I got new boots at the end of May, and for the most part they feel great. However, when I have a particularly demanding or long session, my ankle bones often feel bruised afterwards. Is this because there is too much pressure on the bone? They don't rub in a way that gives me blisters. At first I figured the pain was just because I was still breaking in the boots, but I've had them for a few months now. I'm a bit reluctant to get them punched in the ankle because I don't want them to feel too loose. Any advice?

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

How often do you skate? If you skate even as little as 2-3 times a week, there's no way your boots aren't broken in by now, unless you picked a boot way too stiff for you. I'd have a fitter look at them. Have you tried bunga pads?

Yes, it is advisable to punch out the areas where you get bruises.

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Tim David's Website

I wear bunga pads on occasion. It doesn't do anything for bruising, because there is pressure in the ankle area whether I wear them or not.

My boots are definitely broken in, so I think I will take them in to the skate shop this week and see what they say.

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

A punching won't necessarily loosen the boots, it will just widen the specific spot where the pressure is. The ankle is too low on the boot for punching to have much of an effect on tightness, and most skate pros are conservative with how much to punch out (it can always be done again but you can't take it back once done). Punching out in the ankle is very common, because unless your skates are heat moldable, the people who put in the padding don't know where your ankle is as opposed to another skater who may buy the same boots.

I had my last boots punched on the outside ankle bone after a week in them. Worked like a charm.