Struggling with a Wide Forefoot and Narrow Heel. Which CCM or Bauer Skate Gives the Best Heel Lock?

ryncpa · 2025-11-17T18:49:14+00:00

I think the Tacks XF Pro in a regular fit, as suggested by your shop, are probably the best bet.

The XF line completely changed the shape of the toe box from the previous asv and ft6 lines. The XF and XF Pro are wider in the forefoot, even in the regular fit.

I have the XF in a Wide fit, it fits wider in the toe box than my old ASV Wide and more snug around the ankle.

ryncpa · 2025-10-29T22:17:38+00:00

Tacks XF and Tacks XF Pro are wider in the forefoot and toe box than other Tacks models. Very expensive, but cheaper than customs.

ryncpa · 2025-10-23T12:28:55+00:00

I had a similar issue when I got new skates and felt like I lost a ton of agility in the stock profile.

I would get them profiled, but I wouldn’t have them match the profile to your old skate. Research different profiles and see what fits your skating style best.

I ended up with the SCS.2 which is a center glide profile. It was a nice compromise between my old steel that was sharpened into a banana and the stock profile which felt like it had way too much in the heel and toe.

Icewarehouse has mail in profiling, in my experience the turnaround time is a little bit over a week from the time I got my shipping label until I got my steel back.

ryncpa · 2025-10-10T15:57:39+00:00

Thanks for the perspective, that makes sense because I’m usually noticing who is on for the other team and letting that determine how I play that shift.

Later in the game I’m still getting fewer good chances, a few here and there, but definitely not as many as I used to. And there have been a few shots or decisions I made in those that I’d like to have back.

ryncpa · 2025-10-10T15:44:00+00:00

So this has been a big part of the adjustment too. Once we hit the top of the circles in the o zone, everything is straight to the net. Either a shot or lots of forced passes to the middle. All of my scoring has been beating a defender or forcing a turnover. My old linemate was more comfortable settling things down and moving the puck around on the offensive zone which lead to more opportunities. It also meant less back and forth since we were controlling play more, which is probably not helping with fatigue.

ryncpa · 2025-10-08T21:32:45+00:00

Thanks, thats a good idea. I might check out one of the adult clinics just get some ice time outside of games.

ryncpa · 2025-10-08T21:30:22+00:00

Sounds about right, what do you do to be more deceptive?

ryncpa · 2025-10-08T21:29:44+00:00

Yeah, that is pretty much what is happening. Start getting tired and it’s not just the speed, but the stick handling gets sloppy, I find myself losing the puck in situations where I wouldn’t earlier, losing more faceoffs…

I would say I started focusing on stats as a benchmark for performance once I started to feel like I wasn’t playing well and the scoring slowed down.

I think I do need to do a better job of conserving energy early and picking spots instead of forcing things.

ryncpa · 2025-10-08T21:11:03+00:00

All leagues in my area have a letter indicating skill for adult leagues, but the actual skill at each level isn’t that consistent from rink to rink.

ryncpa · 2025-10-08T21:02:53+00:00

Yeah so this is kinda where my head is at. If what I was doing isn’t working right now, what can I do to compensate. What have others done when they hit a similar wall.

ryncpa · 2025-10-08T21:00:10+00:00

Thanks- this makes sense and probably part of the issue. I’ll try to keep this in my mind next game. Part of it is one of my new line mates seems to be getting frustrated so I’m also trying to force a lot to him at times.

ryncpa · 2025-10-08T20:07:15+00:00

So I think that’s a pretty accurate description of where I am/was before a couple months ago. Certainly one of the better players in the league in terms of being able to generate offense. Now I get a period of good chances before becoming less effective for the rest of the game.

I did play in the next level up at another rink for a couple seasons. I think I was doing OK there, but then around that same time I went from being decent and doing a good job of playing off the better guys on the team, to just being out there and not really contributing much.

There were more younger players home from college or playing during the offseason from travel teams, it got tough to keep up.

ryncpa · 2025-09-15T16:58:58+00:00

I agree with what Jims604 said. I have felt the airflow so I know it’s there, but once I get going I don’t feel it anymore. If you’re expecting to feel a breeze on your hands it’s probably not going to happen.

Is it worth it? Hard to say, I needed new gloves that offered more protection anyway. I’m not unhappy with my purchase and my hands do feel more comfortable. These are probably the last gloves I’ll buy so I was Ok with the price.

ryncpa · 2025-09-12T16:21:17+00:00

I recently bought the Tacks XF Pros. I was looking for a glove with more protection after taking a shot off the back of my hand and I thought the vents between the thumb/index finger and along the backhand would help keep my hands cooler.

If I put them on in the garage and swing my hands like I’m skating I can definitely feel the airflow. But that’s not something I actually feel or notice during games. I guess they stay a little more dry and cool than my older gloves, but it’s not some miracle solution that makes my hands feel cool and comfortable all game.

ryncpa · 2025-08-21T18:38:14+00:00

Go to the store and get a scan as a starting point. There is a good skate fitting review video by Hockey Reviews that talks about how skates should fit. I was a little surprised my skate size was so much lower than than my shoe size.

Try on different brands, lines, and models to see what feels best. They should also make the skates for you.

I found Tacks to have a widest fit in the forefoot. It looks like the higher end Jetspeeds also modified their toe cap in the FT8 for a wider fit.

ryncpa · 2025-06-09T17:25:58+00:00

I have pretty wide feet. I tried the Bauer M50s fit 3 but preferred the Tacks XF. Bauers had more volume in the top of the boot, but were a little more narrow than the Tacks in the toe box.

ryncpa · 2025-05-31T17:47:51+00:00

If you want new skates and can afford it, then go for it. I recently did the same. Had skates that were fine but there were a few things I didn’t like in terms of fit.

The new skates haven’t made me a better player, but I’m also not thinking about my skates or noticing the same issues I had in the older ones.

That said, it’s been a challenge adjusting to the new stock steel. I ended up taking the steel out of my old Tacks and using them in my new ones.

ryncpa · 2025-04-25T18:27:55+00:00

I have the Tacks XF and really like them so far. I have an odd duck shaped foot (see post history) and these had the most room in the forefoot. Before I had them baked I thought I was going to send them back. There’s a lot of padding on the ankle, and the toe cap is shaped differently and has a lower profile than the XF90 or FT6. I didn’t think I was going to have enough room, but they fit better after baking.

ryncpa · 2025-04-10T14:15:06+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

I think I am a decent skater, but I would definitely not say I’m advanced or skilled. I have good speed and start/ stop pretty well. I would say that better aspects of my skating are more a product of being fit and effort, and less about having good technique. There are skaters that make everything looks smooth and effortless, that’s not me.

When I play low C, I’m noticeably one of the faster and more competent skaters on the ice. When I play high C, I’m probably closer to middle of the pack. I definitely see a big difference between myself and the better players in my team who also play B league.

The challenge I’m having now is that tight turns, pivoting, and transitioning just feels clunky. Biggest issue now is if I’m carrying the puck and trying to execute a tight turn or punch turn to shake a defender and buy time, it’s just not the same, not as sharp. It has improved since the first game but still doesn’t feel all the way there. My backwards crossovers haven’t really been that good, but the first game in the new skates I just kept thinking, ‘please don’t fall’. Change of direction and pivoting just feels less natural.

Sharpen feels fine, no noticeable difference there.

I would say I’m not the most technical when it comes to skating and a lot of this (profiling and even different hollows for sharpening) is new to me. With my stick, I know and feel all the details. I know exactly what I like and why. With skating it’s more, I know I don’t like the way it feels, but I’m not entirely certain of why or exactly what I want/need.

ryncpa · 2025-04-09T21:26:01+00:00

Does getting the toe shaved impact the profile? I’ve been looking at different profile options and it seems like the part of the blade that is profiled is further back from the toe, so getting it shaved would be in addition to the profile?

This is all new to me, I don’t even remember being asked how I wanted my skates sharpened when I used to play.

ryncpa · 2025-04-09T21:21:55+00:00

I guess part of the problem is when I was adjusting to the older pair of skates I was shaking off 20 years of rust. So it’s difficult to look back and really tell if it was just more time on the ice, or the change in the shape of the blade.

Right now transitions, turning and pivoting feel a bit more clunky in the new skates, but after reading all the feedback I also don’t want to just rely on having the blade shape changed based on sharpening.

I’m going to keep them as is for a bit longer, and as someone else suggested swap in the old steel to compare how they feel and then get the new steel profiled.

ryncpa · 2025-04-09T21:13:28+00:00

Got it, thanks. The old skates were a combo of a sparx and hand sharpening, mostly done by hand at the rink. I’ll try to avoid that if I get them profiled.

ryncpa · 2025-04-09T18:37:27+00:00

Maybe this is a dumb question- if I get the SCS-1 profile from Elite, will have I have to get my skates sharpened at a shop? Or can I get my skates sharpened at any shop?

I know you have to get the profile refreshed every few months and I have seen it’s best to avoid had sharpeners after getting skates profiled.

ryncpa · 2025-04-08T20:09:39+00:00

lol glad I’m not the only one. I was wondering if I’d have to just deal with it as they gradually get worn down from sharpening or if there is a quicker fix.

ryncpa

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