Skate Buying Adventures

[Kim to the Max]

Harlicks tend to be the boot of choice in the Milwaukee area. I don't know who is up there doing fittings right now (I haven't lived there for a long time), but it's worth a shot. I love my Harlicks!!

[aussieskater]

I'm still leery of the idea of buying a pair of skates that I can't try on first, but it looks like they're pretty considerate in taking half a dozen different measurements, both sitting and standing, as well as requesting photos of all angles of your feet, to ensure a good fit.

Wherever you go, make sure they will warrant the fit - in other words, if they take the measurement and it doesn't fit, they will make good, by making a new pair if needed, at their expense.  That way, you're out time, and maybe gas for a new fitting, but not dollars too.

Re remote fitting - my friend just got custom Harlicks remotely ordered from Australia!  We have no Harlicks dealer in the country, so it was remote or nothing.  She's had endless trouble with boots and has tried 2-3 pairs in different brands; Risport (stock size), Jackson (split width), and I think one other brand as well.  She eventually took the plunge, and spoke to Harlicks about doing a custom boot without needing to fly all the way to the USA.    They talked her through the process, arranged measurements, she emailed them plus photos and tracings of her foot, they made boots and mailed 'em over.  She got them a couple of weeks ago, and is delighted.

Would you like me to get you the name of the person she was dealing with?  On the other hand, a fit warranty might only be available if they take the measurements themselves, so that's something to consider.  ETA - I just checked the Harlick website - it looks like they have dealers all over the country so there may be a dealer/preferred fitter closer to you than Chicago.

[Sk8tmum]

I will second (third?) Harlicks for excellent fit.  The freaky feet on my kid are thoroughly well fitted in custom Harlicks, and service was excellent.

[Bunny Hop]

Like Aussieskater's friend, my husband has also recently got custom Harlicks ordered remotely. Harlick send detailed instructions for making the measurements/tracings, and we sent photos as well. He's still breaking them in (also according to their detailed instructions) and I think is pretty happy so far.

Yes, they are expensive, but if you keep having to buy stock boots then it will add up to the same cost at some point anyway.

[Orianna2000]

I'm definitely leaning toward Harlicks, hopefully customized stock boots, if they come wide enough. I like how they ask for so many different measurements, as well as photos of your feet, so chances seem good that the fit would work. There's a dealer for Harlicks in a city about two hours from us. They're not "preferred" just "standard", but I don't know what that means. If I need a preferred dealer, there's one about six hours from here. Or, I might be going to California soon, in which case there's preferred dealers all over the place! We're going to try the regular dealer first though, since they're closest, and see if they have anything I can try on. Even if it's not the right size/width, it might give me an idea of whether they'll be comfortable or not.

I'll definitely check to see if they'll guarantee their measurements. That would ease my mind a great deal.

A skate shop in a city about five hours from here is hosting the president/founder (not sure which) of SP Teri for the day, to do skate fittings. I emailed to ask about that and was politely told that I couldn't have an appointment because they needed to focus on skaters who were committed to buying skates that day. Apparently you're not allowed to try on skates first if you're going to order customs. I was told I needed to "trust" that the skates would fit. With my track record? You're kidding, right? 

[Sk8tmum]

I'm definitely leaning toward Harlicks, hopefully customized stock boots, if they come wide enough. I like how they ask for so many different measurements, as well as photos of your feet, so chances seem good that the fit would work. There's a dealer for Harlicks in a city about two hours from us. They're not "preferred" just "standard", but I don't know what that means. If I need a preferred dealer, there's one about six hours from here. Or, I might be going to California soon, in which case there's preferred dealers all over the place! We're going to try the regular dealer first though, since they're closest, and see if they have anything I can try on. Even if it's not the right size/width, it might give me an idea of whether they'll be comfortable or not.

I'll definitely check to see if they'll guarantee their measurements. That would ease my mind a great deal.

A skate shop in a city about five hours from here is hosting the president/founder (not sure which) of SP Teri for the day, to do skate fittings. I emailed to ask about that and was politely told that I couldn't have an appointment because they needed to focus on skaters who were committed to buying skates that day. Apparently you're not allowed to try on skates first if you're going to order customs. I was told I needed to "trust" that the skates would fit. With my track record? You're kidding, right? 

Don't judge whether a custom boot will fit based on if the stock one does.  The custom one is built to your foot, the stock one to their basic boot shape.   The real custom skate makers like Harlick, Klingbeil don't adapt a boot for you, they make a boot just for you...

In terms of SP Teri, that makes sense, he's coming to do fittings for custom, if you want stock boots you go to a dealer.  There is no need to "try on" the stock boot because the custom isn't the same as the stock... And they will make the custom ones fit you! 

[Orianna2000]

Don't judge whether a custom boot will fit based on if the stock one does.  The custom one is built to your foot, the stock one to their basic boot shape.   The real custom skate makers like Harlick, Klingbeil don't adapt a boot for you, they make a boot just for you...

In terms of SP Teri, that makes sense, he's coming to do fittings for custom, if you want stock boots you go to a dealer.  There is no need to "try on" the stock boot because the custom isn't the same as the stock... And they will make the custom ones fit you! 

How can they make the custom boots fit you exactly when they don't take molds of your feet or anything? Can they do a truly custom fit just by a few photos and tracings?

Either way, I was hoping for custom stock boots, in which case trying the skates on would help determine if it fits my foot or not. It's like Jackson versus Riedell. When I tried on Riedells, they felt "wrong". Even the pair I ended up buying felt wrong. But the Jackson skates, even in the wrong size, they felt "right". If they were wide enough, I know Jackson would work perfectly. But they don't, at least not without over-booting me, so I have to go with something like Harlick, which can be customized for extra wide width. I'm desperately hoping their stock boots will come in my width if I special-order them. If not, I'll have to spend the extra money for customs.

[sarahspins]

Apparently you're not allowed to try on skates first if you're going to order customs.

What would trying on boots that are guaranteed to be the wrong width really going to tell you?  It won't tell you much, and I do know that SP Teri will work with you to make your boots perfect if you don't think they are when you get them.  To fit you in customs, they take tracings of your feet sitting and standing and take a lot of measurements all over your feet and ankles and trace out where your arches are, the shape of your ankles and heels, and other aspects of your feet.  It's not like they just take those measurements to see where you fit into a size chart, they actually use the measurements and drawings to build the boot around the size and shape of your foot. 

When I got my SP Teri customs as a teenager they really fit my feet perfectly... I do think they were made too stiff (I'd already broken down a pair of their stiffest stock books very quickly, which is why my custom pair was made stiffer) for me and that made them harder to break in initially than they should have been, but apart from that I had no complaints about them - and if I'd known enough to ask for flex notches which they had only just started doing back then, they probably would have broken in much easier.  They didn't fit me after I had kids or I would probably still be wearing them.

I do have to say that SP Teri and Harlick are more similar to Jackson than Riedell is.... Riedell is really kind of the only boot that fits the way it does, even the two pairs of Klings I've skated in (not mine) felt more like SP Teri's (but with more padding).  I'm on the fence about what I want to do when I need new boots again... I know that Jackson fits me well and I can order a modified stock boot and be happy with it, but I will be in the bay area this summer and it's VERY tempting to take that opportunity to get measured for customs at either SP Teri or Harlick (leaning more towards Harlick if I were to do that)... and part of me wonders if I can go get measured for customs at the factory and just wait to actually order until later on.

[Orianna2000]

What would trying on boots that are guaranteed to be the wrong width really going to tell you?

Whether the edge will cut into the back of my ankle. Whether the arches are too high. Whether the padding hits the right spots. Whether my toes hit the front, and therefore whether I can tolerate a 6.5 or need a 7. All kinds of stuff, really. As I said above, when I tried on Riedells, I could tell they weren't going to work, regardless of which size I tried on. They just weren't comfortable. Jacksons, on the other hand were comfortable, even when I picked the wrong size. Okay, the arch hurt because they were too narrow. But other than that, they were nice.

It's not like they just take those measurements to see where you fit into a size chart, they actually use the measurements and drawings to build the boot around the size and shape of your foot. 

That's good to know. Do they actually build a custom last?

I do have to say that SP Teri and Harlick are more similar to Jackson than Riedell is.... Riedell is really kind of the only boot that fits the way it does, even the two pairs of Klings I've skated in (not mine) felt more like SP Teri's (but with more padding). 

Well, that is reassuring. Every pair of Riedells I've tried on have been ill-fitting and uncomfortable. I bought a pair anyway, because I was desperate to have something to skate in so I could pass my test. But I really shouldn't have.

[Sk8tmum]

How can they make the custom boots fit you exactly when they don't take molds of your feet or anything? Can they do a truly custom fit just by a few photos and tracings?

It's a lot more than that that they do.  And yes it is absolutely a true custom fit.  My kid has freaky weird feet and Harlick made skate boots that fit precisely and perfectly. Not a single uncomfortable point, not a single spot that didn't mold the feet perfectly, and a strength nicely suited to height, weight and preference in underbooting.  Two different sized feet in both length and width plus bony protrusions and very very narrow heels, mismatching arches and protuberant ankle bones... And different length toes on the two feet...

They will also customize backstays.

[sarahspins]

Whether the edge will cut into the back of my ankle. Whether the arches are too high. Whether the padding hits the right spots. Whether my toes hit the front, and therefore whether I can tolerate a 6.5 or need a 7. All kinds of stuff, really.

All of those things which are issues with stock boots aren't with customs.. that's one of the advantages of customs

[Orianna2000]

Well, after discussing the matter with my husband, we've decided to forgo stock boots and go straight for customs. He's tired of having to buy me new skates all the time, when they don't fit. So, a trip to Atlanta is in order. It's the nearest preferred dealer of Harlicks. We won't be able to go until Memorial Day weekend, since it's such a long drive, so I'll have to find a way to cope with the painful skates, meanwhile.

[aussieskater]

Orianna, so glad you're going for new boots - painful ill-fitting boots are the worst thing, and from your posts, your current boots are definitely not right for you!  Have you contacted your Atlanta (?) dealer to see if they warrant their measurements?  I don't know how Harlick dealers work - we don't have one here.

Also, will you be selling your incorrect boots locally or on ebay?  Doing so might recoup some of the cost of the new ones.

[sampaguita]

I'm happy for you Orianna!!! I hope custom boots will end all your skate woes!

[Orianna2000]

I sure hope the new boots end my woes. It's been a nightmare!

I plan to email the dealer in Atlanta to make sure they guarantee their fitting before we drive all that way. If they don't, we might as well stay here and do the measurements ourselves.

And yes, we'll probably sell all three pairs of my old ice skates on eBay or somewhere. It won't add up to a lot, since I've heard you can only ask for 50% of the price if they've been worn at all. So we'll get maybe $35 for the Jackson Glaciers, $20-25 for the Riedell 110s (since they've been punched out), and $70 for the Classiques. Still, every bit helps, right?

[sampaguita]

And yes, we'll probably sell all three pairs of my old ice skates on eBay or somewhere. It won't add up to a lot, since I've heard you can only ask for 50% of the price if they've been worn at all. So we'll get maybe $35 for the Jackson Glaciers, $20-25 for the Riedell 110s (since they've been punched out), and $70 for the Classiques. Still, every bit helps, right?

Definitely! Better recover some of the cost than none at all.

[Sk8tmum]

check if the place where you're getting the fitting takes in trade-ins or buys used skates.  They may, particularly if you're getting new ones.

[sarahspins]

You mentioned Chicago before - it didn't even occur to me until just now when I saw Phil from Harlick post on Facebook that they'll be at Adult Nationals doing fittings, and I know the other major boot makers will be there too.

[Orianna2000]

I don't know if Chicago is still in the running or not. The only time we'd be able to go is Memorial Day weekend. We were hoping to drive to Atlanta, which is closer than Chicago, but when I contacted the preferred dealer, it turns out it's a lady who does fittings out of her living room, just so Harlick can say they have a dealer in the area. She doesn't guarantee her measurements, and she's going to be out of town the only weekend we can go.

If I end up going to California, I'm going to try and visit one of the several preferred dealers out there. I've contacted USASkates to see if they'll guarantee their fittings, but the thing is, if I'm back home in TN when the skates arrive, and they don't fit, even if they're guaranteed, I have no way of getting re-measured for the replacement skates. So I don't know if that would work.

We may need to just have our skating director take the measurements, tracings, and photographs, and hope it'll work out. The lady from Atlanta says that Harlick usually tries to make things right, so if the skates don't fit, they'll try to adjust them for me, provided I pay for shipping to send them back. So that may be our best option. At this rate, I'm not going to get my new skates until June or July, if I get measured immediately. If I have to wait until I go to California, it'll be July or August, and if I have to wait for Memorial weekend, it'll be August or September! I don't think I can keep skating in my Classiques that long. It's just too painful. I don't know what to do.

I found a pair of Placid Glider skates on eBay that come in a D-width. I was considering buying them for "temporary" skates, since they might be wider than the Classiques. But since they only cost $29.99 plus shipping, I'm pretty sure they're going to be horrible. No padding, awful blades, etc. I don't know if they would help or hurt my cause, at this point. The Classiques are so nice, except for the fact that they kill my feet. I would hate to downgrade and perhaps lose momentum and stop making progress. But then, how much progress can I make when I literally have to stop and rest my feet every five minutes during my class?

[sarahspins]

Yeah, I'd skip the ebay skates... odds are good their "D" width is probably more like a medium/average anyways.

[sampaguita]

Hmm how about your old Riedells? You were able to test in them, right? Might be uncomfortable, but maybe they would be less painful than your Classiques?

[Orianna2000]

I considered that, but our skating director recommended against it, just because they're a medium width. I don't know if she realizes they've been punched, though. I might try them on anyway, just to see how they compare to the Classiques now. The blades are pretty bad, though. I noticed a huge difference in my skating once I switched to the Classiques, with their better blades. I can do a one-footed snowplow, which I couldn't on the Riedells, and just my gliding in general is better. They would need to be punched again, if I did switch to them, because the punch-out shrank. Hmm. Maybe I can take them to a practice session and just try them and see how they compare to the Classiques. It's worth a try, anyway.

[Orianna2000]

Update

I'm in California, so I went and got fitted for my custom Harlicks today. They're ordered, and paid for, and everything, so hopefully in a few weeks I'll have wonderful new skates that fit like they were made for me.

At first, the fitter suggested that I get SP Teri customs instead of Harlick, just because of the shape of my feet and the fact that SP Teris are a little rounder at the toe. But then he decided it would be okay if we requested the X-Line boot instead of the regular boot.

I forget the name of the blades (Aspire, maybe?) but they're a step up from the Mirages. He recommended them because they're slightly more curved, so the toe picks will be higher up, so I won't have as much trouble with them scraping.

I paid extra for expedited production, so I should get them in 4-6 weeks instead of 8-10 weeks. That will be nice. I'm still really nervous, though. I've never paid this much money for anything for myself, ever. If they don't fit, I'm going to go insane.

[Bunny Hop]

I've never paid this much money for anything for myself, ever. If they don't fit, I'm going to go insane.

If it helps to reassure you, my husband's new custom Harlicks seem to fit just fine now that he's broken them in. The break-in period was quite painful (although his boots are a lot stiffer than yours are going to be), but has been worthwhile. I should add that he did follow Harlick's instructions for breaking them in to the letter, so they obviously know what they're talking about in that regard. The instructions were in a pamphlet he received with the skates, and are also on their website.

[sampaguita]

Ooh I know the feeling. I've been feeling the same thing about my skates, but your skates are waaay more expensive than mine. But if you love skating and you are willing to go through with it, your custom boots will definitely be worth it.

If you don't mind, where did you get fitted, by the way?