Loose laces

Question
I had bought a new pair of inlines late last summer, and since the newer models all have just one buckle and all laces. Ive tried tying the laces around the boot, and changing the configureation of the lacing and it still
feels loose after skating about 50 feet. Is there anything
else I might be able to do?

Answer
Hi Fred,
  You can always buy or make a support strap.  It's a strap that goes around the ankle area and velcro's together to keep your ankle snug.

  It's usually a heavy nylon strap about 1 1/4" or 1 1/2 " wide with velcro on the ends so you can secure it together.  

  I believe Rollerblade makes them but I'm not sure where you can buy them, you'd have to check your local sports stores or write to Rollerblade.   To save money you could make your own very easily.

  Put your skate on then measure around the ankle area of your boot...make sure your have it laced up as usual before you measure it.   Add on another 2 or 3  inches in case you need extra room, then go buy enough heavy nylon to make 2 straps....1 for each skate.  

  You can find the 1 1/2 " nylon strips at a fabric store.  I comes on a roll and you can buy as much as you need.  You can also buy the velcro at the fabric store.  Just buy enough velcro and try to get it the same width as your nylon strips, if possible.  You'll need it long enough velcro to secure the ankle area that you measured, then because you've added an extra 2 or 3 inches of extra nylon, get that much more velcro also...... so the strap isn't dangling as you skate.  Make sense?

 In other words....if you've measured your ankle as 12 inches, then added 3 inches you'd have a total of 15 inches of nylon strapping for each skate.
Make sure you buy 5 or 6 inches of velcro for each strap too.  3 inches for the extra that you allowed and 2 or 3 inches to secure where they overlap.  

  You'll need to find someone with a sewing machine and have them stitch the velcro to the ends of the straps.  Just make sure they sew it on with the correct sides facing each other.  Otherwise the velcro won't stick together.  Lay it out first to make sure once it's on your ankle that it sticks together.  Once piece will have to be placed on the top of the strap and the other on the bottom side of the strap to get them to wrap around your ankle and stick together.

  I hope my explanation wasn't to confusing.  If you need me to re-word it,feel free to email me again.

  Good Luck.......I'm sure it will turn out great if you end up making your own.

Pat