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Feedback on custom skates

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11 hours ago, darkhors said:

Yeah, I figured it out right after I replied 🙂

Yes, if you can't have your skates fitted to your insoles, there are other custom insole options that will fit your skate. Fastech Labs in Troy does them and they are outstanding. They fit them to the same length and width of your skate so you know they will fit properly into the boot. The biggest downside to these are cost, but at $150 it's money well spent. Depending on how much you skate, you could get upwards of 3-4 years on one pair. Not to mention that you can get them in about 30-40 minutes start to finish. They have places all over the country that do them, but you have to contact them to see who does them in your state.

They look legit, wish they had some place in Seattle area. 

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8 minutes ago, johns25 said:

Supreme. I think mostly because of high arches. I’ve been in Vapors the last two years.

With your heel depth you don't have volume issues in Vapors?

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3 hours ago, mojo122 said:

Doubt the goal of the MyBauer custom skate program was/is to address players who only have "wonky" feet.  The majority of skaters have different sized feet and sometimes different widths.  If done correctly using retail fit stock the MyBauer program allows the customer to dial in the fit to what they want.  For example, right foot scans a 7.5 and left a 7.  But in retail skates the 7.5 is too big on the right and a 7 is too small.  Now you have the option to 7.25 on the right and can adjust the left as well. Along with getting a more precise fit lengthwise you'll also get true width sizing based of the foot scan and 3D print.  It also affords you a choice of tongues, liner, and steel.  

As for issues with the injected lacing system the times I have seen it was from a bad fit where someone who should have been in a size 7 was wearing a skate way too big (1 1/2 to 2 sizes too big).  The break most likely resulted from cranking the laces so tight to try to get their foot from feeling so loose.

Thanks mojo that info was never explained to me while trying on the skates.  The sales rep even said my left foot was slightly longer than my right and sized me according to the smaller foot.  I wonder why the rep never offered that option?  That 0.25 might make a world of difference cuz as it stands now my left foot touches the front of the toe box but my right one skims it when in the proper stance.

Would skate shops take back the brand new unused skate but sharpened blade in return to going custom?  Or am I SOL?

Edited by tcc

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1 hour ago, tcc said:

Thanks mojo that info was never explained to me while trying on the skates.  The sales rep even said my left foot was slightly longer than my right and sized me according to the smaller foot.  I wonder why the rep never offered that option?  That 0.25 might make a world of difference cuz as it stands now my left foot touches the front of the toe box but my right one skims it when in the proper stance.

Would skate shops take back the brand new unused skate but sharpened blade in return to going custom?  Or am I SOL?

Just buy a set of steel that is not sharpened and swap it. Should then be able to return the skates as new. 

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10 hours ago, Nicholas G said:

They look legit, wish they had some place in Seattle area. 

If you call them, they will give you a list of places in your area. They sell their equipment to many chiropractor and foot specialists offices so they're not really a "Shop" so to speak. If you're in Michigan, then yes, they have their own shop because that's where they started, but there are places all over the country, you just have to call them because they don't list them on the website.

Edited by darkhors

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2 hours ago, JR Boucicaut said:

I had never heard of them until you mentioned them, and to think they were less than 1/2 mi from my old store.  

I actually think I want to visit them and get fitted.

If you do, I'm sure tons of people on here would love your feedback.

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2 hours ago, darkhors said:

If you call them, they will give you a list of places in your area. They sell their equipment to many chiropractor and foot specialists offices so they're not really a "Shop" so to speak. If you're in Michigan, then yes, they have their own shop because that's where they started, but there are places all over the country, you just have to call them because they don't list them on the website.

Who do I call specifically? www.fastechlabs.net ?

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Fastech does hockey insoles? I was poking around their website and didn't see anything about hockey - is there a specific insole that they fit hockey players with? 

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1 hour ago, gdl188 said:

Fastech does hockey insoles? I was poking around their website and didn't see anything about hockey - is there a specific insole that they fit hockey players with? 

I sent them a Facebook IM today and got this response so it seems like you're not SOL if you don't live close to one of their customers...

Hi Scott, Unfortunately we do not have any providers in the Birmingham, AL area who can make skate orthotics. We can however work directly with you using a foam impression box through the mail. Please let me know if you have any interest in this option. You can email me directly at: adrianna@fastechlabs.net. Thanks and look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day!

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On 9/6/2018 at 10:20 AM, JR Boucicaut said:

I had never heard of them until you mentioned them, and to think they were less than 1/2 mi from my old store.  

I actually think I want to visit them and get fitted.

You should, they are awesome!! I went from really sore feet after playing to pretty much nothing. If I'm standing around a lot, it's a little different, but if I'm skating and standing (coaching) it's amazing what the difference is.

On 9/6/2018 at 12:30 PM, Nicholas G said:

Who do I call specifically? www.fastechlabs.net ?

Yes, just call them and talk to their office person. They'll guide you in the right direction.

 

3 hours ago, gdl188 said:

Fastech does hockey insoles? I was poking around their website and didn't see anything about hockey - is there a specific insole that they fit hockey players with? 

Yes, they don't have a hockey "specific" one, but they use their sport insole which they use for things like baseball, tennis, golf, soccer, etc. If I remember, I can take a picture of what mine look like when I get home tonight.

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Had my first skate yesterday on the 2s pros and boy are they amazing.  Super light compared to the 190 and more support.  

I almost fell when I stepped onto the ice which I attribute to either a bad or stock profile (I told the rep the specs of my previous profile and who knows if it’s correct).  I had to really lean forward to counteract the feel of being on my heals and falling backwards.  And it’s true what the reviews say to go down a hollow.  I normally get 5/8 and I nearly launched my self trying to stop cuz of so much bite.  I had to ease up a bit when stopping.  Doing tight cuts and turns was something I couldn’t do previously but now it’s no problem.  Not sure if it’s cuz of the sharp blades or the better support or both.

Due to a navicular bone on my right foot I found it starting to hurt about half way through the game and I little bit of pain on the side of my pinkie toe.  Is there a way for me address this at home rather than going back to the store?  Heat gun/hair dryer on that particular spot inside and outside of the boot using the True tissue method?

 

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Excuse me if this post is repetitive, I’m just trying to be thorough in my research. I’ve been stalking these forums for a while and I’m ready to pull the trigger on full custom skates. I’ve narrowed it down to Bauer and True. 

Bauer

Bauer seems like the “safe” choice as I’ve worn Supremes (One100/NXG/MX3) for the past 6 years. They fit relatively well despite the size difference in my feet and width of my forefoot. The main con for me is the sloppiness of the boot. I’m an official and I’m starting to do higher level games so comfort is surpassing performance as my top priority. I consider my skates comfortable, but that could just be the fact that I’ve gotten so used to them. The negative space is very noticeable and does, in my opinion, affect my performance.

True

I used the original Mako for just under a year in between my One100s and NXGs. I had to retire them because the ankle bump issue was getting out of control. I’m familiar with the close to the foot feel and I really enjoyed it. That being said, I’m not concerned about the fit, although I do fear that whoever fits me will makes a mistake/not be thorough enough.

My main concern is with the durability. I’ve seen some of the recent pictures of Trues, and they looked like they were thrown together in about 30 minutes. The excess glue in the liner and the “sloppy” look of the liner makes me weary that the interior of the skate has a short lifespan. I also worry that the skate retains more water than the big two which would seem to negatively affect the durability of the liner as well as the rivets.

If anyone with personal experience could chip in on either or both I’d greatly appreciate it. Again, apologies for the repetitive post.

 

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14 minutes ago, mojo122 said:

Not sure what your definition of "full" custom is?

The custom options currently available through True and Bauer. 3D scan, measurements, limited customization options, etc.

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Some fellow members here will say that I'm unfair to True/VH, but while I think that skate has potential I personally wouldn't buy one until they address a couple of issues.

Since you've had Bauer skates before and know how they fit your feet, seems like that's the safest route to go.  Any issues that you have had with current skates can be noted in the foot scans and the Bauer skate experts will evaluate them and figure out what if any adjustments need to be made,

I've done the Bauer 3D scan more than once and I'll share my thoughts.  Barefoot and with a slight knee bend it consistently puts me in a 7EE.  If I hit the custom skate option my right foot measures a 7.25 with width what I'll call EE+; and my left measures a 6.75 EEE+.  I prefer my skates to fit very tight, so using retail skate stock I've found that in a 6.5EE, my bigger foot isn't touching the toecap, but in a 6EE my toes hit the cap hard.  So being able to adjust the size up or done in 1/4 increments I'd probably go with 6.25 on the right and 5.75 on the left.  Normally I wouldn't go smaller than a 6 on the left, but since my scan will be 3D printed I'm pretty confident that the skate will be built wide enough to accommodate the width of my left foot.  My current skates are 6EE Supreme 1S'.

My advice would be to do the 3D scan a few times, making sure that your stance is the same each time until you're comfortable with the results.  Since how a skate fits involves some personal preference, I'd try stock skates on in the recommended size along with 1/2 size down to see how you want it to fit.  If need be you can try on smaller or bigger skates to dial in your fit preference.  Just remember a new skate out of the box will be its smallest when new and that you'll gain a little more space once baked and later on with use.

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1 hour ago, jared9356 said:

Excuse me if this post is repetitive, I’m just trying to be thorough in my research. I’ve been stalking these forums for a while and I’m ready to pull the trigger on full custom skates. I’ve narrowed it down to Bauer and True. 

Bauer

Bauer seems like the “safe” choice as I’ve worn Supremes (One100/NXG/MX3) for the past 6 years. They fit relatively well despite the size difference in my feet and width of my forefoot. The main con for me is the sloppiness of the boot. I’m an official and I’m starting to do higher level games so comfort is surpassing performance as my top priority. I consider my skates comfortable, but that could just be the fact that I’ve gotten so used to them. The negative space is very noticeable and does, in my opinion, affect my performance.

True

I used the original Mako for just under a year in between my One100s and NXGs. I had to retire them because the ankle bump issue was getting out of control. I’m familiar with the close to the foot feel and I really enjoyed it. That being said, I’m not concerned about the fit, although I do fear that whoever fits me will makes a mistake/not be thorough enough.

My main concern is with the durability. I’ve seen some of the recent pictures of Trues, and they looked like they were thrown together in about 30 minutes. The excess glue in the liner and the “sloppy” look of the liner makes me weary that the interior of the skate has a short lifespan. I also worry that the skate retains more water than the big two which would seem to negatively affect the durability of the liner as well as the rivets.

If anyone with personal experience could chip in on either or both I’d greatly appreciate it. Again, apologies for the repetitive post.

 

From little experience that I've had with my Trues and with my stock Bauer Nexus, here's my two cents:

You're observations about True are valid. Mine felt a lot wetter inside after a practice or skate than with my Bauer but I didn't notice it while wearing them. The build quality isn't nearly as refined as Bauer or CCM but I knew that going in and I think it's due to them scaling to the increased demand and the way that they build their skates. I can see there potentially being issues with the inside liner breaking down over time due to how good of a fit that I have around the heel, ankle, and calf that it's hard to get into them even after doing it how they describe it in their videos and using a shoe horn each time.

If it were me, I would go talk to Chase at PH in Plano and get his feedback on what's he seeing with customs at his store as they fit and sell both brands. He did my scan for True and I thought did a great job and was thorough. I don't know if Bauer has expanded the scanning process since they announced their custom program but my scan results were wonky, to the say the least. It looks like that Bauer is actually doing a printed 3D model of your foot to build your skate around; I think True is still a bit vague on their process but it appears that they have pre-made lasts and then tweak them to match your foot. As stated in prior posts, there wasn't enough room in my forefeet and after rebaking and other adjustments, they agreed to remake me my pair. Their customer service is excellent and it seems that they will do far more to make things right than the Big Two. They sent me a prepaid FedEx label for two day international shipping (which can't be cheap) and I've been able to email back and forth with them with feedback, sent marked pics of my feet and where I was having problems with my skates, etc. I've been told that you're SOL with your customs from Bauer and CCM if there are problems unless you know someone that can throw a big enough fit on your behalf. After seeing the wonky scan results that I got from both Bauer and CCM, I anticipated potentially having problems with my True skates but at least they're going to make things right which in the end, all that matters to me.

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36 minutes ago, CigarScott said:

 I've been told that you're SOL with your customs from Bauer and CCM if there are problems unless you know someone that can throw a big enough fit on your behalf. 

What's your source?  Totally false statement.

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On 9/8/2018 at 8:16 PM, tcc said:

Due to a navicular bone on my right foot I found it starting to hurt about half way through the game and I little bit of pain on the side of my pinkie toe.  Is there a way for me address this at home rather than going back to the store?  Heat gun/hair dryer on that particular spot inside and outside of the boot using the True tissue method?

 

 

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3 hours ago, tcc said:

 

Get a heat gun and do the tissue technique. Hear dryer will take forever to get the area hot enough to mold, especially if they're True skates with their carbon fiber. If you have Harbor Freight or something similar in Canada, I was able to get a heat gun with their coupons for like $12.

Edited by CigarScott

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On 9/9/2018 at 5:12 PM, CigarScott said:

[snip]

I've been told that you're SOL with your customs from Bauer and CCM if there are problems unless you know someone that can throw a big enough fit on your behalf. 

[snip]

 

On 9/9/2018 at 5:50 PM, mojo122 said:

What's your source?  Totally false statement.

A dad from our in-house program is a manager at a local big box store (...rhymes with hunkey jorts...) and he told me last night that, at least on the Bauer side of things, the production team doesn't seem to be prepared for the opening of the custom fit program to retail customers.  He indicated that, while the vast majority of people have been happy with the end result from Bauer, lead times have been wildly misquoted and frequently delayed and those that have had issues have had a hell of a time getting them sorted out.  

(He didn't have much to say about CCM - apparently they've had WAY more Bauer and True custom orders than CCM....)

Anyway.  Obviously, anecdotal evidence from ONE person at ONE store...and it's certain that any issues experienced by ANY equipment manufacturer at this time of year are, in no small part, due to the fact that the season is just ramping up and the pro, NCAA, AND junior teams are all scrambling to get their equipment sorted out.  However, I'd wager there's at least a nugget of truth to what CigarScott said about Bauer and CCM....

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