MX3 ankle softening

[tickles 0]

Hi guys,

I've been skating in a pair of mx3's for over a year now and am starting to notice the heel of the boot is becoming less rigid. I can feel a twisting when I pivot. As a d-man I feel this odd flexing constantly throughout the game.

In speaking with other mx3 users, they suggested I replaced the stock bauer rivets with larger brass ones. Can any of you advise how I may rectify this problem?

Thanks

[Vet88 674]

If you want to replace rivets go talk to your LHS, they should be able to help.

[Monty22 833]

Are you talking about movement between the boot and holder, or the boot itself becoming after in the heel area?

[tickles 0]

Monty,

It feels like the boot itself is flexing down low in the heel. This is why I thought it was a rivet problem, but my trusted LHS said it wasn't the case. Perhaps re-baking them would help? Thanks.

[syinx 139]

Monty,

It feels like the boot itself is flexing down low in the heel. This is why I thought it was a rivet problem, but my trusted LHS said it wasn't the case. Perhaps re-baking them would help? Thanks.

A rebake couldn't hurt - you might have developed a bit of negative space in the heel, which is simply causing your foot to have room to twist at the ankle. Definitely do a rebake, and see if you can get a pair of hands to squeeze the ankles in before your foot goes in to remove any negative space.

Re-riveting wouldn't hurt either.

[Monty22 833]

Can you feel the heel area give if you squeeze it? May possibly be a defect in the boot or premature breakdown in that area.

[tickles 0]

No, the heel area is still very rigid and i can't get it to move. It feels like a shearing or twisting. Perhaps, as syinx suggested, it is negative space? I don't know how this could develop, because the heel lock in the mx3 is what attracted me to the skate in the first place.

[Monty22 833]

So the rivets were inspected by your LHS and deemed to be good to go, and the boot exterior appears to be intact. I would closely examine the interior of the heel area. Is it both boots or just one?

[tickles 0]

Its just the right boot. Rivets were good to go, exterior intact. Looking on the inside, what am I looking for? My only guess is perhaps the materials stitched on are starting to separate from the sole. Examining the inside there is no visible sign of this.

[Monty22 833]

Does the heel pocket look/feel the same as the "normal" skate? Is there any pilling on the liner where your ankle would be moving around?

[tickles 0]

Feels and looks the same as the "normal" skate.

[Zorlac 22]

If you are using the stock insoles on your MX3s... put your hand in the skate and see if it moves back and forth.

I know mine were causing this issue. I could move the insoles almost a qtr. inch forward to back, and a bit side to side. Seems the MX3s, once they break in, open up enough so the insoles get sloppy.

I changed out my 6.5 insoles to a vapor 7EE insole. Fit like a champ, no more slop, as I too could fee my foot moving in them. It was causing the problem you described to a tee..

[nicker87 47]

If you are using the stock insoles on your MX3s... put your hand in the skate and see if it moves back and forth.

I know mine were causing this issue. I could move the insoles almost a qtr. inch forward to back, and a bit side to side. Seems the MX3s, once they break in, open up enough so the insoles get sloppy.

I changed out my 6.5 insoles to a vapor 7EE insole. Fit like a champ, no more slop, as I too could fee my foot moving in them. It was causing the problem you described to a tee..

To add to that maybe the little carbon piece on the bottom of the insole has come unglued and causing some slip? Definitely take the insole out and check the inside

[Zorlac 22]

That was the first thing I inspected for nicker, the insole was intact. I could feel my ankle kinda "slip" doing cross unders especially. There was just too much play between the fit of the insole and the boot. I couldn't tolerate my foot moving at all when in my skate.

[tickles 0]

Zorlac, thanks for your post. I bought some super feet and put them in. Problem solved. It has created a bit of a volume issue and I feel my feet roll in the boot now. Should I bake the skates again?

Thanks for your help.

[Zorlac 22]

Ahhh, the dreaded "roll" feeling.. I ALSO tried superfeet charcoal style. They felt great but had a roll to them when I skated. I felt it again, in the heel.

In my earlier post, I resorted back to stock vapor insoles a half size larger than my skate. It was the only insole that was thin and flimsy enough to NOT cause volume issues,

and held firm even after sweating out a long game.

To answer your question... I don't THINK rebaking would help seat the heel of your superfeet any better. Supremes have a larger, rounder heel than a VAPOR, for example.

The V-cut of the vapor heel held my yellow superfeet in perfectly. They fit like shit in my supremes.

[tickles 0]

I put a size 11 pair of yellow super feet in my mx3's as the recommendation. What is the roll feeling? When I open-up from back wards to skating forward and cross over I actually almost topple over in my skates. Hopefully I didn't just dump 45 bux down the drain...

[Zorlac 22]

The roll I mentioned is a feeling the my heel is moving to the side a little bit during high pressure cornering with the superfeet installed. The superfeet WILL put you more on your toes because of the plastic insert under the heel.

Giving you more of an aggressive stance. The recommendation that you speak of... I hope that you tried the superfeet on prior to purchase, as the ARCH will vary in position from size to size. I bought the size that fit my arch to HEEL

the best. I just trimmed the forefoot and toe areas accordingly.

Ensure that you trim ONLY what you need to ensure a snug fit. All is not lost in your case, as a retailer will refund a trimmed superfeet pair to ensure you get what you want and need.

It sounds like the heel is sloppy. Same thing happened to me, with the stock insoles and then charcoal superfeet. Can you wiggle it around with your hand? Try forcing it side to side, forward and backward in the skate. Remember, if you CAN move it with your hand SURELY, your weight on high speed moves will move it too...

Ya know, this did NOT happen in my APXs. Only when I switched to the MX3 did this occur. I believe the straight wall construction of the Vapor line holds insoles better. I'm reachin' here....

What superfeet models did you purchase?

[tickles 0]

I got the yellow model and got my LHS to make sure they fit perfectly to my arch. There is no more movement during his speed cornering. I already have a shim in the heel - 3mm. I had it put it to try and make it feel like I was skating in graf's - what I grew up on. Thanks for all your help Zorlac, and others.

I am thinking about going to my LHS to get them baked again...who knows - maybe it will help. Do I get them baked with the superfeet in them? or Put them in once they come out of the oven? Had major pain in my feet for the first time in years thanks to these super feet

[Zorlac 22]

bake them without the superfeet installed. Good luck!