need recommendations for inline skates

I am shopping for new inline skates, preferably roller-hockey skates. I can't find ANY inline skates of ANY description locally in my size (8.5-9 Womens, 6.5 Mens) and I have wide feet. This is particularly true in men's sizes, since women's feet tend to be proportionally wider, so I might be a 6.5E in men's skates. Anyway, I'm stuck shopping online instead of being able to try skates on, and I really dread having to order and return multiple pairs. Does anyone know if any lines/brands of roller-hockey skates tend to run wide?

(For the reference of other hockey players out there, my ice skates are Tacks, which are built on a very wide last, and I STILL had to have them specially stretched for my feet.)

With regard to regular recreational skates, I do know that Rollerblades in women's sizes tend to run 'way too narrow for me. I have not found any K2 skates close enough to my size to be even worth trying on.

Wed. Feb 22, 10:56am

for recreational skates, don't even look at the womens. Go for the mens. I wear a woman's size 8 shoe, but a K2 mens skate- go figure, but they fit like a dream. Can't advise as to rollr hockey skates, but for rec ones, K2 is my fave, with saloman a second. (brands that make skis I find better at making a comfy boot)

Wednesday, February 22, 2006, 2:56 PM

jst clarify that's a size 8 mens k2...

Wednesday, February 22, 2006, 2:56 PM

I love my salomons

Friday, February 24, 2006, 12:27 PM

Just a little story about inline skate shopping.

I bought my first pair of inline skates when I was 23. Before that, I had NEVER worn a pair (they had never really caught on in the town where I grew up). I went to a store that was having a clearance sale (hey, it was my first pair...I didn't want to spend much on something I might not use more than once) and saw that they had a pair of Rollerblades in my size marked down. I asked the clerk if I could try them on and then put them on while seated on the bench in the blade section. The guy, trying to be helpful, encouraged me to get up and try them out. I explained that I didn't know how to rollerblade but that, while seated, they seemed to fit okay. He then insisted that I at least stand to make sure they fit me while I was upright.

I know he was trying to be helpful but that was a mistake. :o)

He held both my hands and helped me pull myself up off the bench BUT not ever having been in blades before I wasn't prepared for "rolling" (okay...I'm obviously an idiot). I started to roll forward and lost my balance. I unintentionally assumed a new position, I was on my feet but crouched down (similar to how kids crouch, feet flat on ground, butt hovering a few inches above the ground, chin above bent knees...kind of a vertical fetal position, hope you understand what I mean). I continue rolling forward. He pulls up on my hands to try and help me stand up but somehow, SOMEHOW due to my lack of balance, some kind of inertia and wheels strapped to my feet I ended up "gliding" face first into his crotch with enough force to knock him down.

Oh yes...my life is full of humiliating moments. And this time round there were all sorts of cute guys around trying to find good deals on sports equipment who witnessed my embarrasment.

This doesn't help you at all but, hey, it might make you laugh. :o)

Sunday, February 26, 2006, 9:11 PM

Did you ever see the movie "Romancing the Stone"? Near the beginning there is a similar face-plant scene. It could have been the start of something wonderful....

Monday, February 27, 2006, 10:53 AM

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