Hi there!

My skates are giving me issues: the screws are getting loose on one skate. One screw even dropped out (I swear I don't know where it went...)!

I'm thinking of changing to Jackson ProFlex 2700. Or Edea.

Pros of proflex:
-shock-absorbent
-better technology

Cons of Proflex:
-I read that some people hated them
-Broken ankles...?
-I have weak ankles...
-adapting period...

Pros of Edea:
-Lightweight
-thinner sole
-the soles won't rot, I think.

Cons of Edea:
-Mr. Edge at SKATING Magazine said there are still some kinks to iron out for figure skating
-No white boot, I don't mind nude, but a greyish tone..

I don't think the only proshop (hockey-oriented) stocks proflex. I haven't asked them about Jackson Proflex yet.

I had Risport RF4 before, and it was a C width and wrongly fitted. Is Edea's last like Risport's? Are they both narrow? I have somewhat narrow feet. 9 inches, and 8 inches around the ball.

I'm thinking to get Proflex, but are weak ankles and proflex a good combination? My current skates are way too stiff (Klingbeil S2 Stock), so I'm hoping to get something with ankle flexion. Also, all the wires replacements and stuff I've been hearing about, will it be very tough to maintain it on my own? I don't think anyone else here can help.

I've had Risport RF4, and now, Klingbeil S2 Stock. I've not tried the other two brands and wonder about the fit.

I'm working on my flip (getting it to land behind the takeoff edge, and not in front), camel (it's either spinning wondrously or like I've never learnt it) and I am trying sit-sit and camel-sit on my own.

What do you think?

I really don't know much about either, but the Edea boots I saw sure looked white to me.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Really? I saw someone's boot a while ago and it doesn't look very... average type of white...? Perhaps the little skater didn't take care or dyed it or something..
So I guess I can cancel out the colour being a point to not get Edea's!

Edea's don't look grayish in an actual ice rink lighting. They look more like river pearl - Edea calls their colors either ivory or pearl, and it's a very distinct color, almost translucent. Although if you check out Edea's website you'll see that some of their high-end models are now available in white also: http://www.edeaskates.com/

Now that being said, Edea DID use to carry a sort of almost khaki-green supposedly-skin-tone boot, ugly to no end!!! Maybe you saw one of those. I've seen a pair of those once. (Edea is the second most popular brand here after Risport).

I would not put too much stock in what Mr. Edge says....go with what works best for you. Sometimes his opinions are----strange but they are his opinions none the less.

Personally, I'm very intruigued by the Edea boots...I'd love to try them if there was a fitter in my area. I'm thinking they actually might work better for me than my current boots (Jackson Elites).

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

One skater at my rink uses Edea. Hers are a very strange greyish beige. She got them to help with foot problems stemming from running cross-country, but I don't know that they really made much difference. I'll have to ask her.

I've seen the Edea boots and weighing them with other boots they are lighter (not put them on my feet though).
As for the weird colours, the white didn't look like the bright white of other new boots (which go dirty grey around the rinks with age anyway) but their black ones are charcoal grey and really do stand out for not being black.

I have weak ankles, thanks to many sprains as a soccer player when younger. I have to say that it isn't an issue for me with Proflex as there is good lateral (sideways) support. I don't find them heavy, but they do look bulky. You might like to search for other threads on Proflex, as there have been lots of discussion on the pros & cons about these boots.

No-one at my rink has Edea, and I have no experience of them, so can't comment on their relative merits.

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

Yeah, the only Edea skates I saw were greenish greyish colour. Is there a distinct difference between Risport and Edea? And its Fly model looks !

Eeks I would love to know what works... but... well, here, there's no trying to see what works. I think Edea will be good, but yeah, compare Edea and Proflex and you get one indecisive person.

I've got foot issues, and the overly-stiff and heavy skates aren't helping. I had my friend bring it down for sharpening, and she's like, my skates weigh twice as much as her LS1310 with Paramount!

It's the lightweight that gets to me! I have this little curiosity monster inside that wants to try something new!

Actually I've been lurking for a long time! Very informative I must say. But you guys all have proshops and other skaters to compare to, so...
I used to sprain my ankles a lot in dance, and they take forever to heal. Hey katz in boots which model did you get for proflex? 2700 or the higher end one? I also wonder if Proflex breaks down, seeing that it can bend all the way anyway.
------
I just asked the "pro" shop about proflex. They said they'll get someone to get back to me.

I wish I can see how these skates work!
Thanks for all the help!

No proshop here, and not many skaters to compare to either. Newer brands/models take a while to catch on here cos we can't try them on or check them out first. Have to wait for some brave soul to try something new.

I'd been considering Proflex for a while, then my coach got them, so that confirmed my decision to try them. There's now 5 of us at our rink wearing the. I used to be the only one in Grafs, my coach & my daughter used to wear Gams. A few here have Risport, a couple have Riedell, the rest are in various Jackson models. Edea hasn't made it here yet.

I went for the high end model. (I figured if I was going to have a big fight with my husband over the expense, I may as well make it worth my while Besides, I'm worth it, even if my skating isn't ). The bend is at a hinged cuff, so it isn't breaking down the leather. The bottom part is a like a shoe. The hinged cuff is pretty rigid (but well padded) so I don't know how/if that'll break down. The actual hinge is more likely to be the weak link.

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

Yes. Firstly, edea's are for wider feet, and there may be other subtle differences in the shape of the foot bed that I didn't notice when trying on edea's.
Secondly, edea's are very lushly padded compared to Risport. Edea users I know all unanimously declare they've never had better skates in their lives and that it feels like wearing your most comfy sneakers, but with the support of a good skate. They all say they'll never wear anything else again... But, as I've said, they're for a different foot shape. Personally, I had at least a centimetre width left in Edea's middle width size on each side of my foot, where as risport widths are fine for me. So it was sorta hopeless. Which is too bad because, the padding is extremely lush and comfortable.

Lightweight... I don't really think they're that lightweight. I mean they're a little bit lighter than my graf edmonton specials and they're certainly a lot lighter than risports, but I wouldn't say they're extremly light. Maybe brands like harlick or something are even heavier, I wouldn't know we don't have those here. The difference is nowhere near the difference between say, roller skates and ice skates. I can't imagine it affecting single jumps in any way - maybe how high you raise your foot in spirals or extend it, at most.

One curious thing I've noticed, I'm not sure if it's boot related in any way or not (may be blades as well) but all the edea users I know at the rink seem to have well above average toe jumps for their level (lutz, flip, toeloop etc)

If I try out Edea or Proflex, I'll be the Brave One. So far I don't see anyone using them. So far, not many people know about them. The Edea skater I saw was a kid who quickly disappeared. I wish someone braver will start wearing those skates! By the way, are the proflex your first Jackson skates? Either boots I get will be my first of that brand...

Let me think... If the hinge is the one that will actually wear out, then why are PF5000 and PF2700 priced so differently! From what I can tell, there's no huge differences. I'm kind of itching to try proflex.

Just showed my mum (I'm 18 and hoping she'll offset a little cost) the Proflex. She was asking what's the thing there for and why it looks so ugly.

Hey Sessy, Edea's weight should not be one of the main consideration factor? Is it comparable to the LS series that Riedell has put out? I'll actually be glad for any reduction in weights. My Klingbeils weigh a ton.

If Edea are generally wider than Risport's medium width (B you mean?), then it should be a C in Risport's terms? I really want to try them out, but oh well. Actually, two skaters I know with LS1310 are complaining that they cannot tie their skates tight enough. I attribute that to the very cushy tongue and heel. It feels tight, but because the padding is compressible, it actually creates more space when the skater starts to move. I'm quite apprehensive about getting skates with lush wonderful padding now! But I see your driving point of comfort...

Toss the dice and throw me some cash...

SkatEn- my former coach had Edea's and he said they were so lightweight that it was like wearing a house slipper. He also complained that he couldn't get them tight enough, and that ultimately was what made him switch back to his old boot.

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

We don't have Riedell or Kingbeil here, I can't compare (we also only have Jackson up to Classique, which is not a comparable stiffness and therefore I can't compare the weight on that either). Edea, Risport, Graf. That's all we have here.

I'm on my second pair of Proflex boots - the hinge didn't wear out on mine, the inside got "beat up" (the "shoe" part where the heel sits - all the padding/etc wore apart). They're not heavy, and "weak" ankles aren't an issue. They have lateral support, you build up ankle control by using your ankle (it's not a strength issue).

I like 'em, and wouldn't go back.

I know nothing re the Edea boots.

Was it because of the generous cushioning? If so, companies have to rethink about comfort vs practicality! Hmm... Then I guess weight (or lack of) is on Edea's side...
Somehow I'd rather have Edea Risport or Graf here... Edea has not touched down here while Graf is not available through anyone AFAIK...
Did you have issues with the Proflex? That's what I'm worried about--- issues and then no one to help with. By the way, is the inside, especially where the hinge is, also hinged? Like, is the inside two piece like the outside? Thanks, most have been saying that there should be little or no issue about having weak ankles. And you're another loyal user... So... Why am I still undecided...

Thanks for all the help! It's been interesting to see the outreach of these brands/models!

Ummmmm - it's a two-piece boot - the "shoe" part that cradles your foot, and the hinged part that surrounds that and goes around your ankle. I had NO issues with the hinge or anything aside from wearing them for more than 2 years and the inside starting to split from shoving my foot in there repeatedly (I skate in 'em about 10 hours a week). I probably could get someone to repair the heel part where the padding was starting to split and get another year or more out of them. They don't break down like regular boots - since the hinge takes the bend rather than leather creasing and breaking down. I was warned that the wires can snap eventually (mine did not in more than 2 years), but I ordered a spare set and can replace them when needed. (They seem to last longer than laces LOL.) I know one person who snapped them prematurely by cranking down on them when they were "stuck" a bit rather than backing it out and trying again. (It doesn't take a lot of force to tighten them - if something's "stuck" you'll feel it - and it never happened to me.)

You shouldn't have any issue that needs help beyond the eye of a coach to help you how to figure out how to do stuff again - and after a week or two you'll be good to go.

The Proflex and the Edea sound like drastically different boots - so it depends on what you want on your feet. I wouldn't buy any boot without trying it on your foot - some boots fit some feet better than others.

GL with your decision - I obsessed about switching whe I did - but am glad I did!

Sort of. When I first returned to skating I got a pair of Mystiques (ebay store sent them instead of Classiques, refunded my money) but they were way too big for me, and really not something I would pass judgement on.

After that it was Graf Galaxy before the Proflex.

Luxury! Some of us don't have that option. Our rink stocks Jackson Mystiques and recently added the Classique model. Anything else, you order it, you bought it.

SkatEn, feel free to pm with any further questions of my Proflex experiences. I've probably posted a lot about them in various other threads, and am happy to share my experiences, and why my coach recommends them.

__________________
Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

My Edea skates are really annoying me because their not pure white, has anyone tried to dye or whiten the pearl ones? xxxx

As a person who used to have serious ankle strength issues (weekly ankle sprains and strains for years), be warned that poor skate fit (and other poor shoe fit) makes a big difference. The side of the skate should provide sideways support. It can't if it doesn't fit right, at, below and maybe above the ankle, and at the heels, it is very easy to turn the ankle. A loose spot creates motion, which is bad.

Fit is way more important than virtually anything else about your skates, so don't be sucked into the wrong brand just because you like their cool features.

I know that advice is useless, if there is no place to try these skates out. From what I can see on the web, I think Edea and Jackson boots are heat moldable, which would help a bit. So are most skates.

Maybe you can cajole people on this board to post scanned pictures of the insoles at the bottom of their non-custom boots, of various brands and widths. If you can shrink or enlarge them to match the size and shape of a tracing of the bottoms of your feet (left and right seperately), that would be a good starting point. Maybe you can get people at your rink to do the same for what they have.

If none of them match, some skate boot companies provide instructions for measuring their custom boots, which might include tracing the shape of your feet and stepping one foot at a time in impressible foam. You can buy casting socks, that will give them a better idea of your feet shape. Some companies can take measurements from that. I'd hate to do it on my own, but if there really was no pro shop around (it's worth driving a day to find a good one to avoid years of pain and injuries!), I'd do what I could.

Severe ankle sprains, which you can progressively build towards by repeated sprains, can be permanently dehibilitating, so take this seriously.

Part of my problem with ankle sprains was that I was afraid to fall. Everytime I went off balance, I became afraid, stiffened my ankles and everywhere else, which made me more vulnerable to injury. Better to stay relaxed, and learn to fall gently if need be. Most of the time you can instead recover your balance by pushing your arms quickly into the fall direction (which is mostly instinctive), bending your knees (which comes from being relaxed), and taking a step in the direction of the fall.

Part of my problem was I didn't understand I had one. I kept walking off sprained ankles, and going back and doing the same thing (backpacking) the next week. You need to give your ankles time to heal, and slowly build them up.

Skating, if you can follow this advice, is wonderful training for ankles. Edges, rockovers from outside to inside edges and back (e.g., power pulls), swizzles all strengthen the muscles that reinforce the ankle. But if you have over-stretched your ligaments, I don't know if there is any exercise that will solve that - maybe a sports-oriented physical therapist or certified physical trainer can help.

Hi All,

I've had two pairs of Pro Flex. The first pair wore out in less than a year and completely fell apart right before an exhibition. I had to hold it together with a rollerblade power strap to keep it on my foot. Thank God that worked! Jackson gave me a second pair for free and those the tongue split into two within a season and I had to glue in some leather to hold that together. When they were new, I liked them but I went through two pairs of $550 dollar boots in two years and I wasn't even skating all that much.

The voice of experience on this at least, Gene

I haven't had that problem at all and I skate 8-10 hours a week.

Did Jackson offer to fix the tongue issue?

I think she was at the world's a few years back? Kiira Korpi? She wore the yellowish edea's then. Now she's wearing white ones, but still edea's. They must have that color now perhaps?