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