Boot Stability Issue - CCM U+ 08

[beestang07 0]

Hello all,

I am a brand new member, and this is my first post. So please, bear with me.

I have not worn another ice hockey skate other than CCM. Ever since I was a boy, my father had me in CCM skates because they fit me best due to my wide feet.

However, after high school, I stopped playing hockey for a few years. I started playing again in college in a beer league. I kept with the program, and went out and picked up a pair of CCMs like I always did. I bought the U+ 08 skates. These skates fit very well and performed just like I always remembered. However, within 2 years the boots became extremely kinked just below the ankle and offered little to no stability. It was like skating with my skates untied. Not only that, but multiple eyelets ripped out during this time period. We only played once a week, and I was sure to pull my equipment out to air out 90% of the time.

Against my better judgement, and because I've known nothing else, I went out and bought another pair of CCMs. This time the newer U+ 08 skate. I play twice a week in two leagues. This skate, again, felt great, and fit perfectly. However, it has now been three years, and again and the boot is already kinked and losing stability!

I was hoping that somebody could possibly relate to this issue and provide some insight. Has anyone had this problem with CCM or another brand of skates? Do you happen to know possible causes?

The only things that I can think of are listed below:

- Not being aired out enough? (I aired them out 95% of the time)

- Not tying them tight enough aroung the ankle???

- Tying them too tight around the ankle???

- Loss of ankle strength through the years? This may have created a bambi like skating style (Grossly exaggerating. However, I still wonder if loss of supporting muscle played a part)

What do you guys think? Could it be the skate? Could it be user error? If so, what can be done differently to improve longevity? For your information, these pics are almost a year old. They are a bit worse than these pics show.

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[Stewie 721]

That is kind if weird. I've beat the hell outta my u10 the last 3plus and don't have near that type of wear, but it is a stiffer upper. I almost wonder if you should be in a boot molded better to your foot, or even a stiffer boot that doesn't allow as much movement. Do you notice a lot of ankle movement while you skate?

[beestang07 0]

I don't feel any movement at all in the beginning. They're quite stable and form to my ankle quite well. But now that the boot is kinked, I obviously feel a ton of ankle movement.

[moreoutdoor 6]

whatz your shoe size?

whatz the marked skate size?

whatz your weight/height?

take a pic, with the skate on and laced tight as you would for skating - frontal pic , slightly above to show the lacing spread.

[beestang07 0]

Ah, yes. I suppose those details would help.

Shoe size - 11

Skate size - 9

Weight - 175

Height - 5'10"

I will take a pic later when I get home from work

[beestang07 0]

Here are the skates laced up

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Hopefully these pics do it justice. Didn't really get the best angles.

[XS222 25]

i have something very similar happening to my Reebok 11k, but they're also cracking. i have a feeling it's mostly due to a poor fitting skate

[arcsinice 6]

To "Beestang07"...............

You should not have any reservations against CCM per se. It's a great company whose people are top notch as are their product line throughout for where product regardless of mfgr. has today been taken by "technology" which consumers no longer have any choice about as they themselves have in no small manner forced some of the nonsense upon themselves and at no small price. Many believed that lighter and stiffer was the "answer" for reasons I still do not understand and guess what, you got it.

Whether the culprit as it were is simply usage - time or something else such as taking several pointed hits as evidenced by one of the beaten up eyelets................, or something else, whatever it is, ''it" is.................

That boot - CCM's U foam design - has been a great success overall and CCM's design and materials tend to significantly hold up better to that of two other brands neither of which being Reebok nor Graf which kind of narrows it down. Assuming you bought these at a shop I would strongly suggest you directly show the shop where you purchased these what is going on and see if CCM would not be willing to make some adjustment in spite of the warranty being in the past. I can assure you that the folks in Montreal more than care about every end user-consumer (who is not abusive) and do a great job of supporting their retail network. In short, you should, via dignified petition........................, get CCM's attention and "help" on this if you go about it properly. They like respect and return same in kind. You might want to first speak with CCM Montreal and openly, most respectfully, deferentially talk about this. They do listen, big time. Their customer service number in Montreal is:

USA:

800-451-4600

Canada:

800-636-5895

[laserrobottime 149]

Judging by the wrap of the skate and tight lacing pattern, I'd say that skate is too wide or too high volume and the way you've laced it so tightly is putting undue stress on the quarter. The cracking is in line with where you flex the skate when taking a forward stride.

[JoshV 20]

Can you post a picture of the footbed, for a rough estimate of sizing?

Your foot does not have enough volume for that boot, that is why the laces are so close together.

Are they D or E?

Lastly, are you cranking the laces as tight as you can, or just making them snug?

I don't think there is anything defective about the skate, looks to be more of a sizing issue

[Stewie 721]

i agree with what others have posted, at least what it looks like. I think its a volume issue.

[beestang07 0]

These skates are D width. I don't tighten these are much as I possibly could, but I do tighten them quite a bit. And @ arcsinice - I've already emailed CCM. They wanted a receipt for proof of purchase, which I don't have.

I can see where you are all coming from as far as the width of the upper. And laserrobottime is right, those cracks do seem to be in line with where the skate would flex during a forward stride. That being said, who's ankles would actually be that much wider? I find it hard to believe that anyone would fit into an E.

But you're all also saying they are too wide for my feet based on the lace spread? I always thought I had wide feet. And this being standard width (and comfortable), I would never have thought they were too wide.

Needless to say, I will be going to purchase new skates soon. From your comments, it sounds like I'll be going with a skate with a more narrow foot pattern and upper. Do anyone have recommendations on what skates I should be sure to try?

[ChrisMolnar 14]

I've seen this happen to one of my teammates before. He had X:40's and after they became too broken he jumped up to X:60's in the same size and width and the problem didn't occur again. With that being said I'm going to assume to boot just isn't stiff enough for you.

[flyers10 57]

I agree that boot appears to have a bit too much volume. Maybe try a Vapor, Mako/Mako II or VH Footwear.

[arcsinice 6]

"Needless to say, I will be going to purchase new skates soon. From your comments, it sounds like I'll be going with a skate with a more narrow foot pattern and upper. Do anyone have recommendations on what skates I should be sure to try?"

Question................. In your original purchase did you buy from a store or on-line? As per your pending new purchase will you be buying from a store or on-line?

Not knowing your location/residence, but I hope you have the ability wherever you live to be able to buy within your community or a not too distant community from a dedicated hockey - skating equipment store, one of true competence. A dedicated/competent store should more than be able to direct you properly as per your foot last, length/width - level of need as per model(s) to an ideal boot........... If you are forced to conduct business on-line that can be a challenge

[jdksaves 56]

See it a lot with mid to low CCM and Reebok skates. Essentially the skate is not stiff enough and the volume is not right for the amount of usage and amount you push on the skate you use in your stride. Proper fit skates does not always mean just size, but that can also play a part in this happening too.

[moreoutdoor 6]

yeah, I would also say a volume issue. You also seem to have a lower instep, which adds to volume issue.

Other consideration might be a narrow heel (compared to heel volume of skate) even though your heel might not be lifting, if it shifts inside the skate towards the skate inside edge, the boot can go thru flex cycles which might cause that crease.

Considering the materials of these modern skates, any flex could cause material degradation.

Based on modern skate designs, I would try to get more lace spread than you currently have.

I have a pr of U+ 06 among other skates, (skate size 9.5D, US shoe 11) and I have narrow feet, C-, and have more spread then you...

check your sizing again, and if that seems reasonable then you prolly need a differnt fitting skate

[jonesy9020 77]

Agree on the volume issue, and think you might need to jump up a step in stiffness on your next pair. I had a similar issue develop in my old Mission L7s, and i think the main cause may have been punching the boot in a spot where it wasn't too strong. I needed to do it to accommodate my foot but pretty sure it hurt the durability of the skate. Another question -- did you break these in walking around the house? A lot of people do this and push forward to put a lot of forward flex on the skate in the process. Sometimes this flexing is more than the skate can take and is a lot more stress than they're made to or would have to handle on ice. You can easily contribute to early breakdown by doing this.