Currently have Graf Ultra G5's, thinking of getting Bauer Nexus 600

[beedee 227]

I've been skating in my Graf's for nearly one calendar year now, at the rate of once a week, beer league hockey. I've always skated Bauer (first pair was Supreme 2000's back in 1992, then 1000s, and more recently, some lower end Supremes, i forget the exact model), but read so many great things about Graf that I really wanted to give them a shot. So with last years tax return, I was on the search for the right Graf for my foot. After trying on a few different ones, the Ultra G5 felt the best (and was recommended to me). I wear a size 9 shoe (primarily wear Vans) and ended up with a 7.5R in the Graf. (my Bauers were always size 8, D). Well after baking them on the day of purchase, I skated them that following weekend and went through the normal aches/pains of breaking in new skates....so I thought. After about 6 or 8 games they were still hurting the outside of my foot, so I took them to my LHS and got the sides punched, this did seem to alleviate the outer foot pain. I also was battling lace-bite with the oem wax laces, I switched those out for some Bauer Cloth ones and the lace-bite issue was gone. More recently I have developed a small bump on the inside of both feet, just behind where the tongue meets the toe cap of the skate. I've tried some thin dress-up socks, I've tried some normal cotton socks, and that bump still persists. I'm thinking of trying some of those gel inserts, or a moleskin over that area of my foot to make them more comfortable. What I'm getting at is that I've never had any of these issues with a Bauer skate. I really wanted to like my Grafs, but I'd be lying to myself if I said I was enjoying them each time I lace them up. I'm also kind of over always having to tighten the blade on the G5. I've unscrewed that bolt on the blade, put a couple drops of Blue Loctite on them, and tightened them back up, but after every few skates, I find that if I take a screwdriver to that bolt, I'm able to turn it one full revolution more or less.

That leads me to the thread title, do you think switching over to the Nexus 600 would make sense at this point? I did try a pair on at my LHS and they did feel pretty good right off the bat. I believe they have a boxier boot compared to the G5's, and I also noticed that the area where the tongue meets the toe cap on the Bauer is much smoother. My foot isn't narrow, but it isn't also wide enough to warrant getting a "wide" model boot. (according to my buddy at the LHS).

[nyr386 0]

Funny you mention that part about where the tongue meets the boot on yout Grafs. Ive been in Graf for the past 12 years and while I love them and they fit great, I always have to "modify" that portion of the skate in one way or another (even in my new G75's). By modify, I mean I either dremel off some of the plastic in there, or simply just put electrical tape over the inside of the union between the two. Might be worth a shot if you like everything else about them.

As I said, Ive only ever skated in Graf, but I did try the Nexus boot when they came out in the store, and they did feel super comfy. A friend wears the 1000's and loves them. Sorry I cant provide first hand experience, but from what Ive heard the Nexus is a great skate with more room up front which might be what youre loking for.

[beedee 227]

thank you for the input! I've thought about putting some gorilla tape (duct tape) over that union as well. I'll give that a shot and see how it goes tomorrow night.

[akravetz 29]

I have had G5s for about a year now and the tightening of the blade is something that drives me bonkers. Yes, I have done the Lockite and I have carried a screwdriver. I have taken the blades off and redone them. Nothing. It goes loose every few skates. I love my skates and have experienced none of the issues regarding bite bite that you have talked about. For me, it's the opposite, I am finding that I can cinch the laces so tight that I break them more often than I should.

Skate three a week for my kids' practices/games (coach two teams), open skate and my own beer league team. You and I seem the same in that I was in Bauers Supremes and moved from a 9 to an 8 in Graf. I got the sides stretched and the toe caps punched out in mine and so far, no issues with fit. I hate the nut with the blade and I am annoyed by how quickly the steel rusted up. My old Bauers never rusted; these guys were showed some rust after a month or so.

It doesn't matter. I am keeping these skates until they wear out but I agree with you. I have looked at the Nexus but figured my wife would kill me if I got another pair of skates. :)

Andy in Peoria

[beedee 227]

Thanks for your input akravetz.

I just ran over to HockeyMonkey on my lunch break and tried on some Nexus 600's in a 7.5 and an 8. Before trying them on, the guy remeasured by foot on the Bauer tool, and reaffirmed that I was right on the border of a "D" and "EE". I tried both D and EE, and the EE felt much better to me than my current Graf's. As soon as I slid my foot in, and tied the laces, I could tell that the Nexus fit much, much better than the Graf G5's (regular width boot). The 8 felt a bit too spacious up front, my toes did not graze the end of the toe cap at all, no matter how hard i tried. I also noticed that there was a little side to side movement up on the front end of the 8's, probably enough to cause quite a few blisters. The 7.5's felt more secure around my foot, and when trying, they would graze the toe cap, just the right amount, they weren't cramped/curled at all by any means. I also tried out a 7.5EE Supreme ONE.7, but those felt too snug around the base of my ankles, and that was all I could focus on, it made the rest of my foot feel like it was too loose in the boot if that makes any sense. The Nexus fit my foot uniformly, and it wasn't too snug, nor was it too tight. We also did the "pencil test" and the Bauer offered a near perfect fit for me, I'm going to have to do the test with my Grafs tonight.

Perhaps if I had gone with a "wide" in the Graf, I wouldn't be in the scenario I am in now. I'm going to skate in a game tonight, so it will be interesting to see how my Grafs feel again after my experience in the Nexus 600's. Hopefully with the tax return, I can convince the wifey that I need new skates. :)

[akravetz 29]

Let me know how the Nexus feel. I'd be interested in hearing about how they are.

[beedee 227]

Well, I headed over to my LHS to get my skates sharpened at lunch today, the same shop that I bought my G5's from, and they have been very helpful along the way. I talked to one of the guys that did my fitting (and had also done my punching) and told him about the bump on my feet that have developed (mentioned in my OP), he proceeded to punch out the area for me, basically between the first & second eyelet on the inside of each boot. It made a noticeable difference when trying them on, hopefully that will carry over to being comfortable when I'm back on the ice on Sunday.

I will say that when I put my Grafs on Sunday night, I did notice that my Grafs seem to have a flatter arch area than the Nexus 600's that I tried on. Then again, the Nexus were brand new, and my Grafs have been used for nearly a year now, so they've been broken in, and then some (stretched/punched in a few areas).