Ice hockey skates have been around for more than a century and with modern technology constantly finding ways to improve hockey equipment, they have drastically changed over the years. There are two types of skates, high cut and low cut boots. There are numerous differences from using each one, in addition to benefits and consequences from each type of skate.
History
Modern hockey skates are much more technologically advanced than those in the past, when they were first created more than 100 years ago. Original hockey skates consisted of leather boots with a blade attached to the bottom of the sole. This created an ice hockey skate effect. Today's skates are made of composite material, are rock solid, and differ based on brand. There are many companies that make hockey skates today, including Bauer, Easton, Reebok, Mission, Graf and more.
Design of High Cut Skates
Skates that have a high cut design are made from a leather composite structure, which provides a rigid boot, protecting the player from skates, sticks and pucks. The high cut boot provides ankle support and more protection for the player's foot, ankle and lower leg.
Design of Low Cut Skates
Low cut skates are created with a protective shell, often made of composite material. The shell is present in the lower half of the skate, while the top of the boot does not stretch nearly as high as a high cut skate. This allows the player to move his skate more freely, in addition to simply making it easier to skate.
Benefits of High Cut Skates
Forwards, defenseman and officials wear high cut skates. They provide great support for a skater's ankle, in addition to providing protection for the lower shin, calf, Achilles' tendon and foot. It also prevents a skater's ankle from rolling around, which can result in a sprained or broken ankle if twisted the wrong way.
Benefits of Low Cut Skates
The only players who usually wear low cut skates are goaltenders. Because they have goaltender pads on, their legs and ankles are covered, making it unnecessary for them to use high cut boots. These low cut boots allow them to skate more freely, in addition to allowing their ankle to move around without much hindrance.
Warnings of High Cut Skates
Because high cut skates do not allow players' ankles to move around freely, it results in numerous more high ankle sprains. It also does not allow a skater as much freedom to skate around as they please. It blocks the foot a bit, hindering a player's ability to skate with as much as ease as a low cut skate.
Warnings of Low Cut Skates
Low cut skates do not protect a player against pucks, sticks or skates that may hit the ankle or Achilles' tendon part of the boot. Because of the design of the boot, it also does not prevent the ankle from rolling, resulting in more ankle sprains and broken ankles.
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