Help with choice in skate size?

[flyweightphantom 1]

I was wondering if anyone had input on what size skates to choose? Yesterday went to a LHS to try skates on 8D and 7.5D. The 8's were quite comfortable with some mild pressure where my big toe starts on the right skate but nothing crazy. My big toe seemed to "skim" the end of the toe cap. On the 7.5's the left skate was comfortable but once again the right skate had the pressure where the big toe begins (on the outside of the joint) but this was a lot more than the 8's. I would say for the 7.5's all of my toes skimmed the end of the toe bed instead of just my big toe. In the store they recommended going with the 7.5's saying "always go smaller!" I definitely agree with them but the pressure on the 7.5's was pretty bad. I know baking and breaking them in will obviously help but what do you guys recommend in this situation?

[irishlaxburger2 0]

Is punching out the toe-cap possible to give extra room to your big toe?

[flyweightphantom 1]

i don't really feel its the toe cap i would say its right before the toe cap starts.

[Canuck 0]

Any chance going wider would help. I've got one foot that's alot wider(actually a width wider) so I went with an E and it helped. My toe and midfoot is wide while my heel is narrow. The other foot is an inbetween wide and regular width.

[VakarLajos 5]

If it's the join where the toe-cap and quarter meet then you can punch it out. Once you're hitting the plastic toe-cap you can't really punch it out. Keep in mind your foot is going to move back once you've broken them in.

When I get my skates (last 2 pairs were XXXs and XXXXs) my toes were pretty bunched up and pressure on the same spot. Once I baked them, skated and punched it out a bit it was fine.

Any reason the LHS wasn't able to tell you anything to help?

[flyweightphantom 1]

The LHS just said it may help after I bake them not much else. So you guys think i should go with the 7.5 with my description oh where my toes lay on the toe cap?

[BenderHockey 127]

I would go with the 7.5's. You can always do something to make a spot a little bigger or wider should you need to. you can't ever make them smaller if you need to.

[gxc999 7]

New composite boots just don't stretch length wise, barely at all. If a 7.5 really is noticeably bad now, don't get it. I've made that same mistake before, it's ok to have a hair of extra room, it really is.

[KABAROV 0]

if you are still hitting the toe cap in the 8 then I would just go with those and call it a day.

[flyweightphantom 1]

My big toe hits the cap in the 8 and in the 7.5 I can feel most of my toes touching the toe cap. So should most be touching or just my big toe?