We all know that kids outgrow their boots very quickly, but once they get to late-teens, their feet would stop growing and the boot size would be the same thereafter.
Have any of you *adult skaters* experienced your feet "growing" so that you need a different size boot?
I have a friend, adult skater, who measured a size 4 1/2 for Riedell skates 5 years ago, now measures a size 5 1/2. And her feet have gotten wider too!
Yes your feet do "grow" - I think they spread with age.
I had my old SP Teri's for 15 years - I fully expected that I would just get the same size and that would be fine... but when I got fitted for the new boots Mr. Spiteri pointed out how my old boots had stretched over time and so the new boots were a half size larger overall...
That being said I have always felt that the new boots were a little too big!!! 88)
Wow, I do recall my late coach tell me that her feet grew during pregnancy, but I had no issues after my first child, so I'd just dismissed that from my mind. And I am still comfortable with the exact same size I've always used, and yes, I did get new boots since, so its not just that the old boots had been stretched out.
I don't think my feet -grew- but I think I was measured wrong the first time. So after 4 years in size 3s, I now wear size 4s.
(For the record, I started skating as an adult in the skates I got as a young middle schooler. They must have been a little big at the time, but I've been wearing a kids 4 or an adult 5 since about 7th grade.)
I had Klingbeils that fit great through my first pregnancy and grad school. Once I had the twins, though, I had to replace the skates. I had gained a lot of weight in the years prior, so that's also a factor.
I had a pair of skates that were way too small. The cuticles on my toes would bleed if I skated more than 2 hours without taking them off. I lasted about 9 months in those puppies before I sold them to a skater just starting out, who wore shoes 2 sizes smaller than I did :o.
I'm in Klingbeils' now and I think my feet have shrunk, not grown. I had to put in additional innersoles because they felt so loose. Haven't lost that much weight that it would be a factor, so I am confused. ???
Quote from: Kitten23 on October 04, 2012, 10:48:19 AM
I'm in Klingbeils' now and I think my feet have shrunk, not grown. I had to put in additional innersoles because they felt so loose. Haven't lost that much weight that it would be a factor, so I am confused. ???
Padding compression? I slipped more in my (one size too big) skates when they broke down.
I don't think adults feet normally get longer, i think they tend to get wider as you get older and/or if you gain a significant amount of weight (or shrink if you lose a lot of weight i guess).
My feet widened a bit after I was pregnant. Which is ok because I was a double or triple A width in Wifa skates which are known to be narrow. Now I am just an A. :)
I was told that I think a 7A in a europen brand is like an 8B in other brands.
Quote from: jjane45 on October 04, 2012, 10:56:37 AM
Padding compression? I slipped more in my (one size too big) skates when they broke down.
Pardon my ignorance, but what is "padding compression"? :-[
Quote from: Kitten23 on October 05, 2012, 01:33:38 PM
Pardon my ignorance, but what is "padding compression"? :-[
I think the poster was referring to the padding in the skate compressing down with use -
I wanted to add that those old skates I had first of all had no padding (in the old days it was just layers of leather - WAY better than padding I might add) and that those old skates are really really tight on me now so yes, I think feet do get bigger - whether it would be considered growth or not is a question for another day. I think of it as "spread".
Quote from: icedancer2 on October 05, 2012, 03:29:55 PM
I think the poster was referring to the padding in the skate compressing down with use
Thanks! I am not sure about the terminology, but the inside of the skates definitely compresses over time.
Quote from: jjane45 on October 05, 2012, 04:43:53 PM
Thanks! I am not sure about the terminology, but the inside of the skates definitely compresses over time.
They totally do!! My skates have become a bit looser over the past two years since I've had them. My pro shop, whom I completely love and trust, assured me that they aren't broken down, however over time and use the padding does become compressed somewhat.
I wondered a couple of years ago if shoes had been 'resized' the way clothes were 'resized' in the 60's (A 12 became a 10 for example, it was vanity sizing gone mad).
I went from a standard 7 1/2 shoe size, that I had used for 40 years, suddenly to a 7, and sometimes a 6 1/2. I hadn't worn a 6 1/2 since I was 15. I know I'm getting shorter, but if something else has to shrink, why can't it be my butt?
Anyway, if it wasn't for silipos pads, I think my right boot would fall off the heel is so loose.
My feet shrunk actually, I'm 21, though. What happened was I went from 230, to 215, to 180lbs. Now I'm at 195, and my feet are minisculely bigger now. Would like to get back to 180 again (then I'd have like veins popping out of my arms and it'd be really cool looking.) As far as feet spreading out with age, I got no idea, but losing and gaining weight will alter your shoe size quite a bit. I went down half to a whole size on some shoes. Partially it's just from more weight spreading the foot out more, and partially it's from added fat if you've added any in your weight gain.
I think you're in a different category than the OP since you started skating at 20 and are now 21. Your feet may have shrunk when you lost weight, but that's different from skating for years with a sudden change in size but not weight.
Quote from: Isk8NYC on October 07, 2012, 09:14:04 AM
I think you're in a different category than the OP since you started skating at 20 and are now 21. Your feet may have shrunk when you lost weight, but that's different from skating for years with a sudden change in size but not weight.
Well not a skating example, but Barry Bonds went from like size 11 shoes to size 13s, and gained like 2 inches in height. Whether or not it was a natural growth spurt or a chemically enhanced one, who knows...
Quote from: supra on October 07, 2012, 10:12:51 AM
Well not a skating example, but Barry Bonds went from like size 11 shoes to size 13s, and gained like 2 inches in height. Whether or not it was a natural growth spurt or a chemically enhanced one, who knows...
Again, off-topic and irrelevant. Try to stay on topic.
Adult's feet don't really grow. If anything as you age they may even get smaller. The pros I guess of being an adult because your skates will last longer.
In the last three years I've skated I've found that my feet have widened. (Almost 25) however with weight fluctuations they have gone up and down. I'm 20 pounds heavier than when I bought my current skates and I find they're a bit snugger now. But my feet did widen. As a kid I had wide feet too and almost had to wear a men's skate when I got my first brand new boots due to width. Now if I tried to put those skates on I'd hurt like crazy.
I think though you also have to take into account bunions and such. I THINK I have a bunion (not totally sure bc my foot has always had a wide bone there) and that in itself could cause skates to not fit.
When I'm on my feet all day or wear heels before I skate I find my skates are tighter too
Last time I went to the skate shop my boot guy told me that adult's feet can spread and flatten over time. My boots are definitely feeling tighter than they did a couple years ago.
Quote from: sk8lady on October 09, 2012, 08:35:19 AM
Last time I went to the skate shop my boot guy told me that adult's feet can spread and flatten over time. My boots are definitely feeling tighter than they did a couple years ago.
I was thinking about this after reading the prior post claiming adults' feet don't change shape...mine absolutely did change, in both width and length. It's not just weight gain/loss, I think you're right that feet can spread and flatten. When they flatten, then the height of the boot inside is too loose.
Maybe we need something to squash that boot height down to create more room across the width/length, lol.
Quote from: FigureSpins on October 09, 2012, 09:04:45 AM
I was thinking about this after reading the prior post claiming adults' feet don't change shape...mine absolutely did change, in both width and length. It's not just weight gain/loss, I think you're right that feet can spread and flatten. When they flatten, then the height of the boot inside is too loose.
Maybe we need something to squash that boot height down to create more room across the width/length, lol.
Easiest thing to do short term is take the insole out.
I agree that feet don't really grow, but pregnancy can certainly change the feet permanently. I wear a half size longer shoe than I did before having kids, and my feet are also much wider too, and I was well UNDER my pre-pregnancy weight for several years after having my first so I can't blame extra baby weight for the extra width :)
I was still able to wear my old skates after my first baby without much discomfort (they did feel tight).. but after the 2nd and 3rd, no way.
Quote from: supra on October 09, 2012, 12:27:07 PM
Easiest thing to do short term is take the insole out.
You are mistaken. The easiest thing to do is to buy properly-fitted skates.
Skating without insoles can make the problem worse since it could make the boot too wide AND too tall. Without support/cushioning, your feet will hurt. Plus, some brands are very uncomfortable to skate on without insoles because of exposed stitching and nail heads.
Quote from: supra on October 09, 2012, 12:27:07 PM
Easiest thing to do short term is take the insole out.
I've had to do that when I had a fit issue due to a swollen toe. Then a nail or brad or whatever came up and stabbed me. I did a temp fix and bought a better fitting boot.
My feet got a half size bigger with each pregnancy. They also got a bit wider.
Quote from: FigureSpins on October 09, 2012, 09:04:45 AM
Maybe we need something to squash that boot height down to create more room across the width/length, lol.
I used Superfeet and slightly thicker socks (bamboo socks) instead of tights or nylons...
Quote from: icedancer2 on October 09, 2012, 07:00:03 PM
I used Superfeet and slightly thicker socks (bamboo socks) instead of tights or nylons...
I think you guys need a visual example of my joke: think of stepping on a tin can so you crush it a bit.
The top gets lowered and the sides spread out.
That's what I was joking about with squashing the top of the boot to widen the footbed to match our spreading/flattening feet.
I don't see how wearing thicker socks would help a too-narrow width. It would make the skate even more narrow and painful. ???
Quote from: FigureSpins on October 09, 2012, 09:23:31 PM
I think you guys need a visual example of my joke: think of stepping on a tin can so you crush it a bit.
The top gets lowered and the sides spread out.
That's what I was joking about with squashing the top of the boot to widen the footbed to match our spreading/flattening feet.
I don't see how wearing thicker socks would help a too-narrow width. It would make the skate even more narrow and painful. ???
Yeah, you are right - I didn't quite get it - I just use the Superfeet and bamboo socks to deal with boots that have felt not quite right since I got them... seems to help... :nvm:
Quote from: sarahspins on October 09, 2012, 12:37:02 PM
I was still able to wear my old skates after my first baby without much discomfort (they did feel tight).. but after the 2nd and 3rd, no way.
Oh, oh... That sounds like I should be prepared to consider new boots soon. I'm in the 32nd week with my baby and my skates are starting to feel rather tight now. I'm wearing a 1/2 size smaller than I measure (this measurement done before first baby) so it might be high time I get my actual size!
What I am really afraid of is getting used to longer blades ~ I know that is a certainty if I go up half a size. I had a 1/4" longer blades on one of my previous skates, and I *never* really got used to it, as in, never really skated well in them.
Quote from: chowskates on October 10, 2012, 12:04:02 AM
Oh, oh... That sounds like I should be prepared to consider new boots soon. I'm in the 32nd week with my baby and my skates are starting to feel rather tight now. I'm wearing a 1/2 size smaller than I measure (this measurement done before first baby) so it might be high time I get my actual size!
What I am really afraid of is getting used to longer blades ~ I know that is a certainty if I go up half a size. I had a 1/4" longer blades on one of my previous skates, and I *never* really got used to it, as in, never really skated well in them.
For me it's been awesome, having the longer blade. Went from 10 2/3 to 10 3/4. But the blade itself is light years better. MK Professional vs Jackson MKIV old style.
Yes it grow with age as the person grows older the feet keeps growing with it.But it sometimes occur to adults not commonly as the show size varies with feet.
As for me it looks like my feet are shrinking in the time that I skate :)
Initially I had size 8, then changed skate to 7.5.
Size of my new boots equivalent to 6.5 :)
Quote from: nataxa on October 23, 2012, 05:19:19 PM
As for me it looks like my feet are shrinking in the time that I skate :)
Initially I had size 8, then changed skate to 7.5.
Size of my new boots equivalent to 6.5 :)
Wait a minute - didn't you change skate brands and models with each pair? You just stated on another thread that you bought Edea Ice Fly boots this time, so I assume you didn't have them before. I doubt that that your feet shrank unless you also gained/lost weight.
Different manufacturers use different "lasts" or pattern-fitting models. That's why fitters have to use the manufacturer's stick/sizing chart when doing measurements for boots/skates. I wear a different size and width in Riedells than in Jacksons. That's totally normal and has nothing to do with foot shrinkage or growth, lol.
Well, yes, I was not completely correct. That was exaggeration :blush:
My first two pairs were Jacksons - Freestyle and Competitor. I think they are pretty close to each other by fitting.
Ice Fly do have different fitting indeed but according to their size chart 255 fit to 6.5 shoe size which should way too small for me.
Quote from: nataxa on October 24, 2012, 11:41:31 AM
Ice Fly do have different fitting indeed but according to their size chart 255 fit to 6.5 shoe size which should way too small for me.
EDEA's size chart lists some weird sizes for the US equivalents... a 255 is definitely not equivalent to a US 6.5.. it's probably closer to a 9 or 9.5 in street shoe sizing, and if you compare their sizing chart to jacksons it's close to a size 8. Your new boots may actually be bigger than your old ones.
I wear a 7 1/2 or 8 size street shoe and my Jacksons are 6.5's.. I would probably wear a 240 or 245 in Edea if they fit me.
Hmm, interesting.
I wear a 8 or 8 1/2 size shoe. Edea 250 was too small for me. I mean I could get them on but my toes were crooked.
And I can wiggle my toes freely inside my Jacksons boots.
My mother was always a AA fitting with a quite high arch. She went to live in the tropics (after Scotland) for almost 10 years and wore sandals, thongs or went barefoot. She really wanted her feet to spread and become just an A fitting. Throughout this time her weight remained the same, outside of three pregnancies.
Instead, her arch dropped 88) and her foot lengthened. She became a AAA fitting and has been ever since. She finds it really difficult to get shoes that fit for width and has had to resort to custom made shoes at times. Luckily she is very gentle on shoes :)
At the same time she made sure that all the children went barefoot as much as possible as the wisdom at the time was that is was the best for developing feet. I now have a C or D fitting, with a high arch. :-\ Additionally I am really hard on shoes...
:nvm: She managed really well with all the other parenting stuff :love:
My feet grew a half size after pregnancy. I had to get new skates - i got custom harlicks but then 2 years after that I heard about the magic of Edea so I got Concerto. Now that I am used to these I will probably get the ice fly when they break down because they look even comfier!
I am a 255 in my edea concerto and a 8 or 8 1/2 in street shoes. They fit great.
I know that many people who hike the Appalachian Trail (2181 miles long) find their feet lengthen significantly, and permanently. All that pounding from hiking apparently changes feet. I've heard (secondhand) of someone who owned (and wore) lots of high heeled shoes moving to a tropical island, and after a year or two of wearing sandals or going barefoot almost all the time that her dress shoes no longer fit, as her feet had widened.
Personally, I had my feet widen a bit in my twenties and a bit more during pregnancy.
Well, my feet haven't grown, but I am getting my second pair of skates after over a year, since I have moved into the Freestyle levels. Right now, I have the Riedell 121 RS, and since I was very happy with my Riedells, I am sticking with the company.