When are your skates *done*?

[powerball 0]

So when do you figure your skates are done with, and it's time to get a new pair?

[raganblink 82]

Depends heavily case to case. What's you're situation?

[powerball 0]

Well, more curious what people's standards are for getting a new pair of skates.

I'm mostly in the roller side of things, but one of my skates got to the point where it was scraped enough that there was a hole in the side around my pinky toe, and the chassis was twisted so the wheels weren't rolling properly anymore. OK, that was way beyond the point where it needed replacing.

[raganblink 82]

For me atleast:

doesn't fit perfect anymore.

its falling apart (literally ala s15)

needs new tuuks/steel and the skate is in bad shape that its not worth it. or if it costs more to do this than to get half the cost of new skates.

[Fire Walker 22]

When i'm bored of the current ones.

[Eazy_b97 1]

The side support of my skates is usually the most demanding need for new skates. Right now it seems like my laces have worn through the tongue and are giving me some issues though. Everyone is different and it's a case by case issue for new skates. Some grow out of it, some are a poor fit from the start, some wear-out the sides/stiffness, some just break down the skates overall.

[iceNsteel 0]

I almost always buy a new pair every year. Of course, that doesn't mean the old ones are worn out, I just don't want to develop problems with my feet from using skates that have broken down.

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

My standard is usually:

-after at least 1.5 years.

-Material is falling apart(Quarter and tendon guard)

-Depending on price, if the holder is killed I'll buy a new one (Skate has to be around 250-300)

-Heel lock doesn't work anymore, heated more than 3 times.

-Or if it's been over 2 years

[start_today 773]

With roller, I consider the wheels/bearings a lot. If I'm to the point where my skates are oldish, and I need new wheels and bearings, I start looking around. If you don't convert skates, or add sprungs, etc, buying new wheels and bearings are around 1/4 of the price of new skates. For ice, needing new steel or holders also enter the consideration. It makes more sense, money-wise, since you're already making an investment. As far as I actual boot, I really consider the stiffness of the skates, particularly around the quarters and ankles; my first cue is usually that I feel like I'm not getting on the energy transfer that I should when I push through.

Reading this site regularly makes it kind of tough. It's like a constant advertisement for new equipment (for better or for worse). We leave in a pretty wasteful, consumption oriented society, where we're pressured to buy new stuff all the time, even when we don't really need it. But, I think being knowlegable about the advantages of new equipment and the quality and defects of your current older equipment can help in making rational choices about when you need new stuff vs when you just want new stuff.

[duch 0]

When the tendon guard starts to break or gets floppy and the quarters get softer and don't offer any decent support it's time to look for a new pair. Torn or continuing eyelet popping is also a sign the skates are getting too old and worn.

[Neo5370 132]

I finally gave up on a pair of 7 yr old 703's b/c they had gone way too soft. Too soft to me is when there is loss of performance, comfort, sometimes to the point of being a direct cause of fatigue or pain.

Of course, if you don't notice any of that either your skates are still good or you've adjusted to how they've worn in or broken down. I hate to refer to the ever subjective std. of PP or personal preference but that's what it comes down to if there is no chance for injury.

I would have stayed in my beat up, broke down grafs like Brian Leetch if I could skate like he did in his.

[lee92 2]

For me, it's sever structural damage or if I can squeeze the heel part of the boot a considerable amount. I like my skates stiff, so if I can pinch the heel and squeeze the boot about an inch, they're toast and its time to start shopping.

[HattrickSwayze 3]

I'm debating getting new skates after summer, because I seem to pronate pretty badly and it looks like it's affecting my skates. If I look at the skates they're not nice and straight anymore, the boot around the ankle is leaning because of me pronating, if that makes sense. I'm sure it's a common problem, but I'm thinking maybe I should upgrade. They're One75's and they'll be two years old in September.

[shifter 0]

When i'm bored of the current ones.

yesss hahaha great answer :P! but only if had the dough haha

[powerball 0]

Anybody deal with the usual rusting rivets or other structural issues?

Or just getting offensive from odor / barefoot use / mildew?

[Aussie Joe 0]

No odour or mildew issues as I use clean socks everytime and air them out, once again, everytime.

I usually replace mine after 1.5 yrs or so. I am on the ice 2-5 times a week so wear and tear is generally the main culrprit.

Girl I'm seeing comment on how my gear DOESN'T stink and how that impressed her. What a woman!

[sn1per 0]

I'd say about every 1.5-2 years. I play anywhere from 3-5 times a week.

[dabeechman 0]

I just started ice, but when playing roller I would keep my boot until it was beat to hell. For me, it is so tough to find a comfortable boot, that I would wear them as long as possible. I generally would go through a set of chassis though every 6-8 months though, so they were often replaced.

[farhanshak 1]

when the gear whore in me buys a new pair... :D

also when i lose stiffness in the skates.

ive had my vapor xxxx's for about 1 year now and they are still going strong.

graf 703's for about 3 years now and still going strong but softening up a bit... (skate 3-4 times a week)

[JoeyJ0506 192]

Girl I'm seeing comment on how my gear DOESN'T stink and how that impressed her. What a woman!

My girlfriend said something along the same lines. She rode to a game between my and her school's inline teams with a friend that plays on the team and one of his teammates and she was disgusted by how bad their inline gear smelled. Now that she's riding to my rec league games with me she almost weekly comments on how my gear has little to no smell other that wet-cloth smell that comes around any time something get wet and warm.

+1 for hanging up and drying/airing out equipment after every use.

As for my skates, for me it's been one nightmare after another trying to find skates that fit (My feet are significantly different sizes) I got a pair of Kor Shift 2s and they are the best I've had (still not perfect) as I'm not ready to drop the money on customs, I will be wearing those until they fall off.