New skates!

[HannahLouise]

Firstly, it's sad to say that after six months of wearing my beautiful Riedells who have been absolutely perfect, they are feeling a little tight. So, I'm off to my rink on Saturday to buy a new pair... They don't sell American skates!    Having a melt down.

The man in the shop, said to try the Jackson Competitors out...

So, my question is, are Jacksons any good? And, I've heard stories that the Competitors are very hard to break in... Uh oh.

Please help! And thank you in advance 

[Vicki7]

Don't know about the Competitors, but I'm in the Mystiques and have found them to be great. I have wide feet so they're really good for me. Higher level boots will be harder to break in, so you need to tell the shop what level you're at, they should put you in something appropriate to your level. Where are you based? If in the UK, I know someone who may be able to offer some advice.

[HannahLouise]

Thank you for replying 

The guy said they were great for anyone doing Axels and double jumps. Jacksons do seem a bit wider which looks more comfortable! I skate in Cardiff but travel from near Bristol if that helps

[Vicki7]

Try John at Everglides. I live in the Midlands, but my friend has recently got skates through him, and they fit perfectly. He also gave me advice over the phone about upgrading the blades on my mystiques when the time comes - told me roughly when I'd need to, and gave me some blade names that'd fit without drilling extra holes, and advised what skates to get next if my boots have broken down by the time I need new blades. Give him a call or email, h should help you out

[SynchKat]

I had Jackson Competitors as my last pair of boots.  They were super easy to break in bt then again I am hard on skates and I was grossly "under "booted".   They were very comfortable.

I am not sure of your level so I am not sure if this is helpful or not. 

[AgnesNitt]

I have competitors. They're the skates you graduate to after you break down your first pair of boots and you're in Freestyle.

Here is the info on them from JAckson's website
http://www.jacksonultima.com/en/Index.aspx?product=Lto8I939uG1Uj/ijMJV4wg1A2B3C4D5E1A2B3C4D5E

They will be stiffer than the Mystiques, but not as stiff as the Elites.  I've had 4 pair of boots, and I keep going back to my Competitors. I think they're a nice 'advanced beginner' boot. 

Depending on how heavy you are and how much you jump, they may be a little hard to break in but they'll last forever. Going on 3 years!

 

[sarahspins]

Everyone's opinion varies on how hard boots are to break in... I think good fit and matching the boot to your level have a lot to do with that.  A poor fit or "too much" boot is always going to make things more difficult.  My Elite Supremes felt like "my" skates after just a couple of sessions and I was surprised as how quickly I got comfortable with them.  I had no major break in issues with those, and in fact was really surprised at how good they felt from day one (my prior pair of Elite Plus took quite a bit more work before they felt "just right").  My daughter got a new pair of Elles a few months ago and had no problems with those either, and she's a much lower level skater (Basic 5 - she'd previously been skating in a well used pair of Freestyles, but new Freestyles would have been too much boot for her).

I happen to be a Jackson fan - but there are a lot of people out there who don't like them for various reasons.  I like them because they happen to work really well for my feet (and my daughter's feet) and I've skated in just about every other major brand so I can definitely say that they work best for me.

[taka]

Everglides (who now have a shop at @ Gosport rink) sell Riedells if you could manage to get there?

[blue111moon]

Just a suggestion:  if your Riedells are just "tight", why not have them stretched?  You can get as much as a half-size from stretching and a good fitter can stretch in just the places you need. 

Also keep in mind that it's summer, it's been hot (even in the UK!) and feet swell in the heat.  So it's entirely possible that your skates are tight for that reason and as soon as the weather gets cooler, the skates will feel fine again.

Personally, I never buy skates in the heat of summer.  I did once a couple decades ago and the skates that felt fine in July ended up nearly a full size too big in September.

[FigureSpins]

Personally, I never buy skates in the heat of summer.  I did once a couple decades ago and the skates that felt fine in July ended up nearly a full size too big in September.

Interesting idea, makes perfect sense for kids, too.  Seems like they all grow over the summer and then there's a run on stock in the fall.

I am dying to go skating - we stopped at a place yesterday and had the blades mounted on my new boots.  The trial skate for alignment was good, but I want to start breaking them in now!

[HannahLouise]

Just a suggestion:  if your Riedells are just "tight", why not have them stretched?  You can get as much as a half-size from stretching and a good fitter can stretch in just the places you need. 

Also keep in mind that it's summer, it's been hot (even in the UK!) and feet swell in the heat.  So it's entirely possible that your skates are tight for that reason and as soon as the weather gets cooler, the skates will feel fine again.

Personally, I never buy skates in the heat of summer.  I did once a couple decades ago and the skates that felt fine in July ended up nearly a full size too big in September.

That's a really good point, however, I really do need to go up a level of boot anyway as although my Riedells have been great and I love them, they've creased in the wrong place due to jumping. Maybe I will try and hold off getting them tomorrow then...

Thank you 

[HannahLouise]

I have competitors. They're the skates you graduate to after you break down your first pair of boots and you're in Freestyle.

Here is the info on them from JAckson's website
http://www.jacksonultima.com/en/Index.aspx?product=Lto8I939uG1Uj/ijMJV4wg1A2B3C4D5E1A2B3C4D5E

They will be stiffer than the Mystiques, but not as stiff as the Elites.  I've had 4 pair of boots, and I keep going back to my Competitors. I think they're a nice 'advanced beginner' boot. 

Depending on how heavy you are and how much you jump, they may be a little hard to break in but they'll last forever. Going on 3 years!

Thank you for the website, it was really helpful!
Since it said working on axel, I think I will stick with them (competitors) for a while, as I've decided to focus on field moves for a few months at least; I can still keep them for axels (which, by the way, is it just be or... It's only my favourite jump because it takes off going forward?? I hate the take off being backwards. But maybe that's because I'm awkward being left handed..)

[HannahLouise]

Thank you all for your help!

Went and looked at the competitors today... Kind of got wrapped up in the whole love of buying new things and before I knew it, the boots had been heat moulded and boxed up to take home (sadly not wear on the ice for more than five minutes as the boots needed to adjust.. But I must say, only took one lap to get used to them! Absolutely amazed!)

Had a little seven year old tell me today that my Jacksons were 'absolutely gorgeous' so maybe Jacksons are more popular than I had been previously led to believe.

Thank you all and, Happy skating!