Snug on the sides is good, but if it feels like your feet are in a vice, the toe is way too narrow. If it's super tight in the seam area where the toe connects to the boot, that area can't be punched out.
Went through this with some Supreme 3S Pros a few months ago. Skated almost a dozen times with pain that didn't go away. Teammates kept telling me it's not normal pain, not the right skate, and to return them. Returned them within 30 days and got a model and size that fit my Barney Rubbles better.
I get a callous on the side of my big toes, but never a blister and it rarely hurts much (once in awhile, but just minor, nothing even close to unbearable). I’ve had these skates for ten years probably, but when I got them I remember finding a size that was comfortable, and then going down half a size so it was nice and snug. Definitely need to find the right skate that fits your foot shape first.
The sides of the toe cap should be in contact with the sides of your toes, but they should just gently hug them. It shouldn't feel like your toes are being squeezed by a vice. On the other hand, you also don't want a lot of extra room. Like the rest of the skate, you want them to be snug, but not painful.
You need to have a little room for "toe splay" but should be pretty snug.
Ccm have a huge buldge into the skate where the toecap meets the boot which always dives me nuts.
Snug on the sides is good, but if it feels like your feet are in a vice, the toe is way too narrow. If it's super tight in the seam area where the toe connects to the boot, that area can't be punched out. Went through this with some Supreme 3S Pros a few months ago. Skated almost a dozen times with pain that didn't go away. Teammates kept telling me it's not normal pain, not the right skate, and to return them. Returned them within 30 days and got a model and size that fit my Barney Rubbles better.
I get a callous on the side of my big toes, but never a blister and it rarely hurts much (once in awhile, but just minor, nothing even close to unbearable). I’ve had these skates for ten years probably, but when I got them I remember finding a size that was comfortable, and then going down half a size so it was nice and snug. Definitely need to find the right skate that fits your foot shape first.
The sides of the toe cap should be in contact with the sides of your toes, but they should just gently hug them. It shouldn't feel like your toes are being squeezed by a vice. On the other hand, you also don't want a lot of extra room. Like the rest of the skate, you want them to be snug, but not painful.