Foot Pain and Choices for New Boots

[Kitten23]

Maybe it's all the snow.  Maybe it's my snow boots breaking down, but I now have an annoying pain across my foot where I tie a knot in the laces of my skates before I get to the hooks.  (Did that make any sense?)  I don't know exactly what that part of the foot is called, but it's right where it bends near the ankle.  Anyway, it's only on my left (landing) foot and I'm wondering if it's because my skates are rather old. 

With that in mind, I was wondering about opinions on new boots.  I was thinking of the Jackson DJ2400.  Any opinions?  I liked the EDEAs but I have a wide foot and they just hurt too much.

What boots do you have?  What are your opinions?  Please.

[fsk8r]

My sister has had pain exactly where you describe. She was diagnosed with tendonitis.
If you google lace bite/skate bite that might help and you can buy gel tubes to help prevent the iritation.

[Kitten23]

Thank you!!  I will look that up right away!

[Bill_S]

It does indeed sound like "lace bite". There are also places that will rebuild the padding on the tongue, including some boot manufacturers. I had an older pair of Gold Stars that I kept for 4 or 5 years of heavy use, and developed lace bite. It's very painful.

After my padding was replaced, the problem completely disappeared. I recall that I sent my skates to Cooke's Skate Supply in MA. You could email them to see if they are still offering this kind of repair, or contact your local fitter to ask about other options.

[AgnesNitt]

You don't have to tie the laces at the ankle. I used to get the same pain, so I now just tie at the top.  I think when boots were more flexible, that tying at the ankle was necessary, but now that they're so stiff, you can do without it.

YMMV.

[Query]

One person (I think on this board) said they used a LaceVice to provide a rigid surface over which to lace, to eliminate lace bite.

On the cheap side, you could cut a piece of plastic and run it under the laces to create much the same effect. One respected boot fitter told me he did that.

If the tongue is the only part breaking down, getting new boots seems expensive. Also, for a fee the boot maker can probably replace the tongue.

Good luck.

[Kitten23]

Sadly the cushion on the tongue is long gone and I've been using a cosmetic puff to pad the area.  The skates are really broken down now, with deep creases along the ankle area.  I can have them reinforced, but rebuilding is probably out of the question as they are over 10 years old.    However, I'll try everyone's suggestions.

Anyone have the Jackson DJ2400?  Or was it 4200?

[sarahspins]

The 2400 is the competitor, the 4200 is one of the newly introduced elite models... which do you mean?

I've not had any problems with the level of cushion on the tongues in my 3900's (the old Elite Supreme).  That said, I need a new pair of boots myself now but since they've discontinued the 3900 and the tongues on the 4200 and 4500 both have latex foam (I'm allergic), I'm looking at other options since with the split width I need, two changes makes it considered a full custom order, and a custom from Jackson rivals buying a custom pair from any other maker, and if I am going full custom I'd rather work with a fitter in person to make sure I get exactly what I want/need rather than an approximation of a discontinued stock boot.

I would strongly suggest the bunga lace bite pads to get you through until you can get new boots... you need something to protect that area.

[Rachelsk8s]

I second the Bunga gel sleeves/pads, or an equivalent to them. I have gone through many a pair of gel sleeves and couldn't skate now without them. When I skated as a kid I definitely developed lace bight but never used gel sleeves to help with the problem. Fast forward to present day and would probably be in pain everyday if I didn't skate with them. I never even knew about them until I started skating again as an adult but I'll tell you I love them!!!