Well to be honest I have never had anything positive come out of heat molding. I know many other people have, but not I. I think heat molding is basically just supposed to make the boot a little bit more comfortable- it will not add space where space is not there already, and it will not drastically bend the boot to your shape if the shape of the boot and the shape of your foot don't match. I believe that you may have more success trying to get the boot to stop bugging you in the spots you are saying, by either having the boots left on a stretcher overnight, or to have them punched right around both sides of the arch area.

I have very wide metarsals and narrow heels so I always end up having to get boots that are a little too narrow in the arch area...punching on both sides of the boots right above the sole usually fixes this for me.

I never bother with heat molding anymore, I just punch out where it hurts and have usually not had too many problems, so you may want to see if that works first, and then continue with the do-it-yourself approach if it doesn't.

Just some thoughts!!

The higher level Risports (RF3 and higher) do have heat molding but if the proshop doesn't stock those higher levels then they may not offer the service.

Jacksons say that if heat moulding is done by anyone other than a qualified technician it might void your warranty.

They did give me instructions on how to do it only because I live 1000s kms/miles from a qualified technician.

Personally I think that there is nothing to be lost from heat moulding, and if boots are at all uncomfortable, then something might be gained - if it's done carefully.

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

I think it's a bit strange that they wouldn't void the warranty if an untrained layperson does it inside their house with possibly not the right equipment, but if a trained professional does it in his shop it voids the warranty..

Not that they can tell boots have been heat-molded, or who they were molded by.

According to Don Klingbeil (who makes boots), any boot can be heat molded. He claimed the ohly difference between a heat moldable boot and a non-heat moldable boot is the label, and the price tag. (He was quite offended I thought the boots he made me needed to be molded. Done right, they make a custom last to match the shape of the foot, then sew and I think steam- and very high pressure-mold the boot around the last, which should last longer. Maybe mine were measured wrong.)

There are some limits, because some footware might use low temperature glues. They could fall apart if they get too hot. But shoes are unfortunately sometimes left in hot cars, which might reach 130-140 degrees (F) in a dark car on a very hot day, so it is hard to imagine any shoes not able to briefly take 160-165 degrees (F), and I'd bet most leather boots of any type can take 180, though I've run no extensive tests. You wouldn't get very complete molding in one 160 degree mold, but you could probably do that to almost any type of shoe.

But a bootfitter I respect says some types of heat moldable boot use very high temperature glues - e.g., some GAMS can mold up to 300 degrees (F). He said they also contain things like clay, which bakes to a shape, or plastic, which molds to a shape. Then you may get more complete molding.

BTW, anything you do with heat molding will likely be undone by leaving it in a hot car - or by a few months of time without much skating. Same is true of severe stretching. These things are temporary, at least if the changes are major. But it is surely worth a try.

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Mitch Grunes ModifyingBoots FallingGently HomePage

While I'm quite sure he is right, those boots that are marketed as heat-mouldable have gel pads in the ankle-bone area that melt and soften when heated and can then conform to the shape of your ankles.

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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 just bought a new pair of Jackson Elite boots earlier this month, and had them heat molded. When I first put them on before the heat molding, they were soooo stiff. My toes were squished into the front of the skate because my heel couldn't go all the way to the back. My first thought was that my foot measurements were taken wrong.

But after the heat molding (done in a pro shop by a skate tech) the boots were very warm and comfortable. I sat in them with the laces tied tightly until they cooled off. Then I took them off and the skate tech mounted the blades. Then I went out on the ice to try them out to make sure the blades were mounted correctly. Fortunately this shop was at an ice rink so I could go on the ice immediately. On the ice my boots felt GREAT! I could spin and jump right away. Crossovers were a little awkward. But the mounting was just right and nothing had to be adjusted.

A staff person told me that due to the heat molding, the breaking in process should only take a week at most......not true. The next day (after the boots had totally cooled off) they were very stiff -- not as stiff as before heat molding, but still stiff and uncomfortable. I have been skating for three weeks with the top hook undone, and they are just about fully broken in. There is one spot on my left ankle that the top of the boot rubbed at my skin and caused a small cut. But other than that everything is good.

So I say all that to agree with the others that heat molding only molds the skate to your foot, the breaking-in process remains the same and can still be kinda painful. Bunga pads help with any sore spots (I haven't bought any yet though).

Yes, I was told something similar by the guy from SP Teri. I think he said there was a layer of plastic (or a resin or glue?) in-between the layers of leather in heat-moldable boots. When heated, the plastic/resin/glue softens and molds to the shape of your foot, then it re-hardens when it cools down again.

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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

I believe its the same type of plastic used in making orthotic splints...so if you leave them (skates and/or splints) in a hot place like a car they become unmolded and in the case of a custom-made splint (like for carpal tunnel syndrome) become a mess of goo-plastic+strapping! It's easy to see, learn and remember after one incident with a splint, not so easy on the skates because there is no evidence of them un-molding!

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