A Full Refresh :)

[BeefDumpling]

Hi everyone!

I'm returning to the sport after some time off (a mean knee injury, ugh) and I'm researching a new boot and blade combo more appropriate for my feet/rehab. I'm currently in Edea Pianos with an MK Phantom blade. No complaint from the blades, as they've been my lifelong favorite, but I'm not really a big fan of the Pianos. Landing jumps and indulging in deep edges with their "open" ankle design where your weight is pushed more toward the tongue is putting a lot of undue pressure on my knee that it really doesn't appreciate (and I'm already testing it enough ). Also, my tongue and upper ankle support are dead, but that's beside the point lol.

I'm considering custom SP-Teri, Jackson's, or Riedell's with something like extra rigidity or a power tab for extra support, as well as either the Phantom Revs or the Blade Science blades with a Phantom profile (really considering this due to the shock absorption).

If anyone can give their testimony for what worked for them, or if they could attest to the current state of certain brands, I would really appreciate it! Any helpful info from wait times, to materials issues, to durability issues, etc. etc. would be of great use to me, as I haven't bought a pair of boots in 5 years.

Thank you GoldenSkate community! Happy Olympic season

 

[Diana Delafield]

Hi everyone!

I'm returning to the sport after some time off (a mean knee injury, ugh) and I'm researching a new boot and blade combo more appropriate for my feet/rehab. I'm currently in Edea Pianos with an MK Phantom blade. No complaint from the blades, as they've been my lifelong favorite, but I'm not really a big fan of the Pianos. Landing jumps and indulging in deep edges with their "open" ankle design where your weight is pushed more toward the tongue is putting a lot of undue pressure on my knee that it really doesn't appreciate (and I'm already testing it enough ). Also, my tongue and upper ankle support are dead, but that's beside the point lol.

I'm considering custom SP-Teri, Jackson's, or Riedell's with something like extra rigidity or a power tab for extra support, as well as either the Phantom Revs or the Blade Science blades with a Phantom profile (really considering this due to the shock absorption).

If anyone can give their testimony for what worked for them, or if they could attest to the current state of certain brands, I would really appreciate it! Any helpful info from wait times, to materials issues, to durability issues, etc. etc. would be of great use to me, as I haven't bought a pair of boots in 5 years.

Thank you GoldenSkate community! Happy Olympic season

Hello and welcome! You need to be sure first that you're in the right boots for your feet, and for your size and technical level. What is your foot shape (Egyptian, Roman, etc)? Are your arches high, normal, low to flat? How old are you, and what test level were you skating at before your injury? What is your height and weight? Do you have a coach and take private lessons or group?

Where do you live? GS is international, so there will be someone who can recommend the best fitter near you. A fitter at a good skate shop can see and measure your feet, and recommend the best-fitting boots for your particular feet, the fit being more important than the materials and style. For blades, we recommend the traditional styles over the Rev, Light, or Blade Science. Do you prefer 7' or 8' rockers?

Give us your stats and we can try to help. (Don't get discouraged if there are delays in answering. GS is mainly a skating fan site, with enough members who are also skaters and coaches to give opinions on equipment. Attention is focused on the Olympics right now .)

 

[BeefDumpling]

Hello and welcome! You need to be sure first that you're in the right boots for your feet, and for your size and technical level. What is your foot shape (Egyptian, Roman, etc)? Are your arches high, normal, low to flat? How old are you, and what test level were you skating at before your injury? What is your height and weight? Do you have a coach and take private lessons or group?

Where do you live? GS is international, so there will be someone who can recommend the best fitter near you. A fitter at a good skate shop can see and measure your feet, and recommend the best-fitting boots for your particular feet, the fit being more important than the materials and style. For blades, we recommend the traditional styles over the Rev, Light, or Blade Science. Do you prefer 7' or 8' rockers?

Give us your stats and we can try to help. (Don't get discouraged if there are delays in answering. GS is mainly a skating fan site, with enough members who are also skaters and coaches to give opinions on equipment. Attention is focused on the Olympics right now .)

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response! Below are my stats

Foot Shape: I definitely have a Roman foot with a narrow heel (AAA/AA) and I'm more broad through the balls of my feet (C) with my arch sitting at a more medium width (B). My arches are quite tall, and even Risports didn't feel like they hugged the underside of my arch the way they should. I skated in Harlicks growing up, and felt that I was the most comfortable in a custom orthotic Finalist boot, but I just can't order from them again due to the wait times and issues with quality . I still do and teach ballet as well, so my arches (while tall) are quite strong and I find myself fighting with my foot internally a lot when the mismatch is noticeable (i.e., I try to reposition my foot by using my toes to press my arch into a more stable position with mixed results, not good).

Age and Test Level: I am currently 26 and I'm basically back to Intermediate MITF and Preliminary spins (no jumps beyond singles allowed until I'm cleared by a Dr), but prior to departing the sport for a while I was skating at around Juvenile/Intermediate level. I would like to build back up to that and test up to senior on the adult testing track in time.

Height and Weight: I'm on the taller/heavier side at 5'10" and 180lbs, so supportive skates are a must for me if I want them to last longer than 6 months with regular skating.

Speaking of regular skating...

Coaching Situation: I'm currently back with my old coach and I exclusively take private lessons with her (primarily focusing on technique and regaining my elements back). I don't do any group lessons, and I typically practice 3-4x per week on top of my one lesson every week and physical therapy.

Blade Preferences: I just so happen to be one of the tall weirdos that prefers a 7' rocker since I feel more "bouncy" and rounded through my footwork and spins. I tried a Gold Seal for a few years before quitting and really didn't like feeling "glued" to the ice, especially during footwork sequences. I'm not totally against an 8' rocker, but I'm more hesitant to try since I didn't really like the most popular offering. I'm currently in the normal Phantom, and I'm cool with going with another more traditional blade if the newer offerings (like Blade Science, Revs) are a wash long term.

Preferences/Biases I Might Have:
- I have worn Riedell, Harlick, SP-Teri, and Edea. I'm not really interested in Edeas again since I don't think their ankle design suits me, and the toe box feels very restricted. I'm open to other brands as well (as long as they don't have a ridiculous wait time and their stock boots can fit my foot shape).
- After skating in a synthetic skate, I definitely want to stick with leather. This is more of a personal preference, but I would rather my skate have more support in the quarters instead of the shell and tongue, as I feel like I'm often spilling out of the front of my skate (and not in a good way). This might also be because of my height and weight, as I noticed that the tongue broke down very quickly in my Edeas.
- I want to go in the direction of a cushioning blade out of concern for my knees and ligaments, but will most definitely reconsider if the two-part options aren't a good idea (especially if I can accomplish this cushioning in the insoles of my skates).
- Also not really sure if this is a unique issue, especially since my skates are more than 3 years old, but my Pianos have started to give me lace bite. It could be due to me tying them tighter to compensate for the lack of ankle support, but it's also made me realize that I miss the thick, cushy tongue that my Harlicks used to have, and I would really love to have another one of those lamb's wool/sponge tongues lol.

Sorry for the novella, but I think that just about covers it! I'm planning on visiting a custom fitter in Houston this weekend, and I think this sums up what I'm going to say Thank you in advance to anyone who reads and responds to this message! You're all amazing!!

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response! Below are my stats

Foot Shape: I definitely have a Roman foot with a narrow heel (AAA/AA) and I'm more broad through the balls of my feet (C) with my arch sitting at a more medium width (B). My arches are quite tall, and even Risports didn't feel like they hugged the underside of my arch the way they should. I skated in Harlicks growing up, and felt that I was the most comfortable in a custom orthotic Finalist boot, but I just can't order from them again due to the wait times and issues with quality . I still do and teach ballet as well, so my arches (while tall) are quite strong and I find myself fighting with my foot internally a lot when the mismatch is noticeable (i.e., I try to reposition my foot by using my toes to press my arch into a more stable position with mixed results, not good).

Age and Test Level: I am currently 26 and I'm basically back to Intermediate MITF and Preliminary spins (no jumps beyond singles allowed until I'm cleared by a Dr), but prior to departing the sport for a while I was skating at around Juvenile/Intermediate level. I would like to build back up to that and test up to senior on the adult testing track in time.

Height and Weight: I'm on the taller/heavier side at 5'10" and 180lbs, so supportive skates are a must for me if I want them to last longer than 6 months with regular skating.

Speaking of regular skating...

Coaching Situation: I'm currently back with my old coach and I exclusively take private lessons with her (primarily focusing on technique and regaining my elements back). I don't do any group lessons, and I typically practice 3-4x per week on top of my one lesson every week and physical therapy.

Blade Preferences: I just so happen to be one of the tall weirdos that prefers a 7' rocker since I feel more "bouncy" and rounded through my footwork and spins. I tried a Gold Seal for a few years before quitting and really didn't like feeling "glued" to the ice, especially during footwork sequences. I'm not totally against an 8' rocker, but I'm more hesitant to try since I didn't really like the most popular offering. I'm currently in the normal Phantom, and I'm cool with going with another more traditional blade if the newer offerings (like Blade Science, Revs) are a wash long term.

Preferences/Biases I Might Have:
- I have worn Riedell, Harlick, SP-Teri, and Edea. I'm not really interested in Edeas again since I don't think their ankle design suits me, and the toe box feels very restricted. I'm open to other brands as well (as long as they don't have a ridiculous wait time and their stock boots can fit my foot shape).
- After skating in a synthetic skate, I definitely want to stick with leather. This is more of a personal preference, but I would rather my skate have more support in the quarters instead of the shell and tongue, as I feel like I'm often spilling out of the front of my skate (and not in a good way). This might also be because of my height and weight, as I noticed that the tongue broke down very quickly in my Edeas.
- I want to go in the direction of a cushioning blade out of concern for my knees and ligaments, but will most definitely reconsider if the two-part options aren't a good idea (especially if I can accomplish this cushioning in the insoles of my skates).
- Also not really sure if this is a unique issue, especially since my skates are more than 3 years old, but my Pianos have started to give me lace bite. It could be due to me tying them tighter to compensate for the lack of ankle support, but it's also made me realize that I miss the thick, cushy tongue that my Harlicks used to have, and I would really love to have another one of those lamb's wool/sponge tongues lol.

Sorry for the novella, but I think that just about covers it! I'm planning on visiting a custom fitter in Houston this weekend, and I think this sums up what I'm going to say Thank you in advance to anyone who reads and responds to this message! You're all amazing!!

Hi and welcome! And welcome back to the sport! After reading your posts my top suggestion for you would be a split width Graf Edmonton Special (The white ones are Full grade Italian leather). You're going to need a custom arch/footbed due to your arches.

You could also look at the Jackson Supreme 5300 (full leather).

With your foot shape I would not suggest Riedell or Harlick to you.

As far as blades, I'd stick to Phantom if you can.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response! Below are my stats

Foot Shape: I definitely have a Roman foot with a narrow heel (AAA/AA) and I'm more broad through the balls of my feet (C) with my arch sitting at a more medium width (B). My arches are quite tall, and even Risports didn't feel like they hugged the underside of my arch the way they should. I skated in Harlicks growing up, and felt that I was the most comfortable in a custom orthotic Finalist boot, but I just can't order from them again due to the wait times and issues with quality . I still do and teach ballet as well, so my arches (while tall) are quite strong and I find myself fighting with my foot internally a lot when the mismatch is noticeable (i.e., I try to reposition my foot by using my toes to press my arch into a more stable position with mixed results, not good).

Age and Test Level: I am currently 26 and I'm basically back to Intermediate MITF and Preliminary spins (no jumps beyond singles allowed until I'm cleared by a Dr), but prior to departing the sport for a while I was skating at around Juvenile/Intermediate level. I would like to build back up to that and test up to senior on the adult testing track in time.

Height and Weight: I'm on the taller/heavier side at 5'10" and 180lbs, so supportive skates are a must for me if I want them to last longer than 6 months with regular skating.

Speaking of regular skating...

Coaching Situation: I'm currently back with my old coach and I exclusively take private lessons with her (primarily focusing on technique and regaining my elements back). I don't do any group lessons, and I typically practice 3-4x per week on top of my one lesson every week and physical therapy.

Blade Preferences: I just so happen to be one of the tall weirdos that prefers a 7' rocker since I feel more "bouncy" and rounded through my footwork and spins. I tried a Gold Seal for a few years before quitting and really didn't like feeling "glued" to the ice, especially during footwork sequences. I'm not totally against an 8' rocker, but I'm more hesitant to try since I didn't really like the most popular offering. I'm currently in the normal Phantom, and I'm cool with going with another more traditional blade if the newer offerings (like Blade Science, Revs) are a wash long term.

Preferences/Biases I Might Have:
- I have worn Riedell, Harlick, SP-Teri, and Edea. I'm not really interested in Edeas again since I don't think their ankle design suits me, and the toe box feels very restricted. I'm open to other brands as well (as long as they don't have a ridiculous wait time and their stock boots can fit my foot shape).
- After skating in a synthetic skate, I definitely want to stick with leather. This is more of a personal preference, but I would rather my skate have more support in the quarters instead of the shell and tongue, as I feel like I'm often spilling out of the front of my skate (and not in a good way). This might also be because of my height and weight, as I noticed that the tongue broke down very quickly in my Edeas.
- I want to go in the direction of a cushioning blade out of concern for my knees and ligaments, but will most definitely reconsider if the two-part options aren't a good idea (especially if I can accomplish this cushioning in the insoles of my skates).
- Also not really sure if this is a unique issue, especially since my skates are more than 3 years old, but my Pianos have started to give me lace bite. It could be due to me tying them tighter to compensate for the lack of ankle support, but it's also made me realize that I miss the thick, cushy tongue that my Harlicks used to have, and I would really love to have another one of those lamb's wool/sponge tongues lol.

Sorry for the novella, but I think that just about covers it! I'm planning on visiting a custom fitter in Houston this weekend, and I think this sums up what I'm going to say Thank you in advance to anyone who reads and responds to this message! You're all amazing!!

Since it was @Ic3Rabbit who persuaded me last year to try the Graf Edmonton Special boots with my MK Phantom blades, and I love them, I'd say to heed her advice . I have thin Egyptian feet, with high but strong arches like yours from years of ballet and ballroom, and Graf made an extra-narrow part-custom boot for me quite quickly. Like you, I want leather boots, and blades with a 7' rocker since I skated up to senior pairs competition in MK Pros (not as big a choice of blades in my day) and learned all my spins and triple jumps on those blades. I've worn Risports for years, and have also worn Riedells and Jacksons, and the old Austrian Wifas as a kid. I still like Risports also, but my feet are a different shape than yours. I'll stick with the Grafs for a while, since I still skate with my old partner just for fun, and in spite of being a typical small-sized pairs skater I'm hard on my boots and replace them usually twice a year at least. Graf did a great job making mine to the specifications my fitter in Canada sent them, and they'll keep my specs on file, they say.

The orthotics are a good idea with your injury history. I don't use them now, but had custom orthotics for a few years after I broke one ankle quite badly falling down some outdoor cement stairs. (I was skating again while still using crutches to walk, since my boots held the ankle together as securely as a plaster cast .) I only needed one orthotic, but it felt weird to have one boot with and one without, so I had a pair made. I think you'd find the Graf's low heel plus orthotics supporting your arches will give you enough cushioning without going into the "bouncy" blades. But your physiotherapist should be your authority on that. Good luck!

 

[BeefDumpling]

Hi and welcome! And welcome back to the sport! After reading your posts my top suggestion for you would be a split width Graf Edmonton Special (The white ones are Full grade Italian leather). You're going to need a custom arch/footbed due to your arches.

You could also look at the Jackson Supreme 5300 (full leather).

With your foot shape I would not suggest Riedell or Harlick to you.

As far as blades, I'd stick to Phantom if you can.

Thank you so much for the recommendation! After looking into the skates you suggested, I agree that these could both be viable options. I believe the dealer I'm going to can place orders for Graf, but I don't think they carry them stock since they're not a super popular brand down here - Jackson might be easier to get ahold of and customized (and they're sparkly !). My coach also agrees that sticking with the classic Phantom blade is a good idea since there could be a higher instance of issues with the two-piece construction.

Thanks again!! Feels like a fresh start coming soon

 

[IceM]

If you've been on Pianos with no major issues, you should be able to do Risport RF1 (leather) with regular Phantoms. This would do the least amount of changes (similar heel lift, similar blade balance).

That said, if you've been on other brands before, then Grafs might actually fit you best. If you want Piano level stiffness, you need Washingtons (also leather). But you should probably not go that stiff (white Edmontons are fine, and are also leather, but note that black Edmontons are synthetic, for whatever reason). Both models are going to last you way longer than Edeas.

You also probably don't want to gamble on Blade Science, as the blade won't be the same, even if they claim the same nominal blade profile or pick pattern, the stanchion heights and therefore overall balance always differ (and the blade profiles do too, except for Paramount). Extra "shock absorption" isn't really a big deal, unless you're constantly doing jumps with very hard landings (triple/quad territory).

You could try Gold Star if you want a rounder main rocker with that more aggressive spin rocker. That's the blade I would try if I were you and wanted to try something different. But it's probably best to stay with the blade that works for you now, unless you're really ready to put time, effort, and money into trying something else.

 

[BeefDumpling]

@Ic3Rabbit @Diana Delafield

A decision has been made! After trying on a slew of boots and discussing at length what I wanted/didn't want, I ended up choosing the Aura Sky 50 with a Phantom blade and custom insoles. I thought I would be dead set on getting something on the stiffer side, much like my Pianos, but I felt like I got the support I needed in the right places. I tried a ton including Jackson Supremes, Risport Royal Prime, and Risport Royal Pro, but my foot shape and ankle depth ultimately vetoed a bunch of models I was hoping would work. I also really wanted to try the Grafs, but none of the fitters near me carried them or would order from them. Guess I'll have to visit Switzerland one day!

Thank you to everyone who gave recommendations and responded in this thread! I probably would've made some really expensive mistakes without y'all. Cheers!