When / what skate to buy?

[dlbritton]

I am a beginning skater, just finished Adult 1, start Adult 2 after labor Day.

When is a good time to buy skates? Related is some specific recommendations between several models.

I am a 59 year old male, 220 pounds, certified ski instructor (lots of time on the snow Dec. - Apr.).

I plan on taking weekly Adult 2-4/(6?) lessons for the next few years. I don't aspire to anything beyond spins and maybe a single jump.   

I would like to purchase skates soon but don't want to buy to high for my ability. At the same time don't want to buy a skate I will advance out of in the next 3-6 months. I corresponded with both Riedell and Jackson and their recommendations were: Riedell 255TS or 910LS and Jackson Freestyle DJ2192. Are these appropriate for a Adult 2/3 skater?

Would either the Riedell 133TS or Jackson Marquis JS1992 be suitable? Both are in the $200 range but I don't want to spend $200 and need to replace them in 6 months. At the same time I don't want a boot that is too advanced and thus hinders my progress. I figure the Riedell 121 and the Jackson Mystique are too low level to consider.

As a ski instructor I value the importance of good equipment. I spent $600 on custom fit boots last season but I would not recommend a beginning skier to buy that type of equipment.

Added text: From FigureSpin in a post in April 2013

However, Riedell's ratings have some wiggle room.  I keep students in the 133's until they have their single jumps, so the stiffness is fine for a 5'11" adult beginner.  In USFSA Basic Skills, that's essentially the entire Freeskate range; in ISI, it's through FS4.  The 133's are fine (and saves money) as long as the skater isn't very heavy/tall and the family doesn't expect to get twenty years out of the same pair of skates.  They will break down from jumps more quickly than the 255's, but they break in more quickly so mid-season replacements aren't a major hassle.

At 220 and 5'11" I wonder if the 133's would be sufficient, but at the same time don't want to go too high end with the 255. I am used to pressing into the tongue on a stiff ski boot so that may help overcome a stiff skate.

[fsk8r]

Are you finding learning to skate easy? If you're picking the skills up quickly, I would be inclined to go to the slightly higher model as you'll be progressing quicker towards your long term goal than if you're finding things more difficult. (I'm guessing you'll find things relatively easy if you're a competent skier as there is some crossover in terms of balance and knee bend).

What is the difference in cost between the different levels of boots? I know several adults who have bought low level boots who need to replace them within 6 months to a year as they aren't strong enough. So I would be inclined to buy the slightly stronger boots as they'll hopefully last longer.

[FigureSpins]

Added text: From FigureSpin in a post in April 2013

However, Riedell's ratings have some wiggle room.  I keep students in the 133's until they have their single jumps, so the stiffness is fine for a 5'11" adult beginner.  In USFSA Basic Skills, that's essentially the entire Freeskate range; in ISI, it's through FS4.  The 133's are fine (and saves money) as long as the skater isn't very heavy/tall and the family doesn't expect to get twenty years out of the same pair of skates.  They will break down from jumps more quickly than the 255's, but they break in more quickly so mid-season replacements aren't a major hassle.

At 220 and 5'11" I wonder if the 133's would be sufficient, but at the same time don't want to go too high end with the 255. I am used to pressing into the tongue on a stiff ski boot so that may help overcome a stiff skate.

Sorry, I've been swamped, I didn't see that you quoted me or I would have responded earlier.

How tall are you (in relation to your given weight)?

Do you have wide, regular or narrow feet?

In my experience, in terms of support, these are the equivalents:

Jackson Classique = Riedell 121 / Blue Ribbon
Jackson Freestyle = Riedell 133
Jackson Premiere = Riedell 255


I think your level of skating will advance fairly quickly in good skates with some support.  Given your weight, and assuming you're not overweight and that you have an average width foot, go with the 133's.  I think the 121's would be too soft for you and you won't feel comfortable on them.  They'll wear out quickly. 

You may have to stop skating before any skate breaks down, either from re-injury or your eventual return to skiing. (Lack of time)  You'll be able to advance quickly on the 133's since you have the strength to bend your knees and you will be mastering skills quickly using your skiing skills.  You'll probably outskate the boots by the time they start to break down.  Consider it a starter package with a moderate up-front cost.

When you're done with the 133's, you can get 255's with an appropriate blade for your level at that time. 

If you have a wide foot, order the Riedells in a wide width or get the Jackson equivalents.  Jacksons have a little more room in the boot than the same-size Riedells, so make sure the fitter measures your foot's length AND width with the correct measuring device for that brand.  (Ex: I take a full size larger in Riedells than Jacksons.  The Jacksons are a full width smaller.  Go figure.)

If you are overweight for your height, expect to have the skates break down sooner, rather than later. Again, I'd suggest going with the less-expensive 133/Freestyle skates.

The Jackson Marquis have light support and only come in regular widths.  It'll be okay, but you'll get more mileage out of the 133/Freestyle.

[dlbritton]

FigureSpins - I appreciate the feedback .

I am 5'11 and 220 pounds (and hopefully will lose about 20 pounds by Christmas - I put it on being stuck in a splint and brace for 3 months).

In street shoes I wear a 10 wide (up from 9 1/2 medium 2 years ago - another result of getting older) but in ski boots I still wear the equivalent of an 8 1/2 medium. I do have high arches.  I have been renting size 10s at the rink and they seem comfortable without being overly loose, but can't tell a brand. The soft boot design says Softec on the sole and the traditional skates don't have any identifiers that I can find beyond 1 pair that says "Dominion" on the sole.

I was asking about the 133 because $150-200 is more attractive than $300+ for the 255. Likewise the Jackson Marquis is attractive over the Freestyle if either of the less expensive skates is appropriate .

I have some other general skate questions:

In ski boots I stand 2 degrees on the inside edges (I will be having my ski boots worked on to correct this) and use custom orthotics. This does affect being able to get to an outside edge on skis. Does 2 degrees of inside edging affect skating much and if so can this be corrected with shims or canting the blade some other way? The cuff on ski boots can be canted somewhat but obviously skate boots don't offer this.

Does "stiffness" in a boot refer to fore/aft stiffness or side to side stiffness or both? I have seen comments about lacing the boot loose at the top to break in new boots and assume this is to allow easier fore-aft movement to break in the boot.

What is the average lifespan for a medium quality boot like I am asking about? I will probably average 4-5 hours a week skating over the next year.  The other entries I have seen on this site appear to address high end skates.

[FigureSpins]

Based on that information, try on Jackon Freestyles first.  The stock width might fit you and you definitely need a stiffer boot than the Marquis to support your weight.

Stiffness is all-around, but the break-in period causes the knee-over-toe movement to be easier.  In effect, you break in a boot to get knee and ankle bend.  You want to retain side-to-side stiffness in the boot.  A reliable test of "broken in-vs-broken down" is to try and bend the side of the boot downward at the ankle area.  If it's fairly easy, the boot is breaking down.  Deep creases and ankle pain from rolling are other indicators, but they're not always as noticeable.

Skaters who aren't growing and aren't jumping can get a year or more out of a pair of boots.  Jumping stresses the landing boot and makes it break down faster.  Skaters who gain or lose weight find they need to replace their boots because don't fit well.  Boots should fit snugly when new because the padding compresses with use.

Now, that advice is for adults who don't have to deal with growth spurts, not kids.

[dlbritton]

FigureSpins - Good info, thanks.

I had equated the  Jackson Marquis with the Riedell 133 and the Jackson Freestyle with the Riedell 255 based on price.
From what I had read I was not considering either the 121 or the Mystique.

The local rink is an authorized "dealer" for both brands but in reality it is one person that does measuring and orders skates. There is a rink about 1 hour away that does stock some boots in both brands  so I may be able to try on something if they have my size. I would like to at least get my foot in a boot before I buy it.

[dlbritton]

Got measured for skates last night.  The fitter is recommending the Jackson Freestyle if the factory/distributor has my size in stock. If not I'll have to come up with a new plan. The rink is also an authorized Riedell dealer but they only fit and order Jackson and Gam.

I had hoped to see how different boots and sizes feel before ordering but none of the rinks/shops within an 1 1/2 hour drive have anything in my size.

Thanks to everyone that responded to my post and to the other recent posts regarding beginners buying their first skates. All of the information was very helpful.