Buy Hockey Skates VERIFIED
Hockey skates are your direct connection to the ice, so finding the best skates for your budget and playing style is vital to your performance. This guide on how to buy hockey skates will walk you through the important considerations for choosing your first pair or finding an upgrade or replacement.
buy hockey skates
Elite-level hockey skates, designed for the most serious players, incorporate high-tech materials that ensure a secure fit and a lightweight skate that can withstand the abuse that comes with regular play. For instance, the Bauer Vapor skate line is built with their proprietary Curv Composite material, which is 3D-lasted for a precise boot shape, along with their thermoformed X-rib pattern in the quarter package, which creates a tighter fit in the heel and ankle. Meanwhile, the CCM Tacks skate line incorporates a carbon composite with an anatomical design and form-fitting liners for added comfort and moisture control.
There are a few major considerations when buying new hockey skates: the price, the fit, and how well they match your individual game. We cannot stress enough to never buy hockey skates based on how they look or if your favorite NHL player wears them. You have to buy the skates that feel the best to you and support your style of play.
In addition to your specific foot shape and size, your position and playing style may influence the skates you should buy. The finesse player looking to make tight turns and cuts needs different performance features in a hockey skate than a power skater looking to get as much potential energy out of their stride as possible.
If your kid's a beginner, there's no need to go high-end. Elite skates are crafted with lightweight, stiff materials to maximize energy transfer while skating, benefiting players who have distilled every stride down to a science. But beginners are still learning the basics; stiffer skates would not provide much benefit and they would be more uncomfortable. Plus, without all the precision materials and design of the higher-end models, beginner skates are far less expensive.
There are a few crucial differences between goalie skates and player skates: hockey goalie skates have shorter boots for better range of motion; longer, thicker blades for side-to-side movement; and a wrap around the boot called a cowling to protect against hard shots. Goalie skates are designed to address the specific performance and protection needs to block shots and protect the net. Simply put, goalies need goalie skates, and player skates are no substitute.
Hockey skates and figure skates each have unique features geared to their sport. Figure skates have longer, heavier blades with a toe pick at the front, designed for executing jumps and pivots and tracing long, graceful arcs on the ice. The boot on a figure skate is typically a pliant leather material, in contrast to the hard plastic boot on an ice hockey skate. Still, hockey skates tend to be lighter than figure skates due to the smaller blades, and hockey skates are generally built for speed, acceleration, and quick changes in direction.
So, how often should you sharpen your skates? As a general rule, some players sharpen their skates every 15-20 hours of ice time, which works out to once or twice a month for many skaters. Some players will sharpen their skates before every game, while others might only sharpen them once or twice a year. A lot depends on your frequency of play, the quality of the ice (outdoor ice tends to be colder and harder, wearing out skates faster), and the quality of the skates, so you may need to adjust your skate sharpening schedule to find what works for you.
There are some tell-tale signs that your hockey skates need to be sharpened. Dull blades will chatter, pull to one side, wobble out of control, or prevent you from turning as tightly as you normally do. Other ways to tell are if you can feel nicks and gouges in the blade when lightly running your finger along the surface, or if you can see a reflection in the blade edge when viewed under a bright light.
You can visually inspect the blades to determine whether the steel is pitted or has burrs, and whether you have enough steel left for sharpening. Maybe the blades are dull and that's the problem; get them sharpened! Nothing affects skating performance more than dull blades. If you determine that the steel is worn down or banged up, opt for replacement runners in the right thickness to fit the holder of your skates, with the blade profile that fits your skating style.
Yes, ice skates for figure skating are very different from the ones for hockey. Figure skates have longer, heavier blades and pliant leather boots. Figure skate blades include a toe pick at the front for executing jumps and pivots. Hockey skates are stiff and often come with hard boots in performance plastics for speed and protection. Hockey skates tend to be lighter weight than figure skates and feature steel runners designed for powerful stops, starts, and quick direction changes. For casual skating on the pond or at the local rink, either type of skate works just fine.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran ice hockey player or if you are brand new to the game, we are here to help you find the best skate for your skill level! For each category, we pick one skate for 'Overall Performance' based purely on tech and spec and another winner for 'Overall Value' that more heavily considers price! Keep reading below to see why we chose these winner!
The TF9 offers truly best-in-class heat moldability that hugs and wraps around the foot like nothing else on the market. They accomplished this by analyzing 3D foot scan data for over a decade that were taken for True Custom Skates. For more information on how to easily bake your skates at home, learn more here!
True has stole the spotlight this year with their TF9 Line that includes this TF7. They offer nearly elite-level performance, comfort and fit at a much more approachable low-mid price point.. which is why we're giving the TF7 the best performing and best value performance-level skate! For more information on how to easily bake your skates at home, learn more here!
You need to decide what the fundamental needs are for your hockey skates. Are they going to be used for only 1 season or multiple seasons? Are you playing AAA and on the ice 6 times a week, or is hockey your form of exercise once a week? As you increase your budget, you increase your options across all brands
While there is little proof showing advances in performance for higher-priced skates, there is an improvement in materials used and the protection provided. More carbon fiber, protective padding on the tongue, and comfort are some of the main benefits of higher-end skates.
There is no scientific evidence that having lighter hockey skates makes skaters faster. If this were true, everyone would practice with ankle/skate weights, which rarely happens at the highest levels of hockey.
Go to your local shop and ensure you ask the right questions about the socks you should wear, techniques to lace up the skates tightly without cutting off circulation, and getting the proper insoles in your hockey skates.
Recommendation: Instead of paying $100 more for the next level up in skates with the exact same holder, steel and performance, spend that $100 on upgraded replacement steel for an overall improved hockey skate.
That leaves you with a choice: Buy low cost and lower quality or opt for high performance, pro stock hockey skates designed for individual NHL players and purchased by NHL teams. The skates offered in our online store were originally intended to be used by professional NHL players, but were never or were rarely used. While it may be worth having a cheap pair of skates around for simple pick-up games or occasional laps around the rink, there are a few key benefits to getting your feet in a high-quality boot:
Pro Stock Hockey offers special deals on pro stock ice skates and other equipment. To stay informed about upcoming offers and learn about new inventory arrivals before the news hits the streets, subscribe to our newsletter and/or connect with us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus. Stay in the loop for a great discount or cheap price!
How frequently you have your skates sharpened is an objective measure, meaning the correct answer for you will be different than it is for one of your teammates. Your height, weight, and most importantly, your playing style, influence how quickly your skate blades lose their edge.
Pure Hockey will sharpen the blades of any new skates you purchase from us, or you can take your skates to an ice facility to have them sharpened. But be sure to explain that the skates are new, so the blades get a hollow.
Customize your own hockey skates and experience comfort and on-ice performance like never before. With a fit individualized for your feet and a range of options to personalize to your preferences, this gear isn't made for just anyone-it's purpose-constructed to deliver exactly what you need. Build your custom player or goalie skates, and take your game to the next level.
Visit select Pure Hockey stores to be fitted for custom skates from Bauer, CCM, and TRUE. Whether you're looking for a one-piece or two-piece boot, ice or inline skates, low or high volume offerings, dig into the custom options and enjoy skates with legendary fit.
Bauer offers both the outstanding Supreme Ultrasonic and Vapor 2X Pro, in both player and goalie skates. In addition to a just-for-you fit, customize options like steel, liner, boot stiffness, embroidery, and so much more. Player skates even offer the option of additional steels engraved with your name and number.
From CCM, you'll find SuperTacks AS3 and JetSpeed FT2 custom skates for players and goalies alike. Both are one-piece boots, molded to fit your exact measurements using high-pressure machines. CCM gives players two options: Total Custom, which includes features like volume, tongue, steel, and color; or Total Custom Plus, which includes additional features like stiffness, facings, boot height, and boot cut. Goalie skates are available with Total Custom Plus. 041b061a72