| Information | |
|---|---|
| Price | $249 |
Antik MG2
I didn’t want to like Antiks. I tend to like the idea of a well-known, historic, local bootmaker getting dibs on my foot-leather. Riedell had my back, despite the fact that I’d been struggling with their 126 boot for the last few months. I blamed that on a sizing mishap. Apparently, I’d started with boots that were a size too large—something, it seemed, that had happened to most of my fresh-meat teammates with their first pairs of skates.
So lately, those same teammates had been ponying up big cash for these pretty new Antik packages. I was regularly seeing new Antik photos on Facebook. I kept thinking, “What’s this upstart company trying to do—steal market share? Gosh, all they needed to do was start putting out pretty boots, and we all swoon?”
Meanwhile, I started trying on skates to find not only the right size, but the right shape for my narrow-heeled foot. I rolled my eyes when the shopkeeper mentioned the Antiks. I wanted Riedells, thank you. I’d even try Vanilla just to appear magnanimous. Somewhere in the conversation he dropped the fact that Riedell was actually the company being commissioned to put out the Antik boots, and that their packages came with Riedell plates.
So I began my two-month quest of driving back and forth between two skate shops whenever they had the right sizing in. Tried Vanillas first, to get the magnanimity out of the way; too wide for my feet. I wanted to love the 965s (Neat padding! Pretty flap!); found they couldn’t keep my heel in. I thought the ankle-locking mechanism on the 595s would be my life-saver; squeezed my Achilles tendon, with painfully hard leather all-around. 811s? Comfy but hella-expensive for the features!
Just when I was about to give up, the skateguy brought out the Antiks. No, really, just try them, yeah they’re popular, blabbity blah. Just try them to “see how they feel.”
My favorite player had once described 187 kneepads as like, “falling on kitties.” Putting on Antik boots was like slipping my cold feet under my kitties in the morning. Familiar. Soft. Just right. The padded tongue was a bit tricky to lace up, but once laced, my instep no longer felt the pressure points I’d felt in all other boots I’d tried. I looked up the skateguy, and I couldn’t help myself from saying, “Wow. These are comfy.”
As he went into some monologue about how people “don’t go back” when they’ve tried the Antik boot, I was too busy skating around the shop to listen to him. My ankle was locked back comfortably, and I noticed I could do some variable lacing at the top levels to allow for more or less ankle flexion around turns.
Sizing-wise, I needed to go with a half-size lower than my Riedell counterparts. While I wasn’t happy with the need to take Heartless wheels with the package, I happily bought my MG-2s with Revenge plates and gumball toestops.
I’d heard there would be this break-in period with any new skate. I don’t remember what it was like with my first pair; I’m assuming I was too busy keeping myself upright to notice. But with these, I stood up in the toestops, started gingerly stroking the ground, and felt pretty good. My little toes were a wee bit pinched, but I assumed the moldable toebox would widen to allow for fit. After two hours, the pain was minimal, and there were no blisters. Switched out the Heartless wheels for my own Tilebiters, and viola! I felt like I could fly. I do believe I actually burst into song while my teammates laughed at me. These skates were terrific from Moment One.
…And did I mention they’re pretty?
Thanks for the great review Lush. Those heartless wheels wouldn’t happen to be 94s would they? Just askin, you know, like, for a friend…
Fire Wally, they’re the whites, which I believe are 96s.
hmm. I might ask you to borrow them for a practice sometime, if you’re cool with that.
I just ordered a pair of these… with Revenges, as well. I’m pretty stoked. :) I went with the wider, B’Zerk wheels, though. I’ll definitely leave a rating when they get here! :)
I didn’t want to like the Antiks either – when I think Roller Derby, I think Riedell’s. I started with Gumballs, and then got some Heartless wheels (a pusher combo that I adore on sport court). Finally one of our league members made me try on her Antik’s with the white Heartless wheels (Vanish? The 96a’s, whatever those are called) and it was like skating was easy breezy.
I am trying to hold out until Christmas before I get them. We’ll see if I make it!
Hi! I’m considering these too, I’m a bit concerned about the width in the toe box though, and am considering ordering a custom narrow. Did you get the D width (standard)? Any idea what that measures across at the widest point? Thanks!
I did get the standard width. What I liked best about the Antiks is how they gripped my narrow ankle, since it kept slipping on my old skates.
My inserts, which fit inside my boot pretty snugly, measure 8.5cm across their widest point.
One thing that is really irritating me about Antik right now, however, is the difficulty with sizing! And when you go to Mo’s page, GrnMnstr, you STILL cannot get a clear size chart. I’ve had MULTIPLE answers from different companies. Sure, if I could try on some pairs, we’d be golden, but unfortunately, I’m in Europe, where the whole problem is lack of skate-shoppage.
And then I get relative-to-Riedell estimates. Well, guess what? I’ve never worn Riedell’s! How about a plain old SIZE CHART with INCHES OR CMs!
Not your problem, I’d just like to know if you have any insight. How many inches are your feet and what size are you in?
Do you have a link to a Riedell size chart that you can TESTIFY is accurate? (You measured your foot and it does indeed match with the size Riedell says you wear.)
Moloko in absentia
Hi! If you go to the antik skates fan page of facebook they have a full list of lengths. Still no joy with the widths though, I’ve been asking them for TWO WEEKS! You’d think it was classified or something, seriously how hard is it to pick up a boot, measure it across, then let me know?? Anyway, best o’ luck!
All I can say about sizing is that I wear a US size 7/7.5 women’s shoe, and that my Antiks are 4.5. (For those who are in Reidell land, I believe my Reidell skate size is 6.)
I wouldn’t say these are the best skates for wide feet. I’d try a Vanilla first if I did have wide feet.
That said, I’ll point this page out to my Antik guy and hopefully he can answer your questions. ;) Good luck!
Comparing these to the 265′s, would you say there is more space in the very front of the skate for your toes on the Antiks or the 265′s?