Boots don’t ‘feel’ right - wrong fit?

[Ic3Rabbit]

I’m planning to avoid customs duty by ordering the skates to my hotel while I’m in London and bringing them back with me when I return to my country. Whether or not I declare them doesn’t make a difference, the high customs charges apply only to "online orders" shipped into the country. Bringing a single pair of skates with me as personal luggage is allowed and not subject to the same duties. I’m a lawyer and fully familiar with my country’s customs regulations.

I’ve tried on the Jackson Artiste before, but they were far too tight on the sides of my feet. I measured my feet according to the sizing guides on various skate retailers’ websites, and for Edea skates, I was recommended a D width. That’s how I know I need a wider fit.

What I need help with is this:
Are there any shops in London where I can find Edea skates in D width?
If not, what are the most reliable places to order them online within the UK?

As I have mentioned before, the wide foot you have will not work with Edea most likely, I had asked you what your foot shape is but you haven't told me yet. That is how one can tell you what brands would work best for you. Also, fitting an Artiste is a recreational (kids usually) boot, you are going to be looking at higher level stiffer boot only boots and you cannot base your fit off of an Artiste. Once again, Al's, or Everglides in UK, there aren't great shops in London as a local has confirmed. Also, you need to be fit in person when you get new boots, I cannot emphasize ENOUGH how important it is.

 

[bratzie]

As I have mentioned before, the wide foot you have will not work with Edea most likely, I had asked you what your foot shape is but you haven't told me yet. That is how one can tell you what brands would work best for you. Also, fitting an Artiste is a recreational (kids usually) boot, you are going to be looking at higher level stiffer boot only boots and you cannot base your fit off of an Artiste. Once again, Al's, or Everglides in UK, there aren't great shops in London as a local has confirmed. Also, you need to be fit in person when you get new boots, I cannot emphasize ENOUGH how important it is.

One of my feet has a greek foot shape, and the other is more of an oriental shape. I’m just starting to learn crossovers, and I can do basic spins. I’ve been recommended a D width in Edea from my trainer. I’m 150 cm tall and weigh 46 kg. My shoe size is EU 34.5.

Where would you recommend me to get fitting?

 

[Diana Delafield]

One of my feet has a greek foot shape, and the other is more of an oriental shape. I’m just starting to learn crossovers, and I can do basic spins. I’ve been recommended a D width in Edea from my trainer. I’m 150 cm tall and weigh 46 kg. My shoe size is EU 34.5.

Where would you recommend me to get fitting?

Als or Everglides when you are visiting England, as has been said several times. There are other good shops with good fitters all over continental Europe, but since you don't want to say where you live, no one can give you any other recommendations.

 

[bratzie]

Als or Everglides when you are visiting England, as has been said several times. There are other good shops with good fitters all over continental Europe, but since you don't want to say where you live, no one can give you any other recommendations.

I'm visiting only London so I won't be able to get fitted there. Unfortunately, there is no skate shops to get fitted where I live. I live in North Cyprus by the way.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I'm visiting only London so I won't be able to get fitted there. Unfortunately, there is no skate shops to get fitted where I live. I live in North Cyprus by the way.

Thank you! We have someone on GS who takes a keen interest in skating in Cyprus and may know where his favourite skaters spend time training off the island. Presumably that's where they buy their equipment. @CaroLiza_fan ?

 

[bratzie]

Thank you! We have someone on GS who takes a keen interest in skating in Cyprus and may know where his favourite skaters spend time training off the island. Presumably that's where they buy their equipment. @CaroLiza_fan ?

Thank you for your kind help but Cyprus is not a whole one country and I think that user is from South of Cyprus, If there is anyone from North Cyprus that would be great.

 

[tstop4me]

I’m planning to avoid customs duty by ordering the skates to my hotel while I’m in London and bringing them back with me when I return to my country. Whether or not I declare them doesn’t make a difference, the high customs charges apply only to "online orders" shipped into the country. Bringing a single pair of skates with me as personal luggage is allowed and not subject to the same duties. I’m a lawyer and fully familiar with my country’s customs regulations.

Thanks for clarification. That strategy makes sense with respect to avoiding customs duty.

I’ve tried on the Jackson Artiste before, but they were far too tight on the sides of my feet. I measured my feet according to the sizing guides on various skate retailers’ websites, and for Edea skates, I was recommended a D width. That’s how I know I need a wider fit.

You still have the problem of proper fit, however. If you scan previous threads, you will find that a common issue that skaters (particularly those with wide feet) run into is heel slippage. The guides (and they are just guides) size width according to ball width. But the most critical fit for figure skates is at the heel. At the same time, the heel pocket of the boot is the least adjustable portion of the boot; whereas the ball is more adjustable (if you buy boots that are heat moldable). That's one reason (among many) it's essential to be fit in person. You first want to ensure you have proper heel lock with ideally no (or minimal) modification.

If the ball and toes also fit, you're all set. But you'll need to be extraordinarily lucky for this to be the case. If your ball and toes need more room, you might be able to heat mold and punch out the front of the boot (that depends on your foot and model of boot). If you need substantially more room, however, you'll need to order a split-width boot (and you may still need modifications). You will not be able to determine what you need on your own.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Thank you! We have someone on GS who takes a keen interest in skating in Cyprus and may know where his favourite skaters spend time training off the island. Presumably that's where they buy their equipment. @CaroLiza_fan ?

There's not really a place that I know of. The closest are going to be in places like Italy, Austria, etc.

 

[Diana Delafield]

There's not really a place that I know of. The closest are going to be in places like Italy, Austria, etc.

I was thinking Italy was probably the closest, but just guessing. I've seen videos of skating in Cyprus and there is at least one small rink there, but it seems to me I've read that their top skaters also train in Italy.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Thank you! We have someone on GS who takes a keen interest in skating in Cyprus and may know where his favourite skaters spend time training off the island. Presumably that's where they buy their equipment. @CaroLiza_fan ?

I have no idea. But, I am planning on contacting the mother of one of the skaters soon, so I can drop that in.

Thank you for your kind help but Cyprus is not a whole one country and I think that user is from South of Cyprus, If there is anyone from North Cyprus that would be great.

I wish I was from your island, @bratzie! But, I'm from the rather colder island of Ireland. I just take a keen interest on what is going on in Cyprus, because I have been visiting regularly since I was a youngster (we always stay in Limassol / Leymosun, but usually go to the North at least one or two times whenever we're on the island).

As for your question, one of the long-term members on here is Turkish Cypriot. She's from Beyköy, but has lived overseas for many years. However, she might know somebody back home that could point you in the right direction. If you want I can put you in contact with her.

On a different note, I have often wondered if there was a skating scene developing in the North. I've read about the rink that somebody installed in their back yard, but haven't been able to find out about anything else. So, I would be very interested to talk to you about skating in your part of the island.

All the best to you!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[skaterviolet]

I'm visiting only London so I won't be able to get fitted there. Unfortunately, there is no skate shops to get fitted where I live. I live in North Cyprus by the way.

Everglides really isn’t that far from London tho, plenty of us travel down to get fitted. But I get if you’re here for a holiday you probably wouldn’t want to waste a day.

They do online fitting, so you can get fitted over zoom ahead of your trip, make sure they have your boots in stock, then visit them to try the boots on and make the final decision.

Definitely listen to everyone’s advice, get fitted in person. As a fellow beginner skater who was misfitted (not by any of the shops I mentioned), I skated on numb feet for a year thinking that’s normal, was not progressing because it’s painful to do certain moves, almost quit skating because how painful it is. Then I changed into the right boots and everything is fine.