What to do with skates?

[Dern 0]

So, I skated on my skates for the first time yesterday, and they were too tight around the foot area (not around the ankle area, it fit snug against my ankle). So, after the game, which was about 45 minutes, I took the skates off, and my left foot hurt a bit. When I mean "too tight", I also mean that there isn't any space for my toes to move around. In fact, it felt like my biggest toe had to curl up a tiny bit. So... my question is: what do I do now? Do I try to get a refund and try a size .5 bigger? Or do I rebake them again, and hope that the skate will make more room for my foot? Or do I just tie the laces around my foot looser, while tieing the laces around my ankle extremely tight? Or do I skate around in them more, and hope that they will increase in size after a few more skates?

[Souldriver 64]

after a bake and definitely after the first skate i doubt anyone will give you a refund. skate in them some more, i would lace them as usual. you can try the bottoms loose but thats more of a volume thing and it sound like your having length issues. it may take a skate or two to really break in.

Were you properly fit and what skates were they BTW?

[Dern 0]

reebok 14k goalie skates - size 5 - they fit good at the time i tried them on in the store (after and before the bake), and to be honest, they even felt a bit loose around the ankles at that time. However, now, the skate is perfect around my ankes, but, the skate is too tight around my foot, and I feel that my toes need just a tinnyyyy bit more space to move around in.

So you recommend that I skate in them more? How about re-baking them? You also state that I have more of a length problem than a volume issue, and I think you are correct for the most part, but I feel that they are also a bit too tight, as I mentioned that my left foot hurt for about 15 minutes after the game. So, i might tie them a bit looser around the foot part when i play tonight.

[mc88 160]

If it's width (toes are squeezed together too tight), then that's an easy fix. Rebake it and this time don't tie it as tight near the toebox. However, if the big toe is curling back because it's jamming into the toebox, then it sounds like the boot is too small.

You have four options for a small boot length:

1. Heat the left boot heel and have them punch the heel out to allow your ankle to sit further back.

2. Rebake the left boot, but this time, kick your ankle back as hard as you can against the heel several times, then lace up.

3. Deal with the pain.

4. Get a half size larger.

[Chadd 916]

Thinner, or no, sock would be my first thought. Tying skates looser will likely make the problem worse, as your foot will naturally slide forward. Having your heel locked in prevents that from happening.

[Dern 0]

Thinner, or no, sock would be my first thought. Tying skates looser will likely make the problem worse, as your foot will naturally slide forward. Having your heel locked in prevents that from happening.

what if i tied the front end looser, but tied the part around my ankle really tight? will my foot slide forward if i do that? because my skate is pretty small already

[Souldriver 64]

why would tying the front end give you more toe room?

[IPv6Freely 2096]

You're likely going to gain some length as they break in, too. When I got my Makos my toes hit the end of the toe box (which was painful since that's where the tongue seam is) but after about 3-4 games my toes only touch the end if I REALLY try to make them.

[Chadd 916]

what if i tied the front end looser, but tied the part around my ankle really tight? will my foot slide forward if i do that? because my skate is pretty small already

Give it a shot. Wax laces and outside - in lacing will help lock in the looser laces up front.

[mc88 160]

Another method you can try to achieve ankle lock (this will push your heel back as far as it can go and lock it in place; be careful as this will make the top VERY tight)...

Step 1: Lace going straight up on the last eyelet

Step 2: Take loose end of lace 1 and slide it through loop 2. Take loose end lace 2 and slide through loop 1.

Step 3: Take the loose ends of lace 1 and lace 2 and pull outward, then pull up. This will create a slip knot at the eyelet. Tug to achieve desired ankle lock. Then take the loose ends and tie it up like you normally would.

[Souldriver 64]

i actually just tried on unused EQ40 ice skates that i havnt used yet (bought closeout thinking i would play some ice and never played any ice since) but bought and baked a while ago and i may be in the same-ish boat. my foot may have changed a bit as it wasnt nearly wide enough near the toes and the overall skate feels a little bit squished up front. Length is fine but the toe box may not be wide enough.

Since i havnt used it and its beena while since i fit them im going to rebake and skate. I remember after the first time i baked them they felt near perfect, real snug, im hoping i can get that again.

[moreoutdoor 6]

what keeps your foot from sliding forward in the boot is tightness of lacing on the instep. Unless you use a lacing pattern which locks at the key eyelets around the instep, loose lacing over the forefoot, using standard lacing, eventually means over some minutes of skating, the lacing over the instep will also loosen as the lacing tension evens out.

I would think that if a sales person advised you to buy that size, whether its baked and skated or not; then the shop should exchange for another size.

If you made the decision on sizing, well, pursue what you can to get some space, or re-sell and lick your wounds.

You didn;t mention which skate it is. There are some shop guys on here who can prolly advise how successfully the skates can be expanded.

[Chadd 916]

what keeps your foot from sliding forward in the boot is tightness of lacing on the instep. Unless you use a lacing pattern which locks at the key eyelets around the instep, loose lacing over the forefoot, using standard lacing, eventually means over some minutes of skating, the lacing over the instep will also loosen as the lacing tension evens out.

Outside in lacing and wax laces will not slip.

[moreoutdoor 6]

Outside in lacing and wax laces will not slip.

definitely, I use it on all eyelets. we always called it 'Over' as opposed to 'Under'...

takes a little longer to lace the skate, but I never have to touch my skates after that...

some guys I skated with used to vary their lacing, from 'under' for the front 3 and then 'over' on the instep and then back 'under' up the shaft.

I like the 'lock' all the way.

Tryin to remember, a couple yrs back someone (on Modsquad or 'other' forum) had a nice mod to lacing which prompted some other variations - was very interesting. I tried most and came back to straight 'over' because the result was essentially the same for me...

plus the 'over' reduces any chance of lacebite, for me... (except on my Grafs, nothing except a 'pad' seems to help there)