21 replies to this topic

[daveski7]

Hey all quick skate question. I skate in Bauer APXs and if I tie them too tight up top they feel restricting or too stiff and I cant flex forward enough. A little too loose and they feel sloppy especially side to side. I know the best case scenario would probably to replace the tongues as they are pretty stiff but not an option right now. Do any of you guys leave the top eyelet open and would that give me a little more forward flex. I also try to leave my shinpads a little loose on the bottom so as not to be restricting either(tongues tucked under). Any advice would be wonderful thanks, Dave

[Monty22]

I have APX's and skip the top eyelet for increased forward flex.  Try it- all you are out is 30 seconds to re lace if you don't like it.. 

[bstevens39]

I leave it open, just always have. If I do it up all the way to the top I cant skate, just not enough mobility. Im sure its just cuz I have been doing it for so long and am use to it.

[- M]

I tried leaving the top eyelet open but it felt too flimsy for me.  I skip the 4th eyelet from the top instead since that is where the boot will flex.

[ken6473]

I leave the top eyelet open in both my 11K's and 20K's. I just like the ability to flex forward if necessary.

[Fooj]

i came from a leather graf and took a bit to adjust to this problem too, i tried all the way up for a bit then went one down, the one down felt way too flexible coming from skating all the way up for a while. went back to the grafs then back to one down and coming from the softer boot, the one down on bauers actually felt stiffer. Id take more time to adjust to one down, its great once you adjust

[malcb33]

Hey all quick skate question. I skate in Bauer APXs and if I tie them too tight up top they feel restricting or too stiff and I cant flex forward enough. A little too loose and they feel sloppy especially side to side.

 

These are built specifically for the situation you described. They keep the lateral support while giving you great forward flex.

 

55 Flex http://www.55flex.com/innovation.html

 

Although they are expensive for what they are, they do work exceedingly well. I had the same issue as you and have been using these for the last 3-4 months and my skating and stability has improved dramatically as a result. The way I see it, people spend lots more money buying the latest and greatest new model of skate with a negligible difference to their on ice proformance. These have really made a difference in my skating more than any new marketing gimmick has.

[ridethepine]

As it so happens, last night before my game, I tried something a little different than my usual routine for lacing up.  I left the 2nd last eyelet from the top open.  Then before tightening the very top eyelet, I bent my knee forward (ensuring my heel was still locked) as if I were about to take a stride, and tightened it was much as I could.  I will say that yes, I did notice a little less ankle support.  However, for me personally, the trade off of having a greater amount of forward flex is worth it.  I didn't feel my heels slip at all during the game, either.  

 

In hindsight, I should have tried only 1 change last night and then the other change the next game to compare the results of each change. But, I went with both changes and I was pretty happy with the results.

[Wheelin89]

Hope no one takes the personally, but i don't see why people buy a skate with a boot that is not designed suit their style or body. I can see it from a protection stand point, but if you cant flex a boot with your stride i say dont buy it. Saves headaches, frustration and possibly injury.

[- M]

Up until last year I did up all of my eyelets.  The reason that I skip one was recommended to me by a BCHL player last year (which was suggested by his skating coach).  Both of them are higher caliber skaters than me so I tried it, liked it and have been doing it since.  

 

I'd assume Selanne has no issues flexing this X90 boot but he still leaves the top eyelet open.  I've seen a variation where he skips the 2nd eyelet and does the top one as well.  Boot stiffness is definitely one of the reasons why people skip eyelets but others may simply just want a deeper knee bend in their stride.

[bstevens39]

Everyone skates differently thats y they have different blade profiles, boot stiffness ect. If it makes you more comfortable and/or skate better than skip whatever eyelets you want.

[daveski7]

I am on the ice tonight at my sons practice. that will be a good time to experiment.  Thanks guys for your thoughts.

[Beer leaguer]

Up until last year I did up all of my eyelets. The reason that I skip one was recommended to me by a BCHL player last year (which was suggested by his skating coach). Both of them are higher caliber skaters than me so I tried it, liked it and have been doing it since.

I'd assume Selanne has no issues flexing this X90 boot but he still leaves the top eyelet open. I've seen a variation where he skips the 2nd eyelet and does the top one as well. Boot stiffness is definitely one of the reasons why people skip eyelets but others may simply just want a deeper knee bend in their stride.

Didn't or doesn't Selanne do the ankle lace wrap around? Even though your on the same level as the eyelet it adds a big amount of tightened feeling. Spose to be dangerous for injury ppl always said.

[Gswift]

I'm in a Bauer supreme boot & I leave the top eyelet undone, but I also have lace locks on them...

[daveski7]

Experimented last night and did not like top eyelet left open. In order to get tight enough had to wrap laces around and it felt just like having top done. Will just stick to keeping top not tight and tie til they feel just right.

[daveski7]

Had a game last night, between loosening at the top just a touch and only taping socks at the top it felt perfect. Just snug enough to feel secure but still enough forward flex. I guess that solved the issue.  Thanks guys for the input.

[Dishmaster]

Just upping this topic.

Who else leaves the top eyelet open? I see everyone doing it now and when I try it just feels like my ankles are too loose in my boot

[DeweysDoughnuts]

When I first got my FT1s I did since they were so damn stiff but after breaking them in a bit went back to full lacing which gave better support

[rbark11]

I also leave the top eyelet open on my APXs

[gosinger]

I skip the one below the top on my Vapors 1x/APX/x7.0/x:60 as it gives me more stability than skipping the top one, while still allowing for forward flex.