Custom Figure Skating Boots

In some cases, stock boots do not fit the design requirements or fitting needs of a skater. Some issues can only be corrected or accommodated by a custom boot design. Additionally, elite skaters may find that custom boots give them the ideal fit and the right combination of features to allow them to perform at their very best.

A skater might choose custom boots to allow for:

• Two different lengths or widths
• Added dance flexibility (with scallop cuts or the V-Cut Flex Notch, asymmetrical ankle pattern)
• Better toe pointing (with a low-cut back)
• Stress relief (ankle pad channeling)
• Additional color or material choices
• Orthotics
• Different ankle support on left and right boot
• Reinforcements (with power tab or lunge pads)
• Special sole and heel requirements for blade positioning
• Orthopedic design for missing toes, fused joints, bone break repaired with medical hardware

Custom insoles and over-the-counter corrective devices have generic arch supports, heel lifts or heel wedges. These types of insoles are made to accommodate the average pronation that can be corrected without a doctor’s prescription and can be placed in stock boots with little or no size modification.

The SP-Teri custom insole is made to fit the SP-Teri toe and heel shape and SP-Teri lengths. The insole lifts the heel and tilts it to the outside and supports under the arch. It is three quarters length from the back of the heel to the metatarsal heads. The insole will usually have a vinyl top cover, but may be ordered with a leather or poron top cover instead. The insole does not require additional room in the boots or upsizing to allow space. Custom insoles can be ordered at any time.

Over-the-counter insoles, on the other hand, can be purchased at most drug stores and sports shops. They usually lift the arch and may tilt the heels. The insoles are typically made to fit a dress shoe or athletic shoe, and must be trimmed down to fit into skating boots. Also, the forefoot portion is thicker than the SP-Teri custom insole and takes up more room in the toe box than is normally allowed for a proper fit.

When a skater is being fitted for boots and an over-the-counter insole is used for fitting, the skater, in most cases, requires a half-size longer boot or a wider width boot. This upsizing for competitive skaters can be a problem when an accurate, snug fit is needed.

Orthotics are underfoot appliances purchased through a doctor, physical therapist or clinic with a doctor’s prescription. They are made in a lab by trained technicians who specialize in biomechanical corrections. The appliances are most accurate to the skater’s specific needs to correct for biomechanical problems or leg length discrepancy.

The orthotic is made either full length or ¾ length. Some ¾ length orthotics will have a top cover extending to the end of the toes. There are many different materials used to make orthotics. The best materials for skate orthotics are made of graphite, fiberglass or light plastic. These are lightweight and rigid.

When orthotics are used in skates, the device must lay neatly in the boots and without interference of the counter of the boots. If the boot does not have sufficient room for orthotics, it may tilt to the outside, slide forward, or rock up and down.

In most cases, an orthotic cannot be placed in a stock boot without sacrificing the accuracy of the arch and heel correction. The recommended accommodation for orthotics is to have custom boots made with an allowance for the orthotics. With this method, a cavity can be created in the custom boot to allow for the proper width, arch height and pitch of the orthotics. The skater gets the proper size length boot with the orthotic serving as the underfoot support.

SP-Teri must be supplied with the orthotic that is going to be used in the custom boots when the boots are being made in order to design the correct upper pattern and construct the foot last with the required space for the orthotics.

We have heard of skaters sending casts to boot companies and being told the boots will be made off the cast itself. Unfortunately, it is untrue. A boot cannot be made from a plaster cast.

Full positive casts are helpful for a three-dimensional presentation of the skater’s feet, and help identify abnormalities such as bunions, hammer toes, navicular spurs, haglund’s deformities (heel spurs), large or pointed ankle bones, and flat or low arches.

However, due to the construction of footwear, the boots need to be made with a last. A last is a wooden or plastic foot shape that is unique to a manufacturer’s particular sizing. The last controls the shape of the toe box, arch, heel and determines the height of the boot heel. The top part of the boots, called the upper, is pulled over the last and attached to the insole. The insole itself is nailed to the last. Once the boot is lasted, the soles are attached by gluing and high pressure pressing. The soles are pressed on with 1,000 pounds of pressure. The soles are trimmed and the last is then removed from the boot.

If a boot was attempted to be made by using the cast as a last, the plaster cast would fracture from the hammering during the lasting process and would further disintegrate during sole pressing. It would also not have the proper heel angle to accommodate the normal height heel.

We do encourage customers to submit plaster casts to us when ordering custom boots. The casts help us identify problem areas on the foot that are not presented sufficiently on the tracings.

Foot impressions do not help get a better fit. Since the impressions are only showing the underfoot and side of the foot below the ankles, there is not much information a manufacturer can get from the foot impression.The impression cannot be used for foot length sizing because it may not be deep enough to capture the total length, or it may be too deep and cause the toes to crumble the foam material itself.

Important circumference measurements cannot be taken with an impression because impressions do not capture the top of the toes, instep or ankle areas. The impression does not present the entire foot with meaningful information for the manufacturer.

The only method available to copy the foot in a three-dimensional representation meaningful for the manufacturer is with a full positive cast. SP-Teri has casting socks for that purpose. The casting socks have been very successful for skaters who have supplied casts when they ordered SP-Teri custom boots.