Have bauer bumps, wants new skates but have a dilemna

[n1kthequick 0]

Hows it going everyone, so heres my current situation.

I play hockey for a high level college team but we are still responsible for buying our equipment. I have a pair of Bauer XXXX Size 7 that ive had for a bit over a year. Since I started skating 4/5 times a week, I am getting horrible pain whenever i take a stride in my left foot. I have pretty bad "bauer bumps" on the heel of my foot that I tried reducing with skate punching/stretching, padding, ankle tapping but those only minimize the pain by a little - so im left with the only option - to get new skates.

Right now my main focus is getting a comfortable skate that will cause the least amount of pain on my foot, dont care how bulky they are but they cant cost too much $$$. I had CCM Vectors before and I loved them, I was thinking of getting CCM's again. Trying on a pair of 6.5 CCM U+ skates they fit very well and didnt have too much pain on my heel. Now looking online I can get a pair of Crazy Lights for a pretty good price but they would be a Size 7. Only thing is no stores in the area have ANY CCM's size 7 that I can try on. I heard that sometimes downsizing the skate can help reduce bauer bumps which is why im kinda hesistant on getting the bigger size but for the same price as the Crazy Lights, I would be able to get a U+ 10 version which is slightly less quality.

So theres the dilemna, I need to buy a pair of skates ASAP and was wondering what you guys would do. The Vapor XXXX fit me very good but I know theres sometime size differences between the brands, any suggestions?

[AIREAYE 248]

If you fit very well in the XXXXs, you shouldn't fit as well in the CL's. But then again, a lot of people SAY they fit well/unwell in a skate when the opposite is true.

When you tried on the 6.5s in the CLs, do you remember if your toes were against/brushing the end of the toecap?

[n1kthequick 0]

Yea when I tried on the 6.5 CCM's my toes were kind of cramped, but not to the point of pain. In my Vapor XXXX's my big toes lightly touch the toecap, with the CCM's a size down they definitely touch the toecap alot more.

[AIREAYE 248]

Then you should definitely keep to that size 7, unless you're still growing, then maybe a half size up. Can you find any U+12s in your size? The quality of the 10s and 12s are phenomenal as well; especially regarding the moudable U- Foams.

[n1kthequick 0]

I was actually looking at the U+ 10 and 12's, but found a good deal on some CL for around $350 so I might get those instead. That was my other question though - I tried on the U+ 6's and the boot was kind of stiff but pretty padded on the inside. If i step up to the 10/12's or even the CL, will the boot be more stiff/uncomfortable and make my bumps worse or do they generally have the same feel for the whole line?

[AIREAYE 248]

I'm not going to comment regarding the Haglund's issue, others have more experience on that. But what I can say is that you will obviously get stiffer as you go up the line, but the differences b/w the 10 to the 12 and the 12 to the CL is small. The only dropoff in terms of the quality of the UFoam begins between the U+08 and 06.

[HockeySavants 5]

I've never heard complaints about Reebok skates, fits just about anyone. But you may consider switching to a wider skate, bake them to mold better.

[SirJW 207]

http://bungapads.com/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=263