LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

EdP · Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 481

Looking at my scabby feet after Le Mans I’m considering a pair of custom boots – I’d certainly need something different if I want to consider a solo/duo again next year.

What is the consensus on these? Would someone at my level really feel any benefit in terms of control over a stock boot? I’m currently on some Jets and would be interested to hear the experiences of other people who have gone down that route.

I’d probably go for some Vapours – I want something black that won’t look filthy (and can be repaired with black duct tape!) and desperately need that toe bumper. Are there other brands that I should be looking at?

ed! · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 11:42 am Subject: Re: Custom boots - worth it?

peterc · Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 1284 Location: M3 somewhere

I have custom Vapours in black if you have any questions, also happy to talk through my rational for getting them over other options available at the time.
(But I had the cash is one of them)

Not too sure any proper hard tight speed skates will fit well enough to stop your feet getting ripped up when you are tired and your technique goes at solo/duo milages.

Hans may have more info on that, he had some junkers he loved when he solo'd

EdP · Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 481

Cheers for the reply. One other thing is that I'm also tempted to get them in the 195mm 2pt flavour so that I can run a 3x110 1x100 with a lower deck height and shorter frame length.

I don't really have any experience with 2pt 195mm - will someone as light as myself really feel any difference?

EdP · Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 481

Howard · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 333 Location: W2 now init.

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

My custom Junkers were the most comfortable skates I have ever owned, and I include in that my trusty Crossmax. I've never done a le mans solo or duo, but they served me well for the informal London->Eastbourne skate we did a few years back (ten hours on skates, several decent climbs, some of it on less than great surface).

That said, if I hadn't bought Bonts that were half a size too large on the right foot, who's to say they wouldn't be just as comfortable?

EdP · Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 481

Thanks Dan - that is interesting to hear.

Did you get any more or less control with the customs? And did you feel any difference when you went from 2pt to 3pt?

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

Hard to tell, I spent six months on Crossmax after my Junkers died before buying new skates, so went from 100mm->76/80->110 - and my technique went to shit in the interim anyway, so not really a useful comparison.

I think there's maybe a bit more slop in the (stock) Bonts. I get a bit of wobble on the right foot when I'm tired, but I dunno if that's a custom thing or a more straightforward size thing. But then: getting a custom skate could basically be looked at as just a really expensive way of being sure you have exactly the right size...

For my next skates, some day in the distant future, assuming a fixed budget I would probably look at getting a custom model of a cheaper boot rather than a more expensive stock boot. The weight difference is offset by having a pee before you set out.

Barrie · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 1380 Location: Putney

Van · Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 226 Location: London

matty · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:37 pm Subject:

maybe we could all have a chat to Tom about his recent custom Bont "Z" purchase..

I think he did a moulding sock with some assistance from a podiatrist or something... not sure.. but def worth a chat.. now he's had them a few weeks..

EdP · Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 481

Is that Tom G?

Howard · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 333 Location: W2 now init.

EdP · Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 481

Going to bend his ear tonight and then make a decision based on that.