QUESTION about Klingbeils

[miraclegro]

Okay, so, i am still finishing breaking in my new custom Klingbeils. I'd like to know what experience other skaters have had with them. I am having some issues with my right boot, but i am also wondering if the terrible aching all down the back of my legs, and the bone between my buttocks - right at the end of the spine where it aches so bad is attributed to my new skates, or if it is just my getting older (i'm 44), ....

Any thoughts? also, i had Harlicks before this. :giveup:

[g0t2sk8]

I went from SP Teri to Klingbeil, and I have been very happy with them. I would contact the Klingbeil's and let them know the problem that you are having.

[jenlyon60]

I would definitely contact Klingbeil. I just got my 4th pair last week and for the most part have had very few problems with this pair (or any other). I've skated in them 4 times so far, each time for about 70 minutes (90 minutes of ice time, plus a couple re-lace breaks each time).

I changed some features on this pair which has given me some foot/arch pain, but even that's starting to pass. On this pair I got a slightly higher heel and the heel lock, neither of which I was used to having. So my feet sit differently in the boots and on the ice.

BTW, I'm 44 also, and chunky.

[g0t2sk8]

Talk to me about this heel lock thing. I did not know that you could get that with customs. How does it feel? While I did not kill my feet breaking the boorts in, I did notice that they are a bit more comfy than I thought they would be. I worry that the heel will slip when they wear more. What other options did you get?

36 and chunky too...I can still jump for a fat girl though :)

[jenlyon60]

The heel lock seems to consist of extra padding along the sides of the inside of the back of the boot. There's like a "pocket" at the bottom where the heel sets. Because of the extra padding, the heel can't easily move around inside the boot.

When I put the boots on, I have to kick the tails of the blades against the floor a bit to make sure that my heel settles correctly into the heel pocket.

It felt really weird at first, but now I'm starting to get used to it.

I also have a slightly higher heel, as well as some other dance-specific features -- some special construction along the back of the boot to help with flexibility, as well as the lower dance cut and rolled top (like a very miniature dance back-stay), plus a "U"-shaped cut-out at the ankle instead of the typical dance scallop. It looks like what the boot would look like if instead of the dance scallop, you totally cut out the section of the boot where that lace hole would be into a "U" shape. That cut-out works like the scallop cutting except that it actually gives a bit more flex without having the scallop buckle. The cut-out is mostly for dancers, but I know of at least one freestyler (female half of an intermediate pair team) who has the same cut-out on her Klingbeils.

I do mostly dance with a bit of MIF thrown in for good measure, when I'm frustrated or bored with the Silver dances.

I definitely have easier bend already in the boots. I attribute it at least partly to the "U" cut-out.

[miraclegro]

Well, any more feedback would be good. Perhaps i am just still breaking them in. The right boot, although the master skate tech says looks okay from the interior imprint my foot has made on them, it seems just a tad long, plus feels like my heel/ankle area isn't properly "cupped." He sugggested perhaps i could get more padding put in them where the heel is. I just don't know. I do know that my legs are hurting more now than before, which is strange. I wish i knew someone who would know about muscle/back/leg stuff and skates.

Thanks for the input -- any other ideas are welcome.


p.s. for those who don't know, the Klingbeils were my choice this time because they have a sort of "built in" orthodic made right into the boot bottom, plus some of the "extras" were inclusive in the price, plus they were supposed to hold up a lot longer. Now I hear they are charging sligthly for the add ons.

[jenlyon60]

They started charging for the add-ons sometime around the beginning of June.

I ordered my new boots on 4 June and the extra charges had just kicked in within the previous few days.

But... any boot that gave me that type of pain (up through the spine and back of legs) I would seriously talk to the manufacturer about. That shouldn't happen, be it Klingbeils, Jacksons, Harlicks, SP Teris or Joe Schmoe's skate boots.

[icedancer2]

plus a "U"-shaped cut-out at the ankle instead of the typical dance scallop. It looks like what the boot would look like if instead of the dance scallop, you totally cut out the section of the boot where that lace hole would be into a "U" shape. That cut-out works like the scallop cutting except that it actually gives a bit more flex without having the scallop buckle. The cut-out is mostly for dancers, but I know of at least one freestyler (female half of an intermediate pair team) who has the same cut-out on her Klingbeils.

I definitely have easier bend already in the boots. I attribute it at least partly to the "U" cut-out.

I like this idea of a U-cut -- my new SP-Teri Dance boots have a double scallop, but I'm not sure it really works. I can bend into it but... hmmm -- neat idea -- maybe I'll have them cut that part out if I go down to SF sometime.

Miraclegro -- you might want to try getting some acupuncture/chiropractic -- someone who does some bodywork to help you get through this -- it may be that because of the new boots you are using parts of your body differently -- maybe an orthotic would help. Ask around. There is probably somebody at your rink that can help you. It sounds a little bit like sciatica.

Of course, I am also getting older, everything hurts and mostly I just shrug and think, "Oh well, getting old..." --

Good luck and have fun with your new boots! I bet they are quite beautiful!

[jenlyon60]

You might be able to simulate the effect by taking the lacing out of the set of holes between the double scallop, especially if it's the top set of holes before the hooks, and going straight to the lower hooks.

Looking at SP Teri's web site, I noticed that their stock dance boot has a similar cut-out now instead of the scallop, only theirs looks a bit like a "V" with a rounded bottom.

I like this idea of a U-cut -- my new SP-Teri Dance boots have a double scallop, but I'm not sure it really works. I can bend into it but... hmmm -- neat idea -- maybe I'll have them cut that part out if I go down to SF sometime.