The $900 Experiment

I needed new skates. The skates I purchased back in 2016 had been a problem from day one. There is a very good chance that I was not fitted correctly. One person said I was “over-booted”. Who knows what the issue was. All I know is that those skates never fit correctly. My feet cramped, throbbed and caused my arches to go numb. It was a mess. I thought that once they started to break down a bit, they would finally be comfortable, or at least tolerable. But no. They never felt good. Suddenly they were big and my foot would slide around in them. There was no happy medium. My favorite skates were my Klingbeils. Loved those skates. Actually, I still have them; I haven’t been able to toss them with the hopes that if necessary I could have them rebuilt. I have never found anyone who could rebuild my skates. I was able to purchase another pair of Klingbeils. As it happened, I know someone who has purchased some of the stock that wasn’t picked up. After going back and forth, I purchased a pair of boots, initially for someone named Melissa. Melissa and I had similar feet, sort of. Same size… almost. Hers were a bit narrower; a purchased shoe stretcher helped with that. Those stretchers are in those skates every day in an attempt to make those skates fit. I even had them stretched by a skate shop. For those who didn’t know, stretching skates longer make them narrower. Ater every session, I would take the skates off and wait approximately an hour before the pain in my feet subsided. I thought I had neuropathy or stress fractures in my feet because of the pain. Walking to the subway became an exercise in determination but I knew eventually, the skates would fit well. Five months later, they still don’t fit right. I should also mention that I purchased a new pair of blades that were a totally different brand from the Pattern 99s I have been using for over ten years. These new blades are good, very similar and yet different. It’s taken a bit but I have gotten used to them… sort of. The new skates are a half size smaller. Maybe that’s the problem. The new blades are a size 9 ¾; my old blades were 10 ¼. Perhaps that’s why I feel as though there should be more blade in the back. I like the blades, but haven’t felt 100% comfortable in them mostly because I can’t feel my feet. Well, five months later, I’ve given up. I’ve made an appointment to buy new boots, hopefully the blades I have will still work otherwise it’s new blades too. The pair I am currently in were $900 total before tax and I’m willing to pay that again to not lose the ability to use my feet. My last pair of custom Klingbeils, purchased when Mr. Klingbeil was still with us, were the last pair of comfortable skates that I owned. Although the company that took over the business is out there, but $1800 for a pair of boot is a bit too expensive. I learned my lesson. Sometimes it doesn’t pay to try to find the least expensive option. Sometimes your arches, toes, and nerve endings refuse to allow it. And I understand now.