Many ice hockey skates are now made with a special type of thermo-formable foam that responds to heat and becomes soft enough to be reshaped for a customized fit. Most hockey pro shops have a skate oven that is used to heat up the skates for about 5-10 minutes at approximately 175°, but the temperature and baking time varies from one skate model to the next.
Do I Have to Bake My Skates?
For certain skate models, baking is required, for others it is highly recommended and for most it is not absolutely necessary but may be worth doing anyhow. Hockey skates are made to be stiff and supportive but can be uncomfortable when they haven't been broken in. Baking your skates often gives you a more comfortable fit than the fit you'll experience with a pair of skates that you wear right out of the box, and baking also helps eliminate some of the initial pressure points that exist with a new pair of skates. Break-in time varies from model to model, but typically takes between 6 and 10 hours of hard skating.
Can I Use My Kitchen Oven to Bake My Skates?
Baking your hockey skates in your home oven is not recommended because the skates can be damaged if they are improperly baked. It's always best to have the skates baked in a skate oven at a hockey pro shop. Also, the manufacturer's warranty is often void if the skates are baked in your home oven.
If you don't have access to a hockey pro shop with a skate oven then a hair blow dryer works fairly well and provides a safe alternative. Just point it into the boot on low heat for 10-12 minutes and the materials should become warm enough to do the trick. Be very careful when you're lacing up your skates because when the materials are warm the eyelets can become strained and may even pop out if you pull too hard. Pull the laces outward as you tighten rather than upward. After you've tightened the skates, stay seated for about 40 minutes so the materials have a chance to cool down. It's also best to wait about 24 hours after baking before you skate to allow the materials to harden and set.
Does Every Skate Model Respond Differently to Baking?
High end models, such as the Bauer Vapor APX Skates and CCM U+ Crazy Light Skates should always be baked for the best fit because the quarter package of elite models such as these is very rigid and somewhat unforgiving in the absence of baking. Mid level skates should be baked as well, but it's not absolutely necessary as the boots are typically a bit softer. Introductory level skates have a softer shell and usually do not have the same type of thermo-formable foam padding which is used in mid and high level skates, so they do not need to be baked because they are easier to break in the old fashioned way.
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So it comes down to opinion Michael
ReplyDeleteWhat are the adverse effects of baking a skate that is not theroformable? I was new to hockey and purchased a pair of Bauer 150 Supreme's. Not knowing anything at the time, the store said they could bake them for a better fit so I agreed. Five months later they are badly clicking when walking on the mats after playing. Could this be a result of baking a NON-thermoformable skate?
ReplyDeleteThere shouldn't be any truly adverse effects if you bake a pair of non-thermoformable skates. The boots will soften, but they won't form to your feet as a result of the baking process the way that thermoformable skates will.
DeleteMy guess is that your runners are making the clicking noise that you hear. This is very common and is not a result of baking. The 150 Skates have non-replaceable runners - they're fused to the holders. What often happens is that there's a small amount of "play" between the holder and runner ( < 1mm), which causes the runner to click against the underside of the holder when you lift and then put down your foot with each step. It can be an annoying sound, but it doesn't affect performance in any way because the amount of movement is so minimal that it's undetectable while skating.
What are the adverse effects of baking a skate that is not theroformable? I was new to hockey and purchased a pair of Bauer 150 Supreme's. Not knowing anything at the time, the store said they could bake them for a better fit so I agreed. Five months later they are badly clicking when walking on the mats after playing. Could this be a result of baking a NON-thermoformable skate?
ReplyDeleteI have a pair of Bauer Vapor Elite skates, I'm sure they are entry level skates but they aren't very comfortable even after skating quite a few times. Would it help to bake them?
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew,
DeleteUnfortunately, baking the Vapor Elite Skates will likely have little to no positive effects on the fit. Since they aren't designed with thermoformable foam, the boot will be unresponsive to baking. In some cases, sadly, it's just a matter of the boots not being a good fit for your foot type.
Vapor skates have what Bauer describes as a "V" shaped fit, where the heel is fairly narrow and the boot becomes progressively wider toward the toe box. They also have moderate to high arches. If you can pinpoint the aspects of the fit that are most uncomfortable for you, we should be able to guide you to a skate model that provides a better fit for your feet.
Hi Jeremiah, thanks for your comment! Its uncomfortable all over but I find that if I don't tighten them too much then its ok. I'll just have to save up for some new skates that I can bake ;)
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