Ditched My Hated Edea's

[Sk8Dreams]

I finally could not take it anymore.  Having to be on the ice working for 3-5 hours at a stretch has done me in.  Here is a list of the problems I've had with these boots:

Not enough padding in the ankles, forcing me to wear gel sleeves
Bumpy and itchy rash from the gel sleeves, requiring talc, which didn't help 100%
Intense metatarsal pain because insole has NO padding
Addition of Klingbeil orthotics to counter metatarsal pain
Development of huge bump on side of big toe (like a bunion, but really just a bump) from pressure due to less room in toe box
Coldest boot ever, because sole is a thin layer of plastic

So, I went to a local pro shop to get the toe box enlarged; something that the Edea rep said was easy to do.  Not so.
While there, I met a friend who had come in with another adult skater who had 17 year old, unworn, Riedells that were hurting her.  I encouraged her to get new skates, pointing her to Jackson, of which this store had a great selection.  She was trying on the Elle, so I looked at it, liked it, and bought it!  I'm trying them out today.

[Isk8NYC]

I know the feeling.  You're trying out her skates or you're getting your own pair?

Tried Jackson Competitors and I don't like them.  Went back to the ankle-hurting Klingbeils for now while I dither about what to try next.

[hopskipjump]

I was under the impression that changing the shape of the edea's had to be done using specialty equipment and very few proshops have it.

We have one dealer locally and even he seemed hesitant to sell them suggesting the riedell or jackson instead.

[SynchKat]

Thanks for posting this.  I suggested someone look at Edea's because I had only heard good things.

I have Jackson Competitor and never again.  I think I was "under booted" for one thing but I just didn't really like them at all.

[Query]

I think that up to a point, such changes are fairly easy for the main U.S. distributer to make, using a heat gun, but last I checked, the Edea web site provided no information on how to heat mold Edea boots. The way you heat mold other brands of figure skating and hockey boots would probably destroy Edea boots. So the type of change you are talking about is very scary for other pro shops to make: they might easily find themselves liable to replace a pair of expensive figure skating boots that they destroyed, and end up with a very unhappy customer to boot ( ).

That main U.S. distributer said he couldn't widen the toe box of Edea skates enough for my feet - which have toes much wider than heels.

Maybe rather than throwing away those expensive boots, you could find warmer insoles, then get the distributer to refit the boots the next time you see him (he travels to a lot of competitions to do fittings). (Note also that Edea's website advises you to change insoles often.)

[Willowway]

Isn't it amazing that what might work so well for one person is just a nightmare for another person!  I know skaters from lower level to an OGM who swear by Edeas and Sk8Dreams was in boot Hades. Each experience is perfectly valid and goes for every model of every boot ever made - someone loves it, someone is tortured by it.

[ChristyRN]

Isn't it amazing that what might work so well for one person it just a nightmare for another person!  I know skaters from lower level to an OGM who swear by Edeas and Sk8Dreams was in boot Hades. Each experience is perfectly valid and goes for every model of every boot ever made - someone loves it, someone is tortured by it.

Yeah.  Two Competitor haters and I'm on my second pair. I love them!

It's like sneakers.  Before my second pregnancy, Nikes fit well.  After, not at all--I had to switch to New Balance.

[Hanca]

I used to have Edea Overture as my first pair of boots. I had them for a year and that time I had no experience with skating boots. I thought that they are supposed to hurt because so many people are complaining on forum about their boots. So I lasted for over a year and grew huge bunions! I will never touch Edea again.  My foot is very narrow at the heel and quite wide in the toe area, and Edea just did not fit right. I have certain doubts about Edea's 'one width fits all' strategy.

[sampaguita]

Sk8Dreams, what model of Edea boots did you have?

Hanca: I have a very narrow heel and am quite wide in the toe area too. I did fit an Edea once. What I found though was that it hurt *near the heel*, not near the toe. I thought maybe it was because it was one of the lower models (the Overture too), but I'm wondering if the Ice Fly has a different fit. In my rink lots of girls wear Ice Flys.

[Sk8Dreams]

I have the Chorus.  They were initially molded by the only person in my area that the US rep said was qualified.  The same guy also mounted the blades and sharpened them - and did a horrible job.  The shop I went to on Wed now carries Edeas and knows how to deal with them.

I bought my own Jackson Elle's.  I wore them for 1.5 hours yesterday!  YES, that long, with no pain!  Not only did I have no pain, but the blades were aligned perfectly for my stance, something I've never experienced before.  That was just dumb luck, but I deserved it!  Also, I felt like I was flying almost immediately.  I did one lap of F swizzles, then moved on to slaloms with deep edges.  After that, everything felt pretty natural.  I've really never had such an easy transition before.  Even stopping was achieved with a minimum of scraping.  The only issue is that the heels are a little loose.  I'm going to see what I can do about that myself.  I may be able to wear thin socks with these boots, and the grip they provide may do the trick.  Also, I realized that I've always had a leather insole, and that's what gave me a slippy feeling, prompting me to go barefoot.  No leather insole in the Elle's.

Bottom line - I'm in love with these skates!

[icedancer]

Well, that is just fabulous!!

And the length of the new blades didn't bother you at all after those dance blades you had on the Edeas?

[aussieskater]

The only issue is that the heels are a little loose.

The Elles are heat moldable, so maybe you could have them remolded and closed in a bit.  Glad you're happy with your new boots!

[Sk8Dreams]

And the length of the new blades didn't bother you at all after those dance blades you had on the Edeas?

I was surprised that it didn't bother me at all.  I was pretty careful, and didn't try crossovers for a while, knowing how easy it would be to "click".  I think I'm going to try to stay careful for a while, just to be sure I've accommodated the new length.

The Elles are heat moldable, so maybe you could have them remolded and closed in a bit. 

Yes, I had them molded when I got them, but I think pinching in the heels may not be an option.  I'll try socks first, then the heel liners made for shoes.  I'm not terribly concerned about it.  After 2 years of metatarsal pain, this doesn't seem like a big deal.

[hopskipjump]

Our skate pro will put an insert in the heel to lock it in place.  He doesn't charge for it.  The issue with it moving is not that it hurts or bothers dd - it;s that if she doesn't have it fixed, by the second day, second hour of skating her heel gets a blister.  And it will just get worse as you wear and compress the skate.

[CaraSkates]

Our skate pro will put an insert in the heel to lock it in place.  He doesn't charge for it.  The issue with it moving is not that it hurts or bothers dd - it;s that if she doesn't have it fixed, by the second day, second hour of skating her heel gets a blister.  And it will just get worse as you wear and compress the skate.

My skate guy has done this for me on three pairs of boots now - I already wear a split width and after I wear them for about 6 months, the heel loosens up. He glues some extra padding in the heel and charges about $20. Totally worth it since the boot fits fine otherwise.

[sarahspins]

I had them molded when I got them, but I think pinching in the heels may not be an option.

Jackson puts heat molding material in the heel counter of their skates, so you can in fact snug them up  if you need to.

[isakswings]

I finally could not take it anymore.  Having to be on the ice working for 3-5 hours at a stretch has done me in.  Here is a list of the problems I've had with these boots:

Not enough padding in the ankles, forcing me to wear gel sleeves
Bumpy and itchy rash from the gel sleeves, requiring talc, which didn't help 100%
Intense metatarsal pain because insole has NO padding
Addition of Klingbeil orthotics to counter metatarsal pain
Development of huge bump on side of big toe (like a bunion, but really just a bump) from pressure due to less room in toe box
Coldest boot ever, because sole is a thin layer of plastic

So, I went to a local pro shop to get the toe box enlarged; something that the Edea rep said was easy to do.  Not so.
While there, I met a friend who had come in with another adult skater who had 17 year old, unworn, Riedells that were hurting her.  I encouraged her to get new skates, pointing her to Jackson, of which this store had a great selection.  She was trying on the Elle, so I looked at it, liked it, and bought it!  I'm trying them out today.

My daughter isn't loving her Jackson Premiere boots. She hurts in them. She has always done well in Jackson skates but not any more. I am considering a switch and she has only been in these boots since the end of September! I cringe because I these are new! I could resell them...but not sure what I would get for them. I may see if they fit my feet and buy her a new set. It is frustrating. I am bummed because she has loved Jackson boots and they have fit her well...until now. I hope you love your Elle boots!

[Sk8Dreams]

Jackson puts heat molding material in the heel counter of their skates, so you can in fact snug them up  if you need to.

Do you know exactly how that works?  I ask because when they were molded, I basically just wore them for 10 to 15 minutes after the heating.  I think to make the heels sung, someone would have to apply pressure to the outsides of the boots for that length of time.  I don't even know if the outer layer of leather is supple enough for that to make a difference.

[FigureSpins]

I've read that some fitters use a heat gun to spot-mold instead of baking the entire skate.  After heating, the fitter places a clamp across the heel on the outside to pinch the sides together.  There was a rag between the clamp and the boot, to prevent scratches and help apply the pressure.  The skater doesn't put the skate on until it's cooled.

I thought there was a video on YouTube, but I don't see it now.

[aussieskater]

That method makes sense, FigureSpins - I wish I could see a video of it!  The standard Jackson heat molding video deals with snugging up heels:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XhZLOEw7o5Q, but not to the degree your method would.

[Sk8Dreams]

That method makes sense, FigureSpins - I wish I could see a video of it!  The standard Jackson heat molding video deals with snugging up heels:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XhZLOEw7o5Q, but not to the degree your method would.

Thank you!  I watched the video, and sent the link to the shop where I got my skates, with a note that this is what I want.  The proprietor did not do this entire process, hence I do have some issues.  I'm going Tuesday.  Meanwhile, I worked today from 10 to 2:30 with no metatarsal pain, and only sitting with laces loose for 10 mintues.  I do still have a few pressure points, plus the loose heels, and I hope the remolding will take care of that.

[Query]

There is potentially a big difference between a skate that is designed to be heat molded, and one, like Edea, that is not, but which an expert artisan might be able to reshape by working very carefully.

Unless I had extensive experience reshaping similar composite materials under heat, I sure wouldn't have the confidence to do it myself. I picture melting the entire boot into a puddle of the plastic resin and pliable reinforced fiber cloth that it was made from, or burning something.

[Willowway]

and one, like Edea, that is not

I thought one of the key features of the Edea was the heat molding so I looked it up on their website. They are designed for heat molding.

"Technical features
Technical innovations applied on Edea boots offer significant advantages: ultra-light (the lightest boots in the world), mouldable (heat allow them to adapt and customize their shape)..."

Perhaps you are referencing molding more traditional materials as opposed to newer materials. Doesn't mean they are less heat-moldable just different (perhaps) in terms of technique.

[twokidsskatemom]

I thought one of the key features of the Edea was the heat molding so I looked it up on their website. They are designed for heat molding.

"Technical features
Technical innovations applied on Edea boots offer significant advantages: ultra-light (the lightest boots in the world), mouldable (heat allow them to adapt and customize their shape)..."

Perhaps you are referencing molding more traditional materials as opposed to newer materials. Doesn't mean they are less heat-moldable just different (perhaps) in terms of technique.

they are heat moldable.. just not to be put in an oven. you can use a heat gun, a blow dryer or even a hot baked potatoe placed inside.

[Query]

"Technical innovations applied on Edea boots offer significant advantages: ultra-light (the lightest boots in the world), mouldable (heat allow them to adapt and customize their shape)..."

Oh! You are right.

But Edea uses a different definition of "heat mold" than most people. They are only talking about the presence of memory foam (maybe like is used in a memory foam mattress or pillow) that is only molded by body heat.

The quote is here, specifically

"DO NOT HEAT EDEA BOOTS: it can seriously damage the boot... Edea paddings are made of Memory foam, and simply require body temperature to adapt their shape."

Klingbeil tried heat moldable padding on my skates, when they rebuilt them 5 or 6 years ago. It didn't help much, and soon became permanently stiff and crumbly in the wrong shape. I wonder if Edea's memory foam is better than what Klingbeil tried at that time.

How do people feel about Edea's memory foam??