How much can a boot be lengthened?

[Sunnyside_Skater]

My new boots arrived! My left foot is ever-so-slightly bigger than my right foot. The boots are snug - it's really hard for me to tell if they are just right or a little bit too small.

Here's a little history. My old skates were size 7.5A SP Teri's. I could still get my feet in them but they are completely stretched out. My feet have grown since then (oye! 20 years ago), due to pregnancies, and now match up exactly as a 8A with the online size chart. Therefore I felt really really confident snagging a pair on ebay. And the price made it no gamble - I'll just resell them if I don't think they fit well. So before getting blades for them I wanted to see if it's possible/how much they can be lengthened if needed. I compared the insole of the 7.5 to the 8, and the bigger size is about 3/8" longer. (Keep in mind that the 7.5 still fits because it's all stretched out, but now the 8 seems too tight). The left toe box feels slightly cramped; how much of that can be modified?

Also, on another thread, someone had mentioned that SP Teri had made some changes to the last about 10 years ago. Interestingly, the boots I just bought were manufactured in 1995 - close to the time when I bought my original pair! So for me, it's a plus to have the older model because it's apples to apples.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. Happy skating!

[CaraSkates]

I have no experience with SP Teris (Riedell girl all the way!), but my skates always feel tight when new. My right foot is a full size bigger then my left and my skates stretch out to feel comfortable in about a week. Can you get them heat molded? Mine are heat molded, still feel tight for the first few times skating in them. I also find that if I haven't worn them in a while, they feel tight but loosen up very quickly.

[Sunnyside_Skater]

I, too, was wondering if they could be heat molded since they are so old. Does anyone know?

[FigureSpins]

Heat molding wasn't the norm prior to the 2000's.  I wouldn't take the risk of damage by heat-molding an old skate like that; the leather might already be dried out.  Heat would make it worse.

Try the damp socks method: dampen a pair of socks, put them on your feet, then lace up your skates and wear them for a while.  Works best on the ice.

If that doesn't help, get them stretched by a pro shop or even a shoe repair place.

[icedancer]

You are so lucky to find boots just like your old ones!  I am envious!

I agree with Figure Spins.  They are not heat-mold-able - take them to your local pro shop and see what they can do with them.

Excited for you!

[Sunnyside_Skater]

I forgot to mention: when I took the insole out of the size 8 and stood up on it my foot goes all the way to the end. Does that mean that it's too short? And width wise, the widest part of my foot hangs over the side. Does that mean it's too narrow?

[FigureSpins]

Yes and yes.

[Sunnyside_Skater]

Argh, well then, anyone wanna buy some SP Teri's lol?! Actually I think what I'll do is take them in to the shop and get their opinion on the fit before going ahead with the blades. I think I would probably be happy with them with a little stretching - but it's so hard to know! In the meantime, I've been warming up to my Risports anyway. I thought they were too small and overbooted for me but every time I skate in them they feel a little better. The vision blades on them seem scratchy to me - not sure what that's about.

[Hanca]

They can stretch boots about half a size, so you may be lucky. 

[aussieskater]

Can boots be lengthened or only widened?  If pro shops can lengthen boots, how do they do it, as the last is fixed?  I'm really unclear on that?

[FigureSpins]

Boots can be stretched for both width and length.  Stretching the leather upper makes it bulge out a bit and makes it fit feet larger than the "last."  (A "last" is a model of a human foot.  Manufacturers use lasts to standardize their skate sizes, but not all mfgs' lasts are the same.)

That's one of the disadvantages of buying used: once stretched, a skate doesn't match the sizing charts.

[Sk8tmum]

An "all-leather" boot can be stretched up to a full size. Your SPTeris would be all leather. Basically, a stretcher is placed in the boots for 24 hours - and lo and behold, they are longer.  This can alter the centre of gravity however.  Heat Molded boots are limited in terms of stretching as they have the plastic designed to be melted-and-molded inside the leather uppers.

[Query]

I haven't been successful in stretching toe boxes more than about 1/2 size (i.e., 1/6 inch). Then again, I don't have the heavy duty bench tools a high end pro shop or downhill ski shop has - just a ball and ring pliers (also called hoke and ball pliers, or bunion stretcher) and a cautiously applied hair drier to warm the desired spot. But one experienced pro also quoted 1/2 size stretchability in the toe box to me.

(My info is not specific to SP Teris, which I've never owned.)

If you tell SP Teri what model boot you have, they can tell you whether they are nominally heat mold-able, and at what temperatures. If you can't find a model name on them, you might find a serial number, or maybe they can tell from a picture.

If they say no, it gets trickier.

BTW, where are they snug? Is it at the front of the toe, the sides, or both? That's very important. If you just need to stretch a little bubble sideways next to the front of the big or little toe, that's quite routine at many pro shops.

A good pro shop can often do a good job of heat molding and/or stretching your boots, if there is one within a few hours drive of you. There is obviously a greater risk for inexperienced crafts people like (I assume) yourself.