New guy need advice please!

[HockeyHacker 3]

Hi folks. Older big guy here. Haven't skated in 20 yrs 6'0" 250 and losing but, I need a good recommendation on equipment mainly skates I know the subject has been beat to death but, I went to a LHS and got fit and seem to like the fit of Vapor x60/70 but I hear conflicting info on stiff skates for big dudes vs. new skaters on and on and on...

I would appreciate some solid info and advice on a good skate that won't break the bank. I appreciate any and ll advice! Harry

[Chadd 916]

The most important thing is that they fit your feet. Personally, I'm not a fan of really stiff skates but you can always leave an eyelet unlaced if you need more forward flex. There is no way for you, let alone us, to know if you are going to feel more comfortable with a stiffer or softer boot. Make sure it's the right fit, try the next size down, just to be sure and then go with whatever feels best to you.

[Tech1208 27]

Hi folks. Older big guy here. Haven't skated in 20 yrs 6'0" 250 and losing but, I need a good recommendation on equipment mainly skates I know the subject has been beat to death but, I went to a LHS and got fit and seem to like the fit of Vapor x60/70 but I hear conflicting info on stiff skates for big dudes vs. new skaters on and on and on...

I would appreciate some solid info and advice on a good skate that won't break the bank. I appreciate any and ll advice! Harry

Harry, I'm 6'00 and 235. I started back when I was 260 and after 25 years. Chadd gave the best advice. Buy what fits, and feels right. As to stiffness, i do not believe you will feel the difference between the boots at this level. It's not like the least stiff is going to feel like a Riedell Figure Skate boot. I came out of some old Supreme 5000's, and went into One.9's. The Vapor's were too narrow for me. I wear an 11 EEE, and ended up with 9EE Supreme's. i will tell you though, you need to try all the different fits, and find what feels comfortable. Makes a huge difference when in them on the ice for hours.

[jonesy9020 77]

FWIW, If you can find some last gen Vapors (X7.0, 6.0, 5.0, etc.) in your size I think they're much better boots for the price. You could get by in the X5.0 in that line, but be aware that the fit is slightly different (a little narrower up front, felt different in the arch for me). If you do go with the current Vapors I'd go with at least the X70 and move up to the X80 if you can afford it. Big factor for me would be the ability to bake. You'll get more support if the skate is molded to your foot, and the X60 is not moldable (though some shops do bake them, it doesn't do anything). You sound like you're coming back from time off, so I don't think that the recommendation to start in a softer boot really applies here -- you already know how to skate and won't be using boot stiffness as a crutch.

I know this is a common refrain on this site, but here goes anyway: I can't tell from your post if you have tried out other lines, but if you haven't, try to find somewhere that you can. My feet can fit in a lot of different skates, and Vapors feel okay for me, but you really start to see what fits well when you try one skate back to back with another. I was set on getting a pair of Vapor X5.0 at my LHS on clearance because they felt pretty good until I tried on the Reeboks, which felt better, and then Supremes, which felt even better.

[HockeyHacker 3]

Thanks for your reply guys! Jonesy..I consider myself one step up from a beginner at this point..I really busted up my right ankle good 20 yrs ago to the point I stopped playing roller and ice.

Taking the ankle issues into account along with the long layoff and add to that a ton of weight to come off..I felt maybe a not SO stiff boot was in order even if just to reintroduce myself and go from there..does that sound rational?

I wear a 12 in shoes and fit pretty well in a 10.5 Bauer Vapor x70 a couple weeks ago.. but to be honest, I dont know if dropping close to 300.00 on a pair of skates initially is the ticket as opposed to looking for "last years" model or used.

I have been scouring Craigslist and flea bay for a "good deal" on some older Bauer Vapor x60/70's but not really finding much. Re: the Supremes, what size foot do you have, do you have wide feet or any foot "issues" that make you more comfy in the Supremes?

Thanks again for your input!

[HockeyHacker 3]

Harry, I'm 6'00 and 235. I started back when I was 260 and after 25 years. Chadd gave the best advice. Buy what fits, and feels right. As to stiffness, i do not believe you will feel the difference between the boots at this level. It's not like the least stiff is going to feel like a Riedell Figure Skate boot. I came out of some old Supreme 5000's, and went into One.9's. The Vapor's were too narrow for me. I wear an 11 EEE, and ended up with 9EE Supreme's. i will tell you though, you need to try all the different fits, and find what feels comfortable. Makes a huge difference when in them on the ice for hours.

Thanks Tech..will keep this in mind.

[jonesy9020 77]

I'm a 9D in Supremes and I wear an 11 in dress shoes and a 12 in most athletic shoes. I do not have a wide foot. If anything, slightly narrow (I have some dress shoes in C width), but I have a pretty high instep (bone where the top of your foot and shin meet), and rather flat feet with some pronation. I also had a navicular accessory issue when I was skating a lot for practices and games in high school, but that hasn't been an issue recently, I think because the Supremes fit so much better than the Missions I had at the time. The Supreme's added depth may be most to credit there -- I used to rub on the eyelets but now there's no contact with my foot in that area. When I tried on the vapors I felt like my foot wasn't settling all the way in the boot, I'm guessing due to the higher arch position. I've also got a slight protrusion on the outside edges of my feet that was causing a pressure point in the Vapors but not the Supremes. It's really tough to give fit advice online because of weird little things like that. I'd also heard that the Easton Stealth series would fit like a Supreme, but I had the same pressure point in those skates. We can make a good guess based on overall foot shape and width, but those little irregularities make big differences in the long run.

Going with a less stiff boot makes some sense due to past ankle issues if your goal is to strengthen your ankles a little bit. The flipside is that you might want some more support to not put too much on that ankle right away. That's why I think the X70s/X5.0s might be a good choice. Not too stiff, but they'll also bake and wrap more to give some lateral support to your ankle. The current line of vapors is on clearance and you can pick up X70s for 250 now at most LHS. X5.0s should be all over ebay, but I haven't looked recently. Trying out older skates on ebay or craigslist is one way to do it, and can be pretty cheap, but I've gone that route and spent a ton of money (and time) on trial and error before eventually giving up on that and heading to the hockey store in the end anyway.

If you're set on vapors, check out X5.0/X6.0, and X:40/X:50 (the colon makes a difference, annoyingly -- these are mid-high end skates from vapor lines a few years ago, which can get confusing with their new numbering conventions).

[HockeyHacker 3]

Thanks again Jonesy...I just found a NEW/used? set of Vapor X7.0 's on ebay in my size and putting an offer of 200.00, based on internet pricing, that seems to be a decent deal? Worst case scenario, I can always sell them...Oh btw the have new STEP steel runners to boot!

[jonesy9020 77]

That is an awesome deal. Think I found the skates you're looking at and they're in excellent shape. They will be very stiff, equivalent in the current line is the X90, which is a $600 skate that a good number of pros use. And you're right, if they don't fit or are too stiff, you will have absolutely no trouble re-selling them. Good luck, hope you get them!

[HockeyHacker 3]

That is an awesome deal. Think I found the skates you're looking at and they're in excellent shape. They will be very stiff, equivalent in the current line is the X90, which is a $600 skate that a good number of pros use. And you're right, if they don't fit or are too stiff, you will have absolutely no trouble re-selling them. Good luck, hope you get them!

Thanks Jonesy I will let you know!

[HockeyHacker 3]

I got the skates with step steel runners and a pair of Bauer X60 gloves for 250 shipped. I feel like I got a good deal. Now the wait.

[jonesy9020 77]

You got a great deal. Step runners alone can run around $75. The gloves are probably about 50, so getting those skates for effectively $125 is awesome.

[HockeyHacker 3]

sweet, I am stoked! I hope they work out, but as I said I can sell them for at least what I have in them and be happy if they arent the ticket but I am hopeful they are. Stay tuned.

[HockeyHacker 3]

Harry, I'm 6'00 and 235. I started back when I was 260 and after 25 years. Chadd gave the best advice. Buy what fits, and feels right. As to stiffness, i do not believe you will feel the difference between the boots at this level. It's not like the least stiff is going to feel like a Riedell Figure Skate boot. I came out of some old Supreme 5000's, and went into One.9's. The Vapor's were too narrow for me. I wear an 11 EEE, and ended up with 9EE Supreme's. i will tell you though, you need to try all the different fits, and find what feels comfortable. Makes a huge difference when in them on the ice for hours.

just a note...I dig your avatar man!

[stick9 896]

Not a bad option for someone in your position, just be mindful that you can end up spending more going through used skates looking for the right fit than you would on new ones.

You also need to consider how long that used boot will last. Being a bigger guy that boot will likely breakdown (ie soften up) faster and being used it may already be on its way. Just something to keep in mind.

[HockeyHacker 3]

Thanks guys the X7.0 vapors were used three times and never baked. Worse case scenario I can just sell them and move in. ;)