How to break in figure skating boots?

Question

I used to figure skate a lot, but gave up after heart surgery a few years ago. I now want to start again, but my boots (which were new when I gave up) are horribly painful! They're SP Terrys and the main problem is that they're too tight around the toes and ankles. By the end of my first session back last night, my toes were mashed up, my arches were cramped, and I couldn't feel anything from my forefoot onwards....

So, I don't want to fall at the first hurdle and I'd like to make them more comfortable. Does anyone have any tips about how to mold them around my feet or otherwise make them more comfy?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me....

ZEB

Answer 1

Well there's no guarrentee you won't fall at first since it is your fist time starting up again and you probably havn't skated in a while, but walking around the house for a while in them (with guards on of course) really helps the break in process go faster. It will hurt for a while but once they're broken in it will most definatly feel better (which you probably already know). And might I suggest Jackson skates? I find them a lot better and break in much faster!

Answer 2

get a hammer

Answer 3

The main thing that helps me is purely wearing them around the house (with the guards on of course!).  And when you skate in them for the time being, don't lace the top pair of hooks - that way you can still get some ankle bend which will help them break in.

Make sure your lacing isn't too tight - over the top of your foot, the laces should move when you run your fingers over the top of them.  You only need to start lacing tightly when you get to the bottom of your ankle - I start yanking them tighter just before the foot "bends" into the ankle.  

Some people do things like wearing damp socks inside their skates to try and soften the leather, but I wouldn't suggest it as it isn't too good for your skates and can actually cause the leather to break down if you are not careful.

If all else fails and it is not just down to very new stiff leather and/or incorrect lacing, you should be able to go to a pro shop and get your skates "punched out" - they will look at where your skates are too tight, and basically stretch the leather slightly in that area to give you a little more room.

Answer 4

It sounds like you skates may be too small. You can take them to your local pro shop and see if they can possibly stretch your skates to see if that would make them more comfortable, but you skates sound tight enough that you may need to just buy a new pair. I would suggest talking to your pro shop about this, and maybe have them size you to see if your feet have grown (width or length wise). Good luck!

Answer 5

bubble wrap is the bees knees! try it. tight around the toes? oh dear, not a good sign. They might be too small/narrow I'm afraid. i skated for 20 years and never ever had boots too tight round the toes that were ever anything but worse through time!  my mum bought me a pair for compulsory figures once that were too tight round the toes but i decided (aged 14 at the time) they looked cute and wanted them for just that alone! what on earth possessed me to do so is beyond me? luckily after approx 2-3 weeks she believed I'd just outgrown them as they became unbearably uncomfortable and painful - especially on the 2 smallest toes of both feet.  all decent boots are pretty solid around the toe/heel areas and don't stretch. are you wearing socks? don't. padding thats too thick around the ankles wont help - well it never did for me.

Answer 6

I know some shoe menders can help - you can also buy from good shoe shops a lotion which softens the leather good luck

Answer 7

Wearing them round the house (with skate guards on obviously!) is probably the easiest way

but if your toes were that bad, it sounds like your skates might be a bit too small

Answer 8

I have been skating for a while and the best way to make your skates more comfortable is to put pads in on the places where it hurts. For your arches get some of those shoe inserts and put those in the bottom of your boot. Make sure that they have the highest arch you can find.

If you need more skating tips I will look back everyday.

Answer 9

go to your local proshop and ask for a heat molding. also use little ankle pads that might be avaible at your proshop.