Going from Riedell to Edea
I am looking to switch from a Riedell 297 to an Edea Classica. I am a returning artistic skater from the 80's. Skated Freestyle, Figures and Team Dance in the day. Now I'm back into it mainly skating solo dance and team dance. I guess I want to know if anyone has had any experience with the boot transition. I have been told the Edea boots are better in the long run and they skate totally different. Thanks in advance!!!
Comments
Go big if you have even the slightest concern about toe box width. I have two sets of the Classica but never rode a Riedell 297. I can tell you that my first pair of Edea was a disaster due to just being too small. Skate shop was too aggressive with wanting me in a tight skate that time. Next time I ordered my own from SkatesUS and waited for-ev-er to get them during pandemic skate-mania. This time they fit and I gave them a better run. I mounted Roll Line Dance plates on them, which I've liked so far. The toe-box isn't that wide, so I went up two sizes from what the skate shop originally stuck me with (sold that dog-pair after just a few skates big waste of money). I think they are good, but honestly would like more ankle movement. They are stiff as heck, but I guess that's for folks wanting to land some pretty big jumps, axles, and such. You pay a price for that support on the dance side, though. Limits you much more than say a Berry low-cut dance boot does. I wish they hadn't flopped. I got the Classica because it was supposed to be the most suited for dance. Turned out it's a great skate boot, but ideal for dance? No. I own better. For one, my Crazy Skate Evoke boots with Arius Platinum plates franken-skates are better for my style and use so far. Folks will laugh but I took my Edea + Roll Line Dance setup to the park. I just swapped to some stiffer coushons and put on some park wheels. They were great!
I have a old pair of 297's that I have worn almost to death. My wife switched to Edea's and for that switch she tried a few of their styles. From her experience you should check the edea's are not too stiff. My wife's are stiff but that is what she wanted.