A Skate that Really Fits

by Bob Cardone

August 2002

I have been Inline Skating for about 13 years, but prior to that, Ice skating for many decades. A couple of days ago someone asked a question on this newsgroup about skate fit and the ability of the skate to lock your heel in the correct position . I posted a response stating that I had never been able to achieve a good heel lock with any Inline skate I had owned over the years like I could in a high quality Ice Hockey Skate. I have owned many pairs of each type of skates and I usually try to buy top of the line skates, so I feel that I can speak from experience.

Today, I attended a birthday party at an Ice Rink In Atlanta ( actually the Atlanta Thrashers Practice Rink) and I wore my Bauer Custom Supreme 1000 Ice Hockey Skates (actually not the top of the line, in the year I bought them). I paid particular attention to the fit of these skates as I put them on, since I was just discussing this fit issue a week or two ago. After putting these Bauer Skates on, my heel was locked in the skate like it was in a vice. No discomfort, no binding feeling, just solidly locked and no matter how hard I tried as I stood on the skates, I could not lift the heel one mm inside the skate. No pressure points anywhere, just a comfortable fit.

Now when I hear people looking for this type of fit in an Inline Skate, they seem to be always talking about a tight toe clearance in order to get the heel to lock in. This makes me think that they feel that what holds the ankle down in the skate is the foot being pressed into the back of the skate by the lack of any room in the toe of the skate. In these Bauer Skates, I have ample toe room with a wide comfortable toe box. My toe does not have to be crammed into the front of the skate in order to get a good heel fit and heel lock. The boot and the last and the way the inside of the boot is designed in the heel area, by a company that has been making ice skates for the Pros for years and years and years, insures that the heel fit and lock is perfect.

As I got ready to leave the rink, I unlaced the skates and I tried taking the skates off. I pulled and pulled and could not get my heel out of the skate, past the projections around the ankle that lock the ankle in. I finally had to unlace the skate about 5/8ths of the way down in order to get my heel past the locking part of the inside of the boot. Incidentally , Hockey Skates like mine used to come in various widths for both the main part of the foot and the heel. Mine are a size 12 D/A The D is for the main part of the foot and the A width is for the Heel (narrow).

What I wouldn't give for an Inline Skate that fit like these Bauer Supremes. To date, I haven't seen an Inline Skate that Comes Close.

Bob

Bob can be contacted via this form.

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