DIY split width

[TropicalSk8ter]

 Do anyone here know if I could find out myself if I need split width. What are the common symptoms of needing splitwidth? Is it over or under a certain measurement of the ball or heel? Help please. Thank you. 

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[PhysicsOnIce]

Split width are normally determined by the difference between your heel width and your ball width. Determining if you need  split width boots depends greatly on the type of boot. Some boots like Jackson and Sp-Teri's for example come already with a narrow heel built in and if you are within those measurements there is no need for a split width, while if you are outside their measurements you will have to consider a split width boot. The best when considering this it to visit a good qualified fitter, and/or if you can talk directly with the manufacturer of your boots.  Remember each boot brand and even models are built from individual brand last so the the best way to find out the exact difference measurements is contacting the manufacturer, although some will not give you that information and expect you to go to a fitter. George at Sp-teri is very good at giving you information with out the pressure of having to buy his boots.

As for symptoms things like : Any type of movement at your heel if your boots fit comfortable at your toes may indicate that you might need a split width. The other way around also is an indication your heel fits fine but your toes box is too narrow or too wide so your toes are moving around or squeezed. For me the problem manifested as pain in the arch, toes and middle foot while in Riedells and was fixed by stock Sp-Teri boots.

[TropicalSk8ter]

That couldn't have been explained more perfectly than that. Thank you physics, I appreciate it. By what you speak I think I might need splitwidth I'm in reidell a right now and I feel comfortable at the heel but my toes and on the side of my feet in the toe box area hurts.  And my reidell are "wide". When I first got them they actually made my big toe and index toe bleed in the nail.



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[PhysicsOnIce]

You might want to look into Sp-teri's and Jackson. to fix that problem. I know for my even the Riedell's wide were to narrow in the toes despite fitting in the heel.
Sp-teri has changed their last in the last couple of years to make their arches lower, so if you have really high arches you might consider Jacksons first. But Just make sure you try them both. 

[Loops]

Yup.  I second what PhysicsOnIce says.  I have narrow heels, and have always bought skates to fit those.  I skated for ages in Reidells.  ALWAYS had to have the toe box stretched.  That actually worked well for me.  My current skates, Risports also have a relatively narrow last.  When I bought them I knew they'd need to be stretched, but was hoping they'd be OK after the break-in.  They are, as I type, at the cobblers also being stretched in the toebox.  I expect it to work.

For those of us outside the US, getting skates in a non-standard (i.e. C) width, let alone split-widths is difficult.  I think this is mostly due to a lack of properly trained fitters (as in my case).  I've also heard rumours, but need to confirm with Jackson, that they won't do split-widths outside the US/UK.  Somehow I doubt that's true, but I wouldn't order something like that from a fitter I didn't trust implicitly.  I'm willing to bet that Reidell will also do split widths, if that's all your fitter carries.

If you have access to SP-Teris, then lucky you, that might be a solution.  GAM also reportedly has a last with a relatively wide toe-box as compared to heel width.  I wanted to try these but was unable too.  It all depends on whats available in your area. 

I basically took my skates on a tour of cobblers in my city. Only one (who also happens to work on military boots) looked at my skates and said "no problem".  The rest were honest and said "no way" (with the blades they wouldn't even fit in their machines).  It's gonna cost me a whopping 5 euros to have them stretched.  Pretty sure I paid my skate guy at least three times that back in the US.    I get them back tomorrow and can't wait to see how much better it is (I had to have the laces loose below the instep or there was pain).  But you might be able to do the same thing.  Ask at your rink, they may already know of a cobbler who can stretch your skates.  If not, do the tour of cobblers, you might strike out, but you might also be pleasantly surprised.  They should be able to stretch them up to 1/2 a size wider.  That might be enough.

[taka]

You can definitely get a split width in Riedells - I have an E ball and B heel in my 2012LS boots! It was classed as a special order (since it was only 1 change - the toe width) and cost me an extra ~£50 or thereabouts. I suspect this change would be even less if you are in USA / Canada.

The size heel of my old boots fitted fine but they were not wide enough and my wider foot would cramp periodically across the arch. When I got properly measured I needed a smaller length boot but in a wider size across the toes.

Nowhere I tried would do spit width Jacksons in the UK without resorting to full customs and charging an eyewatering amount for the privilege. Stock Jacksons may have been just about wide enough for me but the heels were far, far too wide.

Best thing is to go to a trusted fitter, get accurately measured and see what they say!

[TropicalSk8ter]

I didn't know reidell does stock with split width.


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[xoxo_tw]

my foot is very narrow in the heel and very wide in the ball.  my skates fit my heel correct, but are very much too tight in the ball.

I got one of those:

http://www.shoecaresupplies.com/Boot_Stretcher_p/womens-western.htm

I heat up the boot in the front area with a heatGun, put it in and screw it out as much as possible,  worked out great,  boots not as pretty anymore but my foot fits great !.  I bought the stretch tool from CHina for around 6usd.

[discombobulate]

hmm I have the same problem. I should try that.
What is a heat gun?

[Bill_S]

Heat gun, one example...



http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/22-17215?green=74CD1EC4-E829-5EDC-9D2D-9B4D9DDB0271

They are capable of getting VERY hot, so be careful.

[Isk8NYC]

Heat gun, one example...

They are capable of getting VERY hot, so be careful.

I also thought that was the heat gun people were using on their skates, too.  We had used it to to blister paint from wrought iron and I got burned with it, so I was aghast to think about using it for heat-molding. 

Until someone on this board told me that there's a much-lower heat CRAFTING version that's used for paper embossing and stamping. 

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/pink-heat-embossing-gun-506345/
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/purple-two-speed-heat-tool-152355/

That makes so much more sense!  It's like a concentrated hair dryer, not a paint removal tool.

[Bill_S]

Good find.

Having something in the medium heat range would make it much easier, and safer.