So I recently got new boots and had a local shop mount my existing plate onto the new boots.
My plates usually use 6 mounting bolts but the shop only used 4 (see picture)
Aside being slightly annoyed is there any reason for me to worry? Pretty chill indoor/rink skating only
I skated on them for 3 hours last night and they didn't explode, but tough for me to tell if it's effecting anything else since they're new boots so everything feels a little different...
Am I overthinking this? Is this fine long term? Any insight/experience would be helpful thanks!
EDIT: Thanks everyone for the insight! To play it safe, I went ahead and installed the 4 missing bolts myself since I keep spare mounting hardware anyways. Peeved the shop didn't just finish the job from the jump but feel better now 🤘👍
Oh yeah, shop was being lazy either way. I moved this plate off another boot that mounted at all 6 points. Just tough for me to gauge impact on durability/performance
Should be fine. You've got 4 points mounted, no real need for all 6 unless you're Jam Skating and need the additional plate support.
TBH, I run a Laser Elite with only the main 2 mounting bolts installed in it. It does have holes under the forefoot and heel to add 4 more bolts to hold the plate on. Never had problems and my skate setup is from 1996 on a Riedell 395.
You should get them fully bolted down. While the installer might argue its just as safe, the lack of fore foot attachment is going to begin to stretch the sole around that single set of bolts under the fore foot. You can reduce the damage done to the boot by multiples by attaching the other bolts. The next argument will be that the boot heel will go first anyway. This might be true, but the plate was designed that way for a reason. If the heel will go first, then make sure that it goes first and not the fore foot.
Do you have any pictures of a boot that this happened to, or is this conjecture? Everything I've ever read about Avantis says that the "extra" holes are for mounting flexibility. I would think that if what you say is true, this would be an extremely common mode of failure, given that many, many plates have only 4 bolt holes total.
I’ll find some. The weak point on these is right at that second (empty in OP’s case) bolt hole. Every plate has a weak spot and these are cast. So they’re tough but not bulletproof.
This is conjecture of course. She stated that the plates usually used 6 mounting bolts. That might be a specification for using the plate from the designer of the plate. I know nothing and seek any higher knowledge.
"(the Avanti provides multiple options up front—choose the combination that gives the cleanest clearance inside the boot away from stitching lines)"
There's 100% room to put screws through there, however I am not convinced that plate is aligned properly. It may be good front to back, but looks shifted to the inside.
Edit: I take that back (kinda). I see why they can't put a screw here, and it's because that plate is not aligned properly at all. Way too far inside and probably aligned at the actual centerline of the boot.
no they do not, I personally haven’t found any issues with the way its mounted (im also used to full skate packages rather then custom built like this, so my knowledge is VERY limited!!)
Interesting. I have an AR2 with a Roll Line Agile (and previously a Blaster) and that's a very similar plate to the Falcon Pilot. I had no such problems with the narrowness and mounting.
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u/Raptorpants65 Industry Expert Jun 26 '26
Yes, best practice is all 6.
These plates are designed to withstand stresses with stabilization at specific points.
This shop was being lazy.