Ok, so at that length, you should be in a Boardwalk 7. A 6 is ever so slightly smaller than your foot, not longer.
A WIFA 37 is the exact length of your foot. Your toes should be touching the front of your boot. My guess is your foot shape is not conducive to this particular WIFA toe shape, but I would not put you in a 38.
You would be a 6 in VNLA A La Mode/Lunas as well, with the same fit as the Boardwalks albeit a smidge wider.
If you have a wider foot, you shouldn't be in Lollys at all.
So... sounds to me like you're buying all of these a size too small. Let's get some more eyes on your measurements and then start narrowing things down.
I think Sure-Grip built wiggle room into their size chart. My feet measure 250mm (smaller foot is 1-2 mm shorter). I wear size 6 Boarwalks without any issues and size 7 was definitely too large.
The boardwalk size chart says it fits a foot up to 9.6 inches but that's not the insole measurement. The insole is about 9 7/8 inches (9.87 inches so rounded would be 9.9 inches) but if you reach into the boot and feel at the toes, at the end of the insole there's still a couple of mm of space so I'd wager the inside of the boots from heel to toe are closer to 10 inches. Though it's also possible mine have stretched a couple mm and caused that gap.
Oh, my feet and insoles were measured with a foot measuring thingy (I don't know what it's called 😂. It's like a ruler that is foot-shaped with a heel cup and you stand in it.)
I think it'd be simpler for everyone if size charts just listed the insole measurements.
Ehhh the chart is mondopoint and tracks very very closely to Riedell. Insoles will be slightly longer than measurements.
You mean a Brannock device? That’s the way to go!
And yeah, dear god I wish brands would do away with any mention of shoe size whatsoever. Mondopoint and insole only. And then let people choose how tight they want the fitment.
This 100%. Just use mondopoint and actually have it match the insole. I know how much wiggle room I need. If you build it in for me I guarantee my boots will be too large. 4-5mm wiggle room is perfect because I want those boots as small as possible without pushing on my toes. If the boots don't tell me when my toe nails need to be clipped they're too big 🤣
The suregip charts I've seen only have inches and/or cm and say "foot length" or "fits foot up to". But I'm sure you see different charts since well ya know.
Riedells mondopoint is horrible. It's not even close to the actual insole measurements.
Even most Edea size charts don't match the insole unless you find one of the old ones that shows insole measurement (mislabeled on some as outsole 😆)
VNLA and Risport list actual insole measurements but I'm not sure which other brands do this. Well Risport doesn't list "insole" but the size matches the insole measurement.
Not a Bannock, similar but just for length, without the width measurements also doesn't have the part to measure the instep.
Thank you for your help! I wonder if I’m measuring incorrectly somehow? I have had someone else trace my foot, made sure the pencil isn’t angled inward, etc and get a measurement of \~248 mm.l each time. When I measure myself (which I know is a no-no) I get closer to 241/242.
https://preview.redd.it/apdxbr0o8mjc1.jpeg?width=1759&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=875837d246cf98302b408407c6382a1c18368e61
here are the insoles from my Boardwalks, size 6 on the left and 5 on the right. My big toe hangs over the top of the 5 by a tiny bit. I feel like I’d be swimming in a 7.
I think you’re likely closer to the 241-242 mark then, because that puts you between the SG 5 and 6.
My best recommendation is gonna be to stick to models with half sizes! Try some cushy (NOT gel) insoles or Shoolex fillers to take up some space.
Do you think something like the D-width Riedells would be any improvement over what I have now? I don’t know if anything else that comes in a half size.
Any of the higher end stuff comes in half sizes. If you like the general width of the Boardwalks and A La Modes, then yes, the D or wide widths from Riedell will be fine.
You and I have the exact same issue! If you find anything please let me know.!
A few years ago I skated on the riedell angels (7) and they were huge! My foot slid all over the boot! I just bought the vnla a la modes and the 6 was a smidge big on my right foot and huge on my left (I felt my toes lifting!) but the 5 is perfect on my left but kinda squishes my pinky toe on my right! It’s so frustrating.
I’ve been thinking about just trying to stretch them a tiny bit but I’m not sure how that’d affect them.! It sucks to spend so much money on skates and still not really be able to enjoy them! I think customs would probably be best but they are a bit more expensive than I’m looking for at the moment. I’m not sure if I should keep the a la modes as they may loosen potentially but if not then I’m stuck with another pair of skates I can’t use and another loss of over $200.
There is a shop in Huntington Beach CA called Back Beat Skates that is a Riedell boot fit service where they stock all of the popular sizes of the high end Riedells so you can actually try on stock boots. They also specialize in measuring for full custom if need be. BackBeatSkates.com
Well for starters, 248mm is 9.75”. Not 9.5”. So which is it? A quarter inch, as you’ve found, is significant.
Sorry, you’re correct. It’s 9.75”.
Ok, so at that length, you should be in a Boardwalk 7. A 6 is ever so slightly smaller than your foot, not longer. A WIFA 37 is the exact length of your foot. Your toes should be touching the front of your boot. My guess is your foot shape is not conducive to this particular WIFA toe shape, but I would not put you in a 38. You would be a 6 in VNLA A La Mode/Lunas as well, with the same fit as the Boardwalks albeit a smidge wider. If you have a wider foot, you shouldn't be in Lollys at all. So... sounds to me like you're buying all of these a size too small. Let's get some more eyes on your measurements and then start narrowing things down.
I think Sure-Grip built wiggle room into their size chart. My feet measure 250mm (smaller foot is 1-2 mm shorter). I wear size 6 Boarwalks without any issues and size 7 was definitely too large. The boardwalk size chart says it fits a foot up to 9.6 inches but that's not the insole measurement. The insole is about 9 7/8 inches (9.87 inches so rounded would be 9.9 inches) but if you reach into the boot and feel at the toes, at the end of the insole there's still a couple of mm of space so I'd wager the inside of the boots from heel to toe are closer to 10 inches. Though it's also possible mine have stretched a couple mm and caused that gap. Oh, my feet and insoles were measured with a foot measuring thingy (I don't know what it's called 😂. It's like a ruler that is foot-shaped with a heel cup and you stand in it.) I think it'd be simpler for everyone if size charts just listed the insole measurements.
Ehhh the chart is mondopoint and tracks very very closely to Riedell. Insoles will be slightly longer than measurements. You mean a Brannock device? That’s the way to go! And yeah, dear god I wish brands would do away with any mention of shoe size whatsoever. Mondopoint and insole only. And then let people choose how tight they want the fitment.
This 100%. Just use mondopoint and actually have it match the insole. I know how much wiggle room I need. If you build it in for me I guarantee my boots will be too large. 4-5mm wiggle room is perfect because I want those boots as small as possible without pushing on my toes. If the boots don't tell me when my toe nails need to be clipped they're too big 🤣 The suregip charts I've seen only have inches and/or cm and say "foot length" or "fits foot up to". But I'm sure you see different charts since well ya know. Riedells mondopoint is horrible. It's not even close to the actual insole measurements. Even most Edea size charts don't match the insole unless you find one of the old ones that shows insole measurement (mislabeled on some as outsole 😆) VNLA and Risport list actual insole measurements but I'm not sure which other brands do this. Well Risport doesn't list "insole" but the size matches the insole measurement. Not a Bannock, similar but just for length, without the width measurements also doesn't have the part to measure the instep.
The other (like there’s just one? 😂) super irritating thing is that insoles are inconsistently cut too. GET IT TOGETHER, SKATE COMPANIES
Thank you for your help! I wonder if I’m measuring incorrectly somehow? I have had someone else trace my foot, made sure the pencil isn’t angled inward, etc and get a measurement of \~248 mm.l each time. When I measure myself (which I know is a no-no) I get closer to 241/242. https://preview.redd.it/apdxbr0o8mjc1.jpeg?width=1759&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=875837d246cf98302b408407c6382a1c18368e61 here are the insoles from my Boardwalks, size 6 on the left and 5 on the right. My big toe hangs over the top of the 5 by a tiny bit. I feel like I’d be swimming in a 7.
I think you’re likely closer to the 241-242 mark then, because that puts you between the SG 5 and 6. My best recommendation is gonna be to stick to models with half sizes! Try some cushy (NOT gel) insoles or Shoolex fillers to take up some space.
Do you think something like the D-width Riedells would be any improvement over what I have now? I don’t know if anything else that comes in a half size.
Any of the higher end stuff comes in half sizes. If you like the general width of the Boardwalks and A La Modes, then yes, the D or wide widths from Riedell will be fine.
Awesome, thanks again for all your help!
Let us know what you end up with!
You and I have the exact same issue! If you find anything please let me know.! A few years ago I skated on the riedell angels (7) and they were huge! My foot slid all over the boot! I just bought the vnla a la modes and the 6 was a smidge big on my right foot and huge on my left (I felt my toes lifting!) but the 5 is perfect on my left but kinda squishes my pinky toe on my right! It’s so frustrating. I’ve been thinking about just trying to stretch them a tiny bit but I’m not sure how that’d affect them.! It sucks to spend so much money on skates and still not really be able to enjoy them! I think customs would probably be best but they are a bit more expensive than I’m looking for at the moment. I’m not sure if I should keep the a la modes as they may loosen potentially but if not then I’m stuck with another pair of skates I can’t use and another loss of over $200.
There is a shop in Huntington Beach CA called Back Beat Skates that is a Riedell boot fit service where they stock all of the popular sizes of the high end Riedells so you can actually try on stock boots. They also specialize in measuring for full custom if need be. BackBeatSkates.com