Boot problems - opinions needed

[renatele]

I need a sanity check here (I'm being paranoid and unreasonable, just LMK).

I got my current boots last year, in April. They are Jackson elites, split-width (semi-customs). I changed the boots because my old boots, Risports, were too stiff for me, and toebox was too narrow (though with aggresive punching out, they didn't hurt my feet eventually).

New boots: left boot felt ok after break-in. Right boot didn't feel right from the beginning, and I kept going back to my boot fitter complaining about it - had out anklebone area mercilessly punched out numerous times just so I could skate. Got a bunion on right foot in November, that I suspected was caused by the boot. Did not make it to the podiatrist that time, although in retrospect, I definitely should have (my blog contains plenty of entries complaining about right boot problems...).

Due to injury, I've been nearly completely off the ice for over 3 months. Now that I'm back (in June), my right ankle hurts. I took a careful look at the boots, and I think I see the reason - soles are quite warped! It's not easy to photograph the problem, much easier to see in person, but in my right boot, if I put the front part of the sole flat on surface, left side of the heel is raised by several millimeters, and the effect is that my foot is twisted.

First, here is one of the old boots from behind:

http://skating.zachariahs.com/boots/boot4.jpg

One of the new boots:

http://skating.zachariahs.com/boots/boot1.jpg

http://skating.zachariahs.com/boots/boot2.jpg

http://skating.zachariahs.com/boots/boot3.jpg



Can you see the problem? Would it be reasonable to demand for the boots to be remade - these weren't very cheap, and at this point, I'm very hesitant to skate in them (will see my sports medicine specialist next week about the ankle). Too bad I trusted the boot fitter who just kept shrugging his shoulders over the last year, kept punching the boot out and blamed it on my feet when I kept complaining...

If you think I'm going overboard - just LMK :) reality check is good.

[herniated]

I'm no expert, but something is obviously wrong from what your pics show!! I don't think you are out of line to insist on a new pair of boots.

[kander]

It does look a bit off. How do your edges feel? Are they even?

[renatele]

It does look a bit off. How do your edges feel? Are they even?

Left boot didn't bother my foot much, and edges feel ok. On the right foot, I always had trouble getting onto RO edge, despite the additional "wedge" put by boot fitter under the insole, on the left side of the heel (to force my weight to the right).

My right foot also frequently felt twisted in the boot. This week, I took out the inside wedge from under the heel, and put some padding under the left side of the insole in the ball area - RO edge is fine now, foot still feels twisted a tad.

[kander]

Left boot didn't bother my foot much, and edges feel ok. On the right foot, I always had trouble getting onto RO edge, despite the additional "wedge" put by boot fitter under the insole, on the left side of the heel (to force my weight to the right).

My right foot also frequently felt twisted in the boot. This week, I took out the inside wedge from under the heel, and put some padding under the left side of the insole in the ball area - RO edge is fine now, foot still feels twisted a tad.

The wedge part kind of jumps out at me. It's hard to know whether to blame the boot or the blade mounting. Either one can cause the same problems. I'd recommend new boots because of the wedge.

[doubletoe]

If that wedge was necessary on one of the boots and it wasn't necessary on your old boots, the problem is with the boot, not your foot. The boot should be level when you place it on a flat surface, so this boot is clearly defective. I would call Jackson and see if you can fax or e-mail them the photos and information you just posted here. I would ask them for a new right boot! (If that's your landing side, it has probably started breaking down before the left boot anyway, so the stiffness of the new boot might not be such a bad thing).

[dbny]

If that wedge was necessary on one of the boots and it wasn't necessary on your old boots, the problem is with the boot, not your foot. The boot should be level when you place it on a flat surface, so this boot is clearly defective. I would call Jackson and see if you can fax or e-mail them the photos and information you just posted here. I would ask them for a new right boot! (If that's your landing side, it has probably started breaking down before the left boot anyway, so the stiffness of the new boot might not be such a bad thing).

ITA! Go for it.

[peanutskates]

oh my goodness! those boots look warped. get new ones now!

[shutterbug]

I ran into a similar type of problem with a pair of Riedell Silver Stars. The left one didn’t fit “right” from the beginning, almost as though my foot was twisted when placed in the boot. But, thinking I was just being a finicky adult, I persevered for a year and half until I started experiencing serious knee pain whenever I skated. When my sports medicine doc told me my knee was fine, I had a good look at the boot, and realized it really was twisted and breaking down at an unnatural angle:

http://www.imagestation.com/8240486/3909745507

I tried sending photos to Riedell, and they were absolutely no help whatsoever. Told me that I must pronate (I most definitely do not) and should look into getting orthotics. The next pair I bought were fine (although I broke them down in 6 months, which is a totally another story, LOL).

Bottom line? If you really feel like there’s something wrong with your boot, there probably is. Trust your feelings. We adults tend to blame ourselves for any difficulties we’re having, when there are times that our equipment is the issue. It’s worth a try e-mailing Jackson about the problem. Hopefully you’ll have better luck than I did with Riedell.

[vesperholly]

That looks totally messed up! 8O No boot should require uneven wedges to be put in for blades to be mounted. Demand a new pair!

[dbny]

Go back to the store where you bought them and be firm in showing them the problem with the boot. They should be able to send them back to Jackson and give you a new pair. Jackson has to make good, but it should be to the store, who should, in turn, take care of you.

[renatele]

Go back to the store where you bought them and be firm in showing them the problem with the boot. They should be able to send them back to Jackson and give you a new pair. Jackson has to make good, but it should be to the store, who should, in turn, take care of you.

I went there yesterday, but my boot fitter is on vacation, and will be back only at the end of the week.

He'll probably give me quite a hard time, I suspect - after all, he's been fiddling with these boots for over a year (usually blaming my feet, etc), and who'd like to admit that they've been wrong? He does an absolutely excellent job of sharpening my blades, but I don't think I'll ever trust the man with the boots... (haven't questioned his word before).

[UDsk8coach]

those are some interesting skates....

I would demand a new pair, no doubt about it... Those are too messed up to try to "doctor" and fix...

You poor thing!!