Jackson vs. Risport boot width

[vivskating]

Hi!

My current boots are starting to break down, so I will be looking to buy new skates in the coming months. I am currently in a Jackson Debut 3.5W, however I've found that 1) I've begun seeing signs of breakdown within 6 months, which is faster than I hoped for 2) I often experience pain in my feet by the end of a session (usually on the inside of the arches behind the ball of the foot) or numbness in my toes. My feet are quite wide and flat (I'm not sure about my heel width, but I think it's comparatively on the narrower side), which is likely the source of my issues with my skates.

I've looked sizing charts across various boot brands, and I noticed that the width of the 3.5W Jacksons are 7 15/16", which is about 202mm. My Risport size equivalent would be approximately 225, and has widths between 209 to 229mm (AA, B, C, D), which would run much larger than Jacksons. However from searching forums online, anecdotally, everyone seems to mention that Jacksons are best suited for wide feet, whereas Risport are for medium/narrower feet.

I was wondering if anyone with experience with both brands would be able to tell me how they fit? Is the difference between the size charts and skater anecdotes due to more recent changes in sizing?

I will definitely be going to a fitter, but I was hoping to get some clarification on this beforehand so that I can perhaps request any necessary special order widths to the shop beforehand.

Here is some more information about me in case anyone can offer additional advice:

1) Height: 155cm
2) Weight: 55-60kg
3) Level: Base spins, all singles + starting axels within the next year
4) Skating frequency: Approx 3-6hrs/week
5) Foot shape: Greek/Asian foot (slightly shorter 2nd toe than the Greek foot reference, but with a similarly steep slope of the other toes)

If I stick with Jacksons, I'll likely do a rapid custom Premiere with a split width and a buildout at the arch, and if I go with Risport, I was between the RF3 or Royal Pro boots, in a C or D width. If you have any other suggestions I haven't considered please feel free to share!

Thanks!

 

[Diana Delafield]

Hi!

My current boots are starting to break down, so I will be looking to buy new skates in the coming months. I am currently in a Jackson Debut 3.5W, however I've found that 1) I've begun seeing signs of breakdown within 6 months, which is faster than I hoped for 2) I often experience pain in my feet by the end of a session (usually on the inside of the arches behind the ball of the foot) or numbness in my toes. My feet are quite wide and flat (I'm not sure about my heel width, but I think it's comparatively on the narrower side), which is likely the source of my issues with my skates.

I've looked sizing charts across various boot brands, and I noticed that the width of the 3.5W Jacksons are 7 15/16", which is about 202mm. My Risport size equivalent would be approximately 225, and has widths between 209 to 229mm (AA, B, C, D), which would run much larger than Jacksons. However from searching forums online, anecdotally, everyone seems to mention that Jacksons are best suited for wide feet, whereas Risport are for medium/narrower feet.

I was wondering if anyone with experience with both brands would be able to tell me how they fit? Is the difference between the size charts and skater anecdotes due to more recent changes in sizing?

I will definitely be going to a fitter, but I was hoping to get some clarification on this beforehand so that I can perhaps request any necessary special order widths to the shop beforehand.

Here is some more information about me in case anyone can offer additional advice:

1) Height: 155cm
2) Weight: 55-60kg
3) Level: Base spins, all singles + starting axels within the next year
4) Skating frequency: Approx 3-6hrs/week
5) Foot shape: Greek/Asian foot (slightly shorter 2nd toe than the Greek foot reference, but with a similarly steep slope of the other toes)

If I stick with Jacksons, I'll likely do a rapid custom Premiere with a split width and a buildout at the arch, and if I go with Risport, I was between the RF3 or Royal Pro boots, in a C or D width. If you have any other suggestions I haven't considered please feel free to share!

Thanks!

I wore Jacksons for many years, but then they changed the shape and the new last is too wide for my narrow, high-arched, Egyptian feet. I switched to Risport RF1s and have also had good fits with Riedell Silver Star and a semi-custom Graf Edmonton Special, if that's the sort of anecdotal information you're looking for. Those models would be too stiff at your current technical level, but the brands in general may all work for you. Good luck!

 

[vivskating]

I wore Jacksons for many years, but then they changed the shape and the new last is too wide for my narrow, high-arched, Egyptian feet. I switched to Risport RF1s and have also had good fits with Riedell Silver Star and a semi-custom Graf Edmonton Special, if that's the sort of anecdotal information you're looking for. Those models would be too stiff at your current technical level, but the brands in general may all work for you. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your response! Assuming you tried a R width Jackson and are wearing a B(?) width Risport, it looks like maybe Risport and Jackson take width measurements at different locations perhaps? This would explain why on paper Jackson seems to be narrower despite everyone saying they are better suited for wider feet.

As for the models, I've been wearing my Debuts for 6 months hoping that they'd last me at least a year, but I ended up skating more frequently than I did previously, so I'm starting to see creasing by the laces at the ankle and they started to feel a bit soft and unstable while skating, which is why I was looking to boot up a bit. I've swapped out the laces so I'm hoping that will buy me another few months. Specifically, if I was going to spend extra on rapid custom Jacksons, I was thinking of booting up a level so they would last me a bit longer. I'm also an adult skater, so I don't have any concerns about growing feet.

I just tried on an old pair of boots (Edea Chorus 230B which I used for ~2 years) which were far too narrow for my feet, but I did notice that the heel lock on the Edeas was slightly better than my current Jacksons, so perhaps early breakdown was a sign of a poorer heel lock?

 

[Diana Delafield]

Thank you so much for your response! Assuming you tried a R width Jackson and are wearing a B(?) width Risport, it looks like maybe Risport and Jackson take width measurements at different locations perhaps? This would explain why on paper Jackson seems to be narrower despite everyone saying they are better suited for wider feet.

As for the models, I've been wearing my Debuts for 6 months hoping that they'd last me at least a year, but I ended up skating more frequently than I did previously, so I'm starting to see creasing by the laces at the ankle and they started to feel a bit soft and unstable while skating, which is why I was looking to boot up a bit. I've swapped out the laces so I'm hoping that will buy me another few months. Specifically, if I was going to spend extra on rapid custom Jacksons, I was thinking of booting up a level so they would last me a bit longer. I'm also an adult skater, so I don't have any concerns about growing feet.

I just tried on an old pair of boots (Edea Chorus 230B which I used for ~2 years) which were far too narrow for my feet, but I did notice that the heel lock on the Edeas was slightly better than my current Jacksons, so perhaps early breakdown was a sign of a poorer heel lock?

Heel lock is the most important point in trying on new boots. The rest of the boot can be moulded to your foot contours if necessary, the heel can't. Others here are better technicians than I am, but I can see it possible that having your foot shifting around in the boot would make it break down faster. I replace my boots even at the 90 stiffness at least twice a year, but I'm a pairs skater and put a lot of stress on the boots landing throws, etc. You may want to try a stiffer boot as an adult even thought the Debut model is supposedly for your technical level. They're talking more about children. Adults need a stiffer boot just for their height and weight stats. Ask your fitter at your skate shop.

Different brands have different ways to describe size and stiffness. I wouldn't try to match one brand to another. (My boots are all the narrowest widths available for the brand/model. My Graf boots are actually the largest children's size and were custom-made to a SS (Super Slim) width.)

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Hi!

My current boots are starting to break down, so I will be looking to buy new skates in the coming months. I am currently in a Jackson Debut 3.5W, however I've found that 1) I've begun seeing signs of breakdown within 6 months, which is faster than I hoped for 2) I often experience pain in my feet by the end of a session (usually on the inside of the arches behind the ball of the foot) or numbness in my toes. My feet are quite wide and flat (I'm not sure about my heel width, but I think it's comparatively on the narrower side), which is likely the source of my issues with my skates.

I've looked sizing charts across various boot brands, and I noticed that the width of the 3.5W Jacksons are 7 15/16", which is about 202mm. My Risport size equivalent would be approximately 225, and has widths between 209 to 229mm (AA, B, C, D), which would run much larger than Jacksons. However from searching forums online, anecdotally, everyone seems to mention that Jacksons are best suited for wide feet, whereas Risport are for medium/narrower feet.

I was wondering if anyone with experience with both brands would be able to tell me how they fit? Is the difference between the size charts and skater anecdotes due to more recent changes in sizing?

I will definitely be going to a fitter, but I was hoping to get some clarification on this beforehand so that I can perhaps request any necessary special order widths to the shop beforehand.

Here is some more information about me in case anyone can offer additional advice:

1) Height: 155cm
2) Weight: 55-60kg
3) Level: Base spins, all singles + starting axels within the next year
4) Skating frequency: Approx 3-6hrs/week
5) Foot shape: Greek/Asian foot (slightly shorter 2nd toe than the Greek foot reference, but with a similarly steep slope of the other toes)

If I stick with Jacksons, I'll likely do a rapid custom Premiere with a split width and a buildout at the arch, and if I go with Risport, I was between the RF3 or Royal Pro boots, in a C or D width. If you have any other suggestions I haven't considered please feel free to share!

Thanks!

Hi and welcome. With the way your feet sound you could not wear the Royal line of Risport, as they are not for wider feet.

I can give you suggestions but first need to know about your arches: Very high, high, normal, low, flat?

 

[vivskating]

Hi and welcome. With the way your feet sound you could not wear the Royal line of Risport, as they are not for wider feet.

I can give you suggestions but first need to know about your arches: Very high, high, normal, low, flat?

Thank you! I'm fairly certain that my arches are very low, close to flat.

I was curious about Risport because I know that they carry 4 different stock widths, whereas Jackson now only carries 2 stock widths, so I was hoping that maybe a Risport D width could work according to their size charts, but if Risport D is still not as wide as Jackson W (despite their size charts saying otherwise which confused me), then you'd definitely be right and Risport would be too narrow for me.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Thank you! I'm fairly certain that my arches are very low, close to flat.

I was curious about Risport because I know that they carry 4 different stock widths, whereas Jackson now only carries 2 stock widths, so I was hoping that maybe a Risport D width could work according to their size charts, but if Risport D is still not as wide as Jackson W (despite their size charts saying otherwise which confused me), then you'd definitely be right and Risport would be too narrow for me.

Different brands - and models within brands - are designed to fit different foot shapes all around the foot and ankle, quite specifically. It's not just a matter of width. @Ic3Rabbit knows a greater variety of boots than I do. She'll tell you which ones to suggest to your fitter.