UPSIZE VS DOWNSIZE VS RIGHT SIZING? How Should Your Skates Fit?

[@red-rivers]

I think, this is one of the most important videos in the whole skating scene! Thanks.

[@RicardoLino]

thaks . i though i should share my experience..im still not 100% right os whats the best.. but so far seems like some skates simply just work with the smalller sizes..while others allow you both...other only the big size..so weird....but havign NO TOES HITTING its important for me for sure..

[@DeezSkates]

I’m of the strong opinion that you can only fit certain brands. Fitting is not “sizing”. Brands all make different shapes of lasts/molds/skates. We are using language that confuses us when we call it “sizing” because no two brands (unless one is a direct copy of the other from the same molds/lasts) makes an identical size. We need to FIT a skate SHAPE for it to work. Or rather, the skate needs to fit the actual shape of our foot. Inline skating as an industry is failing the skaters by trying to pretend that they can FIT skaters into the correct skate by using a length sizing chart alone. Before I was an inline skater, I was a quad speed and jam skater. And after I took up inline skating, I also took up ice figure skating and also use ice hockey skates for fun. I’ve spoken with people who work in manufacturing of these non-inline skates, as well as some of the best skate shop techs around the world (including a figure skating shop owner in Houston who is literally an orthopedic doctor and does custom fittings and makes custom insoles for her clients). They all reinforce this idea that, each skater has a limited amount of brands (or sometimes only one brand) that they can be correctly fitted to. And that the brands not only create completely different standards of sizing, but also different standards of FITTING (or shaping) the skates they produce. When I tell these people that inline skating brands only release LENGTH sizing charts and try to size every skater in their chart, they always look at me in complete shock that an industry of skate brands could reinforce this nonsensical narrative! Lino, I can see from your comments in this video that you’ve had one hell of a struggle with navigating how to get the correct fit with Inline skates.. and that says a lot because you’ve worked with so many brands over the years. If you still struggle with this, that tells me the average consumer is living in a skating sizing nightmare! I’ve also had my fair share of issues when it comes to inline sizing. To the point that I created a video on my channel called “Inline Skate Sizing is broken”. The comments section has dozens upon dozens of comments corroborating my own experience and telling their stories of how they spent so much money on so many skates only to never find one that feels right. As well as inline skating shops (including Loco Skates) who agreed with me that this is a major industry issue. When it comes to fitment and sizing, the inline industry needs to admit that it has a big problem. And the problem needs to be corrected for the sport to be able to grow more.

[@jokeyxero]

This comment right here. DeezSkates NAILS IT. Our length only measurements are killing us and alienating new skaters. I mostly know what I'm doing on sizing and finding a skate and liner combo that fits my foot and still gives control has been hell. We need at least forefoot width sizes added and just do away with anything other than actual dimensional measurements. So much more could be done, but those are at least a start.

[@Thomas_de_Meijer]

Totally agree with everything, except that even within brands they are not consistent between models! Roces M12/5th Element are the perfect example. At the end of the day I think they're just too embarassed or afraid to admit that only some people who happen to fit in their shell shape and size breaks should be buying their product.

[@pablosskates7067]

In the ice hockey industry they offer the same boots not only in different lengths, but different widths too. This needs to be a thing in inline. In the inline industry you don't pick the best skate for you, you pick the few skates that just happen not to hurt. That's a pretty bad state to be in :(

[@Nocturnus-vv1om]

Your comment answered my questions..I picked up my first aggressive inline skates this year (Roces m12s) and after the first session, the skin on my left foot a bit beside the ankle was ripped off. I've tried wearing 2 pairs of socks, even put a cloth down into it with my foot, still uncomfortable. Any recommendations for wider skates would be welcome.

[@jokeyxero]

@@Thomas_de_MeijerI don't think its embarrassment, I think it's a fear of driving away potential customers. I think aggressive sales are so low for most brands that they can't rationalize anything that might turn away a sale. Powerslide is an exception because they're more diversified in their sales, but it would also explain why their attempt as sizing transparency comes off as marketing fluff instead of scientific.

[@longtermsquatter]

This is an important video. Foot health needs to be considered. I wish more brands offered models woth different shell splits. If one model is 41-42, the another model could be 42-43 etc...

[@RicardoLino]

dude...i could not move me toes....LOL.. its a bit better now...but damn its an hard think to work. and YES, shoes help

[@longtermsquatter]

​@@RicardoLino if the feet don't work then the rest of the body is compensating.

[@longtermsquatter]

The seba CJ prime boot is a generous toe box for toe splay. Of course boot length needs to allow the toes to move also.

[@DavidTranMD]

After my knee surgery last year, I’ve been recovering by weightlifting and using zero drop barefoot shoes to help get my coordination back. As a result, my feet have developed more “splay” meaning they widen on impact. In running, you actually size UP due to feet swelling as you exercise, also so your feet have room to splay. It’s made my beloved M12 much harder to skate and I’ve had more issues with downsizing since then. My last downsizing experiment was a total failure and I was worried about giving my foot a stress fracture from the tight shells I was skating. I think going toward roomier shells is the way to go if you can’t find that “perfect fit” skate. Most skate shells fit bigger than shoes, to make room for the liner so that the majority of people skating them will feel comfortable. It is biomechanically safer and healthier for your feet (and your back).

[@NicolaTorelli]

Same here man, my feet and posture were suffering a lot from downsizing so since december ive been skating a slightly roomy size and since then my love for skating went back to its original! Right fitting i think is when your toes dont touch the hard part at the end of the skates. Foot needs to maintain a healthy posture for correct biomechanics. I also had insecurities of having too long feet for my height but i learned to not give a f! FUNCTION before AESTHETICS ❤ ✌️

[@kordel_alcorn_white]

The problem is for our foot size roughly 275mm they don’t make proper shells . Companies need to start making a proper us 9.5-10 or 43 even or 27-28 shells like the Smedium is great length wise but way to abruptly narrow on the toe box sways need a shell in between their 9 and their 10.5 and razors definitely need an in between shell size . I don’t understand how the most average size of men’s feet was the size that got skipped by almost all rollerblade brands. To any new company on the market id highly recommend making molds that are the shell sizes other companies are lacking it fills holes in the market and saves participants we are losing due to them not finding something that fits

[@theguy0075]

Barefoot skates (zero-drop, wide toe-box) NEEDS to be a thing!

[@skuko1980]

already are. wizard base. i wear barefoot shoes (Xero) and the wizard base boot is the first boot that fits me good without feeling cramped in the toebox. it is prohibitively expensive tho.

[@shoewreck]

You'd need a flexible frame to make a true barefoot skate.

[@tomconway6808]

I bought a pair of "barefoot" shoes. I loved the shape of the toebox. I hated the zero drop and zero cushion. I 100% agree with you that somebody should basically make a boot with a toebox shaped like a Croc.

[@pablosskates7067]

The type of skating matters. If you're doing really low impact skating like wizard, rec, slalom etc, then a tight fit won't be a problem. But aggressive skating can put so much pressure on your body I don't think I'd go for a performance fit if I were still doing it.

[@iskatoysen]

I came up to one simple test, just put my feet into shell and move it forward when toe touches front side of shell, without liner. Then I try to evaluate free space between heel and shell, and around toe area especially on sides. I just expect familiar feeling like I know it should be, half-centimeter movement space on toe sides and one and a half centimeter free space between heel and shell. Second check is to test how heel fixed in liner while standing on front wheels. Fresh liners can be very bulky, don't trust new liner, test how you feet in shell instead, then liner will get thinner anyway. When I bought my first skates I was told by seller to buy most comfortable size, so my first 3 skates were 290 cm size, then I got very tight usd aeons 43-44 and they fitted to me nicely, I felt control like never before, so now I have skates sized 275 or 278 and they feel perfect. And I always try one size less whenether it's possible to be sure that lower size is too small for real and can't be an option in any way for me, so I know got right size. thanx for reading my broken english if anyone did =)

[@Beastys]

If you end up hurting yourself why would you downsize and go narrow? Feet are delicate. These damages can be irreversible and affect different parts of the body. Other than that - physiology plays significant role in this matter. Too much or less pronation/supination can affect your feet behavior in the boot. Ideal feet shape and medium arches are a gift to this sport. I have quite of a collection. I skate most days in a softer and more comfortable boot, while sometimes I choose the hardcore once. Work on your feet and ankles. Massage gun them. Calf raises in different angles. Barefoot shoes are fantastic. You are a humble person and lovely skater. Be well bro ❤

[@joncoy1852]

Thanks for discussing this important topic, Ricardo! I’ve been focusing way more on foot health the last few years, and most skates put me at risk for losing the progress I’ve made.

[@RicardoLino]

I’ll be getting more into this and some of the things I will discuss later may be weird for a lot of people… but think about what’s happening with running. No one runs in the same shoes all the time ;) I’ll explain more soon

[@kugelblitz2001]

I'm about your age, and have struggled a lot with foot pain from skating. I completely agree that a little extra space is a good thing, and I think the current trend to fit into as small a boot as possible is damaging. Whatever "performance" gain there is, is offset by how much less fun it is to skate in a super tight boot. I am convinced that painful break in periods should be avoided. Pain is a sign that something is wrong, and we should listen to it. The most fun I have skating is in a slight larger boot with a bit of toe wiggle room, with a locked heel. Maybe there is some performance loss (whatever that means) but for me, being able to skate for hours, having fun and feeling no pain in my feet is worth it.

[@marcinwiecko3549]

It's nice that you brought up this topic. When riding on asphalt paths and streets, I prefer to have a more fitted shell. However, when riding aggressively, I appreciate a little more room for my toes. That's why I don't go down in size on every pair of skates. I have both the fitted shell and the larger one. Regards

[@RollerSapiens]

Hi Ricardo! Glad to see you're doing better. As a 1,90 m (6.2 feet) tall person myself I've heard by doctors I'd have a lot of back pain in my life just bc I'm tall. The thing is that since I started rollerskating two years ago everything went better and I got to the point where I skate between 25 to 50 kms in a week. I think I want a bigger pair of skates when I know I'll use it for hours but It's ok to use the smaller ones when it's less than an hour a day bc feet get cramped

[@FenwynFlies]

Putting additional padding in your soft boots should become the norm. Having to choose between a soft boot with toe lock versus a hard boot with toe sucks. Turn your hardboots into tight, comfortable softboot feeling, and you'll always be happy.

[@wackozacco7507]

I think the discipline/frame/wheels setup can be a very important factor too. I bought the wizard intuition liners and they turned my CJ2 prime that fit great with premium liners into feeling too loose to have any benefit in wizard skating. I was having to tighten the laces and ankle strap much more. I decided to order a downsized carbon SX2 linerless, but it ended up squeezing my toes together too much until gutting even the lining fabric entirely, including the rubber toe cap underneath the lining, stretching out the toe box for several days with tennis balls, and pushing out problem areas of carbon on the boot out with heat and force + trimming the insole to have no excess bunching up against the inside of the liner/toebox area. With all that effort I have achieved a tight but comfortable fit that is supportive for wizard skating without having to over tighten the laces and even taking off the ankle strap entirely. I have experienced some toe jamming on jumps, but for flatground and over-sized frames, I much prefer the downsized setup now that gives a finer sense of edge control and responsiveness to more subtle twitchiness that might not be ideal for other disciplines where mobility inside the boot could be important. I cannot splay my toes out entirely but they are no longer jammed together when my feet are relaxed. I think unless someone wants to take risks with size experiments and is willing to do the effort to customize the inevitable problem areas it isn't worth pushing it. I would probably not downsize if I ordered again unless I could confirm the shape matched my foot close enough to attempt. Hockey boots offer a much more nuanced sizing system with advanced fitting tools, heat molding technology and tools to "punch out" hot spots. It would be interesting to compare those systems with running/skiing/etc. Even for skiing, intuition offers a variety of thicknesses for each model that seems less "one size fits all" that the inline industry likes to approach sizing with, even their own skate liner models aren't exactly explicit with foam thickness/liner shape/etc. that would help feel more informed on getting a very specific fit.

[@Rollerbalder]

Your point about heel lock is such a good one. I have the same size foot as you and constantly struggle to find a good fit, usually choosing to downsize into 41/42 shells. When I do skate 43/44 shells, I like to have a ratchet strap like you have on the Enkidus to really lock the heel in.

[@RicardoLino]

Yes. The ratchet it important but I would say even more important is the shell shape / liner .. with the enkidu being a free skate . It’s made to have that good heel lock. I would similar to UFR

[@Rollerbalder]

@@RicardoLino Yes, that's very true. Depending on the shape of the shell and how it fits your fit, you may need more or less heel lock. A little off topic, but have you ever tried to fit the Enkidu soulplate on other raised heel boots? I'm curious if it would fit on Rollerblade RBs.

[@alexanderbrechtl8448]

Great & very important video...especially for us older folks! I'm 100% with you as far as the sizing & fitting goes. Once I turned 40 my health became one of my most important priorities & with that my willingness to not sacrifice comfort over "performance". And this goes way beyond right fitting skate sizes. ;) At this stage of my life e.g. I'm no longer willing to cramp myself into an economy seat when traveling/flying, sleeping on shitty beds/couches when or stuffing my face with junk food. It's just not worth it. The older we get the more important proper recovery has become since. It might be cool when you are in your 20's or 30's....but a completely different ball game when you're in your 40's. So you're definitely on to something & I'm wishing you all the best on your road to self discovery, my man!

[@stephenrohrbacher5919]

Glad I watched this. Been down sizing for years. Lately my feet and back are not cooperating. Time for a change. Good stuff bro!

[@iBenCruz]

Amazing video! We wouldn't expect anything less from you. Thank you Ricardo...

[@inlinefreestyle1158]

I have FR SL skates in size 42 and another in 43. My foot size is 27.5cm. The 42 i have has a tiny bit more control, but also my toe hits the front of the boot while street skating, which bruised my toe... The size 43 i have, has slightly less control but not enough to be worried about. My toes dont bash against the skate. therefore, i can skate for longer = I'll get better faster. Moral of story. No matter how much better your downsized skate performs...if you get discomfort faster....You will learn slower from not being able to skate as long.

[@stephenrohrbacher5919]

Would love to see a video about these foot exercises and anything else that helped!

[@renardrollerblading]

Thank you Ricardo for sharing this, I have a foot crisis too :) I cannot fit in my favorite shoes anymore after this summer, I do not fit in my FR skates anymore, I’m trying to downsize again with the RB Nomad Liner and it’s still not enough. I want to say also I’m doing Yoga and the more I do, the more I feel my toes are stronger but also bigger. But for skating it’s a nightmare and I’m a big foot guy (size 13 turning to 14) so I have big problems to find a boot but I will find it and hope to feel better while skating, I have lower back pain and feet pain a lot. Hope this comments can help other people. This video was really interesting with your examples, Rob G advice seems great.

[@AlexRamos-Bliss]

I bought my first pair of hard boot skates according to the size chart the company had online and used them for over a year. The braking period was really painful and they still hurt after that, just not as much. I thought that was normal and had to get used to it. It was so bad I ended up with bone spurs on my ankles! It all stopped when I purchased the exact same skates just one size bigger! now I have comfort and still have great control. Braking your skates shouldn't brake your feet!! I think It's great that you are the person talking about this! Thanks you!

[@RicardoLino]

Im scared of breaking periods to be honest.. at the end of the day. Every person skates differ t, have different feet. Skate more or less regularly.. skates that fit great in the beginning is ideal but not always easy to find… but that’s of course my opinion.. best is to visit a shop and test them .. a few different ones .. options is good I think

[@AlexRamos-Bliss]

@@RicardoLino that would be ideal! If only skate shops with inline skates were more common!

[@pawecybulski261]

I find that with age my feet became bigger. I was wearing 42 comftybly in my twenties. Now 45 fits but I buy 46 so my foot is not cramped. As for skates I have mf-900, with 46 size. If I do not overtighten them It feels and performs ok. If I get them tight, I have greater contol but my feet go numb if I stop and stand in place for few minutes. As for bearfoot there is not enough cussion underneath, so I do get blisters, this is why I buy normal bigger shoes. For your spine do yoga at least 3 times a week, and something for your core, sup paddling, pilates, swiming different styles. Little exercises but offten works better than long sessions but rarely. Working out with elastic bands might help as well. You could also do less aggresive skating if possible and focus more on urban or wizard - less impact on your spine. Great videos, wish you all the best.

[@TheTroofdotcom]

I dunno where I read it but I stick to "if you squat in your skates your toes should nearly touch the end of the liner." That's with laces done comfortably and buckles snug. I did the whole down sizing thing with my first razor sl's and then wizard boots which I've been on for 8 years. 1st factory and second with the first wizard liner.

[@oleg1340]

My experience with downsizing always ended up in loosing my nails 2 times. Also having 1 cm difference in feet length makes no size of skates feet perfectly. I prefer to have comfortable size with DIY manual customization - downsizing specific parts of skates by putting material in between the liner and skate shell in specific places that follow my feet anatomy + trying different insoles. That gave me comfortable but tight feet and i can always downsize more if liner will shrink. I use self-adhesive furniture knobs, it is easy to cut and attach, but as well easy to remove and you can find them with different level of firmness.

[@pieprincess5778]

Woa i been trying to get into rollerblading and kept looking this question up , should down size or up size or get your regular shoe size and the legend himself comes out with this video...

[@DaveBloomDrumsOnline]

I honestly have never understood the downsizing. To me it is much less comfortable for escape to be so snug that you can’t have any movement with here. For a long time I ran ultramarathons and I always ran with the New Balance Minimus, and I now run with Xero shoes. I skated Fatties in the 90s and I loved the zero drop feel. Currently, I skate Aeons because I love the feeling of being closer to the ground. I also have never enjoyed the feeling of Skate that is unbelievably snug. I obviously do not want something loose, but I need some sort of movement because you’re body should naturally have that. As long as there is no “toe bang,” something I avoided in ski boots, running shoes, and skates, I’m happy. Even when I skated Aragon 3s and 4s with Jugs, I need a slight amount of ability to move my toes around and let my feet naturally spread in the skate. It’s definitely unhealthy for your feet to not be able to naturally plant and spread. I am someone who feels very comfortable and have my entire life with either being barefoot or even just wearing generic flip-flops. I’ve only ever had any sort of back tension during the days of powerlifting with going one rep max on my deadlifts and squats. 43 years old and my Skate sessions in the summertime last between three and five hours and I’m going hard the entire time.

[@rob.dark7]

Great vid Ricardo. this is def something people need to be aware of especially if they are new or coming back to blading after a long time. when i got back into blading, i got the UFR AP white and i bought them the same size as my sneakers (11) and they were too roomy. i now have medium thems and they fit much better but the liner was a bit snug so I took my white Fr/Intuition liner and put them in the Thems and they feel snug without squeezing my toes. i would still like to try a more comfortable liner tho.

[@RicardoLino]

Thank you Rob. Yes fitting is soooo important in my opinion: as someone in the comments said. We sometimes forget feet health… I have other videos in mind about this with what I have been learning from running / running shoes

[@Osprey1994]

I think foot health is important, and just like wearing shoes that crush your feet is bad, I wouldn't wear skates that crush my feet.

[@EricGonzalo]

Funny that you mention switching to barefoot shoes too. I made the same change just this year and it's been really weird in terms of my skates' fit too. I've done a so much heat molding on my Powerslide Taus and now with my Nexts. My feet now being wider due to naturally splaying, plus having an accessory navicular bone too...fit has been a continued WIP. It's been a ton of work navigating foot pain (especially around my arches), though I'm finally dialing in my Nexts with the SPC Liner!

[@dainepetersen9721]

Craziness I'm thinking of down sizing but not sure if it's a good idea based on the skates I currently have, thanks Lino great topic and information

[@lpseem3770]

I was impressed how the hockey ice skates are comfortable. Quite the opposite of a heavy, multi-part, tweaked to the death FR's, that I'm using. They are a trooper, I got very far with them and I will do much more. They're just bulky, heavy, unstoppable and powerful. They're also a little demanding and I accepted it.

[@SaccoBelmonte]

I think they should be "the right size". The whole sizing thing on skates is complicated because different models vary greatly. A 42 M12 or Oxelo are mega roomy while a pair of Powerslide Imperial in 42 are really crushingly narrow, so much so I had to go with a heat gun like 10 times to stretch the whole boot basically. In terms of health. They should fit snug(ish) but if a pair of skates are crushing your feet, they will damage them. Besides modifying your bone structure, one of the biggest immediate issues is that the nerves between your bones will get crushed and over time you will develop neuromas, which are VERY painful and will disable you. Skates that are too big are going to make you lose power and control to varying degrees, but they will never hurt your feet. So if you have a pair that is slightly bigger and roomy but you still have good power transfer, one can stop being mental about it and just enjoy. I think on aggressive skates is less important than wizard since you're very close to the floor and there is almost or no leverage from the wheels for you to require a snugger fit. I do have a pair of Twister that are "not my size". My mondo is 270 and the boots are 43-44. Yes the 41-42 Twister XTs I have are the right size and I can tell but the 43-44 also feel good, I have them with big Sumo frames and I still can skate on them without issues. I would probably not say the same from M12s or Oxelo, they would probably feel so big my foot would be dancing inside them. About clothing. I'm a former 90s skateboarder. I cannot imagine myself going around with tight clothing. Having big breathable shorts is a blessing.

[@RicardoLino]

The question is . What is the right size?? Length? Width? Heel lock?? Option are goood and hopefully there a skate that fits great to everyone 🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@SaccoBelmonte]

@@RicardoLino I guess not too long, not too wide to have a dancing foot. About the heel lock, you can always fix it with a "Runner's loop". Breaking in the liner adds to the complication for sure so is never easy to know.

[@wylfritz2339]

I'm considering get twister xt but still confusing about sizing and comfortable. My feet length is 28cm with typical wide feet and unfortunately flat feet. Now, i'm using oxelo 43/44, but this boots slightly roomy for me then hurt my ankle, then move to FE still uncomfortable because their boots is too narrow for wide and flat feet.

[@SaccoBelmonte]

@@wylfritz2339 I would suggest to try them in a store and first try your size (would be the 43-44 boot).

[@StreetBladerBloke]

Rollerblade twister Xt is the only plastic urban skate which has individual sizing example 41 is true 41 no dual sizing shell. It has been confirmed to me by LocoSkates and also Been spoken in one of their latest video on KZbin channel. So if ur foot is 44 u'd go for size 44 which makes it easier in choosing shell length

[@Chadlysings]

I am right there with you Ricardo! I just have come to the point that my big shell with proper liner is best for my feet. I skate the razors Murda pro (og) US 10, and they may seem a bit bigger with skinny jeans versus baggy, but they just work far better for my feet than the next size down. 👍👍👍 great video brother!

[@shoewreck]

It's fine to wear slightly oversized skates if you don't skate too much or just can get new ones anytime you need. I have a similar foot size (275mm) and EU 42 Sebas pinched like hell, so I avoided those until I tried the same sized shell with worn-in Crown liners. It's my main skate as of now - it's reasonably tight around my heel and midfoot and quite roomy around toes. I'd probably reach the same level of comfort after using EU 42 with stock liners for a season, but EU43 would become too loose too soon.

[@jasoncalva]

Awesome video! I’m a size 26.5, and many times I’m in the dilemma of either being in a shell that is too big or too small because many brands have 6/7 shell or 8/9. I’ve downsized ever since the Spec Ops liner came out, but similar to you last year I started buying 8/9 shells and found they feel more comfortable. I love the look of a smaller skate when I look down, but in footage the skates don’t look massive on my feet. I hope more brands can create individual shell sizes like Blank and Them, but it’s more nuanced than that. I can comfortably downsize in the Standard Omni into the small shell with my 8.5 Intuition Premium liners, but the same liner in an 8/9 Razors Shift also feels perfect. We focus on length but the height of forefoot and width of the toebox and even height of your toebox makes a big difference.

[@cfronin]

Exact same foot size and I always downsize. Each time I tried the bigger shell, it was ok at first but after a few weeks of breaking them in they felt like soggy slippers. When downsizing, the first sessions are not the best (but never to the point where I have to stop skating) but soon the skates start to fit perfectly for the rest of their shelf life. I usually skate without socks the first session, then thin socks, then normal sport socks.

[@joeschmo2693]

Toward the end you mentioned my biggest fit problem/consideration: heel lift. I guess my heel and ankle are small compared to the front of my foot. I have my ice skate boots at the shop right now getting inline frames put on them because my Powerslides are just too roomy in the heel. I don't mind my toes brushing the front of the skate, but I don't skate aggressive so I don't have to worry about smashing them.

[@RicardoLino]

100% !! Maybe the reason why I like these 2 skates bigger / seba and the flying Eagle. It’s because they also make freeskates and their bit is closer to that. The flying Eagle Enkidu it’s a free skate adapter to aggressive and had really good heel lock… on both 41/42 and 43/44 with me being usually a 42,5 and the same with my sebas in 43. But when I used sways in 43/44 I felt it was Too much.. but than some people with different feet may fit them PERFECTLY on both sizes 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@CritCommanda]

2:20 I always skate in jeans cause it reduces road rash, at least in my mind. Maybe its a carry-over from the 90s.

[@RicardoLino]

i know what you mean.. i guess I got used to having some burned areas in the parts of my body... but I fully understand that "90s way of thinking"

[@CritCommanda]

@@RicardoLino Some skaters are like "But they're not breathable!" and I'm like "Blading isn't about comfort, its about blasting across the city in record time...and looking good doing it"

[@dooflexible]

i find it is easier to lock onto tricks with bigger skates as they are much more forgiving, but i like downsizing.

[@martinfox9443]

Compfy is nice ,ever tried medical insoles in skates and shoes,my physiotherapy helped mainly from joint alignments from insoles,also helps move toes soft sole shoes

[@LMSILVIA]

Sasquatch feet and ill fitting skates have kept me off skates for years on end. After watching the whole vid. You hit the nail on the head. I was a speed skater and in that scene is all about skates fitting close to your foot and any slack is considered as a performance loss. But as i said, ill fitting skates is what has kept me from skating most of my adult life. When i started seriously skating i was a teenager and hat little money so all i could get were a pair of used Bont boots that were like 2 sizes too big but those where the best skates i have ever owned. After that every skate has given me pain or cramps.

[@bauerchase]

I went through a period of downsizing for 3 years. And my opinion is that for aggressive skating downsizing is not necessary for 95% of people. My foot measures 275mm so I fit most US size 8-9 shells pretty well. I think that more skate companies should include footboard sizers, like the ones that come with the Rollerblade Blank skates. I think a lot of people get in a boot that might be slightly too big and then assume they need to downsize when they actually just need to fill extra space in their liner or shell

[@Martz604]

I am 278mm Mondopoint and I've bought a lot of skates. I was very into trying to downsize into the various US 8-9 shells and have had some success with thinner liners like Razors SLs and Genesys and sometimes Cults but USD skates in that size are a no go. I have mostly accepted at this point that I'd rather have a slightly larger shell and be comfortable all around than have my toes and feet go numb and feel the pressure points. Even at the cost of some responsiveness and performance. I like my urban rec skates super tight but for aggressive I don't mind a touch of roominess.

[@mattrowers2590]

My feet are 273 and 276, so I kind of need a 42.5 for the left foot and 43 for the right lol. I’ve got myself a pair of Blanks 42.5 270-275 and the right foot toes hit the shell. Though that 1mm wouldn’t be a problem but I was wrong. It became better after the liner broke in a bit, but I still feel they’re too tight. Sometimes I hit the toes so bad that I see stars coming out of my eyes. I had the same problem with FRX 80 skates sized 43EUR. Now I want the Aeons 43-44 next.

[@udihu]

Kinda think that sizes are all over the place. Companies design the skate with puffy liners and then they put a smaller size on them. When you dont use those with the oem liner, but with a skinny boy or a 2nd skin, it will fit. It is not downsizing but right sizing. I'm 280. Usually use 43/44 skates. I tried the mesmers and could not fit them withstock liner but with the 2nd skin. Odd because on paper that was my size towear. Its a weird and quite expensive process to find the right skate and liner combinations. Here is a riddle for you: I use my 43/44 aeons with a 44/45 2nd skin, and that fits better than the intended 2nd skin liner. So what is it then? Right sizing or upsizing?

[@FullBongo]

Bigger the better. My feet are too wide for any shoes that are the right length so I'm used to wearing longer sizes than my foot actually is. Without upsizing I'd not be able to skate almost any skate on the market. Great video, you don't hear much of a breakdown on this subject even tho the common refrain from so many is to downsize when able.

[@Snowbody69]

Conditioning the muscles in my feet by walking barefoot more often and wearing wider shoes with less support has done more for my skating and skiing than having an undersized shell, in my experience. There's definitely a time and place for tight boots but the longer I can skate comfortably the easier it is to progress and focus on the skating more than the skates.

[@CritCommanda]

My vote is for upsizing rather than downsizing cause you could compensate with an insole or athletic socks

[@RicardoLino]

Hehe thanks :) I guess it also depends if the boot has a wide heel or good heel lock …

[@ddaly20111993]

I’ve always downsized because I wear a US13 shoe. My first 2 pair of blades were my shoe size and they were huge and bulky. Been skating size US11 for 14 years now and the best blades for me have been razor SL with a US12 liner, Valos US11, and currently the 5th elements US11. The larger toe box makes such a huge different for me.

[@bingo1967]

Muy buen tema y gran perspectiva ! Gracias

[@TYbudgie]

I can't find it right now, but I remember reading that New Balance based their original sneakers on the fit-theory of Roman sandals - Basically that so long as the heel, ankle, and sides are secure and don't move, the toes should be able to fan out naturally without constriction and still provide an optimal fit. This is to say, I don't think "small boot" necessarily equals "performance fit". It's really all about how the sides hug your foot and how your ankle is held down. Case in point, I'm a 43, but no boot has ever fit me better than the size 44 USD Carbon after heat molding. Vacuum like fit, and yet there's about an inch of extra room at the toe. I feel no need to downsize whatsoever. I believe Brandon Drummond had the same experience in his review of the skate; that he's usually smaller but the size 44 was perfect despite the room at the toe.

[@fallengoddd]

Couple months ago I bought a pair of 2nd hand skates that were high quality. Im size 43 euro and they are a size 42. I’m still new to (quad) skating but I have to jump through a lot of hoops to put on my skates. Things like I have to only wear really thin socks, I even had to remove the shoe liner to fit my right foot. Some days they don’t hurt my feet, but most days they give me an uncomfortable feeling that I have to push out my head. When I get new skates I definitely want to wear my real size. Sucks cause they are my first quality pair of skates for park/ street, but if I could, ide want to size up.

[@i.k.8868]

I have 42-42,5 feet and I skate 42 Powerslide speed skates (perfect), 42 Bauer hockey skates (just a mm or two too short I think), 43 Roces aggressive (a tiny bit too long), 43 Powerslide fitness (perfect, but the newer model 43 is too long). It also depends on your speed and the surface you are skating on. If it is perfectly smooth, or in case of speed skates in general, I prefer my boots to be as tight as possible. But when I'm just doing a roll through town, or when I'm doing tricks I prefer a tiny bit more room for my toes. Because you can break a toe easily if you hit a bump and your foot shoots forward.

[@Thomas_de_Meijer]

The answer is simple, get the right size 🙂 Unfortunately this advice is hard to implement! I think downsizing is a symptom of limited shell size availability, as well as hardboot skates not being very forgiving. Boots like the seba CJ and K2 are inherently more accomodating to different feet of the same length because they wrap around and hold your foot down, and are actually available in every size. Half sizes would be even better of course! Maybe there's something in an adjustable adult skate? Was Xsjado on to something all along? Tell me what you think in the comments below, please like and subscribe.

[@Dypsomaniart]

I have the same size 275 foot. I have eu42, 43, 44 sebas. Sx, cj and hilites. The most comfortable and agile are the 44, i can use my foot muscles to pivot them around and balance them, the tighter ones I'm less agile, less comfortable, less stable. I dont even tighten the cuff on the bigger ones because i dnt need to, my foot can stabilize them

[@SeanSaayman]

The problem I have is the size of my feet seem to be between shell sizes, I have a mondo of 262/265 and the uk7/8 shell fits initially but after it’s broken in feels horrible, so I usually down size to the 5/6uk shell and put a 7 liner in, but finding a shell that feels good with that setup is the challenge.

[@MichaelPedersenFilms]

Great topic. I been testing out many different skates and sizes the last few years. The skates are always either too big or too small. Maybe instead of 41/42 and 43/44, it would nice with a 42/43 boot

[@Stu108]

Your overall time skating at such a demanding level will obviously have something to do with the foot issues your having. Downsizing has so many variables, but if you're getting toe bang I'd say it's too much. I'm a 274 mondo and fit most EU42 shells. I have a narrow foot though and generally always use a 2nd Skin liner. Anything else is usually problematic. Cheers.

[@maurice.momenti]

Very good video with great points. Personally, I think the truth is you just can't make a recommendation what is best. Different choices are for different purposes. You should probably get your "normal" skates in a comfortable size. They will be great for spending a lot of time in them. And then you might get a second pair that you downsize for doing highly technical stuff. If you need that extra control and response for switchups or advanced wizard moves. But then you'll have to accept that using them has a time limit and some moves that should be avoided.

[@rol4life]

The only skate I was ever able to downsize and skate comfortably was toe cut Valo’s. The best fitting skate I ever had.

[@cfronin]

So you had a m12 without toe and only the Valo skin to protect your toes ? Didn't the toe box collapse after a few impacts ?

[@rol4life]

@@cfronin never had an issue with it. It was like wearing tennis shoes. It was kinda like how the UFS Rollerblade TRS skates were

[@StubbsOTD]

I'm still trying to find my ideal fit bc I'm in a weird in-between shell sizes. No luck downsizing yet lol

[@heathfelsea3344]

Bro!! This is epic. Upsize, within reason. Can always add a think pair of sox. 😎

[@RicardoLino]

I'm trying to test more skates in both sizes and actually have a valid opinion...but so far, in some skates I'm happy with the bigger size while others are on the small It's a crisis..LOL... being over 40 sucks.. or its amazing... (see? a crisis again)

[@heathfelsea3344]

@@RicardoLino lmao!! A fun crisis bwahahaha!

[@guamtek]

As someone who got into Xero shoes(a barefoot shoe brand) recently, this question has been popping up so much for me lately. I have a pair of Rollerblade SKs and they fit me when i first bought them. Haven't got to skate in over a year due to a new baby but I finally got to go out last week. My feet were literally going numb and I felt like I was leaning forward the entire time I had them on. At this point, I've really been considering using the new shadow skates with some of my xero shoes. I've skated xsjados in the past and like them and I feel like the newer ones have fixed any issues I used to have with them. What are your experiences with having your feet change from barefoot shoes and using the shadows recently? I'd love to know if they would be a good alternative so I can keep enjoying my barefoot shoes but skate without the annoyances. Maybe there could be a possible brand deal with xero shoes if you were to make a video about it! I know they're always looking for ambassadors

[@JaumeAguileraBadia]

Is your back pain gone with this new size of skates? I hope so

[@doctorstainy]

Skates, boots and shoes are just too narrow in general. Most people have that cramped bunion type feet to some degree. Im gonna try heat mold my skates, hopefully they can get a little wider in the toebox.

[@HenrisKas]

Maybe I'm lucky, but I'm 43.5 size and always go for 44. Never had any wish to downsize and strongly believe that foot need room to grow while skating. I could justify this only for slalom where precision is most needed. Same for tightness of lacing / straps - there is a line after which foot can't function anymore 😅

[@johnlovegrove7676]

I think you need to stop skating every skate ! I know this is your job but you need to find the skate that fits properly and then just stick with that skate 👍 great video

[@RicardoLino]

Hi John. I actually have a different vision about this but I’ll make a video about this during the next week. I do agree with some skates being very different and not compatible though 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@chadalancarson]

I skated from 96-02 and downsizing was never a thing and I DO NOT understand the obsession with it. I got back into skating recently and this 20 yr old hipster chick at the shop INSISTED on measuring my foot and proceeded to try cramming it into an 8 1/2 even though i told her i skated 10’s. Finally I got irritated and told look, I LITERALLY started skating before you were even born, I know my size, and walked out of the shop. If you just plan on doing circles in a parking lot or fitness skating? Sure. Whatever. If you’re doing gaps, skating handrails, ledges, etc. you do NOT want your toes or the sides of your foot to be cramped up inside a tiny little boot. That 5-10% increase in “responsiveness” is not worth the sacrifice in comfort. Stay the path brotha, just say no to downsizing! 🚫👎🏽

[@felinefeline6196]

Hellooo from Germany:))) small Q here ... im a size 40 and i whant to buy the new Shima 3 it s ok to buy them in my number like 40 or... 41 ? I ask this because i saw the clip review.. so u are the right person to ask . TANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOODYES:)))

[@cepsvzla]

Awesome video Ricardo, by chance my feet are the same size as yours and I also bought Sebas 43-44; I wanted a second pair for a different setup and I've been struggling between downsizing or just going same size. For context, I also own RB Twisters XT size 43 but its just too tight (narrow, length is fine), after 10 mins or so I start getting cramps all over my feet and I'm forced to just sit for a while and rest.

[@wylfritz2339]

recently, i'm considering get twister xt for my 28cm (43) foot, my feet become wider on the arc since i have flat feet. You said that twister XT too tight on 43, i think im gonna skip twister xt

[@cepsvzla]

@@wylfritz2339 yeah the moment I put them on they feel snug but man a few minutes later is just pain 😂

[@anjarakrimullah8987]

My Experience: Foot length: 26.1 cm Powerslide Next : 40/41 Super comfy, perfect fit for me Rollerblade Twister XT : 40.5/41 With Insole, arch pain every 10 mins. heel lift without insole. Flying Eagle X7 : 39/40 Shell. both size 39 and 40 liner just perfectly fit to my feet. No pain point. Super comfy. but after 2 hours sometimes i feel numb on my toes. Micro MTPlus : Shell 39/40 perfectly fine. My feet can also easily fit into size 37/38 Shell wow..

[@agingdangerously]

Foot length: 26.5 cm Rollerblade Twister XT: 42/42.5 With footbed sizer. I think there's too much room. I think the boot is a really solid skate, but am considering downsizing to the 40.5/41 to reduce the 'slop'. Thanks for sharing your experience with them.

[@anjarakrimullah8987]

@@agingdangerously 40.5/41 would be the perfect one for you

[@martinfox9443]

Me feet hate me so many used skates many carbons ,trigger ,and roces hurt me loads , now i skated razors,usd,shima, wide foot gang now fr might get new skates when my legs ok enough, love to try seba carbon even if gutted

[@ravenouspathogen]

I like when my toes can touch the toe box, but I still want to be able to wiggle my toes. With that being said, I'm not the greatest of skaters either. I'm a 28/28.5 size foot, and I love my Seba carbons at 44 and my FR wizards at 44 (both with intuitions) and for me, there's nothing better.

[@механикусзавоеватель]

Lino, just try x5 skats 42. They are litl bit longer, then f5. Or maybe x7 skats. They liner may make litl problem thif foot lift, (if i choose rite word) bekose of three layers of seams.

[@Keepit-nq3id]

The best thing about the skates that I'm using (Hardcore Evo) that they are true to the size

[@southpina]

I can't skate that long, max, 30 mins due to a snug fit break-in process and a new skater. I thought it was normal. My feet easily get numb and hurt a lot. I skate outdoors and am barely striding hahaha

[@rollforever_85]

Every time I have tried to downsize it has always been a big fat fail. I just try to stick boots that offer the correct size now. It seems SLs or Xsjados are the only boots that fit me comfortably

[@RicardoLino]

Yes SLs can fit great but for me they don’t have the best heel lock .. heheh. But options … we have enough I think. People just need to have possibility to try skates on their feet and with the world going online I’m scared about it..

[@rollforever_85]

@@RicardoLino it would be nice to have more companies with individual shell sizing rather than shared shell sizing. Molds are expensive though I know 😅

[@cfronin]

I'm on the side of the downsizing team. I highly recommend downsizing the Aeons. I'm a 42 (26,5 cm) and I skate 39/40 Aeons, they are perfectly comfortable. I skate true size on M12s (41/42 shell) because they are naturally narrow. Of course it highly depends on each one foot size, a mm can be the difference between comfortable and painful. You have to play with socks and liners thickness and also insoles to find the right fit when downsizing. Skating with too loose skates hurt your style and your technique, it's like grinding with Xjadow and caveman frames, sure it's way easier but it's ugly. PS : I'm old and I would never tolerate painful skates, you can downsize and feel perfectly ok. Also, I run in 42.5 though, because running makes your foot dilate.

[@Miggeddy]

i think, if its too tight it can be very bad i always remember the toes of my grandma and she did wear too tight shoes she just said dont do it! xD i think it need a bit more space, too my foot are a bit wider for 25.5 in 42 does not feel nice in the width for toes and middle foot but i got the atmos gear skates and now i dont know if intuition liner or different boot for the future for now i can survive with it, but i know, where your thoughts are coming from!

[@pedroconceicao1778]

I have kind of the same problem most of my shoes are size 43, when i started to skate again i bought some basic aeons size 43/44 and they are too big so next i bought the Sways size 41/42 they are perfect . For the good old times i decide to buy a pair of M12 size 42 and i can't use them with the roces liner i put the My Feet Nick Lomax second skin Liner and i can skate them confortable now... I really like the small soulplates in the M12 because i can't do grinds yet and wirh the usd skates from time to time the souplates touch the floor and slide a little bit it's a little nit scary.

[@RicardoLino]

We all have different feet and I’m happy with having options.. I hope people can try the skates on more often… but less and less shops … 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@pedroconceicao1778]

@@RicardoLino I agree we need more shops in Portugal... Trying skates before Will help a lot....

[@Patife_PT]

Boas Ricardo! Tou num dilema, tenho 38 anos e voltei a andar passados + de 10 anos. Os meus velhinhos valo, já não me servem ou então sou eu que já não consigo calçar patins apertados. Agora valorizo o conforto acima de tudo. Queria comprar uns patins novos mas não sei quais. Aqui no Algarve não há lojas para poder experimentar à vontade o modelo e o tamanho ideal. Comprar online é sempre uma lotaria. O que me recomendas? Qual a bota de agressive mais confortável para um pé de 28.5cm wide? Grande abraço e obrigado em avanço. ❤

[@Patife_PT]

Pensei que se calhar um bom liner resolvia o problema dos valo, talvez encomendar os fr UFR intuition (que custam o mesmo que só o liner) e ver em que bota fica + confortável? Também já tive pra comprar uns them 909 mas não sei se deva encomendar M ou L. Não poder experimentar primeiro é mto mau

[@theequasian3823]

I rather upsize in skates due to the fact my feet tend to swell up. I think a small bit of wiggle room is good

[@wheelsceneblading]

Never skate a boot that is too small for you. If it pinches or you regularly stub your toe, it's going to ruin other parts of your body, like you mentioned, and your back is one of the worst affected. You need to find a happy medium of having enough space to move your toes etc, but not too much that the boot doesn't feel responsive. There are very few skates that fit this criteria for me.

[@v4l324]

Me pareció interesante el video. ¿Un entrenador personal puede llamarse fisioterapeuta o se encuentran con otro termino? En si, no debemos de usar zapatos apretados porque, precisamente, se pierde la movilidad natural del pie. Caminar de vez en cuando descalzo (jardín o parque limpio) ayuda a los pies.

[@BackLogH3ro]

I always skate true size. Once i tried to downsize in Them 909 and sold them not long after.

[@RicardoLino]

With the 909s the mediums felt a bit to big for me while the Schmediums in terms on length feel better but it’s not the widest skate

[@chrisonskates]

909s are one of the only skates I can downsize and it feels absolutely amazing. I'm a 270 mondo and the small shell with a small intuition premium is only of the only setups I've skated that does hurt my feet or give me hot spots.

[@superfriedeats9373]

My skates fit me too tight I can barely keep them on

[@Suntil]

i choice upsize.. cos in my size, i feel after being about 20 min discomfort and pain.

[@mellowmoony]

I dont know why skates dont have a wider toebox, i think they would be more comfortable for everyone. What matters the most having your heel and ankle locked in so why is the front so tight??

[@rob.dark7]

some skates DO have a wider toebox but not all. you just to have to ask around and people will tell you which are good for wider feet.

[@RicardoLino]

I agree with wider toebox. Like the factions. But than. Not all feet are the same. I guess having options is important but more important would be people having the possibility to try the skates on.. and with the world going all online .. not so sure about it…

[@cfronin]

Because it's not good looking.It's like rear engine sport cars look better because you can lower the hood very low without having to keep volume for the engine.

[@gooutoffashion]

Short length but wide toe box would be nice. Like barefoot shoes 👌

[@masterazlan6999]

I dunno bout down or up sizes..my size only 1 and sizing is crucial towards perfections..Peace!

[@seanmeantime]

Salomon made skates that fit no matter what size you are. If only we didn’t have to choose and just skate what our actual size is. ✨

[@MaximilianKutzer]

Hell yeah give your feet room & work on posture. I am since recently as well( only shit thing i think i need new skates i hava about 5mm toe room in the them skates large 😢😂)

[@NorthernGrim]

Yeah downsizing for aesthetics is so dumb... I realised that when I couldn't actually enjoy skating due to the pain! It's not worth it!

[@wylfritz2339]

this topic what i looking for this 5 months, my feet is 28 CM with flat and wide feet. Want to get twister xt but i still confusing. been using FE and Oxelo mf500 size 43/44. FE is typical narrow boots so it really hurt my toes, ankle and blistering my flat arc area. while mf500 hurt ankle and also blistering my arc. So if you guys have the same condition with me, let me know about twister xt or maybe another brand.

[@jonagard]

I have very wide feet. The Twister did not work for me at all. The RB 80 (used to be the Cruiser) is a very wide skate and has been the first time I found a shell that didn't crush my foot.

[@wylfritz2339]

@@jonagard how about the fitting? and ankle side? which part that crush ur foot (ankle, toes or arc) rollerblade suggest me to get RB series too.

[@Indianvillageskater-r4c]

❤❤

[@247rol]

i used to (think to) be a 42 now i am a 44 haha. My feet are crippled.

[@t3chno0]

I've always been in this size crisis because I'm a size 47.5EU shoe size.. If you can have 1 size up DO IT. Nothing worse than having blue toes when you hit something hard or gap... I would have liked you commenting on importance of wheelbase.. At least for me with size 46-47 my frames never stick out enough and I fell like I'm falling all the time .. In size 47 I feel like you have too short of wheelbase for your center of gravity and it's too easy to fall backwards specially . Once I found the perfect size frame (where I see enough wheel sticking out from top view) my skating felt so much more natural.. Then again. People with small feet have more options.. Standard 270mm frames should be only for up to size 45 skates IMO. Roughly...

[@itsumoaishiteru34]

My real size is 41 -42 always use 43-44 feels better but reaaly its a big question