Help with Graf Boots

[boomer029 0]

I was enlightened recently when I found out that the skate I was using was 2 1/2 sizes too big. I was using graf 625's at the time, I'm not really sure how I made it through high school playing in those. Anyway, after a few years off the ice, I'll be playing for a college club team and figured it would be a good idea to start looking for some new skates.

I had my foot measured at a LHS when I was visiting home in Rhode Island and tried on some skates.The measurements came out at a 7 and border line reg/wide width.

The unfortunate part is that the closest shop to my house is about 5 hours away now.

I tried on numerous skates and still can't find a pair...here's the list and what worked and what didn't.

Bauer supreme one 8 - completely crushed my foot. Don't like that anatomical design...it causes my foot to invert. Same with shoes that "anatomically fit" I'm not sure why this happens, it just does.

Bauer vapor x70 - Tight on forefoot, heel was popping out.

Bauer nexus 600 - The seam of the toe cap/boot was a big issue, heel was moving a decent amount as well. They felt ok though.

Reebok 14k - good fit, very bulky though...like sticking my foot in a military boot, felt very heavy. Heel was moving a bit as well.

CCM RBZ - very good fit...slightly narrow for my foot, however they weren't baked. Heel popped out terribly though.

Graf 705 - felt great in the store, lots of mobility, great balance. I had to get them punched a bit on the outside of my foot right before the pinky toe starts. I actually ended up buying these. Heel lock was awesome, forward lean felt amazing, very comfortable...

However, it turned out to be a terrible choice.... I skated on them today for about an hour and I just simply could not get used to them. I was having really bad pain on the top of my foot from where I tied the laces (I laced them up all the way) ...when I forward leaned too much that lace dug right into my foot/ankle. I couldn't skate backwards due to this pain. However, my balance did feel pretty good standing straight up. I really enjoyed the forward pitch and having skates that actually fit felt amazing. The ankle mobility was a little too much though. I did the pencil test when I got home and failed it. I think I need a slightly deeper boot. I've been skating for a while, and I've never had a skate that made me feel like I was going to break my ankle. Also, the area in the forefoot was a little too narrow, even though it was punched out.

So, I'm back home now and the owner of the store said if I had problems I could send them back, and we'd figured something out.

I'm debating on which skate to try out based on all the information I've gathered so far. I'd like to stick with graf just because I really like the way the tongue feels, its a really comfortable skate.. I just need to find the boot that fits me.

Any suggestions?

[Chadd 916]

Sounds like a bit of a lace bite issue, a lot of people have had luck with putting foam or gel pads over the area to relieve pressure. Lacing outside-in through the ankle area helps some people as well. I've had good luck with my mako skates, not sure what will work for you. I would have suggested trying Supremes given your heel lock issues with the other boots. Maybe an EE in the Supreme? Did you try both CCM and RBK? They should have somewhat different fits.

[boomer029 0]

Sounds like a bit of a lace bite issue, a lot of people have had luck with putting foam or gel pads over the area to relieve pressure. Lacing outside-in through the ankle area helps some people as well. I've had good luck with my mako skates, not sure what will work for you. I would have suggested trying Supremes given your heel lock issues with the other boots. Maybe an EE in the Supreme? Did you try both CCM and RBK? They should have somewhat different fits.

Woops, that was a typo. I meant to say CCM RBZ's.

The CCM RBZ and the Reebok 14k felt good as far as width. The problem was the heel lock in both skates. As far as the 705's go, that lace problem is definitely the worst problem, but overall, I feel it's just too much ankle mobility. I forgot to mention, one of the major problems with the nexus was the toe box as well...I could literally lift my forefoot up and down in the skate because of the amount of room that was in there.

[Chadd 916]

The newer Graf models might work for you G75 or the newer 8035. Your best option might be taking one of the other boots with the least amount of heel slip and using something like the stable26 socks.

[boomer029 0]

The newer Graf models might work for you G75 or the newer 8035. Your best option might be taking one of the other boots with the least amount of heel slip and using something like the stable26 socks.

You would think they would have told me this at the hockey shop, haha. I'm definitely going to try those socks with the RBZ's.

[boomer029 0]

any other suggestions as far as boots go? I was thinking possibly the 709's as well, but everything I look at says the heel is wide, and I'm already having heel problems with most skates. The idea of having room for my foot right now just sound so nice after skating in the 705's.

[Vet88 674]

I've tried stable26 but could never get a comfortable fit, ended up making my own 1/2 doughnuts out of closed cell neoprene to wrap under the ankle bone. I also found the my G5 ultras to be a little soft in the ankle but once I worked on my skating I don't notice it any more. I also spent a lot of time working on skating with various eyelets undone, aka european training.

If you have a skate that fits, try fixing the lace bite. There are various options that work, some Chadd has already suggested but here a couple more:

55Flex

OptionB laces (I made my own and they worked well when they held together but I couldn't work out a reliable way to secure the D rings I was using to the boot)

Forsberg pad - I used, and am still using, one of these when I recently got a vicious case of lace bite from my inline skates. My lace bite was so bad I couldn't have anything touch the tendon but once the pad was in place, I could still skate whilst the lace bite healed. Now for my inlines I put on one of these as a matter of course.

[boomer029 0]

I've tried stable26 but could never get a comfortable fit, ended up making my own 1/2 doughnuts out of closed cell neoprene to wrap under the ankle bone. I also found the my G5 ultras to be a little soft in the ankle but once I worked on my skating I don't notice it any more. I also spent a lot of time working on skating with various eyelets undone, aka european training.

If you have a skate that fits, try fixing the lace bite. There are various options that work, some Chadd has already suggested but here a couple more:

55Flex

OptionB laces (I made my own and they worked well when they held together but I couldn't work out a reliable way to secure the D rings I was using to the boot)

Forsberg pad - I used, and am still using, one of these when I recently got a vicious case of lace bite from my inline skates. My lace bite was so bad I couldn't have anything touch the tendon but once the pad was in place, I could still skate whilst the lace bite healed. Now for my inlines I put on one of these as a matter of course.

Thanks for the input!

I've decided I'm going to make the 4 1/2 hour drive to the hockey shop in Dallas and take my time trying on every single skate, and possibly buy some of the stable26 socks prior to trying on some of the skates. I'm going to try to upload a picture of my foot in my current skate and see what you guys think...maybe I can try to fix this with those suggestions. I just wasn't digging the feel of it on the ice.

[boomer029 0]

Ok,

Here are some pictures...

[flip12 717]

Ok,

Here are some pictures...

If only Graf still made it, maybe the 727? That had tons of volume. I was comfy in 705's, but the 727 was like putting my foot in a tent rather than a sleeping bag.

[boomer029 0]

How was the heel in the 727? I'm considering trying out the 709, just worried about the heel.

Hopefully the volume of the 709 isn't like the nexus. That skate had a ton of volume, but I felt that extra volume was in the wrong place for my foot. My forefoot was flopping around in there, definitely not snug. I just want a skate I can sink into a little more.

[flip12 717]

Can't remember the heel exactly, it was 12-years ago that I tried them on, and I was blown away by the volume difference more than anything.

[boomer029 0]

I'm not sure if I went in the complete opposite direction here, but I really have no skates at the moment and saw these...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261494161228?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I decided to buy them just because they're $25, and if anything I can use them as a back up. If they're absolutely horrible I'll just donate them.

[Chadd 916]

How was the heel in the 727? I'm considering trying out the 709, just worried about the heel.

Hopefully the volume of the 709 isn't like the nexus. That skate had a ton of volume, but I felt that extra volume was in the wrong place for my foot. My forefoot was flopping around in there, definitely not snug. I just want a skate I can sink into a little more.

The 727 is a very, very soft boot, especially at the ankle.

I'm not sure if I went in the complete opposite direction here, but I really have no skates at the moment and saw these...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261494161228?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I decided to buy them just because they're $25, and if anything I can use them as a back up. If they're absolutely horrible I'll just donate them.

I had two pair of those 852s, loved those boots. They're going to feel heavy compared to the newer skates, hopefully they fit.

[boomer029 0]

Do you know where I can find specific info on them? (fit, weight, year made, etc ...)

[Chadd 916]

Those would be around 97 or so. Given your earlier comments, they may very well fit you. I don't want to prejudice your opinion before you get them. Just make sure you put new laces in them or unlace them most of the way so they adjust to your foot.

[boomer029 0]

Is it possible to bake that CCM boot chadd?