OOH- a nice leather lining would be great. Nothing special on my boots. When I switched out of nylons that's when the tops of my boots started slicing into my ankles. I got silipos pads and it's no problem anymore, but I still have scars. My feet never had problems though

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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)

I arrived at the rink one day with only footless tights to put on, so I didn't have a choice. I've hardly worn footie tights since except to teach. I can't decide if I like my freestyle skates better with tights or barefoot, but my dance skates feel SO much better barefoot. The first summer I wasn't wearing tights I got this itchy rash all over my left ankle, but it eventually went away and I'm not convinced it was related to skating barefoot anyway.

I go barefoot to play hockey too. Something about wearing socks in my hockey skates has never felt "right" to me.

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Shae-Lynn and Victor: We knew you were champions, and on 3/28/03 the whole WORLD found out! Thank you for twelve wonderful years!

I skate barefoot and will never go back!

I started skating barefoot because my trouser socks/tights were rubbing inside the boot.

Before going barefoot: I had blisters, my boots stank, I always had to remember to bring the right socks, and my toenails wore holes through the ends of my tights so I'd contstantly need new ones.

After becoming a barefoot skater: No more blisters, no more painful spots were seams on socks/tights rub, footless tights are easy to find, my toenail polish stays on longer, I don't have to remember the "right" socks, and my boots REALLY stink now.

If you don't smell, you're not an athlete. That's what I say!

I have my new custom Klingbeils. I absolutely love them. I didn't post in the other thread (Klingbeils vs Harlicks) but will say that the toes are especially roomy, something that I wasn't used to. I like it now.

Anyway, one day this week since I wore sandals to the rink I stuck my skates on barefoot. I kinda like it. I have the suede lining and I'm totally stuck to my boots, I have to open the laces wider to get them on and off that's all.

I do have one irritant though. Where the Klingbeil label is sewn on the inside of the ankle, it rubs and I can feel the edge of it. It leaves an imprint and an almost blister. Any suggestions?

I had the same problem, and Don removed the labels for me. You could probably do it yourself, if you have a very small seam ripper. Otherwise, you could put a piece of moleskin on the irritated spot.

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Oops! I just now saw this post when I came back to the thread to see the Kwan video mentioned in another thread. I've PM'ed you with my email address, if you still have questions.

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Blisters are why I don't skate barefoot, either. And since my feet sweat, I also hate wearing nylons, too (stinky, since nylon doesn't breathe!). Nylons also make my feet slip in my boots, so the only tights I'll wear are the over-the-boot kind. What works perfectly for me is very thin cotton socks (I just make sure the seam is up by my toenails so there's no rubbing). Since I always wear gel ankle sleeves, I can even wear those ankle-high socks they sell 3 for $3.00 at Target.

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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

It has been almost 3 months now since I started going barefoot because I was starting to get "nylon burns" where bony parts of my feet were rubbing on my boots. No more red marks going barefoot and my boots (Jackson's) don't slide at all on my feet now. Because my feet get sweaty, I powder my feet with Dr. Scholls before I put my boots on and I always leave my boots out and open to dry overnight - they are doing fine, my feet are happy, and no odour at all. On the ice I have no awareness of the boot and it feels like the blade is part of my foot. I am now having a sale on slightly used footed tights!

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

I don't like to skate barefoot, I like a double layer of socks, but I've got a feeling that might change with my new skates, which aren't a bit too big for me.
In my dancing shoes I liked to go barefoot, it just fit better that way, nylons always gave me this feeling of restricting my toes.

Just cut the very tip of the toes off for brand new slightly used footless tights!

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That's what I did to some. I also had some larger footed tights which I cut open on the bottom of the foot, and sewed hooks to each of them. Now I have brand new slightly used over-the-boot tights. But the tights need to be a bit too large for you to attempt this, else they'll be too short after doing this. It shortens them by about 1,5-2 inch to do this.
strangely, my tights didn't rip or ladder out at the bottom, even without finishing off the seam/cut, I expected I'd need to overlock it but I didn't have time for that so the first time I skated without the locking, and it held up so I decided not to lock.