Graf 709 or Bauer Flexlite 4.0?

[Roaring_Fork 0]

I am trying to decide what skate to buy. I am 6'2", 252 lbs, skate on two B league teams, and currently wear Bauer Vapor XIV's in EE. I have tried on the Vapor 60's and the One series but they are too narrow even in EE width. The heal on the One75 seemed to be too narrow. In both these lines, I feel like the skate is not deep enough. I wear a size 11.5 shoe, my skates are 9.5, have a moderately high arch, and a wide forefoot. My little toes get smashed against the toe box. I have punched my XIV’s but cannot get them wide enough. I live in the mountains of Colorado and there are no shops around me.

I am trying to decide between the Graf 709's and the Bauer Flexlite. I wish I could try them on but that's impossible for me. I am looking for suggestions and any comment you might have. I have tried on the CCM U+ Pro and the shop said they could not get it wide enough for me. Of these skates, which one had the widest toe box? What other skates should I be considering?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[zaytser 0]

Get which ever skates that have the best padding in the Ankle, which will lock your heel into the boot bettter. I would think the Grafs would have more pAdding in the rear for molding to your ankle, but I am not sure. Also the Graf will probably have a larger instep and wider boot. I have a lower model Graf and wish I would have just ponied up with the money for the 709's cause my friggin ankle keeps sliding up an down since the padding is so poor in the back of the skate. Also the Graf will probably feel more like the leather skates you used when you were younger (assuming you aren't 13 years old lol). However, don't let that fool you, as they will be stiff for stability and will take time to break in. Also the Graf may be a bit more money, but I am not sure. If you do decide to go with the Bauer Flexlite, make sure they are the Flexlite Pro, as that will be a more comparable skate to the Graf 709. I hope this helps your decision, however I am not an expert in both skates, just did a little research because I need wide skates with large instep too.

[pby 0]

The flexlite 4 pros are about the same price as the 709. but the flexlite pros are hard to come by and not all sizes are available.

What is your budget? Are custom skates out of the question?

I'm going to order a pair of custom vapors over christmas if the EE flexlites dont work out for me.

[OldNSlow 3]

I'm a smaller guy than you but we have similar feet, except I have skinny ankles. I spent many hours reading and trying on different skates that would fit my weird feet. I tried on all of the skates you mentioned. So, here are my thoughts... but keept in mind that I have skinny ankles so that probably makes a big difference.

My problem is always my high instep. I also have a very wide fore-foot and a relatively "normal" arch. All of the Bauers I tried made my feet go numb because the laces pressed down on my instep, cutting off blood flow, and the mid-foot area was too narrow (except for the Flexlites). Around the ankles, the one95 felt decent, the Vapors hurt, and the Flexlites feel nice. I think if you have a "fat" foot, the Flexlites would be nice. The Flexlites are much wider than the oneXX series. So, a EE in Flexlites should be good enough for you. If I remember correctly, the Flexlites have a very wide toebox. I didn't like the feeling. I like my skates really snug and tight.

I tried on Graf 709, G70, and G7. Everyone says that the 709 and G70 skates are Graf's deepest fitting skate. It depends what they mean by deep fitting. To me, they were deep fitting in the sense that there is a larger diagonal distance from the heel to the bottom of the ankle (typical lacebite area). Picture a straight diagonal line. The deep-fitting solution didn't do me any good. What I needed was a larger distance from the bottom of my mid-foot to the top of my instep bone. Picture a straight, vertical line in the middle of your foot.

The only skates that had room for my instep were the G7 and U+. The latter had major heel slippage so I ruled them out. The G70 and 709 skates pinched my instep. The 709 skates also have a very wide heels. So, heel slippage would have been a major problem for me.

I went with the G7.

Only problem is that the G7 skates have very wide ankles. This causes me to skate with minimal ankle support; akin to not tightening the first couple of laces. I'm a decent enough skates that I can get away with it, but my stability is not as good (plus I play in an adult beer league :)

So, after years of searching and trying on every new skate in the market (literally, I searched for 3+ years), I found a pair of brand new Bauer 4000 skates on ebay and having been skating on them ever since :)

[Roaring_Fork 0]

Thanks for the replies so far. Great information! Please keep it comming since I learn something new with each post.

[epstud74 24]

Graf 709 is stiffer than the Flexlite 4.0

The Flexlite has a big toe box, but a regular "L" styled skate, so if you have a fatter foot, but not a high arch, there is a good possibility it will fit you

Graf Ultra G70 Wider boot like the Graf 709 but a narrower heel. So if you're like me with a regular width heel, high arch and instep and D/E width feet, the G70 Ultra is a great skate.

You can find them on eBay in EE sizes as well.

[almack 0]

Im not sure if the 709 is the skate for you but the so come in a w+ you might try going a half size up to accomodate needed volume I would def reccomend getting a 700 level skate over the g series if you want the skate to last, have you thought of maybe a u+ reloaded boot in a wide good deals on them right now that might fit the bill as well

[Ltrain 0]

I am trying to decide what skate to buy. I am 6'2", 252 lbs, skate on two B league teams, and currently wear Bauer Vapor XIV's in EE. I have tried on the Vapor 60's and the One series but they are too narrow even in EE width. The heal on the One75 seemed to be too narrow. In both these lines, I feel like the skate is not deep enough. I wear a size 11.5 shoe, my skates are 9.5, have a moderately high arch, and a wide forefoot. My little toes get smashed against the toe box. I have punched my XIV’s but cannot get them wide enough. I live in the mountains of Colorado and there are no shops around me.

I am trying to decide between the Graf 709's and the Bauer Flexlite. I wish I could try them on but that's impossible for me. I am looking for suggestions and any comment you might have. I have tried on the CCM U+ Pro and the shop said they could not get it wide enough for me. Of these skates, which one had the widest toe box? What other skates should I be considering?

Thanks in advance for your help.

It's really tough without being able to try something on. I would have to lean towards the the Flexlite based on what you've listed. That being said, Flexlites are very wide. I would have to say that the D width is definitely wider than a current Vapor in EE. If you were thinking of going to an EE in the Flexlite, you'd better have a REALLY WIDE foot (specifically toebox). I have a wide forefoot and I wear a Flexlite in D and its border line too wide. I've also worn Reebok EE's and they are not as wide as a comparable flexlite in D. The other thing to note with the flexlite is that not only does it have a abnormally wide foreoot shape it also has quite a bit of toebox volume which adds to the roomy feel but that's mainly just the toebox. The heel is comparatively narrow.

I have a wide forefoot and somewhat narrow heel. Easton Stealth series also are a good consideration for the wide fore foot/toe box. Easton Stealth D's are also as wide or wider than the average skate's E width. They have very narrow ankles though.

Out of curiosity, did you try the older CCM U+ or the new U+? I've tried on the newer U+ CLs and they definitely feel wider than the older models.

-L

[stuie7 6]

I've been in Flexlites 12's and Vapor 40's, both in EE and the width diffence is not that great. I still cant tie my bottom laces tight on my flexlites, but a tighter than my 40's. For a point of reference, I found Easton W to be wider that both.