Skate Sizing Tips for All Levels of Play
The start of a new hockey season often means aching feet for many hockey players. Whether your feet have become accustomed to a summer of sandal-wear or you’re a young player experiencing sporadic growth spurts, it may be difficult to rationalize when to purchase new skates or continue breaking in last year’s model. Here are some quick and painless tips to try before skating away in too-tight blades or making a major, unnecessary purchase.
When getting back in the game after a season away from the ice, it can be quite difficult for your feet to adjust to the tight quarters hockey skates offer. Before taking the dive and jamming your feet into last year’s skates, try this pain-free way to measure your skates. Simply remove the insole, known as a footbed, place it on the floor, and stand on it. If your toes stretch over the end, your skates are likely too small. However, if they’re resting inches away from the footbed, your skates may be a size bigger than you need which can hinder your ability to accelerate and maneuver on the ice.
"Since most hockey skate companies size according to Canadian measurements, skates typically run 1 to 1 ½ sizes smaller than U.S. shoe sizes."
If this initial test has resulted in a trip to your local sporting goods store, remember that skate fitting is an imperfect science. Jon Stone, Manager of Pure Hockey in Berlin, MA, suggests trying on multiple models during your skate fitting since sizes and fits differ between manufactures. And since most hockey skate companies size according to Canadian measurements, skates typically run 1 to 1 ½ sizes smaller than U.S. shoe sizes.
"To get the true feel of the length of the skate, it is important to kick your foot back into the heel pocket and focus on pulling the laces tight through the turn, or curve, of the middle eyelets rather than tightening them at the bottom or top. This is the area that will push your foot back in the skate and secure it in the heel pocket."
As for the cost of new skates, don’t let the price tag fool you! While you would think that buying the most expensive skates for your beginner skater would help them progress, chances are that it may actually hold them back. The rationale behind this is that the top of the line skates are fabricated for top of the line skaters. The boots of these skates are considerably stiffer than others, and the inability to flex the boot while accelerating, turning, or stopping may prove difficult for beginners during the learning stages. If extra support is needed, use some hockey tape to tightly wrap around the ankle of the skate boot.
Make sure to check in with the next FMC e-newsletter where we’ll give you the scoop on skate sharpening and a few pre-game routines that can strongly influence your performance!
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