| Mistake #... | | | | them up is like trying on a button shirt |
| | | | without buttoning it... both are meant to fit |
| 1.) Rushing out to buy the top manufacturers | | | | when they are done up. So...when you put the |
| model of skate. | | | | skate on, be sure to give your heel a good |
| | | | kick into the back of the boot and then lace |
| Manufacturers make several models of skates | | | | it up. |
| to accommodate different levels of skating | | | | |
| and the different physical sizes of skaters, | | | | 4.) Buying the same make and model of skate |
| as well as to cover several price points. So | | | | that that the pro's (NHL) have. |
| the 'Top Model' (read most expensice) may not | | | | |
| be the best choice of skate to buy, for you. | | | | This can be a tough one because the younger |
| The higher the model of skate the more | | | | skaters want what their favorite player is |
| expensive it is, and, the stiffer it is. If | | | | wearing. The bottom line with this is that |
| you're not physically heavy enough to deal | | | | the skates that the general public is able to |
| with the stiffness of the skate it won't | | | | buy off the shelf are not the same as what an |
| matter how much money you pay, your skating | | | | NHL player is wearing. The Vapor XX or CCM |
| performance will suffer. Skates that are too | | | | PRO or what ever the model might be, is not |
| stiff for a skater means no knee bend. Very | | | | the same skate as what the general public are |
| often it also means long-term discomfort. Be | | | | able to purchase. The pros are wearing custom |
| honest with yourself when it comes to your | | | | made boots from the manufacturer. The NHL is |
| skating ability and physical size. Purchasing | | | | a great marketing vehicle for the skate |
| a model of skate that matches those two | | | | manufacturers and consumers need to be aware |
| criterions, can dramatically increase your | | | | of this fact. |
| skating performance, and save you money. | | | | |
| | | | 5.) Buying a larger a length to try and |
| 2.) Fitting hockey skates like shoes. | | | | accommodate a wider foot. |
| | | | |
| Skates and shoes do not fit the same. A safe | | | | If your foot is wide and the skate is tight |
| rule of thumb to use is that a skate will | | | | then buy a wider skate not a bigger length. |
| always fit a size, to a size and a half, | | | | The really big skate that feels good in the |
| smaller than your shoe size. Depending on how | | | | store, will come back to haunt you almost |
| you fit your running shoes, a skate may even | | | | every time. A skate has a very specific shape |
| occasionally be as much as two sizes smaller. | | | | that is relative to the length of the foot |
| If your skates are currently the same size as | | | | going into it. If you purchase a skate that |
| your running shoe... they are too big. For | | | | is the wrong length, nothing about the shape |
| example if you wear a size 10 running shoe | | | | of the foot will line up with the boot. For |
| start with trying on a size 8-½ hockey | | | | example; the widest part of the foot comes |
| skate. If you generally wear an extra wide | | | | back into the narrowest part of the boot. |
| shoe, start with a 'D' width skate. The ideal | | | | The arch of the foot no longer lines up with |
| fit, length wise, has been achieved when you | | | | the arch of the skate. None of that will |
| are standing in a skate that is laced up. The | | | | bother you in the store, but get out skating |
| longest toe of the foot should, in fact, | | | | and it will show up. |
| feather the end of the toecap. When you bend | | | | |
| your knees slightly (like when you skate) the | | | | 6.) Not setting enough time aside to properly |
| toes will pull completely away from the front | | | | fit the skates. |
| of the toecap. If they don't pull away, then | | | | |
| go up half a size, or if you need growing | | | | It can take time to fit a skate for comfort. |
| room, then go up half a size. | | | | Wrapping a very stiff piece of material |
| | | | around the foot can sometimes be a challenge. |
| 3.) Trying on a pair of skates and not lacing | | | | How a skate fits in the first few minutes of |
| them up. | | | | putting it on compared to how it fits after |
| | | | spending some time to warm the boot up can |
| This is one of the most common reasons | | | | make a dramatic difference. Give yourself at |
| skaters end up in skates to big. Hockey | | | | least an hour, so you can walk around the |
| skates are, by design, meant to fit when they | | | | store and get a feel for the boot as well as |
| are laced up. As the boot is laced up, the | | | | warm it up. Also you may want to take the |
| foot will draw into the back of the skate. A | | | | time to try more than one manufacturers skate |
| skate that ultimately fits properly will, | | | | and model. |
| more often then not, feel small when the foot | | | | |
| is placed in the boot prior to lacing it. | | | | For more expert information come in to either |
| Trying on a pair of skates without lacing | | | | of our two Edmonton locations. |