Six Factors to Consider While Buying Hockey Skates

 compensate a wider skate for feet that actually need
If you are a beginner planning to buy yourself a newa longer length. This will give you an inaccurate skate
pair of skates then here are some basic tips to getsize and may cause serious injury.
you started:3.) Radius of the Blade
1.) Sizing FactorRadius of the blade is the amount of blade that is in
Hockey skates should be a size or two smaller thandirect contact with the ice. If you are a beginner skater
your regular shoes. Buying hockey skates that are theit is recommended that you go for a larger blade
same size as your running or athletic shoes may resultradius. A radius of 5 inches should be a good choice. A
to injury such as blisters and sprains. Too much spacelarger radius increases stability and aids easy
for your foot to move about in a loose hockey skatemaneuverability along the ice surface.
means that there are more possibilities of a blister4.) Break-in period
forming or inaccurate movements during games orBreak-in period of a skate is the amount of time it
practice sessions. This possibility of inaccuratetakes for the padded lining of the skate to get molded
movement can affect the game and the way that youand adjusted to the shape of your feet. How soon the
play.break-in happens depends on a lot of factors like the
It is better to have snug fitting ice hockey sticks thanquality of lining and body-weight of the player among
loose ones. Bear in mind when fitting hockey skatesothers. A heavier person will generally have a faster
that your toes need to be able to feel the front end ofbreak-in period than a light person. So if you have
the skate while you are positive that your heel islighter body mass, try to go for skates with a softer
backed up into the back part of the skate as well. It islining.
important that you lace up the hockey skates before5.) New or Used Skates?
even trying to move about with them to see how theyHockey skates are supposed to be stiff. This is
fit you. You should also try to stand with the hockeysomething that you should be aware of before buying
skates laced up and then try to bend your knees to ahockey skates. Some people might opt to buy the less
point where you are almost squatting. In this position,expensive used hockey skates instead of the more
you can feel the toe area loosen up a bit. This may beexpensive brand new ones. Bear in mind that used
the right skate size for you. The reason for thisskates may have lost their stiffness factor which is
exercise is due to the fact that when one skates, theessential for more powerful skating action and support
knees are usually bent hence the need to concentratefor the legs, feet and ankles.
of this particular position to be comfortable.Some cheap hockey skates may be less stiff than the
A few tips to keep in mind:a.) Never make the mistakemore expensive ones. Buying cheaper hockey skates
of buying skates to grow into. This will put you in a riskis only beneficial for those who have not made up their
of injury.b.) To test the skates make sure your toesminds regarding playing hockey or not or for children
feel the front end of the skate while your heel iswho outgrow a skate easily within a year.
backed up into the back part of the skatec.) Different6.) Your Budget
brands have different sizing guidelines. So make sureA good pair of skates would cost you anything around
to check them out before you go for the buy.$100 to $650. It is recommended not to buy expensive
2.) Length and Widthskates for your first pair. Until you play in a league you
Both the length and width of the hockey skate canwon’t know what position you are playing or what
affect its fit. Do not try to compensate the length forkind of skate with best accommodate it. Consider the
the width or vice versa. You should have the rightfirst pair of skates as skates used for practice and
length and the right width to have the right hockeyintroduction to the sport.
skate size. Some people think that they canGood luck and play hard!