How Should My Skates Fit?
You want your skates to be SNUG BUT NOT UNCOMFORTABLE. Please try your skates/boots on with the socks you would normally wear skating, lace them up properly and stand up in them. The lacing is CRUCIAL as it can completely change where your foot is in the skate. For a perfect fit, your toes just touching the end of the boot is great! Most boots will stretch out over time, so a snug fit ensures longevity. However up to 5mm might still be fine - especially with skates that don't come in half sizes or that might have a narrow toebox. You just don't want your foot slipping around too much in there! Please try your skates on at home before taking them for a spin as we can't take back used skates. Try to do some movements in them that might replicate the pressure you might be putting on them while skating. Skates that have been custom mounted by us void any return/exchange as they are now considered a custom item.
Heat Molding
If your boots are heat moldable they should come with instructions from the manufacturer. Make sure that you follow these instructions carefully and it should be a relatively easy process. If you have aluminum plates then you should be able to leave these on during the heat molding process (just take the trucks off). Some nylon plates can be left on but it is best to double check before you start. Always make sure you remove the wheels, toe stops and insoles.
Leather/Suede/Microfiber/Vinyl Info
It is normal for suede to have inconsistencies within the fabric - whether this be slight mottles or rough parts. Suede is a natural material so this is completely normal. Vinyl skates (and in fact all skates) are going to scuff when you use them. Skates are a sporting item and it should be expected that they will get marks on them - maybe even after one use! In order to get the most wear out of your skates regardless of material, we recommend using toe caps to protect the boot. In fact most manufacturers will say that warranties are voided if the boot gets damaged if you have not worn toecaps. We know they look really uncool but they will keep your boots in good nick.
Remember!
All skates will have a wear in time. This is called breaking them in. When you skate you are putting a lot of pressure on your feet and your boots. So don’t be surprised if you get rubbing or blisters. You can invest in some neoprene booties to help get you through this break-in period, or some good old preventative compeed blister pads. Different feet have different shapes and quirks and different people put pressure on their feet in different ways when they skate. So the break-in time will be different for everyone and everybody will have different problem areas. If you are having trouble with a particular spot in your skates that is rubbing or feeling tight you can use a hairdryer to heat the problem area and massage it out with the blunt end of an object like a screwdriver or hairbrush. This should work with leather/suede and microfiber as well as heat moldable boots. It is NOT advised for vinyl skates. Try different socks or different lacing patterns if you're getting rubbing on a particular area. Rubbing doesn't necessarily mean your skates are too small for you, it just means there's a little spot in the shape of the last that doesn't precisely fit your exact foot shape - just like a regular shoe might.
Your new skates might have plates that have a different wheelbase (the distance between the front and back wheels) or perhaps the toestops are a different distance or angle from your old skates. Or maybe you need harder or softer cushions? These are all things that will make your skates feel different from your previous pair, so do have a play around with them.