AFAIK every major custom boot maker offers a full money back satisfaction guarantee, if you contact them fast enough.
Most of them will first try to fix whatever makes you unhappy, up to and including making new boots.
Don't feel guilty about it - it's a large part of why custom boots cost so much. You paid for the service when you paid those prices.
I would call the boot maker to find out what they can do, then talk to the boot seller to see what they can do.
Have you had them for a long time? The padding around the ankle compresses after awhile and it seems like they are too big. It happens to me when my skates are beginning their slow and painful deaths.
Well, they are too big. Shame on me! I've developed bumps on my heels, and I've taken to stuffing whatever self-adhesive, spongy material I can find into the heels to reduce pain. Heh...I haven't resorted to bubble gum, although that's what the picture reminds me of. That might make taking off the skates a little difficult. ;D
After you try the bubble gum filler, tell us how it works out!
What we need is a skin-safe liquid foam we can put in the boot, insert the foot, and let it conform and dry solid. I wonder if there is something like that for medical purposes?
I thought you were fixing up your old boots instead of ordering new ones?I have Klingbeils. I've taken great care of them, but the heel looks like it's starting to separate from the left boot. They're like a year old.
I honestly don't get why people are unwilling to talk to the companies. You might be surprised just how service oriented custom boot makers are. Klingbeil did some work on mine, for free, after about 6 years - though it was too late for them to replace them free.
Why not call Harlick? It will take more time to explain here why that would inevitably be futile than to call and find out.
FWIW: When we rec'd our first pair of Klings, we were given very specific directions on what to do when they were not being worn, particuarly in the first weeks: the tongue was to be put inside of the boot top, correctly positioned (i.e. pulled up, centred) and pushed towards the back of the boot, and then the laces were to be wrapped loosely around to ensure that the tongue stayed in position.
We have always followed this direction, and have never had a problem with "tongue twisting" on that pair or any of the other pairs of Klings we've purchased snce.. Others who didn't do this did have the problem, regardles of the tongue hooks and/or flex notches and/or the lace "slots" at the bottom of the boot. Just a suggestion going forward for people to try
The boot of a 10 year old simply aren't comparable, unless it's a pretty big 10 year old (5'4" 135# need a stiffer boot kind of big). A small child can do doubles in an S-1 boot no problems and tie the skate tighter at the top because they're easier to break in (boots are softer) at the beginning - keeping the tongue "trapped" better.I handled some S-1's. Maybe I could do a small Waltz jump in them, but they'd probably implode if I did much more than that.
The Lace Slots at the bottom of the boot (if I'm understanding Sk8mum correctly) are heel stabalizers. They aren't for the tongue. They're used in high level freestyle boots to keep the heel locked into the back of the boot.
The flex notches I'm talking about are to help the skate bend. They're kind of helpful on boots with one piece uppers, since those are typically the strongest boots.
Okay, here goes. The S1 we have is on a 5'9" 135 pound skater landing all doubles up to a double axel (and is a male). No problems with that, and landings are deep, soft, controlled and with a bent knee.Cool.
The tongue thing I must not have explained: it is a slot at the bottom of the tongue to avoid twisting and it's fairly new for us; wasn't on the last 2 pairs of custom Klings although we have always had the "goal posts" on the tongue. And we've never had a twisted tongue problem ,
We have the scallops; yes they are useful, but so is a properly fitted ankle area that prevents the boots from creasing too fast due to too much flex from width issues. Had too much creasing "back in the day" on a too wide pair of Jacksons that also had the flex-notch. Similarly, the flex notch didn't help on the bend with a waaaayyy- too stiff pair of Jacksons , those things never bent after a year (changed coaches, were never over-booted again).
In terms of the setback hooks , never thought about them for heel lock, we have an actual heel lock built into the inside of the boots, which works great. Now, there are on some skates an additional "heel lock" thing which pulls across the boots at the top of the foot part with the laces , but that's not the same as the Klingbeil tongue slot. I know some Jacksons used to have it , I believe some Riedells do still.
I also second the amazing Klingbeil service. They looked at the boots to see where wear and tear were issues and we discussed a few "unique" problems when we ordered them, and they gave very creative solutions, including building some things into the boots that are not on their order form, and, of course, no extra charge. Couldn't have been nicer people. I'll travel there again without question ,
Ok, my rant is: Why can't they just fit !!!
Why is it so hard to get boots that fit properly? Why is it considered acceptable that there be a painful wearing-in period, and ongoing pain for some?
Imagine being able to just pull you boots on, knowing they'll fit like a glove, support where needed yet allow bend & movement where needed
That is my dream with boots.