Riedell fit question

[skatingbeast]

I just purchased Riedells and it's my first time in the brand. I was skating in Edeas before. My Edeas were too wide causing my foot to slide forward in the boot. If you look at the footbed there is a clean white strip at the heel. My toes had no wiggle room because of this and on one of my feet my toes started to develop small bumps from trying to scrunch/move them.

My new Riedells feel so long in comparison. I recently asked my boot fitter about this and he said that's normal, that they have a narrow toe so there is usually some dead space in the front. He never actually tried me in the half size down, though, saying he didn't think he could get me in the smaller size. In my Riedells I can't at all feel the front of the boot, but I do feel like my heel is locked in and the width is good. I have a little arch pain so debating trying super feet in them to see if that helps, but it's no where near the pain I had in my edeas. I'm also not tripping over the toe pick and they seem to be wrinkling at the flex notch slightly as I break them in.

I was wondering if anyone else has Riedells and can share with me how they fit? How can I figure out if I'm in a half size too big or if I'm just not used to my toes being smushed to the front of the boot? I was thinking about asking the boot fitter if he had the smaller size down for me to try on but don't know if that would be weird.

[dlbritton]

I have Riedell Motion 255 (4 years old) in a men's 8 1/2 Wide so my experience may not be relevant.

Interestingly I wear a men's 10 Wide street shoe, my foot size changed from 9 1/2 med to 10 Wide several years back. I have been in 265 mm ski boots for years and that didn't change when my street shoe size changed. I was measured for Edeas at Adult nationals several years back and the fitter said I would need a 275 medium in an Edea. Such is sizing for different activities.

My first pair was the Riedell Motion in a 9 Wide because the fitter wasn't familiar with Riedell (she mostly sold Jackson) and was convinced I needed a 9 1/2 Wide. That was incredibly loose so she ordered a 9 Wide. I should have insisted on an 8 1/2 Wide to try as well. My car with my skates inside was stolen in 2016 so I needed new boots but went to a different fitter. She looked at my foot and without measuring said 8 1/2 Wide, then measured for confirmation. The difference isn't huge but I just feel more secure in the 8 1/2. I didn't really slip in the 9 and the 8 1/2 doesn't cramp me but is snug so I am probably an 8 3/4.

For the same length boot Riedell men's wides are wider in the toe box than Jackson wides according to their respective sizing cahrts.

I have the Riedell R-Fit footbed kit and really like it. I have custom footbeds in my ski boots, mostly for arch support, but have been able to get a good comfortable fit in my skates with the Riedell kit.

[skatingbeast]

My first pair was the Riedell Motion in a 9 Wide because the fitter wasn't familiar with Riedell (she mostly sold Jackson) and was convinced I needed a 9 1/2 Wide. That was incredibly loose so she ordered a 9 Wide. I should have insisted on an 8 1/2 Wide to try as well. My car with my skates inside was stolen in 2016 so I needed new boots but went to a different fitter. She looked at my foot and without measuring said 8 1/2 Wide, then measured for confirmation. The difference isn't huge but I just feel more secure in the 8 1/2. I didn't really slip in the 9 and the 8 1/2 doesn't cramp me but is snug so I am probably an 8 3/4.

I have the Riedell R-Fit footbed kit and really like it. I have custom footbeds in my ski boots, mostly for arch support, but have been able to get a good comfortable fit in my skates with the Riedell kit.

Thank you, this is helpful! I've decided to ask the fitter if they have the smaller size in stock and if not if they can order. I was put in a 7.5 A/AA, but after measuring my feet at home, which I admit may not be the most accurate it looks like my larger foot is exactly the length of a 7. I'm frustrated because my fitter never actually measured the length of my foot and only the width and he is supposed to know Riedell really well. My street shoe is a 8.5 or 9 depending on the brand and it does seem like a lot of times people go down 1.5 sizes from street shoe is Riedell. This is going to bother me until I try on a 7 so I can see if it works or if I'm between sizes. I debated going to a different fitter but that person is over the border in a different state and the government is recommending we not travel to that state right now.

[MCsAngel2]

Thank you, this is helpful! I've decided to ask the fitter if they have the smaller size in stock and if not if they can order. I was put in a 7.5 A/AA, but after measuring my feet at home, which I admit may not be the most accurate it looks like my larger foot is exactly the length of a 7. I'm frustrated because my fitter never actually measured the length of my foot and only the width and he is supposed to know Riedell really well. My street shoe is a 8.5 or 9 depending on the brand and it does seem like a lot of times people go down 1.5 sizes from street shoe is Riedell. This is going to bother me until I try on a 7 so I can see if it works or if I'm between sizes. I debated going to a different fitter but that person is over the border in a different state and the government is recommending we not travel to that state right now.

A skate fitter who never even measures your foot for length is more red flags than a May Day parade. They should be measuring you for length AND width, because you won't know if you need a wide width without measuring! So many 'fitters' just keep sizing boots up to create a fit for width, but then you have a boot that's too long and that can be unsafe in certain skills. Also, the sizing charts are different for each boot maker. I wear a 6 in Jackson and would expect to wear a 5.5 in Riedell.

You need to insist they measure you both ways. My concern is that you can't return your current boots if they've already had blades mounted and you've skated on them.

Figure skates are a lot of money, and it's a process getting boots that fit right (especially for adults). You should go to the very best fitter you can find.

[skatingbeast]

You need to insist they measure you both ways. My concern is that you can't return your current boots if they've already had blades mounted and you've skated on them.

Figure skates are a lot of money, and it's a process getting boots that fit right (especially for adults). You should go to the very best fitter you can find.

I've been preparing myself that I may have have just lost out on lots of $$$ if I need to buy a different size  :'(. I spent the previous two years in skates that were too wide and I am determined not to spend another year or two in skates that are now too long. This skate tech sharpens my skates but it was my first fitting with them. I know now next time to maybe try a different fitter. If I do need to buy a different size, I'm hoping I can find someone to sell them too. There's also the possibility that I'm between sizes and may just need to deal with the extra room and maybe try a different brand or semi-customs in the future. I use the same skates right now for ice dance and freestyle and the fitter wouldn't even let me try Jacksons because he said they have a higher cut in the back.

[MCsAngel2]

Which model of Riedells do you have now?

[skatingbeast]

Which model of Riedells do you have now?

Silver Stars. I'm also questioning that decision. I'm worried Bronze stars would have been better. I'm working on single flip for jumps and silver moves. I know some fitters go up a model on adults but I only weigh 115lbs although I am 5'8''. I'm not sure how long the break-in process takes bc I was in Edeas before. But so far I've skated in them 6 hours and am having trouble landing jumps bc I'm not bending into them enough and it's causing me the fall forward to the toe pick. Might just need more time to break them in though.

[FigureSpins]

For traditional skates, I recommend leaving the topmost hooks unused for the first few weeks of skating.  (Depends on the amount of time spent skating.)

It allows knee bend while the skates mold to your feet.  Skates are really stiff when they're new.  When a skater "moves up" in boot stiffness or replaces really broken-down skates with new ones, it takes a while to build the strength and control to bend the ankle area.  If a blade change is also involved, that takes some getting used to as well.

If you haven't already done so, heat mold the skates. 
https://ice.riedellskates.com/2014/heat-molding-figure-skate-boots

[TDL]

The Riedell page is a good resource, have never seen that before.

Going to try that on my rebuilt skates.

[Query]

I recently asked my boot fitter about this and he said that's normal, that they have a narrow toe so there is usually some dead space in the front.

My conclusion is different: If you don't have narrow toes, don't wear Riedell boots.

I once went to a competition where a Riedell rep did fittings. The Riedell rep took one look at my wide toes (roughly twice as wide as my heels), and told me no Riedell boot would fit me. Other reps for Harlick and Klingbeil (no longer in business) thought I could be fit by them in custom boots, though the Edea and GAM reps said their boots couldn't fit me either, and the Jackson rep told me Harlick would probably do better.

I would initially hesitate to heat mold or take time to break the boots if you think they don't fit - it makes it less likely that the fitter will accept a return. If the fitter won't take a return, I would contact Riedell, and ask what to do. They might possibly talk the issue over with the fitter and suggest a fair resolution. Maybe you should trace your foot on a piece of paper, and Riedell send a FAX or scanned image of it. Include rulers along both axis in the scan, because FAXes and scans aren't always to exact scale. A tracing doesn't show the full 3D shape, but is better than nothing.

However, if a return is not allowed, most reputable skate boot sellers will do heat molds on boots you just bought from them for free. If that isn't enough, we can suggest a number of solutions in addition to the heat mold.

Part of the issue is that a boot that is too long has a significant probability of the bottom of the boot bending upwards in a position other then the ball of your foot, which could create a serious injury. In fact, is it possible that the fitter actually did measure the length from your heel to the ball, and based the size on matching that? One well respected fitter told me that that length is usually the most important one, rather than the total length. (The front of the boot itself has very little effect on skating, though if the fitter picks the blade length by the length of the outsole, as most do, I suppose it might.

Regardless, you probably shouldn't produce bumps on your feet from using boots. Something is wrong.

You are tying your boots fairly tight, right?

[Kat]

My conclusion is different: If you don't have narrow toes, don't wear Riedell boots.

I once went to a competition where a Riedell rep did fittings. The Riedell rep took one look at my wide toes (roughly twice as wide as my heels), and told me no Riedell boot would fit me.

Could be true.  When I bought my Riedells (caveat: at least 10 years ago though), the fitter told me I have "good Riedell feet."  I have a Greek-type foot with a very tapered toe line, so...