Help me choose new skates

[BobbyG06 0]

I've been looking at the Vapor X40's, X50's, and X60's. I've only tired on the 60's because it was the only skate my LHS had that was my size. I liked them, they were very light but there was pressure on the bottom - side of my foot I was told this would go away with baking and I believe it would. The skates felt stiff, a good amount stiffer than my current vapors. I like a little forward flex in my skate. I usally leave the top two laces a tiny bit looser than the rest to achieve I like.

How much different are the 40,50 and 60 skates? I dont want something heaiver than what I currently own(08' vapor XVI). I also get really bad lace bite with my current skates and I noticed that the 60's have a built-in lace bite guard maybe that will help with it.

Just looking for some insight on which one to get. Should I spend the extra money and get the 60's or are they not worth it and go with the cheaper 40's or 50's?

[Chadd 916]

I would avoid the x60 as you will probably end up with lace bite issues again. To be honest, I would consider a different line of of skates is the Vapors don't pass the pencil test, as you will just end up with more and more problems.

[HockeySavants 5]

If you are getting lace bite, are you lacing the skates up before you put them on.

I suggest when you are putting on skates for the first time to keep them loosened up from the 2nd eyelets and lace up to to 4-5th last ones, those should be the tightest around your ankles.

I had the same issue on my X:60s because I tightened them way too much, now they are the best fitting skates I own.

[BobbyG06 0]

I'm getting lace bite because the tounges are worn out. I've been skating my whole life and these skate gave me the worst lace bite. I have had mostly bauer skates and the ones I currently own have the worst tounge protection. Thats why I want to step up up to the x40- x60.

[mefzouk 0]

Maybe you want to look at these lacing guides : http://www.newbalance.com/lacing-guide/

Not sure if it will help.

[ponder 0]

I'm getting lace bite because the tounges are worn out. I've been skating my whole life and these skate gave me the worst lace bite. I have had mostly bauer skates and the ones I currently own have the worst tounge protection. Thats why I want to step up up to the x40- x60.

What Chadd is saying is that avoiding lace bite is not just about thick tongues, but about the depth of the skate as well. Nice thick, new tongues will help you avoid lace bite at first even if the skates don't have enough depth, but they'll eventually break down and you'll get lace bite again. With a proper fitting skate that has enough depth for you this shouldn't happen. The pencil test that Chadd suggests is a good one - unlace the skate, pull the tongue forward, and with your heel kicked back you run a pencil across the eyelets. Ideally the pencil should always be able to touch both sides of the skate without your foot getting in the way, if it touches your foot it should do so only slightly. Obviously it will be especially important that you pass the pencil test in whatever area you're currently getting lace bite. If you are significantly failing the pencil test with Vapor skates in the proper size, it'd be worth trying another brand/model.