The other important thing is that there's no one right boot for everybody. Each boot manufacturer has a different basic last.

Depending on the shape of a skater's foot (as well as how that person skates, their skating level, their anatomy, etc) the boot that works for 1 skater may not be the ideal boot for another skater, even if each are at the same or equivalent test level.

I wore Riedells when I first started skating 20+ years ago, and was miserable for 2+ years. Finally a friend of mine suggested I try Klingbeils and I did, and my feet were happy, happy, happy. I'm on my 4th pair of Klingbeils now.

A couple years ago, before I messed up my right knee again, I though about playing around with some low-level freestyle again for fun. So I bought a pair of Jackson 2700s (I think that was the model). Wore them about 3 times and could never get past the arch pain that set in after about 5 minutes. They're still sitting in a closet, brand new, with a pair of 8 3/4" Coronation Ace blades on them. For me, the Jackson last is NOT a good fit.

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

I agree w/ the second reply, just figure out what works for you. Don't ask us, ask a fitter who has experience. Every foot is different everyone skates differently, what works for me will probably not work for you.

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Who me? Couldn't be....
http://www.youtube.com/bouldersk8r

I'll chime in with jenlyon and coskater - just b/c one boot works for a lot of other people doesn't mean it will necessarily work for you. If you can (and I realize not everyone can), go to a skate shop with a good fitter that carries a variety of brands. The fitter should be able to tell you what brands will work for your foot shape and which won't, and they should be able to sell you a brand that will work (or at least have the honesty to send you somewhere else where you can get what you need).

Be wary of a pro shop that only stocks 1 or 2 skate brands, b/c if so, you may not get the best advice. Personally, I haven't had the best luck with pro shops located in rinks, but that doesn't mean that all rink pro shops are bad - just investigate and ask around (like other skaters and parents, and coaches) before you go somewhere.

I use custom Harlicks and never had a problem. I swear by them.

I don't think there is one definitely right answer to recommend. Skating boots is a very personal thing. I think you should A) ask a lot of questions B) find someone who isn't just trying to make a buck and sell what THEY stock only -- because that is what they will recommend and C) consider your own foot issues. Also consider how often you skate, how much break in time you'll be able to give to it, and go from there.

Also find out the policy of the name brand, say if in 2 months or 3 months you decide you hate what you got, and the refund policy.

Wish you the best.....miraclegro

ps. i have had just about everything that could go wrong and learned from it, if you need anything else for help!

If they are properly fitted, they shouldn't rub that badly! Okay, yes, most new boots have one spot where they rub, but you should be able to get that seen to by your fitter. My Gams took a week before they felt like "my boots", and I really ought to get the toe-box reamed out, but they're fine if I pad my bunion.

The first pair I had, before the mouldable linings came in, the fitter punched out the ankles for me before I even took them home, and I really never had a moment's bother with them.

I know one skater who has new boots and was doing axels his first day in them, and is now working on triples - even if he does have to stop and relace fairly frequently! I don't know what brand he has, but they seem to be appropriate for his particular feet and ability level.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I'll second that! My rink has a "pro-shop" and they only carry Jacksons and Reidell.... They sized me wrong (twice) and mis-mounted my blade....
so, when it's time to get new skates (probably next year, when I've got my $$$ out of these) I will go elsewhere.

Maybe I will go with another brand, maybe I will get Jacksons again (I'm one that likes them-they fit well despite the fact they are slightly 1/2 size too big for me....)

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

What level are you?

I just got Graf Edmonton Specials and they *definitely* will lasts more than a few months! LOL I can see them lasting several years. I am a former competitive skater that is now a grown-up (now can do all singles, spins, etc though they don't look pretty). I could have gone with a less stiff boot but the shop had my size so I could have them *right then*. As an adult I have had SP-Teri Super Teri's before (torture chambers for my wide flat feet), and Riedells (had them for maybe a week before I sold them)... When I was competing I wore custom Harlicks and High Testers or whatever they were called at the time.

Don't think "Oh, these skaters wear Graf they must be the best!" because like everyone said, most of those skaters are NOT wearing them... Maybe they wore them once, maybe for a season, maybe not at all. Like with all things, companies send out free product to celebs as part of their marketing ("Gwyneth Paltrow wears XYZ lipgloss." for example)

I agree with ask around your rink, ask your coach... Don't by a boot too stiff or "ahead" of your level, since it will slow your progress. I am a bad example, I didn't need the Grafs I bought but it was really a convenience thing for me (I needed new boots right THEN LOL), and fortunately it has turned out ok.

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--
Natalie

http://www.ILoveTaB.com

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But what people are saying (people that you asked for advice, I might add) is that if you get a boot that is too far above you, it will slow your progress and won't get you to the level of the boot. Weight and stiffness of the boots is very important and determines how well you can jump, spin, do field moves, etc. What can happen if boots are too stiff is that the tongue is the only thing that bends, and this can lead to a lot of problems, such as shin splints, blisters, and other nasty foot/ankle conditions. Being in pain certainly impacts your ability to advance in your skating ability. What a boot in that condition can also do is push you forward on your toepicks and make it harder for you to land jumps and perform other skills. I know this b/c I have a pair of too-stiff boots (I'll spare everyone the explanation of why I got them) and it has caused me many of the problems I mentioned.

The amount of time someone skates per week is also important in breaking skates in. Elite skaters break in their boots quickly b/c they skate 15-20 hours a week. The average adult skater doesn't skate that much and it can take a lot longer to break in boots, especially if they are too stiff, and the longer it takes, the more their progress is stalled.

Well, good for you. But this may not be everyone's experience and I would venture to say it's probably not the experience of the majority of the people here. I must say, your last comment borders on offensive. You came here and asked for advice, and people gave it to you. Try to be gracious and not insulting.

Progress in skating is dependent on a variety of factors, not just "determination". Having equipment that is appropriate for a skater's ability level at that particular time is one of many attributes that are needed to make progress.

Edited to add that if you buy a boot designed for a level you want to be in a year or 2, or 3, it is likely that the boot could break down in some way before you ever get to that desired level, necessitating a new purchase, and you'll have spent the extra money on the first pair of boots for no reason.

I think you should read this article: http://www.usfigureskating.org/Magaz...55&issue=29808

This article was written by a skate technician... but the point of this article was this:
If your body can handle a stiffer boot, good for you. Me? I'm closing in on 40 and physically can't take it things as I once did. God knows I've spent enough money on boots that are too stiff, making it harder for me bend the ankle and causing a myriad of injuries along the way. Never mind I had a much tougher time learning the skills I need to learn "to get up to the level of my boots" when I'm too busy healing from the injuries caused by those same boots. Long term, I'd rather spend it on equipment that will get my body to last thru working on the building my skills, rather than having to put my body thru the physical torture to try to "match the boot to my skills" and spending the money on doctor's visits/bills/crutches/medicine/etc. just b/c the equipment is quite expensive! I've done the latter case -- it's just not worth it!

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

I don't know what coach training is like in Australia, but here, I know, it does incorporate knowing about boots and blades and what to recommend for a particular skater. So, since you don't have an independent fitter near where you live, ask your coach instead! If they don't know, they'll say so.... but they probably *will* know.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Doubles usually don't take "a few months" to get- they take a long time, and if a person is only working on singles, then they're not anywhere near learning or landing doubles yet. Also, if they don't have the muscles to break in boots stiffer than what they need, and they are not doing the jumps for which they'd need these boots, then it's dangerous for them to have them- many chronic injuries starting with tendonitis start that way.

Now, if someone is working on their axel and beginning drills for doubles, then yes, getting boots that will only last through their singles would be stupid. But it doesn't mean they have to get the boot that will last them through their double axel, either- cause that's over a year away. You have to find a logical middle ground so that you buy something supportive enough, but not SO supportive that you cannot break them in, cannot bend, cannot do your technique properly, and in the end hurt yourself in the process of "working up" to the boot. You should never have to catch up to your equipment. It's the other way around. A Senior skater could still do triple jumps on Coronation Aces (it would probably take a little getting used to and it wouldn't be awesome quality, but they could). So if you can't even do doubles unless you're wearing Gold Seals, then your blade's doing too much work and you're not doing enough. It's your job to make the MOST of the equipment you've got and to not be blade or boot dependant. If you wear boots geared towards Seniors now, what will you wear when you are one??

Plus, if you are always wanting to have a blade above your level, then by the time you GET to the level of the boots and blades you bought, you'll want something even more high level. So really, you'll never catch up to your equipment at all. And for the record, I (or anyone else) never said that it was impossible to work with equipment above your level. Getting doubles in a year is fine. All I'm saying is that you cannot prove to me that it wouldn't have come to you quicker if you'd had equipment appropriate for your level. That's all. And you don't know if you're not going to get tendonitis in your legs ten years from now from boots that are too stiff and that you feel oh-so-gratified for having finally worked up to breaking them in. I know that I once had a very very bad pair of boots when I was about 12 or so, and now 8 years later...I have constant, chronic tendonitis. And trust me- it ain't much fun. It's one of the reasons I'm so adamant about this type of discussion. It's just NOT worth the long term damage.

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I'm using Risport beginner skates, RF4's. I've had them since I started skating, a year and a half ago. They've shown no sign of breaking down yet, and are very comfortable, great for single jumps and axels. Very popular at my rink as they are the cheapest boots. £75!

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I'm one of those odd people also. I've been in Jacksons almost since I started in LTS 3+ years ago. Started in Mystique, and went to Competitor when my heels started slipping. In retrospect, I probably should have gone to the Freestyle boot, but the pro shop only had the Mystique and Competitor. I guess that my next boots will be the same. They fit my foot well. They only ache after I've been off-ice for a while.....anywhere from a week to 14 weeks.

I hope you just mean this thread, not this board in general. Stick around! I want to hear more from you - more people on the board is always good. Don't worry about disagreements, nobody can ever agree on everything, and everyone on this board seems nice and well-intended. No leaving - you're stuck here now!

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Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

Well...pretty much no one gets doubles within their first year of skating. As such, you must be an absolute phenomenon, and if that is the case, then yes, I am saying you might have gotten them in six months. Ask Johnny Weir how long it took him after stepping on the ice to get a double axel. It was less than a year- and that's the first triple. It's doable. So you can't say it wouldn't have happened. It's a shame because if you keep being stubborn and unrealistic about the way to treat your equipment, you will likely get injured, and it sounds like you've got a bright skating future as of right now. I just think it wouldn't hurt you to try and listen to people who've been doing this long that you have and know a thing or two that you might not, even if they don't make sense to you right now. That's all.

Sorry I have a newbie question - what does an independent fitter do? Does he actually have boots to try on and for sale or is it just measuring you for custom boots so he is kind of an agent for the custom boot manufacturer?

In my experience, an independent fitter is a person who will measure your feet for new boots and help you determine what type of boot you need, what manufacturer might make said boots and whether or not you can wear a stock boot or need a custom boot.

Sometimes they will have stock boots for you to try on, other times, they will measure you, you will order the boot and then come in when they are ready to be picked up.

Some independent fitters will represent one boot company over another -- the person in my area who fits for Klingbeil used to work for SP Teri, but I believe she sells Klingbeil exclusively now.

Other people in my area will sell you the boot that is right for your foot and skating needs.

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Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

I think you are wise to stick with the same brand you are used to. I have heard so many horror stories of people trying different brands of boots and finding that they are not made for their feet and just can't wear them. Ultimately, a boot you can't use is the most expensive type of boot you can get!

Sarah, that is AWESOME that you are so talented! More power to you! My guess is that if everybody had been aware of your skating history and rapid progression, you would have heard less about skating in equipment above your level. Sounds like you would do well to have boots and blades that you'll want to do triples in. Looking forward to hearing about your first triple, so stay on the board!