Baking..an absolute necessity?

[Zorlac 22]

I Ebayed my MX3 D width skates to get some MX3s in a C width. They fit my foot perfectly out of the box.  I DID NOT BAKE the skates as of this moment.  I have several weeks of hockey on them and they

have no tight spots, or issues that I believe would require a bake.

 

Is it IMPERATIVE for an optimal fit that I bake them?   I don't really see a need to...  has anyone else NOT baked high end composite skates and were OK with it?

 

THX

Z...

[fatwabbit 93]

If it fits you well, then there is no point. The baking method is meant for the skates to feel more 'custom' to an individual's foot shape, as everyone is different. 

 

If if you don't feel any hotspots and are comfortable, why change it?

 

 

[chippa13 1844]

A little devil's advocate here but bet here is that if they're completely comfortable right out of the box then odds are you bought them too big.

[Zorlac 22]

I never said they weren't extremely tight...  or borderline painful, I said they FIT my foot perfectly.  FIT.

 

They have broken in nicely, I was just concerned that I was missing out on an even better fit.  I agree FW..if it's not broken, don't fix it.

[All Flash 49]

Cant hurt to bake them so the question really is why not bake them since they might fit even better?

[yrhmblnr8r 69]

6 minutes ago, All Flash said:

Cant hurt to bake them so the question really is why not bake them since they might fit even better?

If they fit now, a bake could make them too roomy. I don't think I'd risk it. 

[yrhmblnr8r 69]

6 minutes ago, All Flash said:

Cant hurt to bake them so the question really is why not bake them since they might fit even better?

If they fit now, a bake could make them too roomy. I don't think I'd risk it. 

[mojo122 538]

Modern skates have materials that are extremely thermo-formable to customize the fit to the shape of one's foot.  Not baking means losing out on getting the best fit possible.  

[IPv6Freely 2096]

1 hour ago, yrhmblnr8r said:

If they fit now, a bake could make them too roomy. I don't think I'd risk it. 

If baking them makes them too roomy, you're in the wrong size. 

[Zac911 317]

My last 2 pair were stellar right out of the box- No bake required.  Of course I had the benefit of sitting down and fitting myself with all the fit stock I had access to. 

 

There are many factors that go into the actual fitting process,  but if the skate isn't fit / sized properly and you don't have good heel lock-  You can't bake your way out of that.

 

There are just some things that should be bought from a dealer that can take the time to fit you properly.

 

I have encountered too many people who bought into the marketing or look of the skate and got the wrong fit.  6 bakes later they still have issues.

 

Too many people have come to expect that baking a skate is the magic fix all button and only perpetuates bad online buying habits.

 

*puts on flame suit*

[icewalker_bg 126]

1 hour ago, OptimusReim said:

If baking them makes them too roomy, you're in the wrong size. 

Not really. We are not in VH or Mako territory, not saying it is the case here, but for people with low volume feet baking skates can make it roomy with the slightest wrong move, not properly sitting, standing, kicking your heel and so on...it will compress the foam in places that will start slipping when your feet get wet. If you have fat feet I understand perfectly, but as mentioned, it aint broke, let it be. 

[Zorlac 22]

I see the comments have all boiled down to WHY I didn't bake them.  My D width MX3s fit great PRE BAKE.  It seemed after the bake and about 6 months of hockey 5 times a week, the ANKLE area of the boot got too roomy.  I could feel it slipping in high speed turns.  I went with the C width now hoping this would not happen, and so far it's been rock tight.  I'm PARANOID of baking these and "opening" up the nice tight ankle lock I have now.  As mentioned before, the fit now is superb and I don't want that to change.

 

Here's what I think the fit should be..

toes grazing cap, proper volume, depth, overall skate boot touching all parts of the foot, tight ankle lock, comfort after break in, NO sloppiness when executing reflex actions..

I've acquired all the above with the C width MX3. (and with NOICING's combo radius.. 8/10..FBV) 

 

I posted the original comment for feedback on the requirement of baking.  This is why I love MSH. Lots of intelligent feedback and different views.

[chippa13 1844]

12 hours ago, icewalker_bg said:

Not really. We are not in VH or Mako territory, not saying it is the case here, but for people with low volume feet baking skates can make it roomy with the slightest wrong move, not properly sitting, standing, kicking your heel and so on...it will compress the foam in places that will start slipping when your feet get wet. If you have fat feet I understand perfectly, but as mentioned, it aint broke, let it be. 

Translation of this post: the skates aren't the proper choice for the feet.

[oldtrainerguy28 478]

3 hours ago, Zorlac said:

I see the comments have all boiled down to WHY I didn't bake them.  My D width MX3s fit great PRE BAKE.  It seemed after the bake and about 6 months of hockey 5 times a week, the ANKLE area of the boot got too roomy.  I could feel it slipping in high speed turns.  I went with the C width now hoping this would not happen, and so far it's been rock tight.  I'm PARANOID of baking these and "opening" up the nice tight ankle lock I have now.  As mentioned before, the fit now is superb and I don't want that to change.

 

Here's what I think the fit should be..

toes grazing cap, proper volume, depth, overall skate boot touching all parts of the foot, tight ankle lock, comfort after break in, NO sloppiness when executing reflex actions..

I've acquired all the above with the C width MX3. (and with NOICING's combo radius.. 8/10..FBV) 

 

I posted the original comment for feedback on the requirement of baking.  This is why I love MSH. Lots of intelligent feedback and different views.

 

True test after wearing them for a bit is pull out the insoles and see were your toes are. If there is over a 1/4 inch then there to big length wise. 1/8th of an inch your pretty darn close to perfect. IMO

[psulion22 402]

4 hours ago, Zorlac said:

I see the comments have all boiled down to WHY I didn't bake them.  My D width MX3s fit great PRE BAKE.  It seemed after the bake and about 6 months of hockey 5 times a week, the ANKLE area of the boot got too roomy.  I could feel it slipping in high speed turns.  I went with the C width now hoping this would not happen, and so far it's been rock tight.  I'm PARANOID of baking these and "opening" up the nice tight ankle lock I have now.  As mentioned before, the fit now is superb and I don't want that to change.

 

Here's what I think the fit should be..

toes grazing cap, proper volume, depth, overall skate boot touching all parts of the foot, tight ankle lock, comfort after break in, NO sloppiness when executing reflex actions..

I've acquired all the above with the C width MX3. (and with NOICING's combo radius.. 8/10..FBV) 

 

I posted the original comment for feedback on the requirement of baking.  This is why I love MSH. Lots of intelligent feedback and different views.

Interesting that you are attributing the slippage to the baking rather than the improper skate width.  IMO, that is purely corollary and had nothing to do with the eventual loosening (assuming you followed the correct baking procedure).  Having the problem arise after that much time would indicate it being due to the natural break down of the foams and support in the skate.  The skate fit well out of the box, and eventually broke down and widened out.  That sounds like it was more the wrong width.  This is especially true since the C width is snug, but wearable.  If it had happened soon after baking, I'd agree with you.  But it didn't.

 

The benefit of the Curv material is it can be thermoformed to create complex curves.  Supreme skates are designed to eliminate negative space.  Baking will create a better wrap around the top of the foot, especially in the MX3 because of the injected facing.  It should create better heel lock and fit in the ankles as well.  This is all assuming it is done correctly, which with Curv quarters means one skate at a time.

[stick9 896]

5 days a week for 6 months is a lot of hockey. I suspect that change in fit was the natural breakdown of the foams.

 

Also, maybe if the skate were baked you wouldn't need to larger width.

[Zorlac 22]

3 hours ago, psulion22 said:

Interesting that you are attributing the slippage to the baking rather than the improper skate width.  IMO, that is purely corollary and had nothing to do with the eventual loosening (assuming you followed the correct baking procedure).  Having the problem arise after that much time would indicate it being due to the natural break down of the foams and support in the skate.  The skate fit well out of the box, and eventually broke down and widened out.  That sounds like it was more the wrong width.  This is especially true since the C width is snug, but wearable.  If it had happened soon after baking, I'd agree with you.  But it didn't.

 

The benefit of the Curv material is it can be thermoformed to create complex curves.  Supreme skates are designed to eliminate negative space.  Baking will create a better wrap around the top of the foot, especially in the MX3 because of the injected facing.  It should create better heel lock and fit in the ankles as well.  This is all assuming it is done correctly, which with Curv quarters means one skate at a time.

So, I'm gathering that the D width supreme reared it's ugly head eventually...and caused the loose heel syndrome, and not the bake.

If that's correct, (which I believe it to be now) then.. baking the C width skates should have NO impact on my heel lock, and I should stop being paranoid.

[sparky1 29]

Baking is just to aid in the break-in process from what I understand.

 

If a skate is perfectly molded to your feet prior to you wearing them, then baking won't really do much to help other than speeding up the boot breakdown and in turn the stiffness of the boot.

 

 

[IPv6Freely 2096]

6 minutes ago, sparky1 said:

Baking is just to aid in the break-in process from what I understand.

 

That used to be the case, but now skates use thermo-moldable foams in them that change the actual shape of the foams when baked. 

[stick9 896]

20 hours ago, Zorlac said:

So, I'm gathering that the D width supreme reared it's ugly head eventually...and caused the loose heel syndrome, and not the bake.

If that's correct, (which I believe it to be now) then.. baking the C width skates should have NO impact on my heel lock, and I should stop being paranoid.

 

I'd argue, you'd get an even better heel lock with baking. 

[chippa13 1844]

I'd agree since baking improves wrap over the top of the foot to lock the heel in the skate.