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How to Buy Hockey/Goalie Skates
Skate Construction
Hockey skates are composed of two basic parts--the boot and the blade.
Boot
- Most skates are manufactured with a combination of leather and synthetic materials for durability, performance and comfort. The exact mixture of these components, with names like Kevlar® and graphite, depends on the quality of the skate and the cost.
- Goalie skates are similar in construction to regular hockey skates but are designed differently with a wider blade and lower boot with more ankle and foot protection
Blade
- Skate blades are made of steel and have a concave (hollowed out) shape
- An important factor in performance is blade radius- the amount of the skate blade that is actually in contact with the ice
- The radius is measured by placing the blades together, bottom to bottom and holding them up to the light. The length where the blade edges make contact is the radius.
- Goalie blades have a less hollow grind and a larger radius
Determining Your Skate Size
Tips
- Choosing the proper size for your hockey skates is different than choosing the size for a pair of sneakers
- Hockey skates need to be tighter to offer more stability and less abrasion when skating
- Remember to measure yourself wearing thick hockey socks
- Do not buy larger sizes for children to grow into. This hinders their ability to learn how to skate, and could hurt their feet and ankles.
Blade
- Skate blades are made of steel and have a concave (hollowed out) shape
- An important factor in performance is blade radius, or the amount of the skate blade that is actually in contact with the ice
- The radius is measured by placing the blades together, bottom to bottom, and holding them up to the light. The length where the blade edges make contact is the radius.
- If you are a beginning skater you will want a radius of about five inches. T
his increases your ability to propel yourself along the ice while providing stability.
- A radius of 3-4 inches helps in cutting and turning
- Forwards prefer blades with a shorter radius to help with maneuverability
- Defensemen look for longer radius blades for extra stability
- Players can also grind their blades to sharpen the edges and create a double edge for extra contact with the ice
- The deeper the grind, the more maneuverable
- Goalie blades have a less hollow grind and a larger radius
Sizing
- In order to determine the size skate you will need you must first determine your shoe size.
- Once you have determined your proper shoe size, you can figure out what size skates you
will need depending on the brand of the skate:
- For CCM skates find your athletic shoe size and subtract 1 1/2 shoe sizes. This is your CCM skate size.
- For Bauer and Nike find your athletic shoe size and subtract 1 shoe size. This is your Bauer or Nike skate size.
- For Mission the size of your skate is the same as your atletic shoe size.
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Pro Hockey Equipment
25 Commercial Dr
Wrentham, MA 02093, USA
1-888-528-6451
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Phone Hours:
Mon thru Fri: 9 to 5 EST
Sat: 10 to 4 EST
Sun: Closed
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