Fitting skates as a LHS worker

[Aussie Joe 0]

This thought occured to me yesterday driving home from the rink.

What do you guys as a LHS employee do (start to finish) to properly fit a person to a skate? Is there somethings you do different to do with brand and/or model? Do most of you use the brannock device or just fit from the info given to you or say the cust's street shoe size?

[Chadd 916]

comparative fit, keep trying on skates and then decide what skate fit best. You also have to listen to what the customer is saying and figure out what they mean, as they may know that a pair of skates doesn't fit right but they usually can't articulate exactly what is wrong.

Fun trick to do to people who you are pretty sure are in the wrong size; pull out the insole and stand on on it. If you see more than a tiny bit of the insole, chances are you're in the wrong size.

[Aussie Joe 0]

I had the LHS worker do that not too long ago when he changed my frames, problem was there was space on my left foot, but perfect fit for my right. Do you fit for the largest foot in that case?

[JR Boucicaut 3805]

You always fit the smallest foot.

[kovalchuk71 212]

I was always told to fit for the smaller foot as the boot can always be stretched and adjusted. A larger skate cannot be shrunken.

[GrafPro55 0]

So if you fit the small foot, they have pain in one foot. What if they are a RT 6 LT 7?

I wouldn't say "always" fit the small foot. If they are more "comfort" orientated, i would fit the larger foot.

or customs.

[kovalchuk71 212]

And if you fit big, then they have slop in the other foot. Id take pain that I would punch and bake out rather than having my foot slip around in a skate. Were talking about Retail skates here. Small skates can Always be stretched.

[GrafPro55 0]

I worked in retail. the customs comment was just a joke. If the guy is just messing around on the pond, you can fit the bigger foot.

It all depends on what they are doing with them.

[warrior37 0]

so lets take me for an example, my left foot is 10 3/4 EEE and my right is a 10 EE, ive played a fairly high level of hockey and im looking to continue playing competitive sr hockey. im interested in the Ultra G7, possibly custom, as well as other skates. would you suggest i just fit my bigger foot?

[kovalchuk71 212]

If they are pond skates you can totally do that. I was talking about skates for competitive/elite players.

[Aussie Joe 0]

I wouldn't trust the one and only LHS here to stretch and punch a skate, they can barely sharpen properly. Customs are the way I guess.

[kovalchuk71 212]

If its that bad and you can afford it, go the custom route.

[GrafPro55 0]

so lets take me for an example, my left foot is 10 3/4 EEE and my right is a 10 EE, ive played a fairly high level of hockey and im looking to continue playing competitive sr hockey. im interested in the Ultra G7, possibly custom, as well as other skates. would you suggest i just fit my bigger foot?

Well if you didn't want to get customs, you could get a 10.5EE and punch out the left for length and width. Add some foam in the toe of the right skate. I would recommend paying a little more and doing it right with customs. You have to weigh the facts. Are you worth it?

[DarkStar50 679]

Why 10.5? The right is still too big. The left only a 1/4 size smaller. Why foam in the toe? Wouldn't the heel need the work on the right 10.5? I'm guessing 10 to accomodate the left a bit but still see the right as a disaster fit with with skate size matching foot size. It's late, I'm tired, just curious......

[GrafPro55 0]

Why 10.5? The right is still too big. The left only a 1/4 size smaller. Why foam in the toe? Wouldn't the heel need the work on the right 10.5? I'm guessing 10 to accomodate the left a bit but still see the right as a disaster fit with with skate size matching foot size. It's late, I'm tired, just curious......

I got a hypothetical question. I gave a hypothetical answer. lol. There is no way to "performance" fit a 3/4 size difference. You can't stretch a skate 3/4 of a size. If you are more concerned with saving a few bucks than having the best fit, you can split the difference with an off the shelf skate.

[DarkStar50 679]

Ok, I guess that should have been your first reply! :lol: Still, though, foam in a toe box?? I don't get it. Who did you ever do that for?

[GrafPro55 0]

Uhhhh....I guess I was just trying to say that there are "Always" exceptions to the rule. I am sure someone will be on here soon to tell me how wrong I am.

[Gummer12 134]

I know it might be trouble to break up pairs, but I'd give him a 10 Rt and a 10.5 Lt. I know it'd be near impossible to find someone completely opposite, but if it truly was a major issue for the customer, I'd be willing to do it.

[GrafPro55 0]

That would be a custom.

[cougarscaptain87 12]

I know it might be trouble to break up pairs, but I'd give him a 10 Rt and a 10.5 Lt. I know it'd be near impossible to find someone completely opposite, but if it truly was a major issue for the customer, I'd be willing to do it.

not trying to pick a fight, but are you serious? do you work in retail at all? spliting up 2 pairs, makes a mismatch pair. which has a value of $0. if were talking about using a top of the line skate your loosing atleast $300 worth product, and thats at cost. i dont care who the customer is, i would never split up a pair of skates unless hes paying for both pairs. i know it would be awesome to cater to everyones needs, but business is business and once you do it for one person and the word gets round, everyone is going to be coming in asking you to fit their different sized feet by splitting pairs and you will loose an obnoxious amount of money. go custom if you have 3/4 differnt, its the only thing that will really fit you correctly.

[Gummer12 134]

I know, that's why I said I knew it would be trouble to do so..but in some extreme circumstances, I'd be willing to go that extra mile...and if more people come in, I MIGHT find that opposite pair...chances are slim at best, but it Could happen. And ftr, I don't work in a LHS

[Zamboni 6]

My friends has a few independent shoe stores, sometimes customers try to 'pull a fast one' by making up their own customized pair. Get clerks busy, re-box shoes they tried on then wear out a mismatched set.....harder to pull off in a skate shop but I'm sure some characters try to mix up skates and head to the check out.

I recall 2 years back my son was finding the left skate loose while fitting-he said it was bigger. Manager at our LHS mentioned kids feet often don't grow evenly-"maybe catch up" etc....then he found next size down of skates was mismatched in box also. :D

[english15x 3]

I know, that's why I said I knew it would be trouble to do so..but in some extreme circumstances, I'd be willing to go that extra mile...and if more people come in, I MIGHT find that opposite pair...chances are slim at best, but it Could happen. And ftr, I don't work in a LHS

....

[YouTuuk 0]

Still, though, foam in a toe box?? I don't get it.

Yea I have tried "foam in the toebox" before....its usually put there actually to get more "heel lock" - that is in theory - The foam forces your foot to push back in the skate more. Because if your skates are too big, usually the first place you get a blister is the heel.

I have not tried this yet, but maybe more of a 'plastic puddy' will be better than "foam" because it will harden and "mimick" the plastic toebox. I may have to try this will my new XXV's because I am getting a blister on my heel.

But first I am going to try some differnt "tricks"....

P.S. I am NOT a LHS worker, so what I say might not be considered "golden"

[tomh7 2]

I think reducing volume in the toebox would only cause problems with your toes and not force your foot further back in the boot.