Freestyle (Women’s/Misses)

I am a tall, plus size adult skater. When I got these I was working on basics: crossovers, two foot spins, bunny hops, very basic footwork etc. I have been able to progress through beginner single jumps (no loop or flip) basic spins (beginning scratch, sit, and camel) and adult bronze MITF patterns (although I have not tested yet).

As a disclaimer, my boots are a number size too long and a letter size too narrow. I am sure that the ill fit of my boots contributes to my opinion on these skates.

Comfort:
The padding on the inside makes these a lot more comfortable than my previous recreational skates. I find the top of the tongue and the back of the skate to be pretty comfortable. Because they are too narrow, they do cause a lot of pain in the ball of my foot and toe numbness IF I tie them too tight. Once they started breaking down the tongue formed a deep crease and lost all its support, and I now get lace bite. I now have to wear thick socks or a gel pad around my ankle to prevent pain on the front of my ankle and to keep my heels from lifting in the boots. Any issues with comfort I personally experienced were due to being put in the wrong size boot and a lack of durability.

Durability:
I was VERY let down by the durability of these skates. With a stiffness rating of 45 (which should be suitable for all single jumps up to axel) I figured that they would last me at least one year. Instead they began breaking down after just 5-6 months of skating with very little jumping. After 3 weeks of practicing low-level single jumps (waltz, sal, and toe) consistently at every practice, the support in these boots was completely gone. I can still use them for basic stroking and footwork, but I haven’t been able to jump in months while I wait for my new boots.

Blade:
A lot of people have complaints about the Aspire XP blade but they have worked well for me. I love the security of the cross cut toe pick. It did take me a long time to feel out where the spin rocker, is but after getting the hang of it I am able to spin well. With that being said, I do want to upgrade to a different blade when I get my new boots in hopes that spins and footwork will be even easier.

Value:
The value of these skates is honestly amazing. For less than $350 you get a sturdy, well-padded, heat-moldable boot that comes in split widths (good for wide feet) that should last you through a lot of new skills, and a good blade for high beginners.

Overall, I think these boots would work very well for someone who is looking to progress from a beginner boot to a more intermediate level boot. I don’t regret getting them, I think they were perfect for me at the time I originally got them, but because I am so tall and heavy they didn’t last me nearly as long as they would for someone who is smaller. They would likely last longer for an average sized adult, but not as long as they would for a kid who is very small.

I’ll admit I wasn’t sure about these at first, since they fit quite a bit differently than my old model Elles, but I adapted to them fairly quickly and am very comfortable with them now. I’m an adult skater doing basic skills and the most elementary of dance and freestyle elements (waltz jumps, half flips, mazurkas), and these seem just the right level of support for what I’m doing. Not 100% thrilled with the Aspire XP blade–it’s very flat and has a minimal spin rocker, which makes turns and spins more difficult–but it could be swapped out for a better blade if I choose to do so down the line. The boot itself is quite comfortable (I had them heat molded) and apparently indestructible, which has done wonders to help boot-traditionalist me to accept the whole microfiber thing. In short, I would recommend this set to others at my level and just beyond.

It’s a really good boot for anyone that is just starting to take on singles but I would recommend that you should get a new boot once you are starting doubles. I personally love these skates and are a great introduction to singles and maybe a bit of doubles. Only thing that isn’t that good is that it hurts a lot if you don’t get them heat molded and go skating for the first time.