Help with Brand new true 9x4 8.5wide

[DmAc0250 0]

Hey guys I’m new to the forum and glad to be here. Been playing hockey for years but finally had to get new skates. I’m coming from my amazing Easton makos and can’t find any skate that has the same fit. My Bauer scan said if I did customs I would need a left 8.5 and a right 7.75 fit 3 so that’s how messed up my feet are. So I figured I would try some trues. They felt pretty good in the store yesterday then tried them on again last night and I have a  hot spot on the inside of my foot right where my first knuckle of my big toe is. I baked them but idk if my oven got hot enough. I did the preheat to 180 and shut it off and put them in for 8 min but it did t seem like it was hot enough because they definitely weren’t as hot as they were in the store. So idk if I should try the “tape or paper trick” or what. I got them in Canada because I had to go look at a work apartment so that was a 5 hour ride. The closest hockey store is pure hockey which is 30 min away. So I don’t really know what to do. I’m going to try skating in them tomorrow but idk how much breaking in they will do. 

[Buzz_LightBeer 974]

Someone familiar with heating and a boot stretcher should be able to help you. Even if there is a small fee it’s well worth it. 

[VegasHockey 1284]

Pure Hockey is not really specialized to address most fit issues. Where do you live? 

[tibnyi01 10]

Just for some reference although you've already got the True's but I went custom pro's on my Hyperlite 2's. Fit 3. 8.5 left foot with no arch, 7.5 on the right with high arch. Pretty good bunion on my left also and my skates feel amazing. I believe a good shop will be able to work those out for you but just giving some info on what customs can do even with frankenfeet like mine lol. Good luck!

[iceman8310 106]

On 3/7/2025 at 3:41 PM, DmAc0250 said:

Hey guys I’m new to the forum and glad to be here. Been playing hockey for years but finally had to get new skates. I’m coming from my amazing Easton makos and can’t find any skate that has the same fit. My Bauer scan said if I did customs I would need a left 8.5 and a right 7.75 fit 3 so that’s how messed up my feet are. So I figured I would try some trues. They felt pretty good in the store yesterday then tried them on again last night and I have a  hot spot on the inside of my foot right where my first knuckle of my big toe is. I baked them but idk if my oven got hot enough. I did the preheat to 180 and shut it off and put them in for 8 min but it did t seem like it was hot enough because they definitely weren’t as hot as they were in the store. So idk if I should try the “tape or paper trick” or what. I got them in Canada because I had to go look at a work apartment so that was a 5 hour ride. The closest hockey store is pure hockey which is 30 min away. So I don’t really know what to do. I’m going to try skating in them tomorrow but idk how much breaking in they will do. 

a size 8 would've been better.  Your right foot is moving from the length being too long.  can you return them?  try a 8W or a 8 regular.  

Some say go with the bigger foot, some say go with the smaller foot.  Personally, I try to go with the smaller foot.  You can make a skate slightly bigger, but you can't make a skate smaller.  

Edited March 10 by iceman8310

[DmAc0250 0]

7 hours ago, iceman8310 said:

a size 8 would've been better.  Your right foot is moving from the length being too long.  can you return them?  try a 8W or a 8 regular.  

Some say go with the bigger foot, some say go with the smaller foot.  Personally, I try to go with the smaller foot.  You can make a skate slightly bigger, but you can't make a skate smaller.  

I actually took and baked them again and the side of the foot is better. Thing is I get a pinch right at the ankle because I can’t get the tongue flex like I’m used to. I have been trying to tie it different to see if I can get rid of it. I mean I can get a new tongues  but at that point might as well get custom skates because they are only $100-150 more then the 9x4’s. Think the only difference between the customs and the 9x4 is the weight. I know I weighed the makos and the 9x4 and the 9x4 is 100g more then the makos. So I can’t imagine how much the customs weigh

[Sniper9 537]

1 hour ago, DmAc0250 said:

I actually took and baked them again and the side of the foot is better. Thing is I get a pinch right at the ankle because I can’t get the tongue flex like I’m used to. I have been trying to tie it different to see if I can get rid of it. I mean I can get a new tongues  but at that point might as well get custom skates because they are only $100-150 more then the 9x4’s. Think the only difference between the customs and the 9x4 is the weight. I know I weighed the makos and the 9x4 and the 9x4 is 100g more then the makos. So I can’t imagine how much the customs weigh

Try dropping the top eyelet. When I wore trues I had to drop the top eyelet to get proper flexion. 

With true skates instead of rebaking the whole skate it's best to just use a heat gun and spot heat the problem area. 

[DmAc0250 0]

7 hours ago, Sniper9 said:

Try dropping the top eyelet. When I wore trues I had to drop the top eyelet to get proper flexion. 

With true skates instead of rebaking the whole skate it's best to just use a heat gun and spot heat the problem area. 

I actually tried that too. I even went 2 eyelets down. I just feel the 9x4 tongue is really stiff because of the guard on the front. I’m used to the felt tongues on the makos. But by the time I buy a new tongue it’s almost the same money as customs. 

[Sniper9 537]

5 hours ago, DmAc0250 said:

I actually tried that too. I even went 2 eyelets down. I just feel the 9x4 tongue is really stiff because of the guard on the front. I’m used to the felt tongues on the makos. But by the time I buy a new tongue it’s almost the same money as customs. 

Well the thing about customs is that right now you still don't know what tongue works for you. Potentially none would and then you're out of money on customs. At least with these, the worst case is you spend money one or two sets of tongues and it doesn't work out and you return the skates because true has their fit guarantee. Obviously the first tongue to try would be their traditional felt tongue or their molded tongue that has no t guard. You can always look on marketplace or sideline for them. Or, pure hockey or another shop near you may have tongues in stock to try. I know my LHS do have them in stock and allow you to try them with your skates. 

[DmAc0250 0]

3 hours ago, Sniper9 said:

Well the thing about customs is that right now you still don't know what tongue works for you. Potentially none would and then you're out of money on customs. At least with these, the worst case is you spend money one or two sets of tongues and it doesn't work out and you return the skates because true has their fit guarantee. Obviously the first tongue to try would be their traditional felt tongue or their molded tongue that has no t guard. You can always look on marketplace or sideline for them. Or, pure hockey or another shop near you may have tongues in stock to try. I know my LHS do have them in stock and allow you to try them with your skates. 

 

3 hours ago, Sniper9 said:

Well the thing about customs is that right now you still don't know what tongue works for you. Potentially none would and then you're out of money on customs. At least with these, the worst case is you spend money one or two sets of tongues and it doesn't work out and you return the skates because true has their fit guarantee. Obviously the first tongue to try would be their traditional felt tongue or their molded tongue that has no t guard. You can always look on marketplace or sideline for them. Or, pure hockey or another shop near you may have tongues in stock to try. I know my LHS do have them in stock and allow you to try them with your skates. 

I mean only thing with customs is at least I know the foot fit would be good. Like I said 1 foot is a 8.5 and the right is a 7.75. But I was thinking of bringing them back to the place I got them to see if they had tongues for me to try. 

[Sniper9 537]

38 minutes ago, DmAc0250 said:

 

I mean only thing with customs is at least I know the foot fit would be good. Like I said 1 foot is a 8.5 and the right is a 7.75. But I was thinking of bringing them back to the place I got them to see if they had tongues for me to try. 

Then get customs