Another Thread of Trying to find the right skate. But this time for a Bigger Guy!

[Vulcan7905 88]

So, recently my eyelet completely ripped out of my boot on my Nike Quest skates.

These are the ones I was wearing. They were so comfortable It felt like I was skating in air almost. But of course, I got these almost 6 years ago and really sized them wrong. I skated in them but of course really sloppy. I have been through 3 pairs of skates so far and I have found that none of them are as comfortable as the Nike Quest skates. So I really need some help finding a skate that will fit me and be perfect. A little info on me, I'm 390 lbs (yeah, insert fat joke here :P), and 5'11". Now, my Nike quests weren't the stiffest out there but for some reason I could lace them up really good and never have my heel come out of place. I recently have bought Bauer Supreme 300, they are way tight on my foot and even at a EE Width. Bauer Supreme 7000, another case of just to narrow for my foot and of course my latest purchase from the LHS was a Reebok 4k 11EE which was also tight and for some odd reason had no stiffness in it at all. I think maybe it wasn't deep enough for my foot but the LHS told me it would be PERFECT for my foot. It felt great at the time until I got onto the ice. I skated for about maybe 5 minutes and the pain was so unbearable I had to get off the ice and go with my Nike Quest skates. I've just come to a fork in the road and I have no idea what to do. I don't mind spending 250 on skates but I at least would like some stiffness and be comfortable. Can anybody help me out with my problem?

Any other info and I'll gladly share as well if anybody needs it. Hockey is a passion of mine and I have always been a big boy who loved playing hockey, But as my High school had no hockey I couldn't really play but I only skated at public free skate. I can't even remember what skates I had before the Nikes. Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

Edit: Few pictures of my Ugly feet.

Left Foot

Right Foot

[raganblink 82]

With 4ks there is no stiffness.... same with almost every other 120_150 skate. At that level really they're made for kids who can't go hard and put much pressure on them, aswell as public skating.

Try on 8k, one70, u10, x5.0, eq40 for a skate that's going to be about 300, and give u stiffness that u obviously need. With skates what u pay for is quality, stiffness, comfort, and durability.4k might fit u foot right but you hated it bc there is nothing to them.

[skyscrape 5]

I am 310 and the 11k's were too soft for me, I could imagine how the 4k's were!

I skate in a pair of x:60's and the stiffness is perfect. I can flex the boot in my stride but lateral stability is awesome! Maybe try on the one70's or one80's?

[Chadd 916]

Graf 609?

[lukejameslarson 5]

They are more expensive than your desired sub-$250 range, but I'd recommend calling around and seeing if any LHS have a pair of Bauer Flexlite Pros that you can try on. Lots of volume, good width in the mid/forefoot, and they have upgraded stiffness from the rest of the Flexlite series, which isn't entirely dissimilar to the Quests that you've been skating in.

[Vulcan7905 88]

Wow, thanks for all the replies. Looking into all the skate recomendations.

Now by the flexlites you mean the 4.0 Pro ones right? Arn't they around 400? Wife said if I can come up with 200 she will come up with 200 as well

[redwng24 0]

I'm around 300lbs and i have a x60's and just picked up a pair of eq5's (really cheap). The x60's are unreal, i have only skated once on the eq's though and find the fit a little tight. I had some RBK 8K'S and blew through those in one full year (winter & summer). I think if your going to be playing quite a bit a the higher price point skates might be a better option. With your problem with having such a wide foot i think the Bauer Vapor series are a better match. I have a wide foot as well and mine fit great.

[Vulcan7905 88]

I know flexlites are wide but are the vapor x60's sort of the same or am I going to get it stretched? I had my reeboks stretched and it didn't do anything. I tried looking for the Graf 609 with no luck. From what I heard and thought, the Eastons are a lot narrower. It's such a tough choice right now with the Vapors and Flexlites. How ever, how is the Stiffness in the X60's compared to the Pro 4.0 Flexlites? If I do decide on a x60 or flexlite and skate about 3 games a week, how much shelf life can I get out of them? Year or two?

One more question, For some reason I could skate well with my Nike Quests and Bauer 7000, but with the Buer 3000 and 4K's, it felt as if I was a total newb on the ice. Is this a Holder issue or just me? Sometimes I couldn't stop to save my life with 3000 and 4k but with the Quest and 7000 I could stop on a dime (as the phrase goes at least)

[skyscrape 5]

I know flexlites are wide but are the vapor x60's sort of the same or am I going to get it stretched? I had my reeboks stretched and it didn't do anything. I tried looking for the Graf 609 with no luck. From what I heard and thought, the Eastons are a lot narrower. It's such a tough choice right now with the Vapors and Flexlites. How ever, how is the Stiffness in the X60's compared to the Pro 4.0 Flexlites? If I do decide on a x60 or flexlite and skate about 3 games a week, how much shelf life can I get out of them? Year or two?

One more question, For some reason I could skate well with my Nike Quests and Bauer 7000, but with the Buer 3000 and 4K's, it felt as if I was a total newb on the ice. Is this a Holder issue or just me? Sometimes I couldn't stop to save my life with 3000 and 4k but with the Quest and 7000 I could stop on a dime (as the phrase goes at least)

I am not sure how things will fit. I would go try on as many pair of skates as you can. If you have 400 to spend, that could get you into a pair of x:60's if you fit them. If not, the 609's as chad said might work. But most important thing, find the skate that fits well. Being a bigger guy like us you have to realize that it becomes even more of an issue if you do not fit the skate. We have an extra 100+ pounds pushing down on our feet. If they do not fit right, the pain will take the fun away. If you can not find a pair on clearance or have to wait a little longer to get your skates do it. It will be worth it when you buy the pair that fit best.

What size shoe do you wear?

I ask because you are 5'11 and I am 6'7 and you stated you wear a size 12 skate? i must have really small feet for my height. I wear an 11.5

[stuie7 6]

I know flexlites are wide but are the vapor x60's sort of the same or am I going to get it stretched? I had my reeboks stretched and it didn't do anything. I tried looking for the Graf 609 with no luck. From what I heard and thought, the Eastons are a lot narrower. It's such a tough choice right now with the Vapors and Flexlites. How ever, how is the Stiffness in the X60's compared to the Pro 4.0 Flexlites? If I do decide on a x60 or flexlite and skate about 3 games a week, how much shelf life can I get out of them? Year or two?

One more question, For some reason I could skate well with my Nike Quests and Bauer 7000, but with the Buer 3000 and 4K's, it felt as if I was a total newb on the ice. Is this a Holder issue or just me? Sometimes I couldn't stop to save my life with 3000 and 4k but with the Quest and 7000 I could stop on a dime (as the phrase goes at least)

I've got FL 4.0's are they are a lot wider than Vapors, I previously had Vapor XXXX's and they did not fit me at all. I'm not an expert or anything but I think the Vapors arn't going to be wide enough for you.

You will get more life out of a top end skate yeah. I'm about 210+ lbs and I get 2 seasons out of a pair of skates, usually skating 3 hours a week all year round, but thats no guarantee because I play with much lighter people who only get a season.

[vnderachiever 3]

i'm at 290 and the vapor line fits me really well. definetly give them a shot!

[RussianDangler15 0]

Chances are if you have wide feet vapors are not the way to go. Flexlites will be much wider.

[lukejameslarson 5]

Wow, thanks for all the replies. Looking into all the skate recomendations.

Now by the flexlites you mean the 4.0 Pro ones right? Arn't they around 400? Wife said if I can come up with 200 she will come up with 200 as well

Yeah. The Pro model of the Flexlite 4.0 is a much stiffer skate than the regular Flexlite 4.0. With your weight, I would think that the regular Flexlite would probably be too flexible, and wouldn't hold up. The pro models are selling for $450US on hockeymonkey right now. http://www.hockeymonkey.com/bauer-hockey-skate-flexlite-4-pro-sr.html

[Vulcan7905 88]

Talked to Stu for bit this morning and got some more info. I told him I can't try on any flexlites till August because my LHS wont' get them in till this (NO IDEA WHY)

Does HockeyMonkey do the return thing or is that another website? If I could at least try a 3.0 maybe I can get a sorta feel for the width of it and what not?

[lukejameslarson 5]

http://www.icewarehouse.com/catpage.html?ccode=FLEXSKATES

Ice Warehouse does free return shipping, but they don't seem to have the 4.0 Pro model. You might have to do some looking around.

[skyscrape 5]

http://www.icewarehouse.com/catpage.html?ccode=FLEXSKATES

Ice Warehouse does free return shipping, but they don't seem to have the 4.0 Pro model. You might have to do some looking around.

Much easier to deal with Icewarehouse than monkey in my past experience.

[raganblink 82]

Talked to Stu for bit this morning and got some more info. I told him I can't try on any flexlites till August because my LHS wont' get them in till this (NO IDEA WHY)

Work in a shop for a couple years. It costs a lot if money to stock skates, and we have to get these orders to bauer in December so they can make the product. I doubt bauer has any instock atm to be honest.

[Vulcan7905 88]

Was going to order from Icewarehouse but the biggest they have is a 9.5E so I could at least try them on to see if I like the feel of the width. Dang it. As for foot size, I messed up the sizing of my foot when I bought my Quests's. I should have went with an 11. I wear a size 13 off the ice.

As for my LHS, that makes sense easily.

[Vulcan7905 88]

Well, I ordered the 4.0 pro flexlites today. Hockey Giant said if I don't like the fit I can send them right back. My league begins May 1st, so I'm just trying to get a pair ready for then.

[goblue9280 33]

Was going to order from Icewarehouse but the biggest they have is a 9.5E so I could at least try them on to see if I like the feel of the width. Dang it. As for foot size, I messed up the sizing of my foot when I bought my Quests's. I should have went with an 11. I wear a size 13 off the ice.

As for my LHS, that makes sense easily.

I wear a size 13 shoe (2E or 4E) and on a whim bought some closeout Nike Flexlite 12's about a year ago in size 11EE. For me, the 11EE feels a bit too long... I would probably fit better in a 10.5EE. Also, while the flexlite might be one of the deepest fitting skates, I still seem to have depth issues with them. Just two things to consider when you try them on.

When this pair "wears out", I plan on going with either a custom Graf or custom flexlite in order to fix my depth issues.