Five Steps for Skate Fitting
Incorrectly sized and fitted ice skate boots can cause foot discomfort, affect skater performance, cause premature skate breakdown and lead to injury. Optimize your comfort and performance on and off the ice by following this list of skate fitting ‘Dos’ to make sure your Riedell Skates are a perfect fit.
1. Do your research on skate fitting procedures.
One of the most common mistakes skaters make is to assume your skate size will be the same as your street shoe size. Like quality shoes, each brand of skates has different sizing unique to the manufacturer. See Riedell’s Sizing Chart or visit your local Authorized Riedell Skate Dealer.
2. Do buy skates that fit your feet today.
Skates sized too large with the hope of the skater being able to grow into them is a mistake. Skates that are big don’t fit or support the foot properly and can cause discomfort, breakdown and could lead to injury.
3. Do examine all parts of the foot for comfort and support when evaluating your skate fitting.
Length: is the foot resting comfortably flat in the skate and not putting excess pressure on toes?
Width: does the skate provide adequate comfort for the ball joint area of the foot and allow proper support of the arch?
Heel: is the heel of the foot seated comfortably in the heel area of the skate to provide maximum foot control?
Ankle: does the skate fit comfortably & properly around the ankle and shin area to allow the desired firmness and strength?
4. Do make sure your toes can wiggle slightly up & down in the boots.
The end of your toes should lightly brush the end of the boot. You do not want to be able to slide your toes side to side in the skate. If your toes slide sideways in the skate, this is a good indication that the boot is too wide and a narrower width is needed.
Another way to determine if the skate is the incorrect width: look at the boot when laced up with firm lace tension. The lacing width should not be too close together. If it is, the boot is too wide for your foot. Also, if the lacing width is too far apart, the width is too narrow. You can check your width against Riedell’s width chart or visit your local Authorized Riedell Dealer.
5. Do ask questions during your skate fitting.
Your Authorized Riedell Dealer has the training and information to help you determine your skate needs. Your Riedell dealer can measure your feet, fit your skates and answer any questions that you have about sizing.
Want to ask us? We welcome you to ask us questions via email, Facebook Messenger, or Instagram Direct Message.
The “Break-in” Period
What will help me “break-in” my new skates?
Every pair of Riedell boots is made with the finest materials and components. These components allow the skate to mold and shape to the exact form of your foot. Once a skate has formed to your foot the “break-in” period is complete. The length of this “break-in” period will vary from skater to skater, but the more you skate, the more quickly your boots will mold to meet your foot’s unique shape. To ease the “break-in” period and maximize comfort we recommend, have your skates fit, sized, prepared and heat molded by a trained Authorized Riedell Dealer.
Heat Molding for a Better Fit
This 10-step process ensures maximum heat activation of boots for effective skate fitting.
- Have a trained Riedell skate fitter measure your feet.
- Skate oven should be preheated to between 165-180˚F.
- Skates should be heated in oven for 4-7 minutes. Medium temper boots will need to be heated for a shorter time of 4-6 minutes. Firm and extra-firm temper boots will need to be heated 5-7 minutes.
- Remove boots from skate oven and flex heel counters open so foot can be easily placed in the heel pocket of the skate.
- Place foot in boot and lightly tap heel of foot back into heel cup of the boot. Lace the boot up with firm, snug tension on the laces starting at the throat area over the top of the toes. Maintain the same lacing tension to the top of skate. You can stand and put pressure on skates, but do not walk in the skates if blades are not attached.
- Leave skates on for approximately 10 minutes. This will allow skates to shape and contour to your foot.
- Remove skates and let your feet and skates relax for several minutes. Put skates back on and lace up with normal, comfortable lacing pressure.
- If discomfort or specific pressure points exist, heat area of boot with heat gun and adjust boot with boot press or shoe stretcher as needed.
- Re-fit skates using normal lacing pressure.
- Hit the ice!
NOTE: All Riedell boots that are made of leather are heat moldable. However, the lightweight microfiber boots Elara and Vega are pre-molded and pre-formed. Please see the notation below:
Elara & Vega
- The Elara and Vega boots are built using pre-molded and pre-formed materials that eliminate/reduce the need for heat molding and the use of a skate oven.
- The Elara and Vega boots are heat moldable, but Riedell does not authorize the use of a heat oven to heat the boots.
- Fit adjustments should only be done on the Elara and Vega boots with a localized heat source by a trained and skilled skate specialist or an Authorized Riedell Dealer.
Lacing: The Final Step to the Perfect Fit
Boots laced too tightly can cause numbness and pain in your feet. To be your best on the ice, your boots must be properly laced.
How do I correctly lace my skates?
- Snugly tighten the laces starting with the laces in the first eyelet near your toes. Continue to lace up maintaining even tension through the laces at the instep. The laces that you have just completed should not be pinching or pulling the boot opening around the tongue, or throat area any smaller than when the laces are loose.
- We recommend using a couple of cross twists in your laces at the top of the eyelets before lacing the hooks with medium tension. This keeps your foot’s heel firmly in place while allowing maximum flexibility at the ankle joint. The lacing pattern of the entire boot should be uniform. Laces that are too long create a tripping hazard; make sure that you have the correct length of laces with our Lace Chart.
Looking for more information? Check our Frequently Asked Questions for more.