heel too tight and going numb

[wetwilly17 6]

My last two pair of skates were ccm vectors. I’m looking to replace my vector 10.0’s. I don’t want to go with vector line again because my heel slips sometimes in them. I tried on graf 703 and they fit me great except that the heel was tight. After wearing them for 10 minutes (not skating) my heels became numb. no real pain just heels felt real tight and eventually numb. Will this get better with break in or with a bake? I’m worried it wouldn’t since the problem is where the boot material is attached to the outsole and ofcourse the outsole isn’t going to give any. i don't trust the advice of the lhs's around here. thanks.

[kklinder 0]

My last two pair of skates were ccm vectors. I’m looking to replace my vector 10.0’s. I don’t want to go with vector line again because my heel slips sometimes in them. I tried on graf 703 and they fit me great except that the heel was tight. After wearing them for 10 minutes (not skating) my heels became numb. no real pain just heels felt real tight and eventually numb. Will this get better with break in or with a bake? I’m worried it wouldn’t since the problem is where the boot material is attached to the outsole and ofcourse the outsole isn’t going to give any. i don't trust the advice of the lhs's around here. thanks.

703 is known to have a tight heel pocket; it may open up a bit with baking/use, but it is made to be tight. Try a 735 or 705. Better yet, go to the Graf web site and use the tool to find the best fit.

[wetwilly17 6]

I have a narrow and pronounced heel. The 703 narrow fits better than any other skate I've tried, just a little too tight in the heel. Do g35s/735s have slightly wider heel? Volume-wise I'd be fine in the g35since I am at the limit of the 703. The 735/g35 wasn't available in my size so I'd have to order. I thought the only dif between 703 and 735 was volume? I definately need a skate for a pronounced heel.

[STi 0]

I don't know about the 703, but I can assure you the G5 and 705 do NOT have the same heel. They are supposedly built on the same last, but the G5 heel was much wider than the 705. This leads me to believe that this could be the case between the leather boots and their composite counterparts.

In my experience, my left x:60 skate was numbing my heel, and the pocket packed out and feels great now.

[wetwilly17 6]

Good info. Thanks sti. The 05 and 03 have different heel shapes (straight vs pronounced)

[Hermans 9]

I have the 735's and it took me a good while to get through the initial break in and I loved them ever since. They did open up some on the heal, and more importantly to me the rest of the boot finally got to loosen up some. After almost 2 years I got a second pair of skates, NB 55's and new the NB's aren't as stiff as 735's and broke in very easy (I wore them at home while watching TV or doing work on-and-off for about 3 weeks before taking them for the first shapening and skate and that was about it).

I prefer the Graf's because they do fit tighter, even now, and yes the numbness went away for me but I had to work for it. Both the 703 and 735 are rated "Stiff" by Graf so I think it should be the same for your skates. If you're an advanced skater, have some strength or weight then you should be able to work through the initial break in much faster than I did. When I got mine I was a much worse skater than I am now.

[wetwilly17 6]

I have the 735's and it took me a good while to get through the initial break in and I loved them ever since. They did open up some on the heal, and more importantly to me the rest of the boot finally got to loosen up some. After almost 2 years I got a second pair of skates, NB 55's and new the NB's aren't as stiff as 735's and broke in very easy (I wore them at home while watching TV or doing work on-and-off for about 3 weeks before taking them for the first shapening and skate and that was about it).

I prefer the Graf's because they do fit tighter, even now, and yes the numbness went away for me but I had to work for it. Both the 703 and 735 are rated "Stiff" by Graf so I think it should be the same for your skates. If you're an advanced skater, have some strength or weight then you should be able to work through the initial break in much faster than I did. When I got mine I was a much worse skater than I am now.

good to know. i decided to buy the skates. thanks