Overthinking process on new skates | advice

[CoffeeThenSkate]

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice as I narrow down my next pair of skates and want to make sure I’m making a smart long-term decision.

Current situation:

• Current skates: Jackson Freestyle with stock blades (about 4 years old)
• Issue: Boots are about ½ size too big (I added a second insole to compensate)
• I’ve also developed a Haglund’s deformity (likely hereditary—my dad had it too)
• I originally bought these just to get out of rentals, not knowing if I’d stick with skating—but now I absolutely love it and want properly fitted skates

Skating level & goals:

• Currently working on Adult Skating Skills Gold
• I skate ~3–5 hours per week, both private lessons, group lessons, and my own practice
• Focus: skating skills, edges, footwork, and possibly dance
• No real plans to jump or spin
• Priority: good performance and durability (I don’t want boots breaking down in a year)

What I’ve tried so far:
I’ve been to 3 fitters and tried:

• Jackson
• Aura
• Edea (Ice Fly, Concerto, Flamingo Dance recommended)
• Risport (currently leaning toward RF1 Elite)

Fit notes:

• Height: 5’8”, Weight: 160 lbs
• Foot: Greek (longer 2nd toe), low volume, normal arch
• Very narrow ankles (have had issues with ski boots too)
• Measured at ~265 AA Risport, 265 B for Edea

I really like the ankle stability of the Risport RF1 Elite, but I’m wondering if I should also try Riedell, since I’ve heard they can work well for narrow feet. I don’t want to miss the “right” boot if I skip that option.

Blade recommendation:

• Coronation Ace
• I was told it’s similar to a dance blade (minus the shorter tail), which seems appropriate for my goals

Questions:

1. Am I overthinking this, or is it worth seeking out Riedell before deciding?
2. For my goals (skills/footwork/dance), does the RF1 Elite seem like a reasonable choice, or is it overbooting?
3. How do I balance longevity vs. flexibility? I want boots that last, but not at the expense of knee bend and edge quality
4. Any thoughts on Coronation Ace for my skating focus?
5. At this point, would you recommend I keep my remaining fitting appointments, or does it sound like I’ve already gathered enough information to make a decision?

I still have 2 more fitting appointments scheduled, so I’m trying to gather as much insight as possible before making a final decision. I just don't want to make the same mistake I did when I purchased the Jackson Freestyle boots.

Thank you in advance—I really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share!

 

[Casey]

Every brand has it's fans, but I personally don't like Riedell - the quality is pretty meh, and the boots just don't seem to hold up well. The fit is narrow (which may be okay for you), the heel is too low, and everyone in our family who's tried Riedell boots, including wide sizes, has ended up with pain complaints. Your mileage may vary, but we've been much happier with Risport for stock boots - they've held up to the same amount of abuse better, look nicer, and are more comfortable... Jackson is better for wider feet, generally, so that might not be an ideal brand for your feet.

The RF1 Elite is a very stiff boot with a stiffness rating of 90 - I'd definitely think twice about that and consider the RF3 or Royal Pro instead. What you're probably actually craving is proper heel lock and lateral ankle support, as compared to your Freestyles. The RF3 Pro at 60 will provide that in spades when it's fresh and properly fitted. That said, I started in very stiff boots (with a rating of 80, so not as stiff!) as an adult and survived. Getting a good fit is imperative - I also have Haglund's bumps that were really aggravated by overly large skates - not fun. You might consider silicon pads that you can place on the other side of your heel to help balance out the pressure from the back of the boot as well. Coronation Ace is a good blade for you.

Here's what you can expect when switching:

The blade will be the most noticeable change, and it matters a lot for Skating Skills work. The Aspire XP's 8-foot rocker is flatter - more blade contacts the ice at any given moment, which feels stable and forgiving. The Coronation Ace's 7-foot rocker is more curved, meaning less blade on the ice at once. In practice, that means edges will feel sharper and more responsive immediately. 3-turns, brackets, rockers, counters, choctaws will actually be easier to execute once adjusted, because the blade rotates more willingly on its rocker. But for the first few sessions, it will feel wobbly and less secure, like the ice got slippery. You should adjust within a couple weeks or so.

After 4 years, the Freestyles are almost certainly broken down - the foam is compressed and the support has softened well below the original 45 stiffness rating. So the real gap is probably from an effective stiffness of 25–30 up to a fresh 60 (RF3) or 65 (Royal Pro). The first few skates will feel like the boots are fighting you on knee bend. Deep edges and sit-position moves will feel restricted. At 75kg and no jumping, a 60 is on the stiffer side of what's needed, but it won't break down quickly - which is actually ideal for someone focused on skating skills rather than landing impact. The boot will mellow into a comfortable working range within a few weeks of regular skating.

After initial adjusting - maybe a month, you should start noticing real improvements. Edge quality will feel cleaner, turns will snap more precisely, and the higher-grade steel holds its sharpening longer. The stiffer boot also gives better lateral support for deep edges and power stroking.

 

[CoffeeThenSkate]

Every brand has it's fans, but I personally don't like Riedell - the quality is pretty meh, and the boots just don't seem to hold up well. The fit is narrow (which may be okay for you), the heel is too low, and everyone in our family who's tried Riedell boots, including wide sizes, has ended up with pain complaints. Your mileage may vary, but we've been much happier with Risport for stock boots - they've held up to the same amount of abuse better, look nicer, and are more comfortable... Jackson is better for wider feet, generally, so that might not be an ideal brand for your feet.

The RF1 Elite is a very stiff boot with a stiffness rating of 90 - I'd definitely think twice about that and consider the RF3 or Royal Pro instead. What you're probably actually craving is proper heel lock and lateral ankle support, as compared to your Freestyles. The RF3 Pro at 60 will provide that in spades when it's fresh and properly fitted. That said, I started in very stiff boots (with a rating of 80, so not as stiff!) as an adult and survived. Getting a good fit is imperative - I also have Haglund's bumps that were really aggravated by overly large skates - not fun. You might consider silicon pads that you can place on the other side of your heel to help balance out the pressure from the back of the boot as well. Coronation Ace is a good blade for you.

Here's what you can expect when switching:

The blade will be the most noticeable change, and it matters a lot for Skating Skills work. The Aspire XP's 8-foot rocker is flatter - more blade contacts the ice at any given moment, which feels stable and forgiving. The Coronation Ace's 7-foot rocker is more curved, meaning less blade on the ice at once. In practice, that means edges will feel sharper and more responsive immediately. 3-turns, brackets, rockers, counters, choctaws will actually be easier to execute once adjusted, because the blade rotates more willingly on its rocker. But for the first few sessions, it will feel wobbly and less secure, like the ice got slippery. You should adjust within a couple weeks or so.

After 4 years, the Freestyles are almost certainly broken down - the foam is compressed and the support has softened well below the original 45 stiffness rating. So the real gap is probably from an effective stiffness of 25–30 up to a fresh 60 (RF3) or 65 (Royal Pro). The first few skates will feel like the boots are fighting you on knee bend. Deep edges and sit-position moves will feel restricted. At 75kg and no jumping, a 60 is on the stiffer side of what's needed, but it won't break down quickly - which is actually ideal for someone focused on skating skills rather than landing impact. The boot will mellow into a comfortable working range within a few weeks of regular skating.

After initial adjusting - maybe a month, you should start noticing real improvements. Edge quality will feel cleaner, turns will snap more precisely, and the higher-grade steel holds its sharpening longer. The stiffer boot also gives better lateral support for deep edges and power stroking.

THANK YOU so much for your insight! I really appreciate this.