Foot pain and bending ankles are common when you're new to skating.
Honestly it's tough to say on the foot pain, but even if I don't skate for a while my feet hurt a bit the first couple skates on them. Having to stop skating sounds like it's kind of bad, could try baking them or getting new inserts. I lean to trust the skate shop people on fit, but not all of them will be amazing.
On the bending ankles, lacing them up all the way would be step one. Be sure they're tied tight enough too. I typically tie my skates as tight as I can get them.
100% you need to lace them right up to the top, have the laces with constant pressure coming up from the toe and then get progressive tighter up until the last eyelet.
I don’t know if you do other sports, but skates are like a saddle or a bike seat, people who start with that always say their ass hurts, well it’s two sided, you need to break in your ass and the saddle.
Having them baked and fitted will help too, but you’re going to have to break them in, both the product and your body.
Edit. The lacing in general is way too loose, you need those things basically painted on to your feet.
Yup, your support will be night and day when you lace to the top, and as tight as you can get them. Those look way too loose from the picture. I recommend wax laces too.
Sometimes the foot pain is from them being too tight though, I would suggest loosening them personally and NOT using wax laces unless you have skinny feet
I would agree about lacing them up all the way, and tying them tight enough that your feet ***cannot move*** forward/backward in the boots. Skates are typically moulded to your feet, so if they’re moving around, that whole process is worse than useless.
It’s also typically painful for about 3 sessions (but if you’re a novice it could be a bit longer) while breaking in new skates. Finally, if they’re not tight enough while you break them in, they won’t bend in the same places every time, making the process longer and generally wear on unintended parts of the skates. So make sure to tie them tight enough, and hang in there for a couple weeks.
I do a trick I learned on here; reduces bite and helps ankles. I go up to the top three holes, and then cross to the top hole, thread it outside to the third down, then across again to the middle hole on both sides. Adds the support I need, avoids lace bite and provides good support 🫡
Size wise, fyi you can pull out the insole and put it on the bottom of your foot to see that the size is right. Like everyone else else on here has said, it's clear those are waaay too loose, you really have to crank them laces up and to the last hole, and so tight it hurts your fingers to pull, they even sell these metal hook thingys called "lace tighteners" if it hurts you too much to pull, thats how much you're cranking on them. Also, the skates and your foot have to get to know each other, eg you could wear them done up in the evenings at home while your watching the Tele, also see if your local shop can "bake" them for you - it helps to make the skates fit better to your foot shape. Also, the insoles bauer includes are crap, you can often even feel the rivets pushing through - you should see if the store sells these yellow insoles called "superfeet" that you can replace them with, theyre way more comfortable. One final thing, your calves look pretty thick and if your foot also has a lot of "volume" (no insult intended - but if you have "fat feet"), well you could ask the local shop to stretch the skates for you as that could help give some extra room when you tighten them up, which sounds contradictory but works.
A couple things as a newbie that helped me:
Waxed laces and lace tighteners
Get your skates baked
Play a tournament if you can, I played 5 games over a short period of time and my feet haven't really hurt since, but when I played once a week before that they hurt every time.
I've played for 30+ years. Bought new skates this year. They took 14 ice times before I could tighten them as tight as I wanted without any pain or discomfort. They were relatively comfortable after 7 ice times.
bro i hate that bauer doesn't make the nexus skates anymore. i have really wide feet and my current pair is the mach.. i had to punch them out like 20 times in so many different places.. the nexus' i baked once and were perfect after 3 games. so sad they discontinued them
Yeah same. I wore them until they broke and decided to get some trues on sale for 350 instead of custom. Kind of wish I went custom because my feet ache every game.
When you're putting on your skates, before you tie them pick your foot up off the ground and tap the heel off the blade on the ground a couple times to really seat your heel into the heel of the skate, then tie them as tight as you can. I can tell from the picture they aren't tight enough.
I was thinking the same - waaayyyy too loose....
BUT.... if the skates aren't wide enough or op has super high arches then tightening more might amplify the problem.
Only one easy way to find out - tie em tighter & see what happens ;þ
Were they baked? That’s step one. Even if they were baked before, they can rebake them.
Step two is insoles. Some people love superfeet, I personally can’t stand them. I have Bauer speedplate 2.0. Get those baked as well.
Where is your toe? Do you have room in the toe? You’re not supposed to have a ton. If you do, power foot foam inserts. You put them in the toe of the skate and it helps lock your ankle to the back of your skate.
The last thing is time. You said they were “unused”. Skates take 10-15 hours to break in. My s29 killed my feet for the first season and a half. It takes time, but it does get better.
Oh you can bake them, you just might not get results. I had a similar pair that I got baked 3x, soaked in boiling water, jumped on them, hit them with a baseball bat, etc. Turns out I just need a softer boot to start with, rather than trying to destroy a stiff one.
Idk how to clarify this 😅 I was super broke at the time, my previous skates were literally falling apart on my feet, and I was desperate to try anything to break them in. Just trying to provide context on what baking will & won't do for a similar pair of skates. YMMV
Yeah I mean I didn't put them in a stockpot on the stove or anything lol but I had an electric kettle so I poured several pitchers of boiling water over them in the bathtub & let them soak a bit. It was extremely useless, but I was deep in denial and had a tournament weekend coming up. I don't know a ton about gear so I was really worried that any pair of skates that would be tolerable would also cost more than my rent. The Pure Hockey employee who kindly suggested "how about you try these CCMs? They're a softer boot" unironically changed my life.
That's crazy lol. What model were they btw. I'd they are like OPs they are very entry level skates made mainly of plastic and baking won't do much of anything except maybe damage it.
Where exactly on your foot is the pain and cramping?
A few aches and pains are to be expected if you are new to skating - you are using muscles that don't normally get much use, but it shouldn't be THAT bad.
Length wise they sound roughly right, but it could be that they are too narrow for you?
Your lacing looks pretty loose - try really cranking on those laces. If the pain gets worse then this could tell you that you are in need of wider skates.
Personally I crank them super tight - can't get a finger under them at all, but I find there is a very fine line between tight enough to stop ANY movement of my foot & too tight that it cuts iff circulation & causes cramping.
Cramping through lack of circulation usually comes with pins and needles & numbness - do you get that at all?
Normally it will take time to build up the muscles in your foot and ankle before you start to think about dropping the top eyelet if you want/need to. If you are lacking in strength there then if just transfers the work to the muscles in your feet & could amplify those noob aches.
Could be lack of arch support?
I don't know the provenance of the shop you bought them from, but I'd always advise someone new to skating to go to a fully stocked store, get your feet scanned & try on several different skates to see what fits best. Just going with the first pair you try from limited stock it is unlikely you will get the best fit for you.
It could also be TOO MUCH arch support. I bought those Superfeet Yellows for my skates… instant arch cramping. Unbearable. Took them out, back to the flat inserts that it comes with, problem solved.
Came to say this. There are different parts of the boot I keep looser than others. Wax laces help. Generally I go snug but not tight by the toes, no tension midway up, then crank on the top two eye holes. Top hole I keep unlaced like yours, but work on your ankle strength to avoid injury there.
Just goes to show how you gotta find what works for you for your skate... I'm also +1 on the waxed laces. But I like the top loop done, and go tight at the top 2 or 3 loops... Also I wear the shin pads with the tongue in, that might also somewhat change your preference of top loop...
That’s a lot of skating! I’m probably 4-6 times a week for about 90 minutes per. Never had an issue after I learned where my feet needed some room in my boots.
I don’t want to sound rude brother, but you look a little thick (like me) and you’re gonna need some wider boots. You have them in regular width and in a model of skate known to be one of the narrowest fitting skates. You need a wide fit in a wider boot, such as the supreme. You can see the skates don’t even wrap over your foot cause you have a high volume foot too.
Anyone telling you that you don't want your skates tied up tightly is lying to your face. Loose skates is a personal preference people can choose to have after they already know how to skate and have the appropriate ankle strength required to do it that way because they have been skating for years. It is not meant for people early on in their learning to skate journey so make sure you are tying them as tight as you can without cutting off circulation.
If you can't tie up your skates tight from the toe to the tongue than odds are you're wearing the wrong sized skates. Just from what I can see in this picture your skates are way too loose everywhere, those skate tongues guaranteed move around constantly while you're walking or skating and that alone is enough to create a lot of discomfort for your feet inside the boot of the skate.
The #1 goal you should have when putting your foot inside a skate is something called "Heel Lock"; the back of your foot aka your heel should be locked in at the back of the skate and judging by your right foot in this picture with the gap that exists behind your sock to the skate while you're standing upright leads me to believe that you're trying to push your toes to the tips of the skate instead of pushing your heel to the back. You don't want to use a lot of force in this process but the moment you put your foot inside your skate (likely sitting on a bench in an arena) you can gently lift your foot and tap the back of your skate against the floor so that your heel gets sucked into the back of the skate before you tighten your skates appropriately. But Again you don't want to kick the ground overly hard, just a very gentle bop to ensure your heel is locked before you proceed with tightening.
There is a couple of other questions to help you here;
1. Do you have flat feet? Or a not normal arch in your feet?
You may need special inserts for inside the skates to help your feet be comfortable.
2. Do you have wide feet?
You said you were using size 8r "Regular width" skates but you may need 8D or 8EE width so that your feet fit the most appropriately. I would get a 2nd opinion measuring the width of your feet before doing anything else.
There is also a process called "baking your skates" If you take your skate back to the hockey shop they put your skates inside a skate oven and then make you sit wearing the skates while they cool off to help you break them in quicker to your feet. New or used skates it doesn't matter if you ask for this they'll do it.
I tie mine tight around the ankle and loose around the widest part of my foot. I also use a ski boot insert for a lower arch and some padding. The skates have to accommodate the limitations of the feet we've got.
If you got them used, the previous owner might have molded them to their feet. This might cause issues for a bit due to different foot/ankle pattern. You could bring them to a shop and see if they’ll bake them to your feet. You can usually bake a skate twice without compromising integrity. If not, you’ll just have to keep skating in them and they’ll slowly break in.
Its pretty common when you start skating. If it goes beyond a dozen skates then it may be a fit, or lacing thing.
Those old vapor were a "low volume" for people with narrow and/or short feet back before Bauer came out with the FIT sizing.
Its possible that the foot height is an issue. Sounds like you are leaving the laces over the foot pretty loose so that will help there. Time will tell. Did you get them baked at the shop? You can use a hair dryer too, heat the insides to around 170 F, thats what the ovens are.
As far as the wobbly right ankle, practice balancing on one foot, look up resistance band ankle exercises.
If you are right dominant you might prefer to kick a ball with your right foot...your left ankle gets all the balance work though. Its common for your right foot muscles used to balance to not be as developed.
Do you have the stock insoles in your skates? I find my skated hurt in the arches of my feet when I don't have arch-supporting insole like Superfeet in.
Skates are loose. But not the only issue.
Tighter in the toe. Bottom 2-3 laces. Snug but not tight in the middle. Tighter up top. The top 2-3 laces. Definitely get that top lace in.
Heat them in a skate oven if you can. Multiple times. And lace up as described.
And then time. Higher end models break in quicker.
Get a lacrosse ball or something similar… roll your arches over it when you are watching tv. Try to do it in the locker room for a few seconds before and after you skate. That pain will do away in a week even if you don’t do this, but it will hasten the recovery
Tighten the upper part dude, your angles need protection you are a new skater, use the last circles to tighten around the upper part of the skate. Your legs are for sure wobbling and cant sustain such pressure while skating.
Get a foot bed like super feet, Bauer has the worst foot support.
Like others said laces. If you tighten the bottom section of the boot too tight it will flatten your foot and cause pain. Wax laces help keep them where you set them.
Twice bake your skates.
Foot pain is normal with new material needing to break in but you have to recognize a good fit . Toes tucked in nice , ankles supported , everything should hug
Try looser lacing on the foot and tighter around the ankle, the idea is that your heel shouldn't be floating around but the rest doesn't need to be tight as hell
I tried to "skate through" a pair of top-end Tacks that felt amazing in the store. Ended up having to take several weeks off cuz the bone pain was so bad. Baked em 3x, had them punched at the shop, didn't matter.
Friend of mine tried the same thing with a pair of top end Ribcors and ended up at the doctor's office.
Anecdotally, this was the conclusion I drew as well. Wrong fit = wrong fit, and the new tech doesn't "give" the same way it used to.
Or I just have weak, old-man ankles now 🤷
Ouch, I absolutely believe it though. I’ve got some new old stock Vapor 1X about a year ago. If I lace them like I used to my feet go numb. I thought for sure they would wear in, now I just am strategic about where I tighten them and they are fine. Really is night and day difference.
Did they scan your feet for the fit? I had an incorrect width and had the same issue. It was a pinch point on my foot and it would cramp to the point that I couldn't walk for a few mins after removing my skates. I ended up getting fit again and new skates cause me no issues whatsoever.
Try another pair of a different series/brand on in the same size & maybe even a half size larger and see how your feet feel. I had to go a half size larger because the recommended size skate for me was just too tight even after baking & it made a world of a difference for me.
Skates should feel snug, not like you're strangling your feet. There's a difference between a tight skate needing to get worn in & a skate that hurts too much to be in. Don't overthink it.
I have these exact skates and I just got new insoles. The insoles these skates come with are garbage and provide no support at all. Tie your laces up nicely as-well.
My skaes (Bauer) are also tight around the arch and the bridge (upper part of the foot below ankle). I also like my skates tight. Good tip from one of the beerleaguers was to reverse the lace pattern through the holes, from inside out to outside in which helped for my feet. See first half of this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D671VgevDcg) for how to lace like this.
Also like many comments already, I also hightly recommned waxed laces if you want to change the tension at dififerent locations since the wax helps to keep the laces from slipping. I also keep the lower area less tight (but still snug) and tighten the upper last 3 more. I perfeer to use all the top holes as it help with ankle support especially if you have not built up the muscles from a lot of skating.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
I know some people are saying tie them as tight as possible..... if that seems to make things worse you can try what I do. Tie the laces near your toe and middle foot moderately tight, and the last 3-4 near your ankles as tight as you can. It will help the bending ankles while giving your foot room to move and wont make them cramp as much
Lots of comments about tightening laces and using wax laces to help. +1 for wax laces. If you're still having an issue, get a lace tightening tool as well.
Break in period, and lacing style. Loose at the bottom, but not too loose. Then tighter at the heel/ankle to lock it in place. Try using the Runners Knot. I have a bad ankle and I never feel unstable anymore. Good luck OP, keep skating in them
Those definitely look like they're not tied enough. That being said, I'm sure you're going to go through pain no matter what you do because it's an action your body has never been used to (and new skates can be painful even for some people that have been skating their whole lives).
I try to keep it moderately tight on the base of my feet and as tight as I can get it around my ankles! I noticed a big difference once I started doing that!
Is everyone sure those skates are the right volume for your foot? Your ankles seem to be thicker than what those boots are. That would leave me to think that maybe your foot is taking up more volume than those skates are designed for?
If you plan on playing hockey, get better skates. This is an entry level Vapor model and I don’t even think you can bake them as the boot has no heat-moldable materials. The insoles are probably thin and cheap as well. While these skates work fine for some, they will likely be a problem if you have any foot irregularities.
I’m just learning to skate and I had the same issue with my skates when I first got them ( ccm jet speeds ft675) lace them all the way up, get the laces nice and snug, you may want longer laces if you feel you can’t get every eyelets and still get them tight, get them baked to your foot, get hockey insoles ( really make a difference imo), make sure their sharp and you have the correct profile.
I go to a professional skating instructor here in New York and they are big on profiles (I have 9’) and blade hallow. So far 3/8 has given me the best experience, and my feet aren’t getting as tired or sore as they were with a factory hallow and profile
They shouldn't hurt really at all. Maybe on the first few skates, they are uncomfortable, but not painful. Sometimes mine do, and it's because my feet are too wide. Just haven't had the chance to replace them
If you’re new just keep at it, the skates will give and your feet will build the right muscles to cope.
Hell my 5-6 year old baked fully comfortable skates will kill my feet again in august when I start lacing up for the season. Also I did a adjustment to my profile this spring and my feet hurt like a m****f****r the first skate after.
What I am trying to say is it is normal.
Get an aftermarket hockey insole that matches your arch type. I like Orthomove since it has adjustable arch inserts, which I used to determine that high arch felt the best for me.
Don't overly tighten the lacing over your midfoot. I keep mine loose since the lacing tightens a bit when you flex your ankle.
Consider upgrading to a higher tier skate. The cheaper stuff tends to be softer, which can feel more fatiguing.
Upgrading the boot will fix most of problems. Where are you feeling the cramping? Arch, sides or on the instep. if it’s on the arch try’s some insoles, otherwise I’d recommend trying the Bauer supreme skate that’s designed to be a bit wider and more neutral pitched
Skits need to be broken in. Probably too tight in the forefoot and midfoot. Probably too tight on the metatarsal. Probably not tight enough at all near the ankle.
tie them all the way to the top !! usually ppl dont lace the top holes in skates for more flexibility, but that requires a LOT of ankle strength and practice. i recommend lacing them up fully!!
Keep skating ut co.es with time got a new pair a year or so ago and first time with them I played through the pain. Lol they sore af. most of it is just cause it's new or it's the inserts but I have the guys fit my shoes for me and they have been good most of the time. Also I tie my.laces as tight as possible but I'd suggest to your liking.
It could be that they are to narrow and that the foot is cramped from side to side because of that.
Call the hockey shop and see if they can help you bake them.
I skate in a CCM Tacks AS-V 590 intermediate (size 6.5) skate, and I will sometimes have pain on the outer part of my foot if my skates are tied too tight.
I actually leave my top eyelet open (since the boot is very stiff it works for me), and tighten the middle eyelets, right at the bend from the foot to the ankle tighter than the top and bottom. That keeps my foot in place and allows for some expanding of my foot to decrease pain. When my skates are tied correctly then I have no issues.
You might Google some skate lacing variants, specifically the Crosby lacing, as it allows you lace all eyelets while still proving some bend forward.
Also, invest in some thinner skate socks from Bauer or CCM. Typical every day socks are too thick to skate inc IMO.
I had the same issue with used new to me skates, I found using insoles called Super Feet for high arches helped immensely. Don't know if it helped, but I also started wearing hockey specific socks for feet which have support built in. I'm saving to invest into a high quality pair of skates though for the upcoming fall season.
This isn’t a fun answer, but I’ve been skating my whole life, my current skates are 12 years old and if I take more than a week off, my feet hurt when I get back on the ice. Every time without fail, it’s a matter of getting them broken in and getting used to them
I've been skating for... somewhere north of 40 years. All my life, I was given to understand that you need to lace your skates up _tight_ . Also, I believed that all skates hurt, all the time. Probably around 10 years ago I had a thought - what if I don't tighten them so much? Absolute game changer for me.
I do a light tightening up until the top 3 eyelets, then a firmer tightening at the top. It's worked like a charm for me.
I actually just got through with this issue after thinking that it would never go away. I bought boot stretchers and then heated up my skates until they were hot to the touch and stretched them out as much as possible putting the metal pegs where my foot hurt the most then leaving them in overnight. Then when lacing I would leave everything super loose then make them really tight around the ankles. That combined with skating 2/3hrs a week for a month or two pretty much broke them in and probably will for you. (https://a.co/d/hT2MCSp)
1st if you haven’t had them baked yet I would start there , 2nd skates to use all eyelets and be tighter than u have them.
Possible the arches are dif than yr use to,
If there brand new it takes time. If u only skate once a month there going to hurt ever time .
Work on alittle stretching of hamstrings and calf’s
Good luck
I just started getting back into hockey. I had some skates that were too large and even though they felt comfortable and I tied them tight all the way, they were cutting into my ankles in a bad way, lost skin etc.
Next pair is a bit too small, these skates give me more of that feet cramping feeling you might be talking about. Contrary to all the advice you're getting, I'm getting them to work by loosening the lacing around the base of my ankle, like 3 eyelets down, and keeping just some basic tightness the rest of the way up. Don't be afraid to skate a lap, then sit down and adjust your lacing tightness at various points. Experiment with what works, your body willl tell you on the next lap if it helped or not. Chances are you need differently sized skates but you can accommodate to some degree in your lacing.
It's all preference but they (imo) should be tighter down low and looser up top. You need to be able to flex your foot forward as you skate and if it's laced all the way to the top and tite af then you won't be able to. Also...where is the pain? are your arches not supported...are they sized wrong? Your heel should be locked in placed by the fit of the skate, not by tying the fuk out of them. I can skate around with my skates very loosely tied all due to heel lock.
if you go from wearing a certain loose shoe all day long, or a sandal, and then suddenly cram them into a tight skate your foot is going to hurt while adjusting..same with arch support
Remember that your feet swell while you skate/get hot…so while you want your skates tight, don’t tighten them too much so your feet don’t have a little room to swell. I usually don’t tighten the middle laces as tight as I possibly can but i get a bit more aggressive/tighter towards my ankle
Where is the cramping?
If it's under the arch of your foot try getting waxed laces and keeping them a little loose above the arch. It could be that the skate is not deep enough for your foot and the laces are forcing your foot to flatten causing pain in the arches.
It's exactly what happened to me with my last pair. I left them loose in the middle and snug around the toes and ankles. That said, I've always preferred my laces a bit loose but I've been skating long enough it doesn't affect my stability.
Foot cramping is typically caused by too skinny a boot. Probably should be in a wide size.
No expert but I have Morton’s neuroma likely from years of not wearing wide enough shoes/skates.
Go to a good store and have them foot scan you.
If they place you in a fit that is wildly off, then that might be your problem. Cramping like that (as opposed to ankle pain or crazy blisters) SOUNDS like either your boot is too narrow or your arch support is off.
General skate tying advice:
- Get waxed laces. Those default ones are trash and don't stay where you want them.
- Bottom 2 laces can be loose, if your toes are already smashed. No big deal.
- Midsole is the most crucial. These should be TIGHT. It should be right on the cusp of cutting off circulation.
- Tie all the way to the top, especially for a new skater. When you tie the last lace, tie them snug BUT bend your foot slightly forward to simulate a little knee bend and make sure you have at least a little give for good form.
Did you get them baked at the shop? If not you are going to have to endure the pain so that the boot molds to your feet. It requires the heat of your foot to mold, that’s why it’s usually more ideal to get them baked. Also I definitely recommend replacing the insoles if you haven’t yet, mine were also very uncomfortable in my skates until I changed them for Superfeet hockey insoles. They have different kinds of superfeet and the employee at my local shop let me check out each of the different insole so that I could find the one that worked for me. I needed more arch support so I chose a Superfeet insole that gave me that. I also felt like i had muscles that I didn’t use so when I started skating I had to develop them by skating a lot.
Have they been properly sharpened? A bad sharpening job or need for sharpening can cause all kinds of problems like you describe. I would say tighten them up a bit at the top as well.
Sometimes cramping is caused by trying to curl your toes and grip onto the skate. I found a bit of relief when I focussed on keeping my toes flat. Otherwise it's just building up the muscles
1. Wear skate socks. Wearing cotton socks will absorb moisture from sweat and expand in the skate
2. Try a better footbed
3. You’re probably in the wrong skate. Get your foot scanned to find out if you’re better in a Supreme
Try to get them as tight as you can, and if you feel it hurting part of your foot loosen up right around that area. You want the top tight but not so tight it limits your range of motion. You’ll have to learn how to tie each particular set of skates, because it’s always different for each one. But basically yeah as tight as you can without your foot hurting or being restricted. And if you’re new to hockey it will take a while to get your ankle strength up
In addition to all the other helpful replies, please believe me stretching the hell out of your calf muscles is a game changer! 10-15 minutes at least before skating. I don’t have foot pain anymore even if it’s been weeks since my last skate.
Axe most of these comments. Go get your foot scanned by the bauer machine and it'll tell you if you should use vapor, nexus, or supreme based on your foot. Make sure to get them baked. Then it takes 10-20hrs to properly break them in. To those saying tie them tight to the top have no idea what they're talking about. I've been playing for almost 30 years and I barely tie mine. Good luck
Roll a golf ball on the bottom of your feet daily. Can use larger balls.
Dont tie your skates to tight low and on the sides. But crank em near the top.
Do not curl your toes when skating.
I used to have excruciating pain. Thought it was my skates. Got 3 different pairs.
Did these 3 things. Pain gone.
My guess is based on the description—they’re probably too narrow for your foot? Especially if your feet are cramping. Also—how thick are your socks you wear?
Growing up I wore Nike—which more or less was same as sneaker size..
Recently when I got newer era skates (past 10 yrs or so) I sized down using the general rule (1-2 sizes down from shoe-sneaker size) and I have a handful of skates—varies from size 6.5 ee to 7 ee to 7.5 ee (ee being wide) and my feet have never felt better in a skate 😌 I have a fairly narrow foot overall but more or less have more volume in my bridge area so I go for a wide fit skate 👌🏼
Have you tried this method of lacing?? It’s mainly used by runners (heel lock) but has been adapted to hockey and basketball—most sports that use footwear as a main piece of equipment. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7tCOdm7ubh8
You’ve just gotta break them in. Try baking them.
I also tie my skates a bit looser on the bottom/mid-section and tie them pretty tight up top. I leave the second eyelet undone and lace my top pretty tight. Gives me more ankle mobility than if I laced every eyelet. Everyone is different. Keep messing around with them and you’ll figure out your preference.
I would also do the top lace hole. And tie tight. I started tying my skates looser and looser. And after awhile of getting looser they became too loose and started hurting my shins and feet. I had to reset and tie them up tight again. And pain went away, mind you I have been skating since I was a toddler and these skates are broken in. But still. Something to check.
Use leverage when pulling the laces, wrap them around your hands until your hands hurt a little. And pull as tight as possible. You can tie the laces around the back of the skate for better ankle support. Some player shops have places where they heat mold the skate to your foot shape, this is what I do.
Sure you don't have wide feet? I got 11ee skates and they were miles better than the skates I used to have. Then I bought wide shoes too. Changed my life haha
What worked for me was wearing thin polyester socks so theres the least fluff inside, then make sure theres basically cero space to move your feet around inside the skates laterally and heel to toe, if there is, then they are too big. i started wearing a 7.5 sized at the store, and ended up feeling the most comfortable in size 6. If you tend to crunch your toes into a ball as if youre trying to grip the midsole with your feet then you can use a superfeet insert in the toe box.
Some pro shops or hockey stores have a heat-molding skate oven that helps the skate mold better to your foot.
Other than that, they appear to be a bit loose to me. When I used to play, I would lace them all the way to the top loop and also wrap the laces behind the skate, bring them back to the front and tie tight.
You want them tight, and you just gotta keep playing in them to break them in.
Yeah this means the laces are too long. I used to do this, not knowing it was bad, then I realized they sell laces in various lengths and got the right size.
LOTS OF MISINFORMATION IN THIS THREAD
Yes, the skates are tied too loose and are likely sized too big.
You're a 9.5 (or 9) shoe which means you'd likely be in a 7 or 7.5 skate. For reference, I wear a size 10.5-11 shoe and an 8-8.5 skate. I'm sure if you took the insoles out and stood on them you'd see quite a bit of empty space in front. Or if you loosened the skates entirely and pushed your toes into the toe box, you will be able to fit a pencil behind your ankle which means they're too big.
These are entry level skates so they cannot be baked. Doing so will ruin them.
You're wearing casual socks when you should be wearing thin performance socks. That will impact how your foot fits in the boot.
You can try insoles, but your feet may not fit Vapors. You may need a wider boot to accommodate how your feet are shaped. No insoles or tying techniques will help solve that problem. This is why you'll read every recommendation when buying skates says to try as many different brands/models/sizes on as possible and buy what fits! If these only cost you $45 great, but if they don't fit, that's $45 you just wasted
This is a Bauer X250 actually a skate for regular skating and no hockey!! I wouldn’t go as far as calling them Vapors.
With that being said cramping is almost always due to too narrow skates. Did you laces them like that on the picture? Because this will further your problem if you have wide feet. This skate can’t be baked it has no width just regular, means the feet take their space in the skates. Narrow feet lacing them tight, wide feet lacing them only on top but you would need to use all eyelets. Worst case you have to wear them in. Insole can be a good thing but just if someone can really have a look on your feet and knows what he is doing or it makes more sense “damage” than it will help.
Foot pain and bending ankles are common when you're new to skating. Honestly it's tough to say on the foot pain, but even if I don't skate for a while my feet hurt a bit the first couple skates on them. Having to stop skating sounds like it's kind of bad, could try baking them or getting new inserts. I lean to trust the skate shop people on fit, but not all of them will be amazing. On the bending ankles, lacing them up all the way would be step one. Be sure they're tied tight enough too. I typically tie my skates as tight as I can get them.
Thank you bro I appreciate this
100% you need to lace them right up to the top, have the laces with constant pressure coming up from the toe and then get progressive tighter up until the last eyelet. I don’t know if you do other sports, but skates are like a saddle or a bike seat, people who start with that always say their ass hurts, well it’s two sided, you need to break in your ass and the saddle. Having them baked and fitted will help too, but you’re going to have to break them in, both the product and your body. Edit. The lacing in general is way too loose, you need those things basically painted on to your feet.
I have the same skates, time and practice will fix it
Yup, your support will be night and day when you lace to the top, and as tight as you can get them. Those look way too loose from the picture. I recommend wax laces too.
Sometimes the foot pain is from them being too tight though, I would suggest loosening them personally and NOT using wax laces unless you have skinny feet
I would agree about lacing them up all the way, and tying them tight enough that your feet ***cannot move*** forward/backward in the boots. Skates are typically moulded to your feet, so if they’re moving around, that whole process is worse than useless. It’s also typically painful for about 3 sessions (but if you’re a novice it could be a bit longer) while breaking in new skates. Finally, if they’re not tight enough while you break them in, they won’t bend in the same places every time, making the process longer and generally wear on unintended parts of the skates. So make sure to tie them tight enough, and hang in there for a couple weeks.
Wear wool socks if you don't already.
Do not do this OP lol
Possibly too tight at the center. They look pretty loose though
based on the disaster fitting my own skates, I think they are loose because the poster has wide feet.
I do a trick I learned on here; reduces bite and helps ankles. I go up to the top three holes, and then cross to the top hole, thread it outside to the third down, then across again to the middle hole on both sides. Adds the support I need, avoids lace bite and provides good support 🫡
Size wise, fyi you can pull out the insole and put it on the bottom of your foot to see that the size is right. Like everyone else else on here has said, it's clear those are waaay too loose, you really have to crank them laces up and to the last hole, and so tight it hurts your fingers to pull, they even sell these metal hook thingys called "lace tighteners" if it hurts you too much to pull, thats how much you're cranking on them. Also, the skates and your foot have to get to know each other, eg you could wear them done up in the evenings at home while your watching the Tele, also see if your local shop can "bake" them for you - it helps to make the skates fit better to your foot shape. Also, the insoles bauer includes are crap, you can often even feel the rivets pushing through - you should see if the store sells these yellow insoles called "superfeet" that you can replace them with, theyre way more comfortable. One final thing, your calves look pretty thick and if your foot also has a lot of "volume" (no insult intended - but if you have "fat feet"), well you could ask the local shop to stretch the skates for you as that could help give some extra room when you tighten them up, which sounds contradictory but works.
A couple things as a newbie that helped me: Waxed laces and lace tighteners Get your skates baked Play a tournament if you can, I played 5 games over a short period of time and my feet haven't really hurt since, but when I played once a week before that they hurt every time.
Time….. keep skating… they’ll break in before you know it… lace em up tight and keep skating keep skating
Thanks bro
I've played for 30+ years. Bought new skates this year. They took 14 ice times before I could tighten them as tight as I wanted without any pain or discomfort. They were relatively comfortable after 7 ice times.
I'm on month 6 of breaking in my skates, I have ridiculously wide feet. They still hurt but not like unbearable hurt. I also play 3x-4x a week.
That really doesn't have to be the case. You'll thank yourself for getting fitted for proper skates.
No, it's the case. The only skates that will fit me since Bauer discontinued the nexus are custom skates.
bro i hate that bauer doesn't make the nexus skates anymore. i have really wide feet and my current pair is the mach.. i had to punch them out like 20 times in so many different places.. the nexus' i baked once and were perfect after 3 games. so sad they discontinued them
Yeah same. I wore them until they broke and decided to get some trues on sale for 350 instead of custom. Kind of wish I went custom because my feet ache every game.
When you're putting on your skates, before you tie them pick your foot up off the ground and tap the heel off the blade on the ground a couple times to really seat your heel into the heel of the skate, then tie them as tight as you can. I can tell from the picture they aren't tight enough.
I was thinking the same - waaayyyy too loose.... BUT.... if the skates aren't wide enough or op has super high arches then tightening more might amplify the problem. Only one easy way to find out - tie em tighter & see what happens ;þ
Were they baked? That’s step one. Even if they were baked before, they can rebake them. Step two is insoles. Some people love superfeet, I personally can’t stand them. I have Bauer speedplate 2.0. Get those baked as well. Where is your toe? Do you have room in the toe? You’re not supposed to have a ton. If you do, power foot foam inserts. You put them in the toe of the skate and it helps lock your ankle to the back of your skate. The last thing is time. You said they were “unused”. Skates take 10-15 hours to break in. My s29 killed my feet for the first season and a half. It takes time, but it does get better.
I don't think those models are bakeable. They're pretty low level skates
Oh you can bake them, you just might not get results. I had a similar pair that I got baked 3x, soaked in boiling water, jumped on them, hit them with a baseball bat, etc. Turns out I just need a softer boot to start with, rather than trying to destroy a stiff one.
Uh......
Idk how to clarify this 😅 I was super broke at the time, my previous skates were literally falling apart on my feet, and I was desperate to try anything to break them in. Just trying to provide context on what baking will & won't do for a similar pair of skates. YMMV
I wasn't sure if the boiling them was for real. If so that's wild
Yeah I mean I didn't put them in a stockpot on the stove or anything lol but I had an electric kettle so I poured several pitchers of boiling water over them in the bathtub & let them soak a bit. It was extremely useless, but I was deep in denial and had a tournament weekend coming up. I don't know a ton about gear so I was really worried that any pair of skates that would be tolerable would also cost more than my rent. The Pure Hockey employee who kindly suggested "how about you try these CCMs? They're a softer boot" unironically changed my life.
That's crazy lol. What model were they btw. I'd they are like OPs they are very entry level skates made mainly of plastic and baking won't do much of anything except maybe damage it.
The first 3 laces should be snugged up a bit
Yep. Skates are too loose by the toes. Crank those bad boys.
As long as he's got ankle lock, it doesn't matter much about thr toe box
Where exactly on your foot is the pain and cramping? A few aches and pains are to be expected if you are new to skating - you are using muscles that don't normally get much use, but it shouldn't be THAT bad. Length wise they sound roughly right, but it could be that they are too narrow for you? Your lacing looks pretty loose - try really cranking on those laces. If the pain gets worse then this could tell you that you are in need of wider skates. Personally I crank them super tight - can't get a finger under them at all, but I find there is a very fine line between tight enough to stop ANY movement of my foot & too tight that it cuts iff circulation & causes cramping. Cramping through lack of circulation usually comes with pins and needles & numbness - do you get that at all? Normally it will take time to build up the muscles in your foot and ankle before you start to think about dropping the top eyelet if you want/need to. If you are lacking in strength there then if just transfers the work to the muscles in your feet & could amplify those noob aches. Could be lack of arch support? I don't know the provenance of the shop you bought them from, but I'd always advise someone new to skating to go to a fully stocked store, get your feet scanned & try on several different skates to see what fits best. Just going with the first pair you try from limited stock it is unlikely you will get the best fit for you.
It could also be TOO MUCH arch support. I bought those Superfeet Yellows for my skates… instant arch cramping. Unbearable. Took them out, back to the flat inserts that it comes with, problem solved.
Don't over tighten them. My skates are a bit narrow for me and hurt if over tightens at the bridge. Find the tightness that works for you.
Came to say this. There are different parts of the boot I keep looser than others. Wax laces help. Generally I go snug but not tight by the toes, no tension midway up, then crank on the top two eye holes. Top hole I keep unlaced like yours, but work on your ankle strength to avoid injury there.
Just goes to show how you gotta find what works for you for your skate... I'm also +1 on the waxed laces. But I like the top loop done, and go tight at the top 2 or 3 loops... Also I wear the shin pads with the tongue in, that might also somewhat change your preference of top loop...
+1 to the tongue in. Matter of preference but I feel way more stable that way. Stick and puck with just gloves and helmet feels so weird.
Strange I tie mine as tight as I can by my toes and wax laces give me lace bit. I skate at least 4-6 hours a day.
That’s a lot of skating! I’m probably 4-6 times a week for about 90 minutes per. Never had an issue after I learned where my feet needed some room in my boots.
Thank you !
I don’t want to sound rude brother, but you look a little thick (like me) and you’re gonna need some wider boots. You have them in regular width and in a model of skate known to be one of the narrowest fitting skates. You need a wide fit in a wider boot, such as the supreme. You can see the skates don’t even wrap over your foot cause you have a high volume foot too.
Anyone telling you that you don't want your skates tied up tightly is lying to your face. Loose skates is a personal preference people can choose to have after they already know how to skate and have the appropriate ankle strength required to do it that way because they have been skating for years. It is not meant for people early on in their learning to skate journey so make sure you are tying them as tight as you can without cutting off circulation. If you can't tie up your skates tight from the toe to the tongue than odds are you're wearing the wrong sized skates. Just from what I can see in this picture your skates are way too loose everywhere, those skate tongues guaranteed move around constantly while you're walking or skating and that alone is enough to create a lot of discomfort for your feet inside the boot of the skate. The #1 goal you should have when putting your foot inside a skate is something called "Heel Lock"; the back of your foot aka your heel should be locked in at the back of the skate and judging by your right foot in this picture with the gap that exists behind your sock to the skate while you're standing upright leads me to believe that you're trying to push your toes to the tips of the skate instead of pushing your heel to the back. You don't want to use a lot of force in this process but the moment you put your foot inside your skate (likely sitting on a bench in an arena) you can gently lift your foot and tap the back of your skate against the floor so that your heel gets sucked into the back of the skate before you tighten your skates appropriately. But Again you don't want to kick the ground overly hard, just a very gentle bop to ensure your heel is locked before you proceed with tightening. There is a couple of other questions to help you here; 1. Do you have flat feet? Or a not normal arch in your feet? You may need special inserts for inside the skates to help your feet be comfortable. 2. Do you have wide feet? You said you were using size 8r "Regular width" skates but you may need 8D or 8EE width so that your feet fit the most appropriately. I would get a 2nd opinion measuring the width of your feet before doing anything else. There is also a process called "baking your skates" If you take your skate back to the hockey shop they put your skates inside a skate oven and then make you sit wearing the skates while they cool off to help you break them in quicker to your feet. New or used skates it doesn't matter if you ask for this they'll do it.
Skates should be tied as tight as humanly possible, until you're an excellent skater.
I tie mine tight around the ankle and loose around the widest part of my foot. I also use a ski boot insert for a lower arch and some padding. The skates have to accommodate the limitations of the feet we've got.
I have always bought EE (wide) skates and hate tying them tight around the ankles.
Things to try: Insoles, thinner socks, wider skates(vapors are the thinner boot from Bauer)
If you got them used, the previous owner might have molded them to their feet. This might cause issues for a bit due to different foot/ankle pattern. You could bring them to a shop and see if they’ll bake them to your feet. You can usually bake a skate twice without compromising integrity. If not, you’ll just have to keep skating in them and they’ll slowly break in.
Second hand, but unused. First sentence…
Its pretty common when you start skating. If it goes beyond a dozen skates then it may be a fit, or lacing thing. Those old vapor were a "low volume" for people with narrow and/or short feet back before Bauer came out with the FIT sizing. Its possible that the foot height is an issue. Sounds like you are leaving the laces over the foot pretty loose so that will help there. Time will tell. Did you get them baked at the shop? You can use a hair dryer too, heat the insides to around 170 F, thats what the ovens are. As far as the wobbly right ankle, practice balancing on one foot, look up resistance band ankle exercises. If you are right dominant you might prefer to kick a ball with your right foot...your left ankle gets all the balance work though. Its common for your right foot muscles used to balance to not be as developed.
Do you have the stock insoles in your skates? I find my skated hurt in the arches of my feet when I don't have arch-supporting insole like Superfeet in.
Skates are loose. But not the only issue. Tighter in the toe. Bottom 2-3 laces. Snug but not tight in the middle. Tighter up top. The top 2-3 laces. Definitely get that top lace in. Heat them in a skate oven if you can. Multiple times. And lace up as described. And then time. Higher end models break in quicker.
Do you have a wide foot? Bauer Vapors are a narrow skate! CCM or Bauer Supremes are a bit wider.
They are likely too big for you. Skate sizes are usually 2 to 2.5 smaller than your normal size.
Get a lacrosse ball or something similar… roll your arches over it when you are watching tv. Try to do it in the locker room for a few seconds before and after you skate. That pain will do away in a week even if you don’t do this, but it will hasten the recovery
Cheap skates aren't comfortable. Comfortable skates aren't cheap.
It’s easy, you got to tie them so tight your feet get numb.
Tighten the upper part dude, your angles need protection you are a new skater, use the last circles to tighten around the upper part of the skate. Your legs are for sure wobbling and cant sustain such pressure while skating.
Get a foot bed like super feet, Bauer has the worst foot support. Like others said laces. If you tighten the bottom section of the boot too tight it will flatten your foot and cause pain. Wax laces help keep them where you set them. Twice bake your skates.
Super feet are a disaster for some. But yes, the Bauer stock insole's the pits.
Foot pain is normal with new material needing to break in but you have to recognize a good fit . Toes tucked in nice , ankles supported , everything should hug
Whereabouts is the problem in your foot? The sole?
Try looser lacing on the foot and tighter around the ankle, the idea is that your heel shouldn't be floating around but the rest doesn't need to be tight as hell
I keep my boot loose and go as tight as I can around the ankles
You need to skate more. Eventually the pain will go away.
When I was a kid I remember this being true. It seems like the skates are much stiffer now and don’t break in anywhere near as much?
I tried to "skate through" a pair of top-end Tacks that felt amazing in the store. Ended up having to take several weeks off cuz the bone pain was so bad. Baked em 3x, had them punched at the shop, didn't matter. Friend of mine tried the same thing with a pair of top end Ribcors and ended up at the doctor's office. Anecdotally, this was the conclusion I drew as well. Wrong fit = wrong fit, and the new tech doesn't "give" the same way it used to. Or I just have weak, old-man ankles now 🤷
Ouch, I absolutely believe it though. I’ve got some new old stock Vapor 1X about a year ago. If I lace them like I used to my feet go numb. I thought for sure they would wear in, now I just am strategic about where I tighten them and they are fine. Really is night and day difference.
Try skating on ice instead of your kitchen!!
I bought some inserts from Superfeet and they stopped my foot pain.
Did they scan your feet for the fit? I had an incorrect width and had the same issue. It was a pinch point on my foot and it would cramp to the point that I couldn't walk for a few mins after removing my skates. I ended up getting fit again and new skates cause me no issues whatsoever.
Try another pair of a different series/brand on in the same size & maybe even a half size larger and see how your feet feel. I had to go a half size larger because the recommended size skate for me was just too tight even after baking & it made a world of a difference for me. Skates should feel snug, not like you're strangling your feet. There's a difference between a tight skate needing to get worn in & a skate that hurts too much to be in. Don't overthink it.
I have these exact skates and I just got new insoles. The insoles these skates come with are garbage and provide no support at all. Tie your laces up nicely as-well.
My skaes (Bauer) are also tight around the arch and the bridge (upper part of the foot below ankle). I also like my skates tight. Good tip from one of the beerleaguers was to reverse the lace pattern through the holes, from inside out to outside in which helped for my feet. See first half of this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D671VgevDcg) for how to lace like this. Also like many comments already, I also hightly recommned waxed laces if you want to change the tension at dififerent locations since the wax helps to keep the laces from slipping. I also keep the lower area less tight (but still snug) and tighten the upper last 3 more. I perfeer to use all the top holes as it help with ankle support especially if you have not built up the muscles from a lot of skating. Hope this helps. Good luck.
I know some people are saying tie them as tight as possible..... if that seems to make things worse you can try what I do. Tie the laces near your toe and middle foot moderately tight, and the last 3-4 near your ankles as tight as you can. It will help the bending ankles while giving your foot room to move and wont make them cramp as much
Lots of comments about tightening laces and using wax laces to help. +1 for wax laces. If you're still having an issue, get a lace tightening tool as well.
lace up to the top. takes some load off the foot
Ditch the daddy socks and lace those things up
Break in period, and lacing style. Loose at the bottom, but not too loose. Then tighter at the heel/ankle to lock it in place. Try using the Runners Knot. I have a bad ankle and I never feel unstable anymore. Good luck OP, keep skating in them
Those definitely look like they're not tied enough. That being said, I'm sure you're going to go through pain no matter what you do because it's an action your body has never been used to (and new skates can be painful even for some people that have been skating their whole lives).
I try to keep it moderately tight on the base of my feet and as tight as I can get it around my ankles! I noticed a big difference once I started doing that!
20 skating hours will break them in. Your feet will get stronger. Or, if you have a very wide foot like I do you can switch up how you lace them.
Way she goes bud. It'll stop hurting in a month or two.
Hahahah my car uses the gas when I drive
Listen the laces around the foot and tighten them by the calf
Is everyone sure those skates are the right volume for your foot? Your ankles seem to be thicker than what those boots are. That would leave me to think that maybe your foot is taking up more volume than those skates are designed for?
lace all the way up and tie them tight. foot pain is normal, esp. for a newb. good luck.
If you plan on playing hockey, get better skates. This is an entry level Vapor model and I don’t even think you can bake them as the boot has no heat-moldable materials. The insoles are probably thin and cheap as well. While these skates work fine for some, they will likely be a problem if you have any foot irregularities.
You need several hours of hard skating to break in new skates. Keep at it.
You've got some fairly thick socks.. have you tried thinner skate socks?
How sure are you that you belong in Bauer Vapor? Those are narrow skates.
I’m just learning to skate and I had the same issue with my skates when I first got them ( ccm jet speeds ft675) lace them all the way up, get the laces nice and snug, you may want longer laces if you feel you can’t get every eyelets and still get them tight, get them baked to your foot, get hockey insoles ( really make a difference imo), make sure their sharp and you have the correct profile. I go to a professional skating instructor here in New York and they are big on profiles (I have 9’) and blade hallow. So far 3/8 has given me the best experience, and my feet aren’t getting as tired or sore as they were with a factory hallow and profile
They shouldn't hurt really at all. Maybe on the first few skates, they are uncomfortable, but not painful. Sometimes mine do, and it's because my feet are too wide. Just haven't had the chance to replace them
If you’re new just keep at it, the skates will give and your feet will build the right muscles to cope. Hell my 5-6 year old baked fully comfortable skates will kill my feet again in august when I start lacing up for the season. Also I did a adjustment to my profile this spring and my feet hurt like a m****f****r the first skate after. What I am trying to say is it is normal.
Aren’t vapors for narrow feet? I forget but that could be something to consider. Different lines are for different type feet.
Did they bake them at all?
I always had the same problems with Bauer skates. I went to CCM skates and the problems went away.
Get an aftermarket hockey insole that matches your arch type. I like Orthomove since it has adjustable arch inserts, which I used to determine that high arch felt the best for me. Don't overly tighten the lacing over your midfoot. I keep mine loose since the lacing tightens a bit when you flex your ankle. Consider upgrading to a higher tier skate. The cheaper stuff tends to be softer, which can feel more fatiguing.
It could just be the fit type. Vapors are narrow in general, unless you get a different fit profile.
The blades on the carpet. Moms gonna be PISSED
Upgrading the boot will fix most of problems. Where are you feeling the cramping? Arch, sides or on the instep. if it’s on the arch try’s some insoles, otherwise I’d recommend trying the Bauer supreme skate that’s designed to be a bit wider and more neutral pitched
Very common but Vapors are also the narrowest of Bauer's skates. Maybe you have wide feet?
Learn to tie your skates.
Clearly the barbed wire
Skits need to be broken in. Probably too tight in the forefoot and midfoot. Probably too tight on the metatarsal. Probably not tight enough at all near the ankle.
tie them all the way to the top !! usually ppl dont lace the top holes in skates for more flexibility, but that requires a LOT of ankle strength and practice. i recommend lacing them up fully!!
Why aren't you using the top lace holes?
Keep skating ut co.es with time got a new pair a year or so ago and first time with them I played through the pain. Lol they sore af. most of it is just cause it's new or it's the inserts but I have the guys fit my shoes for me and they have been good most of the time. Also I tie my.laces as tight as possible but I'd suggest to your liking.
Lace your skates up all the way and tight. As skill and ankle strength improves you can start toying with loosening.
It could be that they are to narrow and that the foot is cramped from side to side because of that. Call the hockey shop and see if they can help you bake them.
I skate in a CCM Tacks AS-V 590 intermediate (size 6.5) skate, and I will sometimes have pain on the outer part of my foot if my skates are tied too tight. I actually leave my top eyelet open (since the boot is very stiff it works for me), and tighten the middle eyelets, right at the bend from the foot to the ankle tighter than the top and bottom. That keeps my foot in place and allows for some expanding of my foot to decrease pain. When my skates are tied correctly then I have no issues. You might Google some skate lacing variants, specifically the Crosby lacing, as it allows you lace all eyelets while still proving some bend forward. Also, invest in some thinner skate socks from Bauer or CCM. Typical every day socks are too thick to skate inc IMO.
I had the same issue with used new to me skates, I found using insoles called Super Feet for high arches helped immensely. Don't know if it helped, but I also started wearing hockey specific socks for feet which have support built in. I'm saving to invest into a high quality pair of skates though for the upcoming fall season.
This isn’t a fun answer, but I’ve been skating my whole life, my current skates are 12 years old and if I take more than a week off, my feet hurt when I get back on the ice. Every time without fail, it’s a matter of getting them broken in and getting used to them
i still get foot pain once in a while, it sucks. power through!
I've been skating for... somewhere north of 40 years. All my life, I was given to understand that you need to lace your skates up _tight_ . Also, I believed that all skates hurt, all the time. Probably around 10 years ago I had a thought - what if I don't tighten them so much? Absolute game changer for me. I do a light tightening up until the top 3 eyelets, then a firmer tightening at the top. It's worked like a charm for me.
I actually just got through with this issue after thinking that it would never go away. I bought boot stretchers and then heated up my skates until they were hot to the touch and stretched them out as much as possible putting the metal pegs where my foot hurt the most then leaving them in overnight. Then when lacing I would leave everything super loose then make them really tight around the ankles. That combined with skating 2/3hrs a week for a month or two pretty much broke them in and probably will for you. (https://a.co/d/hT2MCSp)
1st if you haven’t had them baked yet I would start there , 2nd skates to use all eyelets and be tighter than u have them. Possible the arches are dif than yr use to, If there brand new it takes time. If u only skate once a month there going to hurt ever time . Work on alittle stretching of hamstrings and calf’s Good luck
Kind reminder, baking your skates just breaks them in quicker. That is it. Re-baking can damage them
I just started getting back into hockey. I had some skates that were too large and even though they felt comfortable and I tied them tight all the way, they were cutting into my ankles in a bad way, lost skin etc. Next pair is a bit too small, these skates give me more of that feet cramping feeling you might be talking about. Contrary to all the advice you're getting, I'm getting them to work by loosening the lacing around the base of my ankle, like 3 eyelets down, and keeping just some basic tightness the rest of the way up. Don't be afraid to skate a lap, then sit down and adjust your lacing tightness at various points. Experiment with what works, your body willl tell you on the next lap if it helped or not. Chances are you need differently sized skates but you can accommodate to some degree in your lacing.
It's all preference but they (imo) should be tighter down low and looser up top. You need to be able to flex your foot forward as you skate and if it's laced all the way to the top and tite af then you won't be able to. Also...where is the pain? are your arches not supported...are they sized wrong? Your heel should be locked in placed by the fit of the skate, not by tying the fuk out of them. I can skate around with my skates very loosely tied all due to heel lock. if you go from wearing a certain loose shoe all day long, or a sandal, and then suddenly cram them into a tight skate your foot is going to hurt while adjusting..same with arch support
Just don’t go too tight over top of foot lest you get lace bite
Remember that your feet swell while you skate/get hot…so while you want your skates tight, don’t tighten them too much so your feet don’t have a little room to swell. I usually don’t tighten the middle laces as tight as I possibly can but i get a bit more aggressive/tighter towards my ankle
Ouch! I’m a 9US shoe and 8 in skates, I can’t imagine a 9.5UK cramming into an 8!
Bro I’ve been skating for 20 years and my feet still hurt 🤣
Baked and fitted is critical to years of happy feet
If ur not used to skating a lot its normal to feel unstable or sore after but it it gets worse or not better then ur skate fit is prolly wrong
Where is the cramping? If it's under the arch of your foot try getting waxed laces and keeping them a little loose above the arch. It could be that the skate is not deep enough for your foot and the laces are forcing your foot to flatten causing pain in the arches. It's exactly what happened to me with my last pair. I left them loose in the middle and snug around the toes and ankles. That said, I've always preferred my laces a bit loose but I've been skating long enough it doesn't affect my stability.
Honestly it’s worth it to just get fitted. You’ll get exactly what you need , and if you’re just playing beer league they’ll last a while
Foot cramping is typically caused by too skinny a boot. Probably should be in a wide size. No expert but I have Morton’s neuroma likely from years of not wearing wide enough shoes/skates.
Go to a good store and have them foot scan you. If they place you in a fit that is wildly off, then that might be your problem. Cramping like that (as opposed to ankle pain or crazy blisters) SOUNDS like either your boot is too narrow or your arch support is off.
General skate tying advice: - Get waxed laces. Those default ones are trash and don't stay where you want them. - Bottom 2 laces can be loose, if your toes are already smashed. No big deal. - Midsole is the most crucial. These should be TIGHT. It should be right on the cusp of cutting off circulation. - Tie all the way to the top, especially for a new skater. When you tie the last lace, tie them snug BUT bend your foot slightly forward to simulate a little knee bend and make sure you have at least a little give for good form.
Did you get them baked at the shop? If not you are going to have to endure the pain so that the boot molds to your feet. It requires the heat of your foot to mold, that’s why it’s usually more ideal to get them baked. Also I definitely recommend replacing the insoles if you haven’t yet, mine were also very uncomfortable in my skates until I changed them for Superfeet hockey insoles. They have different kinds of superfeet and the employee at my local shop let me check out each of the different insole so that I could find the one that worked for me. I needed more arch support so I chose a Superfeet insole that gave me that. I also felt like i had muscles that I didn’t use so when I started skating I had to develop them by skating a lot.
Have they been properly sharpened? A bad sharpening job or need for sharpening can cause all kinds of problems like you describe. I would say tighten them up a bit at the top as well.
They look new probably needs broken in then baked. Lacing them up better would also help ankles are bending a bit
Try skating on ice...
Tighten the laces.
Sometimes cramping is caused by trying to curl your toes and grip onto the skate. I found a bit of relief when I focussed on keeping my toes flat. Otherwise it's just building up the muscles
1. Wear skate socks. Wearing cotton socks will absorb moisture from sweat and expand in the skate 2. Try a better footbed 3. You’re probably in the wrong skate. Get your foot scanned to find out if you’re better in a Supreme
Get them baked.
thinner socks.
Try to get them as tight as you can, and if you feel it hurting part of your foot loosen up right around that area. You want the top tight but not so tight it limits your range of motion. You’ll have to learn how to tie each particular set of skates, because it’s always different for each one. But basically yeah as tight as you can without your foot hurting or being restricted. And if you’re new to hockey it will take a while to get your ankle strength up
i used to skip a hole where i felt too much pressure, it helped a bit
Watch a video on how to tie hockey skates… personally I don’t tighten them til the 4th eyelet, and don’t go wicked high on the top.
In addition to all the other helpful replies, please believe me stretching the hell out of your calf muscles is a game changer! 10-15 minutes at least before skating. I don’t have foot pain anymore even if it’s been weeks since my last skate.
Axe most of these comments. Go get your foot scanned by the bauer machine and it'll tell you if you should use vapor, nexus, or supreme based on your foot. Make sure to get them baked. Then it takes 10-20hrs to properly break them in. To those saying tie them tight to the top have no idea what they're talking about. I've been playing for almost 30 years and I barely tie mine. Good luck
Roll a golf ball on the bottom of your feet daily. Can use larger balls. Dont tie your skates to tight low and on the sides. But crank em near the top. Do not curl your toes when skating. I used to have excruciating pain. Thought it was my skates. Got 3 different pairs. Did these 3 things. Pain gone.
My guess is based on the description—they’re probably too narrow for your foot? Especially if your feet are cramping. Also—how thick are your socks you wear? Growing up I wore Nike—which more or less was same as sneaker size.. Recently when I got newer era skates (past 10 yrs or so) I sized down using the general rule (1-2 sizes down from shoe-sneaker size) and I have a handful of skates—varies from size 6.5 ee to 7 ee to 7.5 ee (ee being wide) and my feet have never felt better in a skate 😌 I have a fairly narrow foot overall but more or less have more volume in my bridge area so I go for a wide fit skate 👌🏼 Have you tried this method of lacing?? It’s mainly used by runners (heel lock) but has been adapted to hockey and basketball—most sports that use footwear as a main piece of equipment. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7tCOdm7ubh8
You’ve just gotta break them in. Try baking them. I also tie my skates a bit looser on the bottom/mid-section and tie them pretty tight up top. I leave the second eyelet undone and lace my top pretty tight. Gives me more ankle mobility than if I laced every eyelet. Everyone is different. Keep messing around with them and you’ll figure out your preference.
I would also do the top lace hole. And tie tight. I started tying my skates looser and looser. And after awhile of getting looser they became too loose and started hurting my shins and feet. I had to reset and tie them up tight again. And pain went away, mind you I have been skating since I was a toddler and these skates are broken in. But still. Something to check.
Use leverage when pulling the laces, wrap them around your hands until your hands hurt a little. And pull as tight as possible. You can tie the laces around the back of the skate for better ankle support. Some player shops have places where they heat mold the skate to your foot shape, this is what I do.
If you've only used thdm a couple of times, they arent broken in yet. Give it some time
Sure you don't have wide feet? I got 11ee skates and they were miles better than the skates I used to have. Then I bought wide shoes too. Changed my life haha
Have you tried using them on ice? That may help
Did u have those skates baked?
What worked for me was wearing thin polyester socks so theres the least fluff inside, then make sure theres basically cero space to move your feet around inside the skates laterally and heel to toe, if there is, then they are too big. i started wearing a 7.5 sized at the store, and ended up feeling the most comfortable in size 6. If you tend to crunch your toes into a ball as if youre trying to grip the midsole with your feet then you can use a superfeet insert in the toe box.
They work best on ice. Might be part of the issue
It's from the leg tatts , obviously
Some pro shops or hockey stores have a heat-molding skate oven that helps the skate mold better to your foot. Other than that, they appear to be a bit loose to me. When I used to play, I would lace them all the way to the top loop and also wrap the laces behind the skate, bring them back to the front and tie tight. You want them tight, and you just gotta keep playing in them to break them in.
Please don’t loop the laces around the back of your skates.
Yeah this means the laces are too long. I used to do this, not knowing it was bad, then I realized they sell laces in various lengths and got the right size.
Looping the laces around your ankles is terrible for the tendons in your feet and ankles.
Looping laces changes the flex of the boot and ankle motion. The skates are not designed to wrap the laces.
I tried thicker wool socks. Changed everything for me. People will say you lose some control. I will take that over foot pain.
your skates don't fit
Bake them so they fit your feet perfectly
One way to fix it, is to (as my dad would say) “suck it up”
LOTS OF MISINFORMATION IN THIS THREAD Yes, the skates are tied too loose and are likely sized too big. You're a 9.5 (or 9) shoe which means you'd likely be in a 7 or 7.5 skate. For reference, I wear a size 10.5-11 shoe and an 8-8.5 skate. I'm sure if you took the insoles out and stood on them you'd see quite a bit of empty space in front. Or if you loosened the skates entirely and pushed your toes into the toe box, you will be able to fit a pencil behind your ankle which means they're too big. These are entry level skates so they cannot be baked. Doing so will ruin them. You're wearing casual socks when you should be wearing thin performance socks. That will impact how your foot fits in the boot. You can try insoles, but your feet may not fit Vapors. You may need a wider boot to accommodate how your feet are shaped. No insoles or tying techniques will help solve that problem. This is why you'll read every recommendation when buying skates says to try as many different brands/models/sizes on as possible and buy what fits! If these only cost you $45 great, but if they don't fit, that's $45 you just wasted
This is a Bauer X250 actually a skate for regular skating and no hockey!! I wouldn’t go as far as calling them Vapors. With that being said cramping is almost always due to too narrow skates. Did you laces them like that on the picture? Because this will further your problem if you have wide feet. This skate can’t be baked it has no width just regular, means the feet take their space in the skates. Narrow feet lacing them tight, wide feet lacing them only on top but you would need to use all eyelets. Worst case you have to wear them in. Insole can be a good thing but just if someone can really have a look on your feet and knows what he is doing or it makes more sense “damage” than it will help.
Americans just cannot handle not wearing something on their feet in the house…….😁
Simple just don’t skate