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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 KevlarŪ 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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