Hockey Skate Fit Question!

[Rades 6]

Hi all, long time lurker first time poster. A little background, played hockey since i was in diapers, junior a, college. I'm 30 and i'm getting back into some leagues, I haven't bought skates in 12 years, the last ones being mission pure flys, boy has technology changed.

 

Long story short, I was sized and found a good deal on a pair of Bauers. The fit is great front to back, good heel lock, good width. I baked them and they feel great. After doing some research I came across "the pencil test" which I never heard of in all my years. I fail but by such a small amount, the amount being I barely fail with socks on, and pass without socks on. (I haven't skated on them by the way)

 

 

My question is, after skating and breaking them in (I'm almost 200lbs.) will I gain that little 1mm to pass the pencil test once my foot is settled in the boot?

If not, what are my options? Baking twice? punching? I know I'm probably being paranoid because it is such a smallllllllllll amount I fail by but I figured this was a good place to ask.

 

I attached some pictures of the skate laced up at about 90% tightness and as you can see I seem to be wrapped on both sides pretty well up and down the boot.

 

 

Thanks in advance!

[Rades 6]

 

I'm sorry if still the pictures dont work, im having a hell of a time uploading them.

 

 

[Rades 6]

http://imgur.com/cgXB40F
http://imgur.com/XJqg16k

 

[Rades 6]

Bump

[Larry54 243]

I don't see any problems based on the pictures. If you don't get lace bite on the front of your ankles while you're skating, and the skates feel secure, you should be good to go. And if you're now wearing thick socks, wearing thinner socks or sock liners are an option.

[Rades 6]

4 minutes ago, Larry54 said:

I don't see any problems based on the pictures. If you don't get lace bite on the front of your ankles while you're skating, and the skates feel secure, you should be good to go. And if you're now wearing thick socks, wearing thinner socks or sock liners are an option.

Good points, I just wanted a skate that actually fit since my feet are done growing. I know growing up most parents bought skates with room to spare to save $. A couple other questions if you don't mind, will my foot potentially drop that tad more once broken in? And any recommendations on the thinnest socks out there? I've been searching but it's tough to see the thickness of a sock on the Internet, and no real videos of socks out there either. 

 

Thanks!

[Larry54 243]

The foams in the skate lining will compress slightly as time goes by and your foot should sink into the heel pocket slightly.

 

Sock liners are very thin socks that hikers normally wear inside their regular socks. By themselves they are good thin skate socks. Here are just a few examples from Wigwam.

https://www.wigwam.com/gear/socks/wigwam-gobi-liner

https://www.wigwam.com/gear/socks/wigwam-coolmax-liner

https://www.wigwam.com/gear/socks/wigwam-ultimate-liner-pro#

Fox River also makes some.

Go to an outdoor sports store and see what they have.

[Rades 6]

42 minutes ago, Larry54 said:

The foams in the skate lining will compress slightly as time goes by and your foot should sink into the heel pocket slightly.

 

Sock liners are very thin socks that hikers normally wear inside their regular socks. By themselves they are good thin skate socks. Here are just a few examples from Wigwam.

https://www.wigwam.com/gear/socks/wigwam-gobi-liner

https://www.wigwam.com/gear/socks/wigwam-coolmax-liner

https://www.wigwam.com/gear/socks/wigwam-ultimate-liner-pro#

Fox River also makes some.

Go to an outdoor sports store and see what they have.

If it makes any difference I am juuuust short of a size 8 on the US shoe size scale and the skates are the Bauer Supreme 1s size 6.5D

[GloriousLeader 31]

Nice wheels

[Rades 6]

2 minutes ago, GloriousLeader said:

Nice wheels

I paid only $500 as they are retailing for $950 right now, I couldn't help myself lol. 

[Rades 6]

And that that was $500 brand new in box. 

[Rades 6]

17 hours ago, Larry54 said:

I don't see any problems based on the pictures. If you don't get lace bite on the front of your ankles while you're skating, and the skates feel secure, you should be good to go. And if you're now wearing thick socks, wearing thinner socks or sock liners are an option.

I was also thinking of just being proactive and lacing out to in to begin with. 

[krisdrum 233]

Not sure the pencil test is the end all be all for fit.  Merely a guideline.  To Larry's point, if you aren't getting lace bite or other issues, who cares.  Based on the pictures your lacing spacing looks pretty darn even all the way up.  I'd think those are pretty much a perfect fit.  Sock liners from an outdoor store is a great suggestion.  Most "dedicated" skate socks should be close to the same thickness of a liner sock and potentially a bit more durable.  The closest fit I've personally found have been SwiftWicks.  They have a minimal thickness top with a slightly more robust bottom.  Just to warn you, they ain't cheap.  Like $15-20 per pair.    

[Rades 6]

Here's some more pics of the 1s for you guys. 

 

 

http://imgur.com/LwUxUwC
http://imgur.com/aWRNLuh
http://imgur.com/yYJMCvI
http://imgur.com/1JivhT7
http://imgur.com/TbjcZoa
http://imgur.com/enrjaU7
http://imgur.com/fkmKq3Y

 

[Rades 6]

28 minutes ago, krisdrum said:

Not sure the pencil test is the end all be all for fit.  Merely a guideline.  To Larry's point, if you aren't getting lace bite or other issues, who cares.  Based on the pictures your lacing spacing looks pretty darn even all the way up.  I'd think those are pretty much a perfect fit.  Sock liners from an outdoor store is a great suggestion.  Most "dedicated" skate socks should be close to the same thickness of a liner sock and potentially a bit more durable.  The closest fit I've personally found have been SwiftWicks.  They have a minimal thickness top with a slightly more robust bottom.  Just to warn you, they ain't cheap.  Like $15-20 per pair.    

Good info here, thanks. Things are just so different nowadays, I hate to sound old as I'm 30 but as a kid I didn't have the Internet to research such things, or even thought to once the Internet was available, it was always "let dad figure it out" lol

[SolarWind 23]

congrats on the new skates

lacing looked pretty even but it's hard to say how the skates will feel once broken in - tongue might flatten out and give you lace bite but not very likely.

$500 for brand new 1S sounds like a steal! how?! LOL

[Rades 6]

32 minutes ago, SolarWind said:

congrats on the new skates

lacing looked pretty even but it's hard to say how the skates will feel once broken in - tongue might flatten out and give you lace bite but not very likely.

$500 for brand new 1S sounds like a steal! how?! LOL

I came across a guy who somehow gets em for cheaper and passes it along to folks like us, I don't think he made much if anything off of em.