I also wholeheartedly recommend Klingbeils. I had my first pair for 4.5 years.

I got my second pair in late 2003, and they ran, er, cost $495. I thought that included a $30 surcharge for the extra leather for my large, moonstomping feet, but maybe not?
I've not yet been to Jamaica, Queens, to get the BIll K treatment, but the 2 fitters who took the measurements for my first and second pair, respectively, got it just right, because the boots were a Cinderella fit.

mdvask8r; I'm so glad you're happy with your Klingbeils. And I can't wait to see your axel, double sal, and flying camel attempts. Then you can start giving me advice!

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Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

I paid by MasterCard last October without a problem. I sent my MasterCard details via email (scrambled and half in one email half in another - can't be too careful these days!).

I stand corrected. Thanks for the info.

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Ok well Im going to go against what everyone else here is saying and say that I have had Risport Super Cristellos for 2 years now and I Love them. I dont think I have a particularly skinny foot either. The skates have held up just fine for the last 2 years skating year round about 4-5 times a week doing my axel and dbls up 2 the loop. Just to tell you that no not everyone hates Risports...

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Hurrah for Desert Skaters! YAY for Jeff Buttle and Virtue and Moire!

I have Graf Edmontons, and am only doing single jumps (nowhere close to the axel yet though). As many have said, they're really too much boot for my level, but I like them a lot. The break-in was pretty easy and short, and I have a lot of confidence when I skate on them. I skated in a borrowed pair of Reidells a couple days ago that were my size, and I can say that I would never put money into those. I somehow managed a salchow and toe loop on them, but it was miraculous that it succeeded and I couldn't hold the landing, I could barely spin counterclockwise and not at all clockwise. Maybe it was because they were lighter weight or the blades weren't as good, or just that I wasn't used to them, but it was an awful experience.

That being said, while I'm happy enough with my Grafs (which aren't cheap, unfortunately), my next pair will be Klingbeils. I've read many, many more good reviews of them than any other brand, plus heard many good things about them in person. In addition, my previous pair of skates was a well-used pair of Klingbeils, and while the blades I had were awful and getting them used to my feet was a painful few weeks, in the end they were a much more comfortable boot. I was able to trust them even further than the Grafs, not because of the blade itself, but because I could feel and control it a bit better. The Grafs are stiffer and have better padding, but I think that's more because they're new than anything else. Custom Klingbeils will be the next boot...but hopefully that's still a couple years off for me .

All that being said, I haven't skated in new Klingbeils, and I do know that Graf makes a nice boot that makes for a great skate. I *do* like them enough to recommend them. An overseas friend of mine also skates in Graf and she loves them too, and my skate fitter highly recommended them and skates in them himself. However I don't know any other Graf owners - they don't seem to be too popular.

I'd have to agree with what most people have said here and say that it's worth saving the money for good boots. In retrospect I probably should have spent less money on the blades and went ahead and gotten Klingbeils the last time. I'd also like to try a pair of SP Teris at some point because that's what I initally wanted, but I don't think I'll get them next in favor of Klingbeils...