What To Look For
Because skating is central to hockey, your skates are the most important pieces of equipment. A good pair of skates will depend a great deal on personal skating style and the position played. Consider the weight of the skates, the stiffness of the boot, the ease of breaking in the skates and the amount of protective material on the skates. Bauer, CCM, Easton and Graf are the most popular skate manufacturers.
Common Pitfalls
When sizing skates, remember that skate sizes can run up to two numbers below street shoe sizes. The boot should be tight, causing you to struggle to get your feet inside. This ensures that your feet have the correct amount of support while playing. Do not shy away from tight skates. Knock your toes to the front of the skate then try to stick your index finger behind your ankle and heel. If you can just get one finger in, the skates fit; if you get more than one finger in, the skates are too big.
Where To Buy
For seasoned hockey players who know what brand of skates they prefer and what size and model suits them, buying online is a good way to save money. Great Skate, Total Hockey and Perani's are three of the top selling hockey equipment websites that consistently offer the best prices for the most popular skate brands. For younger players and those who want to make a switch to another skate manufacturer, heading into a hockey shop is wise. Small, local hockey stores are preferred to the larger sporting goods retailers because of the quality of help from employees.
Cost
The top-selling skates from Bauer, CCM and Easton are priced between $200 and $400, with prices that dip into the $100 range during sales. Graf skates are consistently priced around $400 and have fewer model selections than the other brands.
Insider Tips
Bauer and Nike are now the same company, as are CCM and Reebok. Bauer and CCM have been manufacturing skates the longest of the brands, with Graf close behind. Even for seasoned players, it is wise to head into a hockey store when buying new skates to ask questions about the manufacturers. Shortly after 2005, the Bauer and CCM skate designers switched positions, and some designing changes have ensued for both brands. With the buyouts of Nike and Reebok, additional skate design changes have been made.
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