I have just bought some new skates. I've only been going skating since April and just had a cheap pair with that nasty plastic fake leather material.
So I bought some decent ones - Riedell gold 300 (as I am a big Dancing on Ice fan and this is the model they use on the show! I also went to the chap who provides the skates for the show!)

I'm doing Skate Uk lessons I'm on grade 7 now. Hoping to do all the grades but there are some tricky looking things ahead so not sure if I'll manage it!!

I'm just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on new skates - as I am finding these quite uncomfortable, I've only worn them twice so I know it's early days. And also as I'm not used to proper leather so that feels different too.
Does everyone find that it takes a while to break in new boots?

Also I am having trouble stopping with these brand new shiny blades!! I'm guessing this will pass once the edges are worn in a bit?
I'm generally feeling very clumsy with them aswell, don't know if it's because I'm tensing up as they are hurting??

I have stuffed the boots to try and help them give a bit. Does anyone else have any other ideas?
They have a heat activated fit - I'm so not risking putting them in the oven like it says - but might give them a blast of the hairdryer?

I wouldn't put my skates in the oven either, but if you go to the skate shop, they usually have an oven type thing to stick your skates in. I don't think it's the same as the oven's in our kitchens. It definitly does help quite a bit, plus your feet get nice and toasty while they're in there. You could also try wearing them while you're just sitting around, say on the computer or something (with hard guards on!).

It takes a while, but once they're broken in, it's awesome. Congrats on the new skates!

Absolutely. Breaking in can take anywhere from a week to two months. It depends on how often you skate, how "hard" you skate (how much you push and bend in the boots) and your feet/ankles. Leather will, when broken in, feel a million times better than plastic or vinyl.

Yes, sharp blades will be more difficult to stop in, but you don't want blades to become dull because then stopping will become difficult again - it's like a bell curve. Since you are a new skater, it's probably half because of sharp blades and half because of your stopping technique. As your boots break in, you will be able to get more bend, and consequently be able to push the blades harder into the ice to stop.

Enjoy your new skates!

You're probably already doing this, but don't lace them all the way to the top for a while. There's a lady at my rink who calls new skates "six weeks of whining."

If you've gone from the imitation leather to these ones, you've probably gone a pretty large jump in "stiffness"; I don't know how the UK test levels compare, but, Riedell is showing these for usage at the top of the intermediate level, next ones up are for advanced ... they're rated for Preliminary Freeskate & Dance up to Junior Bronze (which is axel level for jumps, Fiesta, Swing and Willow Dances for testing) in Canada (yes, I know, that's all subjective and only a good fitter can really match you to a boot). So, I'd think you're going to see some real changes in stiffness in the ankles ... which sounds like what you're experiencing.

I'd find a (good) dealer to get them heat activated; there is a special oven they use, and they need to be fitted on to your feet with the molding. Even with the molding, you may still need them punched out a bit, or shaped to fit your foot better. A good fitter can really shorten that breakin period. I'd ask around your rink for someone that is recommended by skaters and coaches that you respect/trust.

Re the shiny new blades: you can dull them a bit, one trick our skaters use is to do side pushes across the rubber to take a bit of the edge off ... or a good sharpener can tweak the grind a bit to make them a bit less 'sharp'!

Definitely get them heat molded at your skate shop (they use a mini convection oven, not a standard oven) and "punch out" the ankle areas if you still feel them pressing against your ankle bones even a little.

If those are the boots they use on the show, it's quite possible that the stiffness level is for more advanced skaters who skate more powerfully and on deeper edges, putting more stress on the boot than a less advanced skater. Did the person you bought them from consult with you to make sure they were the right stiffness for you?

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That's the boot that I have, and yes, it did take some time to break them in . . . particularly tender on the ankle bones . . . and I didn't have access at the time to a decent pro shop that could have punched them out for me. They will feel better eventually, but definitely see if you can find someone to do the heat molding for you, that should help somewhat.

I've just bought exactly the same boots, but as they're a downgrade from a stiffer boot, I've had no break-in time at all - more like a couple of weeks of sheer relief! Sorry, I know you didn't want to hear that!

I was assuming we'd bought them at the same shop, as I also went to the place that supplies skates for Dancing on Ice, but then I noticed that you're in Cheshire and it seemed a very long way to travel, so I'm not so sure now. Anyway, what I was going to say was that my boots were heat-moulded whilst I was there, in the proper convection oven, and that took care of the only spot where they felt a bit tight. So if you can get back to the shop, then that would definitely be a good idea.

You can break in new boots pretty well, just by wearing them at home when you are relaxing (eg. watching tv) or sitting still (eg. at the computer!). Put skate guards on first of course, to save your flooring and blades. Don't walk around in them as it puts the creases in the wrong place. My experience is that an hour or two a day of this, spread over two weeks, does the trick.

Also, when boots are new, don't lace the middle holes/hooks across the bend in the ankle, but skip this hole/hook. This enables more flex.

You can take off some of the sharpness of the blades by very gently running them forward and back on the plastic flooring at the rink gates a couple of times.

And if the ankles are rubbing, get your boot man to punch them out (he has a special punch tool for this).

Don't hurry to get any modifications, but get the heat moulding if possible. Mine were too tight in the arch from the second I put them on, but now after around a month's wear (in increments, not all together) they don't hurt in the arch until after more than an hour skating, and I expect them to continue to stretch out.

If they are not causing blisters or rubbing then they should be fine and it will just take time. If they are, then you may want to invest in gel sleeves. For snowplough stops try getting flatter onto your blade before stopping, otherwise you'll most likely end up pushing on the inside edge and you'll keep going!

One of the differences with the heat-moulded boots it that they have a "shell" of plastic in them, which means that they don't conform over time the way that the traditional all-leather boots did. it's a rigid layer ... So, the hot socks, the wearing in, etc., don't work the same way. Which is why some coaches really resist recommending them to their skaters.

My thing - all leather non-custom skates "broke in" my kid's feet (the scars, bumps, callouses) - the heat moulded didn't. Basically, with every pair of the heat moulds and with good fitting, they've gotten in and skated with virtually NO breakin period, and that's pretty much the norm. I've never had to use gel pads, blister pads etc ... and we're not talking low-level boots, either!

Now, it takes a good fitter. The same model of skates in the hands of a different local fitter - there is more of a breakin period for the skaters who choose to go that fitter.

It takes, for us, about 3 sessions of heat moulding ... skate goes in, it goes on, it cools, it goes in, it goes on ... etc. and the punching is done thru the process. Also, going to the same fitter consistently helps, because he now knows exactly where the ease has to be, how the skate gets worn in, the jumps that are being used ... how much the pronation is ...

Another weird idea: do deep squats while the heat moulding is being done, it helps to breakin the ankles, because the plastic is soft and malleable at that point, and the skater can bend and flex it down ...

Eek, no - that'll break the boots down, not break them in! I was told that you have to sit down with the heated boots on - you shouldn't even stand up, let alone bend your knees.

I've had two pairs of boots heat moulded, and it made a big difference both times. It doesn't shorten the life of the boots if it is done properly, but either get it done by the boot fitter or ask him for full instructions.

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The squats with the heat molding ... it's actually, you're right, a way to break them down quickly. That's the reason why they do it, so that they can get the knee flex back ASAP (which cuts down on the breakin period). I was thinking that if the stiff boot was causing the problem, then, getting that flex in would help as well (once you can bend your knees ... all is better ... )

My Reidells came with full instructions on how to heat mould them at home.

I was a little apprehensive, but it was easy (you do it at a relatively low temperature) and it made a big difference.

It's quite an odd thing to take your boots out of the oven, and then put them on! Toasty . . . .

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Amanda

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance . . . "

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Get some PartyFeet, Compeed, or Bunga gel pads (named in sequence of rising cost per pad, also rising quality though).
And put your skates on, with blade guards, put the top of the skate (toepick-ish) on a step of stairs and the back of the blade on the floor with both skates, and kneel in them, pushing them to break in at the ankle, also, don't tie them too tight and too high at first, let a few hooks lose at first.
Heat mold them anyway. Makes a GIANT difference, seriously, my risport etoiles were harder to break in than the graf edmontons, even though the difference in hardness is giant, just because edmonton is heat mould.

The reason you can't stop could be the kneebend. Might have to do with the new blades, it took me months before I had my hockey stops back perfectly on the coronation ace blades (compared to the mk21 I had). I've been advised not to, but I like to run a block of wood once or twice along the length of a blade after it's been freshly sharpened anyway. Otherwise I find them too sharp to skate. Maybe the factory sharpening was good on your blades. On mine it was pretty bad. One edge wasn't shaprened at all.

I did squats and then skated in my boots right after taking them out of the heat-molding oven. It made the break-in so much easier, but it did not break them down. I've had them for 2 years now, and the level of break-in/break-down is the same as my previous pair at 2 years (and I never heat-molded those).

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

We did one of our pairs at home - I can't remember whose but I'm almost sure it was Husband's previous pair. The most recent pairs we haven't bothered - they were comfortable enough not to rub, so didn't need it. But they are easy to do at home, especially if you have a fan oven.

To the OP - new boots do feel awful at first, but persevere and in a week or two they'll feel like your skates! Go and investigate the footcare counter at Boots and invest in loads of blister plasters and maybe some cooling spray. Wear the thinnest possible socks - pop-socks are ideal, or very thin silk socks. That sounds counter-intuitive, but most people find their skates are instantly more comfortable.

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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!

The oven that pro shops use is a kind of convection oven which is very different from the oven in your home. I wouldn't put my skates in my own oven. That's scary. Heat molding only really helps with the spots where a new boot would rub your foot. (ankle bones) With heat molding, I don't need to have my skates "punched out" around my ankle bones to prevent discomfort. However, it doesn't really help with boot stiffness. It took me 3 weeks to break in my jacksons. Walking around in the skates with guards on helps speed up the process. We all feel like Frankenstein when we get new skates. Stick with it, your skills will return with interest.




BlackManSkating

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Speed up back Camel

My old coach once recommended to me that bubble wrap in your socks can help relieve soreness when you are breaking in new boots. I haven't tried it myself, but it might be worth a try.

It'll be worth it in the end!

Sheesh I wasn't even allowed to stand on the skates after heat molding them! Just put them on and sit. No wonder they kept hurting at the very bottom.
Next time I'm so gonna skate in them too. Which won't be for another 4 or 5 years I hope, lol, skates are pricey...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ice Dancer My old coach once recommended to me that bubble wrap in your socks can help relieve soreness when you are breaking in new boots. I haven't tried it myself, but it might be worth a try.

My ankles snap, crackle, and pop without bubble wrap! lol

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Doesn't the bubble wrap just immediately pop and be done with it?

Well, i kinda had to laugh at the bubble wrap idea.

Hopefully your skates were fitted well, but there are problems that are normal.

Helpful tips: LOTS of back crossovers at the rink, and putting your hard guards on and going up and down the stairs at home (carefully).

Small makeup pads in the ouchey spots help while you break them in. Big bag for cheap at the dollar store or dollar general store.

This summer mine would be left in the car and i'd put them on when they'd be nice and warm and more moldeable.

Also about 20-30 minutes on, then a break, then put them back on. Repeat.

Also, if there are really bad spots the pro shops can punch out the areas where bad rubbing continues (ankles, etc.) Be sure they know what they are doing, though.

Enjoy!

Yeah, I would think you'd want to mold them to the shape your feet take *when you are skating*, which would only happen if have all of your weight on them (i.e., not when you are sitting and most of your weight is on the chair). My feet are wide in the ball, so I think they would feel too narrow if I hadn't skated in them while they were warm and had them mold to the shape of my spread out foot. Of course, they still feel a little narrow in the ball from time to time when the rink is cold and they stiffen up, so the heat molding clearly isn't enough to actually stretch skates to a wider width or anything. Anyway, that reminds me, how are your skates feeling now?

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

Phew!
Wow thanks for all your comments.

I went along skating tonight and they are starting to feel a bit better. But this is only 3rd time so there's still a way to go! I've been stuffing them with newspaper to try and keep the shape after taking them off.
I spoke to my coach aswell and they are suggesting most of the things that have been mentioned here.
Yes bubble wrap! Wearing them in at home etc.
Also as someone has pointed out here, not having the laces completely tightened up near the top. I think I will give this a go as I think the reason I've been feeling v unsteady on them is because the top of the boot is tight so I've perhaps been locking my knees, I think if I loosen the laces I will be able to keep my knees softer.

I travelled 50 miles to get to the specialist guy who sold these boots, so sadly I can't really nip back to him! He didn't heat them but did stretch them a little bit with a gadget but he was obviously reluctant to stretch them too much in fear of making them too loose!

The instructions did say I can put them in the oven, I don't want to risk it! He did say I can blast them with a hairdryer to use the heat function so will try that.

I know they are an intermediate boot, but I wanted to get a decent quality boot that will last me a long time. I feel I've come a long way in the 6 months I've been going and hope to go further! Although I know at my age
(23) I am never going to be as good as people who have been doing it since they were kids.

I wanted this make of boot as I am a big fan of Dancing on Ice! Also secretly, further down the line, I would like to have a go at ice dancing, although only once I'm a better skater and in better shape. I guess I should take some dance lessons too! Shh don't tell anyone at my rink haha!

I'm also going to try wearing different socks as I always wear thick walking socks to skate, but perhaps with these boots I can wear thinner socks and that will give my feet a bit more room!

My stop has been better tonight, it's because the blades are sharp as my stop technique is ok, but I found it easier tonight. Which made me feel better as my stop is like a big security especially on a busy session!

I've got lots to try anyway, but I am a patient person so I will stick with it and hopefully they will soon be comfortable and I will be back to whizzing round like I did before!!

Just glad it's not just me who has this problem!

Bit worried as I've got a lesson Saturday so hopefully I will be feeling more steady by then!!

Thanks all