Baking skates

**gmc310** · 01-12-2008, 05:02 PM

I'd like some opinions on baking skates, at home or at the shop. I have the new vapor xxr lite and they fit pretty well but I was wondering if baking them would make them that much better? I've heard guys say that they have baked skates 3 times . how much difference can it make if you have to do it 3 times? thanks in advance,Gary

**sdcopp** · 01-12-2008, 06:25 PM

baking skates only speeds up the break in process. It won't magically make them the best fit you've ever had. If you don't have any real hot spots in the boots, baking probably isn't worth it. If there's an area that's being a pain to work in, baking will help with that.

As far as shop vs home, if you have a shop with an oven, use it. Popping them in the oven at home can ruin them if not done correctly and it voids the warranty if something goes wrong.

**showtime89** · 01-13-2008, 06:12 PM

I had my Vapor 10 (10, not X) baked when I converted them from Ice to Roller when they were new. Had a local pro shop use their skate baker. I never had any break-in issues after that. My Vapor 8's took a while to get the feel of since that was prior to the baked skates. The 10's felt great from the get go after the bake. Also, I THINK the advantage of multiple bakes would be if you bought my used skates from me, you could have them baked for you and you wouldn't have to deal with the form in the boot that my foot created. I doubt there would be much advantage to multiple bakes for one person.

**MDE3** · 01-15-2008, 06:37 PM

Have "homebaked" lot's of skates....not really much too it. Remove wheels and bearings...preheat no higher than 175 degrees F. (80 C.) once preheated place both skates on rack in middle of the oven, close oven door and turn the oven off immediately. Leave for skates in the oven for 8 - 15 minutes depending on manufacturer's recommendation. Remove and place on feet for 20 minutes or so.

PS do not leave oven on and fall asleep with skates baking.....unless you want to turn a size 12 into a size 9.

**growl89** · 01-15-2008, 08:51 PM

speaking from experience, i have only ever baked one pair of skates, and it was the most disappointing pair of skates i ever owned... the Bauer 7000 ... they broke down so much quicker then a pair of skates should of ... i am currently breaking in a set of XXXX's with no baking and while it hurts a little bit more for a week or two more, i think in the long run it's worth it ... I had XX's and XXX's and used the same method... Wet socks, tie them really tight, wear them with skate gaurds around the house while watching TV or whatever. I am a big guy 230lbs+ so maybe that is why my baking experience was not the best...

**MDE3** · 01-16-2008, 02:12 PM

It is important to call the service department at the manufacturer to ask what they recommend if you are going to bake the skates yourself..as different times in the oven are given for different skates...maybe depending on what is used to bond the materials. That's why I gave a range of times...it varies from one manufacturer to the next..and from skate to skate...and why it's good to get it done at the local proshop who sells the skates, as they should have the specific procedures for a given skate right from the source.

In my case we didn't have a dealer for those skates(Grafs, Tour, Nexed..all ordered from either a remote dealer or right from the source) in the area, so taking them to a dealer was not convenient..hence the "homebake" remedy.

I have baked multiple Grafs, CCM's, Nexed and Tour skates with no problems...had the Missions break down without any baking...tendon guards coming off, and outsoles coming loose, eyelets pulling out etc etc...and this was the older Missions not the new high tech stuff. VSI and VS, as well as others (circa 97 - 99)