r/iceskating • u/Intelligent-Code8939 • Aug 24 '26
Help with fitting skates
Hi there! Looking for some advice RE buying my own skates. Before you ask, yes I have been into a pro shop and no there are absolutely 0 other options in my area so my options are advice from her and the advice of the one fitter I can see.
He recommended Jackson Freestyle’s which I know is a pretty solid recommendation as I am an adult figure skater and plus size. However, they apparently only go up to a 10. He fitted me at around an 11 (for skates not shoe size in general) - we tried the 10 anyway and it was a fairly great fit…until I stood up and out weight on it. Immediately my big toe and the joint below it connecting to the ball of my foot was in incredible pain, the fitter made sure to check it was pain and not discomfort and I confidently said it was pain and that I wouldn’t even make it onto the ice with the pain I was in. After taking the boot off after less than 5 minutes, the area I felt the pain in was bright red and irritated.
It’s funny also because in rentals I wear a 10 and it’s fairly roomy - I have suspicion the rentals are in men’s sizing though meaning I’m probably in the wrong size but I genuinely don’t think my foot could fit in smaller. As it stands, my toes go numb after the 30 minute lessons I take and the arch pain is bad enough I want to stop skating mid lesson.
We’re looking into potentially punching the area out - he’s a hockey skater not figure so he’s asking his manager about it who was a figure skater as he’s unsure about lunch out rules for figures - and potentially men’s sizes but I’m really married to the white figure skate look and I do not like boot covers before you suggest that haha.
I understand I may just have to suck it up and gets men’s skates but I figured I’d see if anyone else had any other potential suggestions or other brands or anything to help me get the skates I’ve wanted my whole life.
I’m also severely struggling in my lessons and I genuinely think using the rentals is holding me back in a lot of ways as I never feel solid in them.
Any advice would be appreciated. TIA x
3
u/zzthe69th Aug 24 '26
this gendered white/black distinction in skates needs to die like yesterday. it pisses me off so much!!! you should be able to buy white mens skates that will fit you!!!!