latter is worse.

Here is my one reservation about my relation to the G70; that is, my foot type inside this particular Graf. I don't know how pronounced my heel is. The only skate Graf has with a Medium heel width is the G70, and the G70 goes with a Moderately Pronounced heel. It is possible that my heel is narrow and pronounced, in which case the G70 would be the wrong skate for me. The in-between skate of the G3 and G70 is the G35. The G35 fits a narrow, pronounced heel, and the depth of the boot is medium.

So, like I said, I skated in these already. Skating backwards was uncomfortable when I really got going. It felt like my heel was being stopped by a wall. I felt like my heel wanted to go back more into the skate. This was only evident skating backwards harder than a casual skate.

I am afraid to make any changes to my skate because this could entail unpredictable changes in other aspects of the skate. If I were to go to the G35, would I need an 8 instead of an 8.5? Would I need an R width instead of an N width? No aspect of a skate can be considered independent of the rest of the skate. Changing one thing may change other aspects of the skate unpredictably. Apparently, fitting skates is a process that belongs to chaotic systems.

The moral of this story is simple: if you want to get yourself the best pair of skates for you, you first need to find a Graf dealer in your area (and good luck with that!), and, finally, you need to try every possible skate on that might fit you right there in the store. You want to do all of this having measured your foot with Graf's device.

Short of this, you need to be very, very wealthy and possess endless patience. As skate customers, particularly those of us who are discerning and meticulous, you are completely on your own. You need to be smart and you need to be logical when fitting yourself for skates.

[jsykes 35]

The only skate Graf has with a Medium heel width is the G70, and the G70 goes with a Moderately Pronounced heel. It is possible that my heel is narrow and pronounced, in which case the G70 would be the wrong skate for me.

The G5 has a medium heel width and a straight backstay with a medium depth. The G7 has a medium heel with a straight backstay and a medium/deep depth.

[Derek 0]

The G5 has a medium heel width and a straight backstay with a medium depth. The G7 has a medium heel with a straight backstay and a medium/deep depth.

Pardon me; I meant a medium width heel with some heel pronouncement as well.