How vital is it to have exact skate width?

[Mentallydull]

Basically I've been looking at getting back into playing some shinny (haven't played since I was probably 15 or 16 and I'm 24 now) but my old skates are PAINFULLY tight width-wise. I can't skate for more than 30 seconds without getting some severe cramps in my feet.

So I went to a little sports store I know here and they measured my foot saying that I was EEE width. I'm not sure what width my old skates are but I'm guessing they're not EEE . So I looked into the prices of getting EEE skates and everywhere I've called is giving me quotes of 500+ bucks (need to get a custom-made boot, blah blah blah). I have absolutely no desire to pay exorbitant amounts of money on skates for a shinny game so would some EE skates be comfortable enough to skate in?

I don't know how much of a difference one "width size" makes so figured I'd throw this question out there and hope for the best.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Gunnar Stahl 30]

they make certain skates that run wider. the nike bauer flexlites are wide. get them in the EE and you should be good

the tacks i think are a bit wider too

 

[JayK47]

Yeah, I've heard Bauer Flexlites run wider than others. so flexlite EE should be same as EEE in other skates. try them on if you can find it from your LHS.

 

[Crosbyfan]

Basically I've been looking at getting back into playing some shinny (haven't played since I was probably 15 or 16 and I'm 24 now) but my old skates are PAINFULLY tight width-wise. I can't skate for more than 30 seconds without getting some severe cramps in my feet.

So I went to a little sports store I know here and they measured my foot saying that I was EEE width. I'm not sure what width my old skates are but I'm guessing they're not EEE . So I looked into the prices of getting EEE skates and everywhere I've called is giving me quotes of 500+ bucks (need to get a custom-made boot, blah blah blah). I have absolutely no desire to pay exorbitant amounts of money on skates for a shinny game so would some EE skates be comfortable enough to skate in?

I don't know how much of a difference one "width size" makes so figured I'd throw this question out there and hope for the best.

Thanks in advance!

While fitting your EEE feet in a D (pretty standard) width skate might be quite comfortable, a EE width might fit fine.

Did you try any on?

For example, most E width feet would do better in a D than a EE width where an E is unavailable. Commonly it is not (no E offered), and if it was, a D may still be the better choice.

 

[Ragss]

I made the mistake of getting a wide fitting D last year instead of hunting down a pair of EE skates. It was late in the season and I wear size 12's so I sort of jumped on the first thing that semi-fit. The result has been excruciating pain. If I take any time off from skating, my first time back on the ice will be torture, and once I take the skates off I won't even be able to put weight on my feet for 10 minutes or so. Very stupid choice in my part. Hopefully I can get a decent trade in value this fall and find something that fits.

 

[CanadaBacon]

Do not even look at Missions, they are narrow as *******

 

[cptjeff]

Wider EEs are your best bet. Skates tend to fit very differently, I've heard somebody say that his D width 9K fit wider then his EE Vapors.

Try EE 9ks, U+, flexlites and Eastons.

You should be able to find something. I doubt you'll have to go custom.

 

[Mentallydull]

While fitting your EEE feet in a D (pretty standard) width skate might be quite comfortable, a EE width might fit fine.

Did you try any on?

For example, most E width feet would do better in a D than a EE width where an E is unavailable. Commonly it is not (no E offered), and if it was, a D may still be the better choice.

No, I haven't tried any on yet. I have a pair of skates in my trunk at the moment that I'd like to try but I've been busy and keep forgetting about them =/ I'll try them on today but I think they're smaller length-wise than what I need.

Wider EEs are your best bet. Skates tend to fit very differently, I've heard somebody say that his D width 9K fit wider then his EE Vapors.

Try EE 9ks, U+, flexlites and Eastons.

You should be able to find something. I doubt you'll have to go custom.

Awesome, thanks for all the tips everyone.

 

[Saved*]

I myself have a 4E width and I wear 2E Vapors, and in RBK, I can get away with a D. I love a tight fit though.

 

[LilWinger11]

Definitely go to a pro shop with a wide selection. Not every brand's EE will fit you, but there's probably one that will.

 

[Pierre Gotye]

Wider EEs are your best bet. Skates tend to fit very differently, I've heard somebody say that his D width 9K fit wider then his EE Vapors.

Try EE 9ks, U+, flexlites and Eastons.

You should be able to find something. I doubt you'll have to go custom.

I tried on Vapor U+, and hated them. My foot just didn't 'feel' right.

I tried on Reebok 5k's and it was a world of difference. I love them.

 

[cptjeff]

U+ don't fit anybody quite right until baked, but the RBKs fit well, so that's good.

 

[BadHammy*]

I myself have a 4E width and I wear 2E Vapors, and in RBK, I can get away with a D. I love a tight fit though.

If that's the case, you're wearing a skate that is too long for you. My foot is maybe 3E and I have a really tough time finding a retail skate.

 

[deanosaur]

The best advice, TRY THE SKATES ON. You'll never know until you put them on.

 

[Lario Melieux*]

I'm going through the same thing. I'm 27 and haven't played competetively for 9 years. I'm using the same skates and I have excruciating pain after 30 minutes or so of sticktime and pickup hockey. It usually goes away after a while and my feet get used to them. I'm pretty sure the problem is the skate width because when I take the skates off and stand on the flat floor in the locker room, my feet begin to hurt again.

I bought some shock doctor hockey insoles and I'm going to give them a try. If they don't work I'll just have to tough it out.

 

[Mentallydull]

If that's the case, you're wearing a skate that is too long for you. My foot is maybe 3E and I have a really tough time finding a retail skate.

What kind of skates do you use?

 

[greyraven8]

At one time i tried out a pair of Bauer skates in 'EE' width. They were too narrow and hurt my feet.

The next pair i got were an 'E' width in a CCM Super Tacks - have been happy with them - been wearing them for years; fit well.

 

[Mentallydull]

Well I ended up with a pair of Graf's (not sure of the exact model) but they're very comfortable when I put them on.

After skating for a while in them I find that my heels tend to lift more and more and the circulation in my toes is getting cut off.

That said, is it a matter of just breaking the skates in (I had them baked) or is it a wrong size?

 

[noobman]

Skate width is actually pretty important. Skates that are too narrow will hurt, and skates that are too wide will destroy your edge control.

 

[Hockeyfan68]

Skate width is actually pretty important. Skates that are too narrow will hurt, and skates that are too wide will destroy your edge control.

I finally got some skates that are the correct width for me this past summer (EE) and I agree the edge control is better for me with the proper width.

My old skates were half a size bigger but narrower in width than the EE and while they kinda felt like they fit they obviously did not because the new ones do.

I am going to make use of the roomier pair for outdoor ice when I wear double socks cuzz of the cold.