Creasing + Boot Breaking Down

[sk8great]

Is creasing a good thing? I heard its a sign that a boot is breaking down. What are signs of skates breaking down?

[sarahspins]

Lack of lateral (sideways) support determines when a boot breaks down.. and that can happen without lots of creasing in the boot.  Creases typically facilitate forward bend in a boot that is simply "broken in", but they can contribute to break down when they are extreme.

[sk8great]

Lack of lateral (sideways) support determines when a boot breaks down.. and that can happen without lots of creasing in the boot.  Creases typically facilitate forward bend in a boot that is simply "broken in", but they can contribute to break down when they are extreme.

So creasing is a sign that my boots are broken in?

[hopskipjump]

It means you are wearing your boots to skate in. 
the amount of creasing varies by boot fit, amount of skating, weight, technique etc.

[sarahspins]

So creasing is a sign that my boots are broken in?

Possibly... but it's not the only thing that will tell you your skates are broken in. They can be fully broken in without the creasing, and you may see creasing before they are fully broken in - there are a lot of variables in play with differing feet, boots, and skating styles

When they have molded to your feet and you no longer have trouble getting enough ankle bend, usually that's when they are broken in.

[sampaguita]

So creasing is a sign that my boots are broken in?

Depends on how big the crease is, and where it is. Tongue creases are pretty normal. If it creases in the region where the flex notch should be, and the crease is about 3/4 in long or longer, it's time to change the boot.

[VAsk8r]

What's the flex notch?

[hopskipjump]

This little cut out:
http://icepinkie.com/image/1/0/600/images/skates_flex_notch_.jpg

[AgnesNitt]

What's the flex notch?

There's also dance scallops  http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=I.4893828310566100&pid=1.7 Which you'll note is two flex notches separated by a single lace hole

[sk8great]

There is a bit of creasing near on my flex notch. Should I be concerned?

[sampaguita]

There is a bit of creasing near on my flex notch. Should I be concerned?

How old is the boot? And how long is the crease?

[VAsk8r]

This little cut out:
http://icepinkie.com/image/1/0/600/images/skates_flex_notch_.jpg

Ah, thanks. My skates are creasing there, too. But it's not 3/4 of an inch. Fingers crossed it stays minimal for awhile. It's more prominent in the left boot than the right, which makes me think it's from spinning.

[treesprite]

You should see the rental skates where I skate/work. Every pair has horrible creases from people wearing them too big. Sometimes people will bring them back to the counter, asking for a different pair because the inside of the creases often causes severe discomfort.

I don't think my Jackson Elite Plus boots will ever show creases, because they are so hard. I think for boots that stiff, the breakdown is more from the insides of them.

[sarahspins]

I don't think my Jackson Elite Plus boots will ever show creases, because they are so hard. I think for boots that stiff, the breakdown is more from the insides of them.

Mine never showed any outwards signs of breaking down.. they had very very slight creases at the flex notches, but they'd had those since they were just a few months old.  The linings had begin to wear thin and had holes in places, and they were rapidly beginning to lose lateral support when I finally started skating in my new boots.  I was actually surprised at the difference because they didn't "look" that bad.

[hopskipjump]

Same here - they looked fine - the difference, they were really soft.  You might not even notice unless you compare with a new boot at the proshop.