Visit to Harlick: Photo Gallery

During a recent trip to California, I stopped by Harlick & Co. to meet the people behind the magic and to get a tour of the factory. Inside the factory is an impressive photo display of current and former skaters skating in Harlick boots.

Current and former Olympians using Harlick boots include Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, Scott Hamilton, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Kimmie Meissner, and ice dancing pair Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto. Photos of them, and other skating figures, are displayed throughout the factory as well as listed on its website.

And every skater, celebrity or not, is assigned a box and file folder which contains their tracings and measurements information. I got a big kick out of seeing my idol Dorothy Hamill as well as Kyoko Ina, Tara Lipinski, Kristi and Scott's names on their boxes. Finally, Harlick has saved samples of some of the more unusual skate designs they've been asked to make.

Visit to Harlick: bootmaking process

Recently I visited Harlick & Co. in San Carlos, CA, and got a great tour of their factory and how the boot-making process begins and ends.

Harlick has remained a smallish outfit to this day and employs 15 people in their factory. Each has a specific job in the boot making process. Once Phil Kuhn (president and owner) obtains the tracings and measurements, he personally chooses the swatches (1) and designs the custom patterns for each boot (2). The appropriate sized mold for the boot is then selected (3). Boot leathers are selected and the sewers begin to sew the boot (4) and ensure that all parts of the leather are holding up to the mold (5). All parts of the skating boot are made in the factory, except for the heel, which is manufactured in Massachusetts (6). Phil explained that a different process is used to make the heel which is not available at the Harlick factory. I was also surprised to learn that the heel is made of compressed leather, not wood. Once the heel and sole are attached to the boot, Mabel puts the final touches by carefully painting the boot (7). After a final inspection, these beauties are ready to be laced and shipped out to the lucky skaters (8)!

Visit to Harlick: Chatting with the owners

I've often wondered where my Harlick boots come from and how they're made. For the last 10 years, Rich Liebenow at the Pro Shop at the Mennen Sports Arena in New Jersey makes tracings of my foot and 2 months later, voilà! beautiful tan boots appear at my door. So during a recent trip out to California, I stopped by Harlick & Co. to meet with Phil Kuhn (president of the company) and wife Ginger, and their 3 sons, who gave me a tour of their factory and how the boot-making process begins and ends.

My tour guide for the day was James, Phil and Ginger's 29 year old son (who is also a twin), and who has worked in the company for the last 10 years. Here is James sitting in the king's throne in the fitting area, where measurements and tracings are made.

Phil and Ginger (below) and family employ 15 people to work in the factory. Phil emphasized the importance of maintaining the small, family-like feel to the company in order to consistently make the highest quality boots for their clients. Unlike other manufacturers which mass produce boots, Harlick makes 60-75 boots per month, of which 75% are custom made orders.

Custom or stock boots?

I’ve always had custom made boots.  Why?   Because they don’t make stock boots for my two feet, which are two different sizes by the way.  Also, my feet are short and extremely wide.  Believe me, I’ve had my share of trying on many many stock boots and finally realized that I needed to invest in a pair of custom made boots.

Whether you should go for custom or stock depends on your feet and you will quickly discover which category you belong in.  Many of my skating friends prefer customs for the added on extras that they can request, such as scallops for extra toe point, heel huggers, rounded toe box, lower toe vamp, different color, different material such as suede, and anything else that the manufacturer can accommodate.  I have other friends who love the fact that they can walk into a pro shop, pick up a size 8 Riedell boot and just have minor adjustments made to them, such as punching out certain areas for extra room, like the ankle bone areas.  They don't need, nor want, the "extras" and they certainly don't want to pay the premium for those features.

It’s been my experience that avid skaters tend to invest in stock boots that start in the $200 range and up.  The price of customs vary – I recently got new custom Harlick boots after skating in my former Harlicks for 3+ years.  The boot itself cost in the $500 range and with the added features, such as heel huggers, duobond strength, lambswool tongue, and orthotics, it cost an additional $250.

Be that as it may, regardless of custom or stock, you should love your skates.  Yes, love your skates.  Well, maybe really really like them.  They should feel like your own, and only your own.  You should love the fit, the way they look and the way they look on you.  If you feel that a particular boot looks clunky on you, chances are you’ll feel clunky skating in them.  There is a big psychological aspect to skating, so feel great in your skates, and it will translate into a more confident skater.

Boots and blades - so many choices!

Does skating seem more complicated the more you know? Do people ask what boots you’re wearing? Do they follow up with what blades you’re using?

If you’re an avid skater like me, these are perfectly normal questions and you begin to take note of the type of boots and blades worn by skaters you admire. There are a lot of choices out there and you tend to go with what your coach and/or fellow skaters swear by. For me, I’ve skated in Harlick boots and John Wilson Pattern 99 blades for the last 10 years and have been generally happy with the quality and customer service. Reidell also makes great boots as does SP-Teri. I’ve also heard good things about Risport, Jackson and Klingbeil boots. (Note: Klingbeil only makes custom boots.) To determine which boot is right for you, try on several different pairs at your pro shop and ask fellow skaters what they skate in and why.  You’d be surprised at how strong some opinions are!

In terms of blades, most skaters I know use blades manufactured by John Wilson and MK.

Finally, I cannot overemphasize the importance of proper mounting and sharpening. This is where a great skate technician comes in. Again, the best resource for me has been word of mouth. I recently purchased new boots and had the blades mounted by Rich at the Pro Shop at Mennan Rink in New Jersey. Rich did an amazing job balancing the blades in terms of mounting them slightly to the outside (because I put more weight to the outside of my feet when I walk and skate) and using a felt wedge to enhance the balance on my left boot. You know when the blade placement is perfect because you're hitting your spins like never before, your turns are better - they feel better in fact, and you can hold edges with more ease. The downside of getting to this point is that there is a trial and error period where the mounting is not "right" and only time and patience will correct it.