Are used ice dance skates a bad idea?

[Talionis]

I'm a beginner (LTS4) who's primarily interested in ice dance once I get some competence with the basic skills. I'm currently skating in Jackson Evos and after a somewhat rough breaking in period they're basically comfortable for my flat, wide feet. My arches hurt for 10 minutes, starting about 10 minutes after I start skating, and then it goes away. I'm confident that I have the right size, though I'm aware that the level of support will be too low once I'm past the LTS classes. I now have an online lead on a pair of used Jackson ice dance boots in my size and width, with MK dance blades. The boots are pretty banged up, but the blades are supposedly "perfect." The price is significantly less than the blades alone would cost. My thought is that even if the boots turn out to be too broken down to use, worst case scenario is that I would have a pair of blades that I could transfer to a new pair of boots. I'm interested in everyone's thoughts, though - is an online purchase just too great a risk? Is it too soon for me to be thinking about switching to dance boots/blades anyway? What questions should I ask the seller?

 

[tstop4me]

I won't comment specifically on ice dance boots and blades. But with respect to used boots and blades in general, you shouldn't buy them unless you (or someone you know) are competent in evaluating boots and blades and can inspect them before you buy. What is the return policy?

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I'm a beginner (LTS4) who's primarily interested in ice dance once I get some competence with the basic skills. I'm currently skating in Jackson Evos and after a somewhat rough breaking in period they're basically comfortable for my flat, wide feet. My arches hurt for 10 minutes, starting about 10 minutes after I start skating, and then it goes away. I'm confident that I have the right size, though I'm aware that the level of support will be too low once I'm past the LTS classes. I now have an online lead on a pair of used Jackson ice dance boots in my size and width, with MK dance blades. The boots are pretty banged up, but the blades are supposedly "perfect." The price is significantly less than the blades alone would cost. My thought is that even if the boots turn out to be too broken down to use, worst case scenario is that I would have a pair of blades that I could transfer to a new pair of boots. I'm interested in everyone's thoughts, though - is an online purchase just too great a risk? Is it too soon for me to be thinking about switching to dance boots/blades anyway? What questions should I ask the seller?

No. Don't do it. Too much risk and you're too low in skills right now to be wearing dance boots and MK Dance blades.

 

[Talionis]

Yeah, I figured as much. Warning bells went off when the seller said she was selling them for someone else and couldn’t tell me how old they were or what the support level was. Nope, nope, nope.

 

[WednesdayMarch]

I'm a beginner (LTS4) who's primarily interested in ice dance once I get some competence with the basic skills. I'm currently skating in Jackson Evos and after a somewhat rough breaking in period they're basically comfortable for my flat, wide feet. My arches hurt for 10 minutes, starting about 10 minutes after I start skating, and then it goes away. I'm confident that I have the right size, though I'm aware that the level of support will be too low once I'm past the LTS classes. I now have an online lead on a pair of used Jackson ice dance boots in my size and width, with MK dance blades. The boots are pretty banged up, but the blades are supposedly "perfect." The price is significantly less than the blades alone would cost. My thought is that even if the boots turn out to be too broken down to use, worst case scenario is that I would have a pair of blades that I could transfer to a new pair of boots. I'm interested in everyone's thoughts, though - is an online purchase just too great a risk? Is it too soon for me to be thinking about switching to dance boots/blades anyway? What questions should I ask the seller?

As you progress through LTS, you'll require better boots and blades but it'll be a fair while before you're ready for MK Dance and there's no guarantee they will fit the boots you have by that stage. When you're ready to specialise in ice dance, go for Coronation Dance but don't rush this process. And make sure that you are fitted by an expert (ask @Ic3Rabbit for one in your area) who knows about fitting dance blades. Dance boots can come later, if at all. I can tell you that even as a high level ice dancer, who had been on dance blades for years, my first pair of dance boots were terrifying! Once I got the feel of them - which took a while - I loved them but do leave them for when you have the skill and muscular build up.