Boot Upgrade Advice

[skaterviolet]

I’m an adult beginner skater, with consistent single jump combo and basic spins. Started to work on axel and back sit and combo spins.

I’ve had the Risport Electras with Edea rotation blades for 1.5 years now. They are not broken down yet, but my coach thinks it’s time for an upgrade. I’m glad to get rid of them, as I get bad arch pain from these boots, superfeet insoles helped a little. I also think insteps to heel is a bit too wide, my foot can slip inside the boots.

I have Egyptian foot, normal width foot with bunions, high and weak arches. I currently use the ‘high arch’ superfeet insoles. I am 160cm tall, weigh 50kg.

I tried a few boots at the fitters, and I’m split between Risport Royal Pro with custom orthotics, or Edea Chorus with the toe box widened. Hence I’m here looking for your advice

I seem to be breaking down boots slower than others, so planning to get softer boots as long as it’s safe.

1. Edea Chorus 235 (skated in the shop’s used Overtures on ice) — They felt tight at the balls, but I liked how snug they are around the insteps, my spins were more controlled. There were mild arch pain that went away with my orthodontics, but the heel felt uncomfortable high with the orthodontics

2. Risport Royal Pro 235 — they felt really good sitting down, no pressure point at all. But as soon as I started to walk around the shop the arch pain started, worse than the Edeas. I think the pain somehow related to the heel height, my weak arches collapse and sit flat on the boots, whereas the higher heels in the Edeas left a gap between my arches and the soles

3. Jackson Debut 5W — can’t straighten my big toes, but no arch pain

4. Aura Sky 50 235 — can’t straighten my big toes, the boots were rubbing my navicular — that’s an immediate no

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Hi and welcome. You should be fine in the Risport Royal Pro with orthotics.
I wanted to ask though, have you tried Graf or Riedell? Those may fit your foot better.

You have to also remember that you have been wearing basic boots for a long time now and it will take time getting used to better boots and blades. I would not go with the Edea if I were you though, those are not right for your foot.

 

[skaterviolet]

Hi and welcome. You should be fine in the Risport Royal Pro with orthotics.
I wanted to ask though, have you tried Graf or Riedell? Those may fit your foot better.

You have to also remember that you have been wearing basic boots for a long time now and it will take time getting used to better boots and blades. I would not go with the Edea if I were you though, those are not right for your foot.

Thanks! I’m in the U.K., Graf and Riedell are rare. Back when I got my first pair, most shops only sell Edea and Risports, but these days they are really trying to sell Auras to everyone

Out of curiosity, why wouldn’t the Edeas work? I’m very cautious because the arch pain in the current Risports are so much worse than the Edeas

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Thanks! I’m in the U.K., Graf and Riedell are rare. Back when I got my first pair, most shops only sell Edea and Risports, but these days they are really trying to sell Auras to everyone

Out of curiosity, why wouldn’t the Edeas work? I’m very cautious because the arch pain in the current Risports are so much worse than the Edeas

Because you don't have the foot stats for an Edea. Your arches hurt b/c you have issues with them that you need to see a podiatrist about and get orthotics made for you that work for your foot not just standard ones. Without seeing a podiatrist and getting the proper orthotics, your arches are going to hurt in any brand of boot. But there are boots as I mentioned above that are made for specific feet. High arches=Risport is best.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Because you don't have the foot stats for an Edea. Your arches hurt b/c you have issues with them that you need to see a podiatrist about and get orthotics made for you that work for your foot not just standard ones. Without seeing a podiatrist and getting the proper orthotics, your arches are going to hurt in any brand of boot. But there are boots as I mentioned above that are made for specific feet. High arches=Risport is best.

Agreed, definitely. This isn't my foot, but it's a picture I found on the internet that shows my exact foot shape seen from the side, with freaky high arches. Risports are currently the best brand for me, although I wear Riedells for roller skating and have an experimental pair of Grafs on order.

 

[IceM]

From experience, I can tell you that the problem almost certainly isn't your high arches alone. You don't have arch supports when you walk barefoot. Do your arches hurt when you walk barefoot? If not, then your arches aren't the problem.

The issue is almost certainly twofold: insufficient space in the boot for your foot, especially given your bunions, combined with excessive heel lift, both for which the Superfeet insoles you were wearing made things overall worse, not better.

So, I'd recommend getting the boots properly stretched and punched out. You will likely not feel totally comfortable in any stock boot without this, so I wouldn't judge boots solely based on that, but the overall fit. If you pronate or supinate significantly, the orthotics may come in handy. You could try other insoles too, just make sure they don't come with heel lift, and are as thin as possible as to not take up the volume your foot needs.

And if your feet do hurt when walking barefoot, then seeing a podiatrist is certainly in order, but I doubt that's the case.

As for brands, Risports are generally better than Edeas given their wider sole, overall width and volume, and slightly lower heel lift. Grafs can be even better, as they have significantly lower heel lift, and are typically wider in the forefoot, especially in the actual sole. But the uppers can be stretched for all brands, and arch pain is almost always related to just boots that are simply too narrow or don't have enough volume: high arches require more volume upwards from the sole too; it's not your arches "collapsing", it's the boot crushing them down, now add a thicker insole w/heel lift and arch support, and you've struck a nail in your foot deeper and just put a plaster over it.

And I know this, because I have high arches, narrow ankles, and crazy wide forefoot, and that's a good recipe for some foot pain. Yet I can wear Edea/Risport/Graf (and have done so) pain free (although pain free doesn't mean the best fit), given that I modify the fit appropriately (the degree of modification required goes from extreme to less extreme respectively for the brands mentioned in order; and the reason I can wear these brands and not something like stock Jacksons is the narrow heel pocket these brands have, which is something that is almost impossible to fix if it's too wide).

Edit and my recommendation: One thing I forgot to mention is that Risports in shops are laced inside out which pushes the tongue down more than the way Edeas are laced (outside in). This alone can make the Risports feel more uncomfortable for you in the shop with high arches, because the tongue is pressing down your arches more. But Risports can be laced the "Edea" way just fine. And given what you said about your heel to instep feel, I would honestly always lace the boots outside in, which makes your instep feel tighter, while pushing the tongue and your arches down less; win win for you. If you want to use the orthotics, and they fit the Risports better, and the Risports fit overall well, then go with the Risports. But honestly, you're probably fine in either brand, with or without orthotics (assuming they're for comfort and not for heavy pronation/supination). Whichever brand you go for, and I can't emphasize this enough, do get them properly stretched and punched out.

Hopefully this long rambling will be somewhat understandable and helpful, and you'll find a good fitting boot for once. Good luck!

 

[skaterviolet]

Update on this, thanks so much for all your advice

After seeing a new fitter recommended by my coach, I got the Edea Chorus with the toe box stretched. I’ve skated 3 sessions in them and barely notice any pain now.

Apparently I had the wrong idea about my feet: I have normal arches (my feet point very well, which confused me), and low volumed and skinny feet, my balls are wide but the insteps are narrow, heels are the same width as insteps.

The fitter thinks the arch pain from the Risports are from over tightening to compensate for space around the insteps. (I can slip a hand in easily). They said the size 235 were also too small for me, as my feet measured 236mm at the fitting, which could’ve caused pain. The ‘arch collapsing’ feeling might also come from the excessive space.

(The previous fitter had a big name, but apparently because of hockey, their local figure skaters travel to another city for fitting)

I had some arch pain while breaking into the Edeas, which quickly disappeared. In case this is useful for someone: arch pain from narrowness of the boot (you can feel the pressure point, and the pain is localised, gets better as you warm up) feels different to arch pain from over tightening (no obvious pressure point, and pain is all the way from the arches to the knees, gets worse when you skate for longer)

As a beginner who didn’t know better, I didn’t know my sketchy flip/lutz take off came from boots being too wide. I thought wider boots were meant to be comfier! I’m glad that I changed before I attempt to injure myself doing axels!