All you Jacksons wearers (and all the skate techs!)...

[aussieskater]

...my Jackson Competitors (now 3 years old but as good as new and still wonderfully supportive - goes to show what a total inability to jump can do for a boot! :) ) have over the past 6 weeks become loosish around the heel. My heels are both moving around a bit - more than I like, and more than they used to. The boots still feel really stiff (eg: I can't close the two halves together with just one hand), and I can't tell how I could have stretched them. I'm not noticeably thinner (I could wish!), and I haven't been working the boots any harder than normal as far as I can tell. Hubby and I are learning dance, but we're only at the baby stage. I skate between 6-10 hours per week.

I'm hoping someone on the boards will be able to offer some sage advice as to how I go about getting the heel "filled in" or "rebuilt" or something. New boots aren't an option right now (my size in Jacksons costs $$$ - and I already spend more on skating than the budget really allows! :??)

As a lot of the regular posters will know, I live in Sydney Australia and there's nowhere I can send the boots to have them rebuilt by a skatepro (such things don't exist here). As Skating on Clouds would verify, we don't have a lot of choice down under - at least I'm better off than she is!! There are some normal cobblers who might be able to help, if I knew what to ask for...or if there's anything I could use to pack the heels myself?

[renatele]

I guess the padding has compacted in the heel area. As to what you can do to fix it, there is indeed one very simple thing that you can try: heat them in the oven or even with a hair dryer (search for skate heat molding info - I haven't done it myself, so am not sure of the particulars), and try to squeeze the heels a bit in when the skates are warm. A boot fitter did it to my (now retired) Risports, and it worked wonders.

[flo]

I have the same problem. I thought that eating them would do, but when I took them back to the fitter, he clamped both the toes and the heel, as both were too big and my foot was moving around. The boots did feel better, but I get blisters on the insides of my heels where they were clamped. So I brought them back again to get the insides smoothed a little. It's better, but the boots just don't fit. I am now wearing ankle sleeves under my heels, and that helps some.

[Isk8NYC]

Try replacing the insole or putting a bit of felt underneath the heel part of the insole. The insole may have become compacted in the heel from use.

If the ankles feel wobbly, see if you can bend the leather back-and-forth easily. If you can, they may be broken down.
(*ducks and runs for cover*)

I have the same problem. I thought that eating them would do ....How did you prepare them? ;)

[flo]

Ha! Lots of wine!

[Skate@Delaware]

My old pair did this-i bought the heel gripper pads (Dr. Scholls) and stuck them in the back of the boot. Really helped a lot. I also used a gel pad in the tongue to force my foot back more.....didn't help that they were one whole size too big...

My new ones loosened up a smidge from breaking them in. I 'm going to try the heating and squeezing thing for the heels, they are a tad loose there as well but I'm not lifting up quite as much...

[sue123]

The same thing used to happen to me. I took them to the fitter, who heated htem and clamped them, and then I wore them. But it only lasted about a week. After that, they just kept getting looser until I could actually get the heel into the ankle part of the boot. I ended up buying new boots, which have helped immensly.

[sj702]

Directions for heat molding from the Rainbo Sports website:
http://www.rainbosports.com/policies/fitting.cfm#heatmolding

Heat Molding Instructions and Tips
The ideal way of heating molding boots is to heat them in a convection oven. This allows for even distribution of the heat. Regular household ovens are not recommended because the heat from the radiant elements is too direct and may damage the boots voiding the warranty. If you do not have a convection oven, you can use a hair dryer. Before beginning, make sure the skater has on tights or very thin socks. Failure to wear some kind of stocking may lead to burning of the feet.

Convection Oven Instructions
1) Set the oven to 180 degrees and put the boots in the oven for approximately 3-5 minutes until the boots begin to become pliable.

2) Remove the boots from the oven taking care not to burn yourself on the blades or lace hooks. Let the boots cool slightly so that you can handle them.

3) For Jackson boots, press down on the toe box slightly where the laces start. This will open the toe box slightly allowing for a better fit.

4) When the boots are cool enough to handle, place them on the feet pushing the heels all the way into the heel cups. Lace the boots up very snuggly; slightly tighter than normal so that the boots will wrap around the shape of the feet. Leave the boots on the feet for 10 minutes until the boots cool down.

5) Do not walk or even stand on the boots while they are on the feet. This may keep them from molding properly.

6) Remove the boots and let them cool down to room temperature (another 10 minutes).

7) Put the boots back on after cooling to room temperature. You may now stand and walk in them to determine whether the boots fit properly or whether they need any other adjustments. In the case of boot and blade sets, please wear had guards to protect the blades and your floors.

Hair Dryer Instructions
Using a hair dryer set to high, move the heat back and forth over the entire outer surface of the boots. Do not leave the heat source in one spot for a long time or the boot may burn. It will probably take 7-10 minutes for the boots to become pliable. At this point, follow directions 2-7 above.

Precautions
Beware of hot blades and lace hooks
Do not do molding barefoot
Do not walk or stand in warm boots
Do not bend your knees while the boots are warm
Do not use a regular oven
Make sure heels are all the way back in the heel cup before molding

[beachbabe]

I had the same thing with jacksons. here's what i did:

I went to the podiatrist and asked about the heel problem. The doctor said it was easy to fix. He took my boots for a few days and glued in this gel heel cup in to the heel permanently. Not only did it solve the problem, but it also helps hold my foot in place much better. And it was all covered by my insurance company, i jsut had to pay $25 copay for specialist visit.

i'd ask about it if I were you, because the doc knows exactly what your foot needs and wont put in too much or too little. its just right.

[SkatingOnClouds]

before you do anything to the boot, I have to ask if you have changed the stockings/socks you wear to skate? Because that can make a big difference. I like to keep several pairs of the same thing around, so I never have to switch thicknesses.

[mikawendy]

I had the same problem with my Jacksons (heel slippage) when I first got them (I have 2700s). I wear ankle sleeves and had the boots heat molded twice as I was breaking them in. Now I have to be careful I'm laced just right (not too tight, not too loose) or my heels will occasionally slip.

I've noticed my skates fit differently when I'm skating after a day at work--I think my ankles and feet swell in my work shoes.

[jenlyon60]

My feet definitely feel different depending on what time of day I'm skating. In the early morning, my arches and plantar fascia are tight. In the afternoon, my feet are just overall tired.

When my last pair of boots was starting to break down, one of my ankles started to swell bad, to the point where it looked almost like a "Pillsbury Dough Girl" ankle. And my old boots didn't visually look broken down. It didn't really hurt that much, it just swelled. Right after I got my new boots, the swelling went away and hasn't come back.