Are Impala Skates Good for Wide Feet?

In this blog, I’ll try to answer the question: “are Impala skates good for wide feet?” Don’t go anywhere; you’ll like this.

Personally speaking, I think Impala skates are not good for wide feet. As a skater, I have a couple of friends who I recommended Impalas for, but some had wide feet; these guys frequently complained of the laces being too tight and uncomfortable.

Even when I advised them to obtain a boot stretcher, they still complained of their toes hurting. So, I’d say that impala skates are a terrible idea if you have wide feet. Although there is also the option to purchase impala skates of higher sizes, this defeats the aim of comfort.

In my experience, impala skates are designed to be tightly fitted. From the laces to the toes; everything is aimed at giving the skater that feeling of comfort and balance. I have also found the toe box to be a bit too narrow for people with wide feet. As a result of this, using impalas for wide feet would result in pains and possibly bunions within a short while.

In addition, the material used in producing impala skates, known as vinyl is not so stretchable; at least compared to suede boots. So even if you decide to try your impalas for a while, in a bid to stretch them to your feet size, you’ll end up damaging your feet. You’ll probably get hammer toes. This also plays a role in making impalas bad for wide feet.

Wear and tear is also a common occurrence when using impala skates. Within a period of a year, I started noticing wear and tear using my impala skates and for someone with wide feet, this will definitely occur sooner. This is because of the increased pressure that the wide feet impose on the impala skates. Thus, my advice to people with wide feet is to get some suede boots or something similar, other than impalas.

Can I use Impalas if I have Wide Feet?

My advice is to not use impala skates for wide feet but if you really love your impalas or you can’t afford some new skates at the moment, there are a few tips you can use to manage your impalas.

The best way to use impala skates for wide feet is to purchase an impala skate that has a size higher than your “normal” skate size. The major drawback of doing this is that those impala laces won’t fit tightly on you anymore. As a result of this, you’ll have to be really mindful of where and how you use your skates. I’d recommend that the frequency of “expensive tricks” is reduced.

In addition, it would be a very good idea to contact your doctor the moment you start noticing signs of bunions or hammertoes.

What are the best Skates for Wide Feet?

While it’s okay to have wide feet, it doesn’t mean that your skating dreams are done for. I found some skates to be good for my friends with wide feet and today they’re pretty great skaters. These skates include:

VNLA skates such as the VNLA freestyle or junior models
Sure-Grip skates such as Boardwalk or Fame
DC Kalis S
Riedell skates such as the 120 competitor or 220 Avanti models
Emerica Reynolds

Conclusion

In conclusion, I’d say is a terrible idea to use impala skates for wide feet. The material is not so stretchable and they are designed to be tight.

However, people with wide feet can try to buy impalas of higher shoe sizes. The better alternative will be to use other skates such as the VNLA freestyle (Amazon link) or the Sure-Grip Boardwalk (link to Amazon) for wide feet.

Stay safe while you skate out there!