Trying pads in street shoes - how does it translate to being in skates?

[Wasabi]

Currently using some older Vaughn pads that were bought used a number of years ago. Based on where my knees land they're too tall, but they're broken down enough that I seem to get along with them okay on the ice. Somewhat of a narrow butterfly and don't have great butterfly technique, anyways; tend to be a bit of a flopper at times so I'm guessing the softness of the pads makes them more forgiving of my technical shortcomings.

Thinking of trying a used, "modern" pad, perhaps along the lines of Bauer Vapor 2x/3x or Warrior GT/GT2. By the sizing charts am likely 33" in either. No local store where I can try pads, but did recently visit a relative who had a local store nearby, and was able to try some of the new Bauer Vapor x5s in both 33" and 34". Only had my street/tennis shoes and no knee pads (usually wear Warriors), and couldn't get the toes to tie/anchor down, so basically was only able to test-butterfly on the floor without the pads/toes tethered to my feet.

In both sizes knees landed on knee blocks. When on the floor in a butterfly I tried moving my legs along the leg channel to see if my knees could be easily forced off the blocks, and in the 33s they could be moved to the very top edge, but did stay on. Neither seemed to move off the bottom edge because the calf wraps and knee strap seemed to prevent that. The 34s seemed to "naturally" close the 5-hole when dropping to the floor in a butterfly. The 33s could be made to do so after I was in the butterfly and consciously placed/moved my knees lower on the blocks.

Since in skates I'd be able to bend my ankles with the toes tethered to the pads by the bungee straps, I can't decide if that would more nearly approximate the untethered 33s in street shoes, or the 34s. Would a tethered skate toe with bent ankles pull the pads lower, higher, or equal compared to the way I was able to try them? With the additional stiffness of modern pads compared to what I'm using now and how it might affect my mobility, I don't want to just assume the 34s are a more natural fit and then find out they're too tall. But by the same token don't want to have problems with closing the 5-hole.

Would appreciate any insight on the matter. Thanks!

[coopaloop1234]

There's only one true way to make sure the sizing will work and it requires wearing skates, knee pads, and even pants (maybe) while trying on pads to see if they'll size up right. 

You can get away with a lot by just using sizing charts that companies put out and generally knowing how sizing differs between brands. 

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Since in skates I'd be able to bend my ankles with the toes tethered to the pads by the bungee straps, I can't decide if that would more nearly approximate the untethered 33s in street shoes, or the 34s. Would a tethered skate toe with bent ankles pull the pads lower, higher, or equal compared to the way I was able to try them? 

What do you mean by this? 

Your feet/ankle placement doesn't really change between wearing skates or shoes. It's just how the pad naturally sits on top of the added girth of wearing a skate. 

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With the additional stiffness of modern pads compared to what I'm using now and how it might affect my mobility, I don't want to just assume the 34s are a more natural fit and then find out they're too tall. But by the same token don't want to have problems with closing the 5-hole.

Mobility mostly comes from when you're on your feet, so ensuring the thighrises aren't cumbersome when upright is the main focus for maintaining a good level of mobility. 

5 hole coverage is done with your stick and/or your butterfly flare. If you have a lousy flare, then it's done through keeping your knees tight together.  

[Wasabi]

1 hour ago, coopaloop1234 said:

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Since in skates I'd be able to bend my ankles with the toes tethered to the pads by the bungee straps, I can't decide if that would more nearly approximate the untethered 33s in street shoes, or the 34s. Would a tethered skate toe with bent ankles pull the pads lower, higher, or equal compared to the way I was able to try them? 

What do you mean by this? 

Your feet/ankle placement doesn't really change between wearing skates or shoes. It's just how the pad naturally sits on top of the added girth of wearing a skate. 

Haven't been able to find the thread/discussion, and may not be recalling it correctly and/or may have totally misunderstood, but thought I read something where the poster was describing how using a toe tie but not using a bootstrap allowed the pads to slide up the leg to give a little extra rise at the thigh. When I tried on the pads in just my shoes the pads seemed to almost sit above/off my shoes entirely. I could bend my ankles down (plantar flex) freely, with no effect on the pads, although if I bent may ankle upwards (dorsiflex) the toes would push against the pads (but almost more pushing the pads away rather than up the leg).

[coopaloop1234]

17 minutes ago, Wasabi said:

Haven't been able to find the thread/discussion, and may not be recalling it correctly and/or may have totally misunderstood, but thought I read something where the poster was describing how using a toe tie but not using a bootstrap allowed the pads to slide up the leg to give a little extra rise at the thigh. When I tried on the pads in just my shoes the pads seemed to almost sit above/off my shoes entirely. I could bend my ankles down (plantar flex) freely, with no effect on the pads, although if I bent may ankle upwards (dorsiflex) the toes would push against the pads (but almost more pushing the pads away rather than up the leg).

I know the conversation you're talking about. 

I've found that no boot strap allows the pad to sit lower on your leg. It's using the Lundy Loop (behind the heel of the skate) that allows it to pull the pad up further on the leg. 

Just another reason why trying it with skates on is so important. With skates, you'll have a stronger idea as to how your pad and skate will integrate and whether it works or not. 

 

[Puckstopper]

1 hour ago, coopaloop1234 said:

There's only one true way to make sure the sizing will work and it requires wearing skates, knee pads, and even pants (maybe) while trying on pads to see if they'll size up right. 

 

This.  I know it's a pain, but if you're buying new, you're spending too much to guess.    If you're going to guess, you're better off doing it off the fit charts than how the pad sits against your leg in shoes.  

[Wasabi]

16 minutes ago, Puckstopper said:

2 hours ago, coopaloop1234 said:

There's only one true way to make sure the sizing will work and it requires wearing skates, knee pads, and even pants (maybe) while trying on pads to see if they'll size up right. 

 

This.  I know it's a pain, but if you're buying new, you're spending too much to guess.    If you're going to guess, you're better off doing it off the fit charts than how the pad sits against your leg in shoes.  

Okay, thanks. Appreciate the insight. Looks like I'll go 33" first based on the sizing charts and go from there.

Thanks, again.