Explain heel lock

[proth0303 29]

I keep reading about heel lock but am having a hard time really understanding what it is and hope someone could point me to a previous discussion or explain/describe it.  Is it simply keeping the heel down as you skate?  Or is it keeping the heel down and prevent it from sliding at all?  Keep in mind that I've only been skating for <2 months. 

I've been playing around with various lace tightness and skipping top holes in my Bauer X700's.  When I have the boots all the way laced up they feel like casts and my heel doesn't move at all (no lift/sliding).  The problem is I have restricted forward flex and even got to experience lace bite for the first time.  I tried barely snug lacing at the top which helps with forward flex but I still feel a lot of restriction in lateral movements.  I also struggle with feeling my stride push from heel to toe.

Recently I started trying to skate without lacing through the top holes (lacing fairly tight over the foot, good tug at the 4th hole from the top, and a snug tight in the ankle).  This feels great for forward flex and lateral movement; however, I feel a slight sliding of my heel.  It's minimal and there is no lift of the heel.  Is the slight sliding of the heel a good/normal thing?  I've been assuming that what I'm actually feeling is the shift from my foot in the boot when standing to my foot in the boot when in the skating position.  In terms of results, I am starting to feel better power in my stride and am more sensitive to pushing from my heel through to the toe.    

 

[althoma1 575]

You don't want your heel lifting up when you're skating - if it stays in place when you're skating that's good heel lock. People usually test this in a store by walking around and sometimes even doing some lunge/skating type movements.

Ideally, you want to find a skate that provides good heel lock without you having to really crank down on your laces. Lacing patterns are personal preference, but I personally like to go snug (but not super tight) up until about the fourth eyelet and then tie the 3rd eyelet from the top tight to help with heel lock and then I leave the top two eyelets pretty loose to allow for forward flex.

If your heel isn't lifting up, but is sliding forward then it doesn't sound like a heel lock problem, but might be the skates are a bit too long. Are your toes brushing the caps when they're fully laced with your heel locked in? If the heel is sliding from side to side then it could be the boot is slightly wider in that area than your foot.

[proth0303 29]

Thanks for the response.  My toes do brush the caps when fully laced but it is ever so slight.  I currently wear a size 10D (wear shoes in the 11-12 range) which seemed like the best fit at the time.  I probably could go down to 9.5 or maybe a 9 but not sure what I would actually gain (other than a lighter wallet)?  The engineer in me makes me think that as long as the heel is "locked" and the ankle/foot "pivots" around the ~4th eyelet, than the length just becomes a personal preference.  

The heel isn't lifting or sliding side to side.  It is hard to tell but I would say if anything, my heel slides back and forth a little (back when I bend my knees, forward as I straighten my leg during a stride).  Honestly I don't think there is an issue but given that I'm a newbie, I don't know otherwise and was hoping for some insight/feedback on exactly what the heel should feel like when "locked".

Or is it that most people cram their feet into the smallest size they can stand and would never feel what I'm describing?  

[krisdrum 233]

Fore/aft movement is normal in small amounts.  When you bend your knees, your heel should be firmly planted in the heel of the skate.  "Heel lock" is referring to a lack of vertical movement of the heel in the boot.  Horizontal movement perpendicular to the the direction of travel is probably less a concern than vertical.  Although I guess both can cause blisters and issues.  Sounds like from what you are describing, the skates fit pretty well.  If you can't lift your heel, you should be good. 

And no need to cram your foot into a boot as small as possible.  You want the toes just feathering the toe cap.  That is best practice.  But as you said personal preference does come into play.  But it really doesn't sound like you need to change sizes at this point. 

[proth0303 29]

Thanks krisdrum and althoma1!  I honestly feel like I understand what "heel lock" is and what it should feel like. 

With the exception of needing my boots punched for my accessory navicular, it sounds like I have a pretty good skate fit given it's my first pair I've ever purchased.  If I can only figure out how to get rid of this pain that comes in both feet approximately 15 minutes into a session and then magically disappears (or is replaced by other pains so I don't notice my feet anymore).  I tried looser laces in the foot area and it didn't feel that great; however, I'll give the method althoma1 uses a try. :)  

[althoma1 575]

Some minimal moving back and forth isn't a huge deal. If your toes feather the cap then it does sound like you have a pretty good fit. You might be able to go a half size down on your next skate purchase, but I don't think it's worth making a purchase now to deal with some minor movement. When your current skates break down and it's time to replace them then you can go through the fitting process again. Trying different lacing methods is free and some ways will feel better than others for you.

[krisdrum 233]

How severe is the pain 15 minutes in that then magically disappears?  It could be the skates still breaking in, it could be lace method and tightness, could be all those little muscles you never used before crying for help.  Could be needing the punch for your navicular.  Do your feet hurt on the bench?  After skating?  For how long?

When I first started skating my feet would hurt to the point I couldn't be out there for more than 15-20 minutes before coming off and re-tying or giving my feet a breather.  It was BAD.  That was in some used skates I picked up at a LHS that did trade-ins and sold used gear.  When I got my new Vapors, they took awhile to really break them in and get them adjusted to where they too did not hurt like that.  I basically just worked through the pain and was skating 2-3 days a week in open skate and group lessons.  Took a good 3-4 months before they no longer hurt.  But those were some STIFF boots.  I think some of that was still less than ideal fit and some of it was my muscles just getting used to the demands of skating and having a rigid boot on.  The 2 pairs of skates I've had since (still looking for that perfect fit, my feet are pretty weird, so very little standard stuff fits me well) have been better and better comfort wise.  So I know I am honing in on a better fit.  But they still give me some discomfort as I continue to figure out lace tightness, etc. etc.  If you have sensitive feet (I know I do), it can be a process.  

Keep at it, trial and error a bit and hopefully as the skate breaks in it gets better. 

[proth0303 29]

In a weird way, I'm glad that you've felt my pain... so I know not to panic and shell out more money on skates.

Usually I only notice the pain after skating for 15 minutes and coming to a stop.  Typically this is during a practice where we've done a warm up, some drills, and then take a water break (this is the point I notice it).  Fortunately it doesn't bring me to my knees (no need to re-tie or loosen for a breather) and I continue on and don't notice it until the next water break.  For some reason I don't notice it at all during games?  

My guess is you are spot on with breaking the skates in, clearance for my navicular, and my muscles getting used to this.  Thanks!

[krisdrum 233]

Yeah, glad to help.  It almost stopped me in the tracks of getting to learn how to skate, so I don't think it is all that uncommon.  I just picked up some new skates and been on them a handful of times this month, after a multiple month lay-off and although I definitely know the boots are there and my feet hurt a bit (especially when stopping), the pain is minimal and continues only briefly after I step off the ice to end my session.  I was in them the other day for 1.5 hours with minimal discomfort, so it does get better. 

[puckpilot 312]

To add to what's been said, skating without proper heel lock is akin to trying to run in sneakers with your laces undone. As for length, you want the smallest size possible that doesn't jam up your toes because skates to long will be akin to trying to run with clown shoes on. Also skates too long make it harder to achieve heel lock and mantain it. Skates too long that don't give you heel lock will be like running with the laces undone on your clown shoes. :p

That's just performance related. Loose heel lock will give you blisters and can lead to Haglund's Deformity, AKA Bauer Bumps, on your heels. Look it up, it's not a good thing. 

 

 

[jgold47 12]

has anyone experimented with using heat/baking/molding to tighten up their heel, especially on composite skates?  my heel moves ever so slightly (could even be my socks), when I'm skating with my top eyelet undone.  I've contemplated using a heat gun to get everything soft and then just pinching the boot above the heel.  

I'm mostly looking for a stopgap until I have the time/money to get properly fitted.  I know my Vapors only fit about 80% correct, and I'm still fighting lace bite.

[krisdrum 233]

4 minutes ago, jgold47 said:

has anyone experimented with using heat/baking/molding to tighten up their heel, especially on composite skates?  my heel moves ever so slightly (could even be my socks), when I'm skating with my top eyelet undone.  I've contemplated using a heat gun to get everything soft and then just pinching the boot above the heel.  

I'm mostly looking for a stopgap until I have the time/money to get properly fitted.  I know my Vapors only fit about 80% correct, and I'm still fighting lace bite.

In short, yes.  There are several videos out there (VH speed skates, VH hockey skates, etc.) on how to use a ratchet clamp or other devices to narrow your heel.  I've done it successfully on numerous skates.  But just be warned, I've also left permanent "dimples" in the heels of some skates from doing this.  In those cases, the heel was really just too wide for my foot.  Luckily the skates I did that on were free so minimal loss. 

[puckpilot 312]

10 hours ago, jgold47 said:

has anyone experimented with using heat/baking/molding to tighten up their heel, especially on composite skates?  my heel moves ever so slightly (could even be my socks), when I'm skating with my top eyelet undone.  I've contemplated using a heat gun to get everything soft and then just pinching the boot above the heel.  

I'm mostly looking for a stopgap until I have the time/money to get properly fitted.  I know my Vapors only fit about 80% correct, and I'm still fighting lace bite.

For me, use Bunga pads and they improved heel lock quite a lot, but still wasn't perfect. But recently, I looked into this http://stable26.com/shop/hockey/

I didn't buy the socks, but instead I just bought the silicone inserts for them for $10 and right now am in the process of deciding whether to glue them into my skate or just slip them under my Bunga pads. But for me definitely improved heel lock.

There's a small investment in money involved in getting that stuff, but an alternative, which I used before I found the Stable 26 stuff was I went to the dollar store and bought some foam shoe inserts. I cut them up and placed them behind my heel before lacing up. It helped fill up the negative space around my heel and again improved heel lock.