Suggestions for BAD high ankle pain on Easton s17 skates

[matix218 11]

Hey guys,

First off, for background info: i have been playing competitive ice hockey since i was 10 (now 30 years old). Very strong/fast skater, on the ice twice a week, currently just playing A/B level men's league.

shoe size: 9

Easton s17 size: 7.5 (perfect length) Also the eastons have size 271 CCM Epro holders/runners on them (which is my holder/runner/size of choice since i have been in CCMs and Reeboks for a while)

I have a new pair of Easton S17s (replacing my RBK 11ks) that I am having a very painful issue with. I LOVE how they skate and how light they are and how they fit the rest of my foot so this is a very frustrating issue because the pain is very sharp and impossible to ignore! I am getting a nasty sharp pain on the outside of both (but much worse on the Left) upper ankles (basically about 2" above the ball of my ankle, right at the top edge of the boot). It is like the upper outside edge of the boot is cutting into my upper ankle. I do lace these down an eyelet just for more forward knee bend/flex (they are a VERY high boot, i think down an eyelet in these is about where a normal boot would have the top eyelet). I have searched the forums and the rest of the internet and found people suggesting bunga pads, so i ordered them and tried them out. They seemed to help slightly at first (first couple of skates) but now the pain is back again just as bad as before even with the bungas being used. Is this an area of the skate that can be punched out to prevent this at my LHS? (the guy at my LHS is very good with skates so i trust him to work on them, he has done custom tongues, toe box punch outs, holders, etc for me in the past and he actually did the Epros on the Easton skates) Is there anything i can do to address this at home without having to pay for custom work (IE trying to adjust the area with manual pressue and a heat gun/blowdryer)?

Has anyone experienced similar things with the S15/17 skates and was able to fix the problem?

I really would like to get these skates dialed in because other than the terrible upper ankle pain issue everything else about the skates is perfect (pitch, weight, foot comfort, length, etc).

I am open to any suggestions that people have, if pictures of the areas on my ankles and on the skates would help people understand the issue better i can post some up (although i think i was pretty descriptive in the above post).

PLEASE HELP ME MSH!

Thanks!

[Davetronz 109]

Does it feel like you're falling out (feet rolling outwards) when you're walking or skating in the skates?

Is there anything that you can feel on the inside of the skates which might be causing this (hard material, lack of padding in the area, etc)?

[flyguy1 1]

Since you don't use the top eyelet and have more ankle mobility, maybe the top edge of the skate is digging into your ankle. Maybe you can add something like the comfort edge that all the top end skates have now. I'm sure a LHS or even sending them out to a shop that does custom work like that can add it.

[matix218 11]

Davetronz: I don't feel like my foot is rolling outward, the upper material right at the top of the boot (where comfort edge is on t1 and apx) is very thin (no padding on the edge at all), VERY stiff and comes up very high. Also the top eyelet may even be rubbing my ankle? I think that is what is causing the discomfort. I just don't know if that is something that punching would even help? .

Flyguy: if they had a comfort edge feature like the Bauer skates I think that would fix the problem, it definitely feels like that rather sharp edge is cutting into my upper ankle. I just don't know if my lhs can do that kind of custom work, that seems rather involved I would imagine

[kenneth 5]

i had the exact same problem eventually had to get rid of the skates. my feet pronate causing it to rub. I now currently have foot balance insoles which help with my feet pronating, prehaps they could help you? Unfortunately i didn't get the insole till i got my crazylites.

[flyguy1 1]

If the top eyelet is rubbing your ankle, try and cover it with a piece of leather, similar to the APX2 but cover the actual eyelet. Probably take it to a cobbler and see what material they have laying around. They also might be able to come up with a solution and make custom comfort edge

[flip12 729]

I've noticed some pro skates have the height of that area somewhat reduced, like on this Alexander Mogilny boot:

I have no idea how you would go about doing it. Maybe a cobbler could figure it out. That plus the custom comfort edge seem intriguing. Sorry you've got that pain, hope something works out.

[Hooah4 12]

Had the same problem with my S15's when I got them. I got calf length socks, bunga pads, etc..I eventually laced all the way to the second to top eyelet. I then when vertically up not across with the lace to the top eyelet (lace lock style) and tie the skates from there. It enabled me to still have some flex in the ankle while having some more stability.

It seemed that skipping the top eyelet made my upper ankle rub across the top of the boot right at the 90 degree angle.

Since then no problems and still use calf length socks

[matix218 11]

Hooah: maybe i will try that lacing technique that you are talking about.

Kenneth: Do you think maybe i am pronating and i just dont know it? (maybe i always have been and it just was never an issue until now?) I know the Total Hockey near me has one of those footbed selector stations where you stand on the pad and the foot pattern that you leave on the pad shows you what type of footbed is right for you (pronate, supernate etc), maybe those foot specific footbeds are worth a look too? Ill keep messing with stuff and try to find what works.

Any other similar experiences with the easton skates out there? (with solutions)?

Thanks for all of the replies so far guys!

Also any of the equipment experts/pro shop guys like JR have any input on this? I know you guys are very knowledgeable on this type of thing

[forbs02 20]

If you are open to manual manipulation, take a heat gun and carefully heat the area that bothers you. When it feels slightly pliable put the skate on and gently roll your ankle so your leg is putting some pressure on the spot. Increase the pressure little by little. That should help to expand the lip of the skate outwards and hopefully solve the issue.

Heat carefully, and test the area with your fingers every couple of seconds. It doesn't take long to get the material warm enough to move. I have done this with numerous skates and have not noticed any issues with premature wear if it is done carefully.

You could also put a strip of duct tape over the top of the boot, lay it over the seam and then smooth it down on the inside and outside. This should help get rid of some of the friction.

[matix218 11]

If you are open to manual manipulation, take a heat gun and carefully heat the area that bothers you. When it feels slightly pliable put the skate on and gently roll your ankle so your leg is putting some pressure on the spot. Increase the pressure little by little. That should help to expand the lip of the skate outwards and hopefully solve the issue.

Heat carefully, and test the area with your fingers every couple of seconds. It doesn't take long to get the material warm enough to move. I have done this with numerous skates and have not noticed any issues with premature wear if it is done carefully.

You could also put a strip of duct tape over the top of the boot, lay it over the seam and then smooth it down on the inside and outside. This should help get rid of some of the friction.

I will absolutely try the heat gun method that you suggested, that sounds like a really good idea actually.

I will let you know what kind of results i get.

Thanks!

[matix218 11]

Just to follow up with this issue,

I took a heat gun to the upper outside edge of both skates and heated the edges and rolled them outward (actually just saw someone in the Mako thread do the exact same thing to fix a similar problem). After 3 skates in them since doing this the pain is COMPLETELY gone, they feel absolutely perfect! Thanks to MSH for the suggestions because these skates went from painful to perfect with that simple fix!

[vnderachiever 3]

I'm just curious, was this pain almost like a funny bone sharp pain? I'm getting the same thing. If I really push in above the outside of my ankle, I can reproduce the feeling with my finger. I skated yesterday with an ankle compression sleeve and ordered some superfeet, hoping that helps. If not, I may try the heat gun technique you used!

[matix218 11]

I'm just curious, was this pain almost like a funny bone sharp pain? I'm getting the same thing. If I really push in above the outside of my ankle, I can reproduce the feeling with my finger. I skated yesterday with an ankle compression sleeve and ordered some superfeet, hoping that helps. If not, I may try the heat gun technique you used!

It was not like funnybone pain (for me at least). It was more like a sharp pain like a fresh bruise that was constantly being pressed on and getting worse and worse. The heat gun totally fixed the issue. I also thinned out the super thick felt tongue in the same area which probably helped take away some of that pressure as well. Are you also in s17 skates? Do you lace them all the way up? Mine get laced down one eyelet for forward flex purposes.