New Skates

Any ideas on how to break in my new skates? They are really pinching my toes. Of course tonight was just the first night of wearing them. Still our coach really doesn't like to hear stuff like my feet hurt during practice. So any help would be appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Death by Roxy on December 27, 2008 at 1:42pm: What kind of skates? If they lace all the way down you could try skipping the first two eyelets fro some extra wiggle room. Otherwise give it time.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Daisy Fever on December 29, 2008 at 12:28pm: Tighten up the wheels and wear them around your house for a few days, like shoes. Or you don't have to tighten up the wheels (that could be more fun) Wear them at the dinner table, watching tv, cleaning house, cooking dinner etc.....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lori Maziarz on January 5, 2009 at 4:53pm: My skates killed my feet for months. I found only tighting the top lace helped alot.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by CoCo Sparx on January 6, 2009 at 6:10pm: If, after a couple of times skating on them, they are still really tight, you might consider taking them to a shoe repair shop and have them stretch the leather. This is assuming that you have leather skates. I know a couple girls on my team got their skates stretched and said it made a huge difference.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jondi Soper on May 29, 2009 at 2:29pm: The local shoe repair guy won't stretch my skates. He told me the leather is too thick and strong??? So now I think I may have to just buy the next size up and hope they aren't too big. My skates fit perfect everywhere but the toes...where it pinches and I cannot feel my toes by the end of practice.

It makes me a sad panda cuz I really like my skates. LOL; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by CoCo Sparx on June 9, 2009 at 10:09am: He's being lame. What kind of skates to you have? I've got 965s which are pretty much as thick as they come, but I know they can be stretched. Are there any ice skating shops in the area? They should also be able to do it and would probably have the right equipment to work with the thicker leather.
If nothing else, another thing you could try is not lacing the first few eyelets on your skates to create more room around your toes. One girl on my team has two laces on each skate; one in just the bottom few eyelets, which she keeps looser, and another starting about halfway up her foot up to her ankle, which she keeps a lot tighter. She's said it makes a huge difference.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by CoCo Sparx on June 11, 2009 at 9:10am: A friend of mine has been having some foot issues due to pinching skates and started doing some searching online. She found a blog written by a podiatrist who has worked with some of BADGirls. She's got some really great ideas on her blog for how to deal with pinching.
A description of the problem & possible solutions w/ photos:
http://drshoe.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/roller-derby-outside-of-the-...
More lacing modifications:
http://drshoe.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/skating-pain-bay-area-roller...
Padding modifications:
http://drshoe.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/skating-boots-modifications-...
So yeah, if the local shoe repair guy won't do it, try a podiatrist.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Grand Poobah on June 14, 2009 at 7:03pm: There are different skates with different width toe boxes.

What kind of skates are you buying? Perhaps you want to get skates based upon a different leave?

Certain Riedell skates have wide toe boxes (including those based upon 265 boots), while others have narrow toe boxes. I'm by no means an expert on this stuff, but a lot of the foot pain is likely caused by getting the wrong skates for your feet.

Having boots that are too narrow for your feet causes pain for obvious reasons. Having boots that are too wide for your feet can cause cramping, as your feet are probably trying to "grab" onto the skates.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jondi Soper on June 15, 2009 at 9:55am: An update! Another shoe repair place in town was able to stretch my skates. He said skates are difficult because they lace all the way down and the laces tend to try to give while the boot is on the stretcher. But, my skates are MUCH better now. So, if you skates are still pinching, try getting them stretched. It may just do the trick.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Masuimi Smax on February 6, 2009 at 2:10am: As uncomfortable as it sounds you can wear two wet socks in them around the house or by a shoe strecher.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vansterdamn on February 9, 2009 at 8:02am: My toes always go numb. Just part of the experience.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by HeidiHellcat on May 8, 2009 at 4:25am: Mine pinched my toes forever, 265's, I decided finally that I got a half size too small. Whether you are on synthetic or real leather matters a lot. Fortunately if they are leather they will mold to your foot. and now mine are a perfect fit... just eventually. :) Try dr. scholls blister 'treatments' to keep the open sores to a minimum. Otherwise its just wear and tear to get them to fit you just right.; ▶ Reply to This