Whether for hockey, figure or pleasure skating, your skates need to work in unison with your feet. Poor fit may negatively impact your performance and cause excessive wear to the skate. Skates that are too large decreases ankle stability and causes blisters. Skates that are too small put pressure on your feet, which may lead to poor circulation and persistent pain. In addition to proper size or length, a well-fitting skate needs to be the right width for your foot. The letters D and EE indicate width.
Boot
Skates consist of a boot and a blade. Most boots are made of a combination of leather and synthetic materials for comfort and durability. Boots reinforced with hard plastic provide more ankle support as well as better protection for hockey players. Goalie skates have a lower boot and more foot and ankle protection.
Fit
Sizing skates is not the same as sizing shoes. Skates should be tight enough to stabilize your ankles and minimize abrasion to your feet. Wear thick socks when you try on skates. Your toes should barely touch the cap and your heel should have no more than 1/4-inch of extra room. After lacing up the skate, the sole of your foot should lay flat on the skate bed.
Width
Feet come in lots of shapes and sizes, and manufacturers typically produce two or three different widths for each boot model. D is standard width. Skates with a C width are about 1/4-inch narrower than standard width, while E or EE skates, depending on the manufacturer, are extra wide and about 1/4-inch and wider than standard width boots.
Alternate Width
Some manufacturers use a different method to indicate boot width. Instead of D, some manufacturers use R, for regular, to designate the standard width. N, for narrow, is used instead of C, and W, for wide, designates E- or EE-width boots. The two systems are interchangeable in width but not by manufacturer. You won't find a pair of N-width skates also available in a D width.
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