Hockey ones must protect the foot and ankle from injury and provide comfort, ice ones must be lightweight, and figure ones must “hold the ice” well, allowing complex technical elements to be performed.
Where can I buy?
Cheaper and simpler skates can be found in any sports store in the city. If you decide to take up skating seriously, it is better to go to a specialized sports store, where there is a large selection of models from various brand manufacturers, such as CCM, RISPORT, GRAF, WIFA, Bayer, Jackson, Gracier, K2.
Size
What should you pay attention to when choosing? The most important thing is the size of the skates. Ice boot or figure skates should match your shoe size, and hockey shoes should be 1 size larger. Otherwise, their service life will be greatly reduced.
Figure skate size chart
| Adults | ||||||||||||||
| EUROPE | 40,5 | 41 | 42 | 42,5 | 43 | 44 | 44,5 | 45 | 45,5 | 46 | 47 | 47,5 | 48 | 49 |
| RUSSIA | 38,5 | 39 | 40 | 40,5 | 41 | 42 | 42,5 | 43 | 43,5 | 44 | 44,5 | 45 | 46 | 47 |
| centimeters | 25,5 | 26 | 26,5 | 27 | 27,5 | 28 | 28,5 | 29 | 29,5 | 30 | 30,5 | 31 | 31,5 | 32,5 |
| Teenage | ||||||||||
| EUROPE | 33,5 | 34 | 35 | 35,5 | 36 | 36,5 | 37,5 | 38 | 38,5 | 39 |
| RUSSIA | 32,5 | 33 | 34 | 34,5 | 35 | 35,5 | 36 | 36,5 | 37 | 37,5 |
| centimeters | 21 | 21,5 | 22 | 22,5 | 23 | 23,5 | 23,5 | 24 | 24 | 24,5 |
| Children's | ||||||||||
| EUROPE | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28,5 | 29,5 | 30 | 31 | 31,5 | 32 | 33 |
| RUSSIA | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28,5 | 29,5 | 30 | 30,5 | 31 | 31,5 | 32 |
| centimeters | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17,5 | 18 | 18,5 | 19 | 19,5 | 20 |
20,5
|
No discomfort
When buying skates for recreation, do not choose expensive sports models; it is better to limit yourself to softer and more comfortable ones. The main thing is that the skates fit comfortably on the foot and hold the ankle tightly. If you feel the slightest discomfort when trying on, immediately take off this pair - when skating, the discomfort will increase several times.
The main thing when choosing amateur skates is how much you like them and how comfortable they are.
How to choose hockey skates
Next, we’ll tell you how to choose hockey skates if you still choose them. It should be mentioned that they are divided into: skates for professionals (for forwards, for defenders, for goalkeepers); skates for semi-professionals; for hockey fans; for beginner hockey players. The price, as well as the quality of workmanship, depends on the purpose of the skates.
- Decide on a style if you are purchasing hockey skates for playing.
- When choosing, consider what to make professional skates materials are used that are not intended for temperatures below −5 C.
- Once you have decided on the size, try on shoes that are half a size smaller - this will ensure that you have made the right choice. If it is correct, then the boot should fit well on the foot, not cause any discomfort, and prevent the foot from moving inside it.
- When choosing skates for your child, do not stock up too much. The maximum you can afford is 1 size.
In addition to all of the above, it is necessary to give a few more recommendations. If these are not your first skates, then studying the wear of the old ones will make it possible to make sure that the previous choice was correct to prevent the repetition of mistakes. The foot should completely fill the inner space of the boot. If the foot moves in the heel area, then smaller or less full boots are needed.
How to choose figure skates
When choosing figure skates, follow these guidelines.
- Try to choose the size as accurately as possible. Pay sufficient attention to the correct selection of the fullness of the boot. This will help extend the life of your skates and, most importantly, reduce the chances of injury.
- When trying on, wear the socks you will be riding in.
- Choose a skate model depending on your level of skating.
- If you are a beginner, you should choose medium-hard boots that allow ankle flexion when performing a squat.
- Do not strive for expensive models when purchasing skates for rare ice walks.
- If you are an amateur figure skating, then do not buy skates designed for the mass consumer. Since the quality of their manufacture and the materials used are not designed for more or less frequent exercise.
How to choose skates for a beginner skater
For beginners, it is not necessary to take expensive and advanced skates. But if you go to classes in a section, just make sure which ones are also not very suitable. Let's look at the skates in parts, their types and materials.
Boot
Takes a maximum of 2 sizes more legs for outdoors and a maximum of 1 size larger for artificial ice.
Rigidity
The stiffness of the boot is very important. It prevents the ankle from dangling relative to the leg. Children's ligaments are more elastic than adults, but their muscles are also weaker, so they need hard shoes, in other words reinforced ones. What are reinforced boots? This is when a material is placed between the outer layer of leather and the inner layer to give rigidity to the boot. It could be plastic, it could be special thick leather, some companies use steel plates. Depending on the material, the stiffness of the boots varies. Children are recommended to choose medium hardness - on a pad made of special thick leather.
Lacing
Despite all the new technologies, nothing better than simple lacing has yet been invented. Because it allows you to clasp the entire leg, and not at several points (clips). It prevents the leg from being overtightened (quick lacing system). It allows you to adjust the width of the boot to fit your foot. The lace is gradually redistributed and equalizes the pressure.
The rivets make lacing faster, simplify the lacing process and allow you to shorten the laces.
Boots can be made from either genuine leather or synthetic material. Stores will tell you in detail about the materials used in the manufacture of boots and skate blades. We will only indicate what you need to pay attention to when choosing them.
Each material has its own pros and cons. Leather boots are warmer, they absorb moisture better and quickly take the shape of your feet. At the same time, artificial leather is lighter, it does not get wet and does not lose its appearance so quickly. IN last years Increasingly, boots are made from artificial materials that are lightweight, highly water-resistant and resistant to all kinds of damage.
The inner surface is usually covered with high-quality artificial waterproof suede. The sole of the boot is made of rubber or plastic, and the blades of new skates are not sharpened. Before buying skates, you should decide how you want to skate and how professionally you can do it. When choosing professional skates, you need to pay attention to the sole, which must be leather, the height of the boot, the bend of the blade and the number of teeth on it.
Boots for professionals have a genuine leather upper, a quick-drying insole inside, a “puffed” tongue and special pads that protect the ankle from lateral damage. Such models are initially sold without blades, and in general they are supplied mainly to order.
If you are not a professional, but you think that you skate more or less well, then semi-professional skates are suitable for you. These skates have chrome blades, a leather boot and additional soft padding on the sides. The blades of such skates are usually attached to screws.
If you skate infrequently or not very well, then it is better to buy a simpler and cheaper model. The choice of these in the retail chain is quite wide.
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People who are just starting to play hockey often ask the question: how to choose skates? In this article we will look at the main points when choosing them.
RULES FOR TRYING ON AND SELECTING HOCKEY SKATES
Landing hockey skates
- When trying on hockey skates, wear the same socks that you plan to skate in.
- Hockey skate boots should fit snugly enough to provide the necessary stability and support to your ankle.
Hockey skate size
- To understand how to choose the right skates, you need to keep in mind that hockey skates have their own sizing system, so your shoe size will not be the same size as your skates.
- Each hockey equipment manufacturer provides its own sizing chart. Thanks to these tables, you can choose the right size skates by comparing your shoe size and country of residence. But do not forget that tables vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
- Let's look at how to choose skates that suit your length. Put the boot on your foot, slide your foot back so that your heel is pressed firmly against the heel of the skate. In this position, your toes should lightly touch the toe of the shoe. If your toes rest on the toe, you should take a skate size larger.
- Sometimes it happens that the length hockey boot Fits your foot perfectly, but the width is either too narrow or too wide. In this case, you need to move on to choosing skates with the same size, but a different fullness (this will be written below).
- The question often arises: how to choose skates for a child? Considering your foot height, it is recommended to choose skates half a size larger. A half size will be equivalent to the thickness of one finger between the heel of the boot and the heel of the foot. If you do not want to harm your child, then you should not buy skates larger than half a size. A large shoe will wobble on your foot, leading to poor balance, falls, and leg or ankle injuries.
Below we provide size correspondence tables for the most popular hockey skate manufacturers in our country.
Hockey skate size chart
Adults/SR
| Russia | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAF BAUER |
6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | ||
| CCM REEBOK |
5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | ||
| EASTON | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | ||
Adults/SR (continued)
| Russia | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAF BAUER |
9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | ||
| CCM REEBOK |
9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | ||
| EASTON | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | ||
Junior/JR
| Russia | 32.5 | 33 | 33.5 | 34 | 34.5 | 35 | 35.5 | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAF BAUER |
1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | ||
| CCM REEBOK |
— | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | ||
| EASTON | — | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | ||
Baby/YTH
| Russia | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28.5 | 29 | 29.5 | 30 | 30.5 | 31 | 31.5 | 32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAF BAUER |
Y08 | Y09 | Y10 | Y11 | Y12 | Y13 | — | ||||
| CCM REEBOK |
Y8 | Y9 | Y10 | Y11 | Y12 | Y13 | |||||
| EASTON | Y09 | Y10 | Y11 | Y11.5 | Y12 | Y12.5 | Y13 | Y13.5 | |||
ATTENTION: Despite the fact that all data in the tables is taken from official catalogs of manufacturers, they should still be taken only as recommendations that do not guarantee an ideal fit for hockey skates. Please check your skate size before ordering!
- When trying on hockey skates, first of all, make sure that they are the right length for you. To do this, move your foot back as much as possible, so that the heel is pressed tightly against the heel of the skate, while your toes should touch the toe of the boot, but under no circumstances rest against it.
- The sizes of children's skates can be: larger size, taking into account the height of the foot (? size - equivalent to the thickness of one finger between the heel of the foot and the heel of the shoe. Move the foot forward and measure the distance). But you shouldn’t buy your child hockey skates a whole size larger (maximum one size!) This will interfere with the beginning hockey player’s ability to learn to skate, and in addition, it can lead to leg or ankle injuries.
- If the boot is the right length for you, but is too narrow or wide, then try on skates of the same size, but with a different fullness
Completeness of hockey skates
- Determine your size using a special ruler (this service is available in our store, contact the operators at 8-(812)-992-84-60) if possible, try on skates 0.5 sizes smaller, because The skate boot needs to fit tightly. Put your skate on, moving your foot back, then lace up your boot. If the heel does not press tightly against the heel and moves freely, then you need to try on a skate of less fullness or a smaller size. Walk around in them for 5-10 minutes. If you choose the right size boot, your foot should not move inside the skate or slide forward.
- The boot should “sit” on the foot quite tightly, but should not cause a feeling of discomfort; it is necessary that the toes touch inside the toe of the boot only slightly, without pressing or interfering.
- If you have fulfilled all of the above conditions, then the size is selected correctly.
ATTENTION: Due to the design features, the sizes of both amateur and professional skates NIKE, CCM, GRAF, BAUER, EASTON and RBK may vary slightly, so always REQUEST QUALIFIED ASSISTANCE WHEN SELECTING THE SIZE, AND ALSO TRY ON THE SKATES CAREFULLY BEFORE BUYING!
Size chart for skates from Bauer, Reebok and other manufacturers
Adults/SR
Russia | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 |
GRAF US | |||||||||
CCM US | |||||||||
EASTON US | |||||||||
Adults/SR (continued)
Russia | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 |
GRAF US | 10.5 | 11.5 | |||||||
CCM US | 10.5 | 11.5 | |||||||
EASTON US | 10.5 | 11.5 | |||||||
Junior/JR
Russia | 32.5 | 33 | 33.5 | 34 | 34.5 | 35 | 35.5 | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 |
GRAF US | |||||||||||||
CCM US | |||||||||||||
EASTON US | |||||||||||||
Baby/YTH
Russia | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28.5 | 29 | 29.5 | 30 | 30.5 | 31 | 31.5 | 32 |
GRAF US | |||||||||||
CCM US | |||||||||||
EASTON US | Y11.5 | Y12.5 | Y13.5 |
||||||||
How to correctly determine the size of the right hockey skates
Determining shoe size
1. Stand with both feet (in socks) on a piece of paper and trace them with a pencil (you can also measure your shoe insole)
2. Measure the distance between your heel and big toe.
3. If these distances are slightly different for the right and left legs, then choose the larger one.
COMPLETENESS OF LEGS
There are two cases: the first is D(R) - a narrow foot (often used by professionals), the second EE (W) - a fuller foot (in most cases used by amateurs, mainly in Russia).
FOOTWEAR NUMBERING SYSTEMS
Shoe number ( in Russia and CIS countries) is considered to be the size of the foot, which is measured in millimeters, but does not take into account warm socks, decorative allowances for lasts and other things. Foot size is measured between the tip of the toe and the tip of the heel.
French system- in this system, shoe size is calculated as the length of the insole. A stroke is a unit of measurement, and it is equal to 2/3 of a centimeter. Typically, the length of the insole is several millimeters longer than the length of the foot by the so-called decorative allowance, which ranges from 0 to 15 mm. When transferring from one system to another, this factor introduces some confusion. It is generally considered to be 10 mm.
English system- measurements are taken in inches (1 inch = 2.54 cm). Size zero is counted from the heel curve of the insole to 4 inches, that is, the standard size of a newborn’s foot, and the numbering goes every 1/3 inch from 0 to number 13, then again from 1 to 13.
American system almost identical to the English one, but 1/12 inch (2.1 mm) shifted towards zero. Therefore, in the American and English systems there is one pair of the same sizes.
There is another American system for women. It differs in that it is shifted even more towards the origin of coordinates (downward), and is also numbered from 1 to 13, but only for large numbers.
Rules for trying on and selecting the size of FIGURE skates
- Choosing the right size is the main factor in choosing skates. As a rule, figure skates should be 0.5 sizes smaller than regular shoes. You should not take skates that are too small or too large for you; you should only take them strictly according to size. Your foot should feel comfortable inside. This rule will undoubtedly save you from painful rubbing, distortion of movements and wear.
- You should only try on skates wearing the socks you will be skating in. You need to put on an unlaced boot, place your foot on the heel and at the same time press well with your heel in the direction of the back of the boot. It is necessary that the boot “sits” tightly on the foot, and should not cause a feeling of discomfort; the toes should only lightly touch the inside of the toe of the boot, without interfering or pressing. If all of the above conditions are met, it means that the size is selected correctly.
- After choosing boots, you need to learn how to lace them correctly - a little looser near the toe of the boot, and a little tighter in the area of the instep (to secure the heels as much as possible and protect the ankle from injury) and again a little looser in the area of the upper hooks. If you lace up correctly, the heel should be firmly fixed (not moving up and down). When you get up, check if your skates are level - your ankles should not turn outward. The boot should not put pressure on the ankle, but should not hang around it.
Size chart for men's figure skates
Adults/SR
Russia | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 |
GRAF US | |||||||||
CCM US | |||||||||
EASTON US | |||||||||
Adults/SR (continued)
Russia | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 |
GRAF US | 10.5 | 11.5 | |||||||
CCM US | 10.5 | 11.5 | |||||||
EASTON US | 10.5 | 11.5 | |||||||
Junior/JR
Russia | 32.5 | 33 | 33.5 | 34 | 34.5 | 35 | 35.5 | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 |
GRAF US | |||||||||||||
CCM US | |||||||||||||
EASTON US | |||||||||||||
Baby/YTH
Russia | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28.5 | 29 | 29.5 | 30 | 30.5 | 31 | 31.5 | 32 |
GRAF US | |||||||||||
CCM US | |||||||||||
EASTON US | Y11.5 | Y12.5 | Y13.5 |
||||||||
Size chart for women's figure skates
Adults/SR
Russia | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
CCM US |
Junior/JR
Russia | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
CCM US |
Junior/JR
Russia | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
CCM US |
The fitting rules, as well as the size charts for RECREATIONAL skates correspond to the standards of figure skates.
In recent years, ice skates have become increasingly popular. The skating rink is visited by many people leading an active lifestyle. How to choose the right skates for yourself or your child so that a visit to the skating rink brings maximum pleasure. When going to the store, you don’t need to have any special knowledge, but there are a few important points worth paying attention to.
What types of skates are there?
First of all, it should be noted that skates are divided into three types, namely:
hockey- designed for playing hockey,
ice- for riding for fun,
curly- for figure skating lessons.
Hockey ones must protect the foot and ankle from injury and provide comfort, ice ones must be lightweight, and figure ones must “hold the ice” well, allowing complex technical elements to be performed.
Where can I buy?
Cheaper and simpler skates can be found in any sports store in the city. If you decide to take up skating seriously, it is better to go to a specialized sports store, where there is a large selection of models from various brand manufacturers, such as CCM, RISPORT, GRAF, WIFA, Bayer, Jackson, Gracier, K2.
Size
What should you pay attention to when choosing? The most important thing is the size of the skates. The boot of ice or figure skates should match your shoe size, while that of hockey skates should be 1 size larger. Otherwise, their service life will be greatly reduced.
Figure skate size chart
| Adults | ||||||||||||||
| EUROPE | 40,5 | 41 | 42 | 42,5 | 43 | 44 | 44,5 | 45 | 45,5 | 46 | 47 | 47,5 | 48 | 49 |
| RUSSIA | 38,5 | 39 | 40 | 40,5 | 41 | 42 | 42,5 | 43 | 43,5 | 44 | 44,5 | 45 | 46 | 47 |
| centimeters | 25,5 | 26 | 26,5 | 27 | 27,5 | 28 | 28,5 | 29 | 29,5 | 30 | 30,5 | 31 | 31,5 | 32,5 |
| Teenage | ||||||||||
| EUROPE | 33,5 | 34 | 35 | 35,5 | 36 | 36,5 | 37,5 | 38 | 38,5 | 39 |
| RUSSIA | 32,5 | 33 | 34 | 34,5 | 35 | 35,5 | 36 | 36,5 | 37 | 37,5 |
| centimeters | 21 | 21,5 | 22 | 22,5 | 23 | 23,5 | 23,5 | 24 | 24 | 24,5 |
| Children's | ||||||||||
| EUROPE | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28,5 | 29,5 | 30 | 31 | 31,5 | 32 | 33 |
| RUSSIA | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28,5 | 29,5 | 30 | 30,5 | 31 | 31,5 | 32 |
| centimeters | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17,5 | 18 | 18,5 | 19 | 19,5 | 20 | 20,5 |
No discomfort
When buying skates for recreation, do not choose expensive sports models; it is better to limit yourself to softer and more comfortable ones. The main thing is that the skates fit comfortably on the foot and hold the ankle tightly. If you feel the slightest discomfort when trying on, immediately take off this pair - when skating, the discomfort will increase several times.
* Bring the socks you will wear for your ride. They can be thin if you are going to visit an indoor skating rink, or thick for ice skating. outdoors. Wear them when you try them on.
* The foot in the boot should be fixed well enough.
* Choose boots with a hard glass.
* Do not buy expensive models, as it is not advisable to spend a lot of money to visit the skating rink several times a year. In addition, their high cost does not necessarily mean convenience.
*Pay attention to sharpening. Not all skates are sold with blades already sharpened.
The main thing when choosing amateur skates is how much you like them and how comfortable they are.
How to choose hockey skates
Next, we’ll tell you how to choose hockey skates if you still choose them. It should be mentioned that they are divided into: skates for professionals (for forwards, for defenders, for goalkeepers); skates for semi-professionals; for hockey fans; for beginner hockey players. The price, as well as the quality of workmanship, depends on the purpose of the skates.
* Decide on a style if you are purchasing hockey skates for playing.
* When choosing, keep in mind that for the manufacture of professional skates, materials are used that are not intended for temperatures below -5 C.
* Once you have decided on the size, try on shoes that are half a size smaller - this will ensure that you have made the right choice. If it is correct, then the boot should fit well on the foot, not cause any discomfort, and prevent the foot from moving inside it.
* When choosing skates for your child, do not make too much stock. The maximum you can afford is 1 size.
In addition to all of the above, it is necessary to give a few more recommendations. If these are not your first skates, then studying the wear of the old ones will make it possible to make sure that the previous choice was correct to prevent the repetition of mistakes. The foot should completely fill the inner space of the boot. If the foot moves in the heel area, then smaller or less full boots are needed.
How to choose figure skates
When choosing figure skates, follow these guidelines.
* Try to select the size as accurately as possible. Pay sufficient attention to the correct selection of the fullness of the boot. This will help extend the life of your skates and, most importantly, reduce the chances of injury.
* When trying on, wear the socks you will be riding in.
* Choose a skate model depending on your level of skating.
*If you are a beginner, you should choose medium-hard boots that allow ankle flexion when performing a squat.
* Do not strive for expensive models when purchasing skates for rare ice walks.
* If you are a figure skating fan, then do not buy skates designed for the mass consumer. Since the quality of their manufacture and the materials used are not designed for more or less frequent exercise.
How to choose skates for a beginner skater
For beginners, it is not necessary to take expensive and advanced skates. But if you go to classes in a section, just make sure which ones are also not very suitable. Let's look at the skates in parts, their types and materials.
Boot
Take a maximum of 2 sizes larger than your feet for outdoors and a maximum of 1 size larger for artificial ice.
Rigidity
The stiffness of the boot is very important. It prevents the ankle from dangling relative to the leg. Children's ligaments are more elastic than adults, but their muscles are also weaker, so they need hard shoes, in other words reinforced ones. What are reinforced boots? This is when a material is placed between the outer layer of leather and the inner layer to give rigidity to the boot. It could be plastic, it could be special thick leather, some companies use steel plates. Depending on the material, the stiffness of the boots varies. Children are recommended to choose medium hardness - on a pad made of special thick leather.
Lacing
Despite all the new technologies, nothing better than simple lacing has yet been invented. Because it allows you to clasp the entire leg, and not at several points (clips). It prevents the leg from being overtightened (quick lacing system). It allows you to adjust the width of the boot to fit your foot. The lace is gradually redistributed and equalizes the pressure.
The rivets make lacing faster, simplify the lacing process and allow you to shorten the laces.
Boots can be made from either genuine leather or synthetic material. About materials used in the manufacture of boots and skate blades, they will tell you in detail in stores. We will only indicate what you need to pay attention to when choosing them.
Each material has its own pros and cons. Leather boots are warmer, they absorb moisture better and quickly take the shape of your feet. At the same time, artificial leather is lighter, it does not get wet and does not lose its appearance so quickly. In recent years, boots have increasingly been made from artificial materials that are lightweight, highly water-resistant and resistant to all kinds of damage.
The inner surface is usually covered with high-quality artificial waterproof suede. The sole of the boot is made of rubber or plastic, and the blades of new skates are not sharpened. Before buying skates, you should decide how you want to skate and how professionally you can do it. When choosing professional skates, you need to pay attention to the sole, which must be leather, the height of the boot, the bend of the blade and the number of teeth on it.
Boots for professionals have a genuine leather upper, a quick-drying insole inside, a “puffed” tongue and special pads that protect the ankle from lateral damage. Such models are initially sold without blades, and in general they are supplied mainly to order.
If you are not a professional, but you think that you skate more or less well, then semi-professional skates are suitable for you. These skates have chrome blades, a leather boot and additional soft padding on the sides. The blades of such skates are usually attached to screws.
If you skate infrequently or not very well, then it is better to buy a simpler and cheaper model. The choice of these in the retail chain is quite wide.
In ice hockey there are no trifles - every element of equipment is important and the effectiveness of the player’s actions and the degree of his protection from damage depend on the correct choice. But, whatever one may say, the most important thing is the foundation. The basis of a hockey player's basics is skates.
Let's listen to the opinions of professionals on this matter. And to begin with, a word to the founders of hockey. (Simultaneous translation)
Now the opinion of Russian players.
A remarkable defender in the recent past, and now a hockey analyst, shares his advice - Alexander Khavanov.
I would like to immediately note that I cannot give a universal recipe that would suit everyone on how to choose skates. This process is individual, everyone is different and everyone’s legs are different. But, of course, there are a number of things that make sense to focus on when visiting a store.
Size matters
There is a rule that everyone who has ever purchased a pair of skates probably knows about. It states that skates should be half a size (in North American sizing) larger than your feet. To be honest, I would not recommend taking this advice as an absolute guide to action. The main criterion is how comfortable the foot is in the boot, and this is again determined by the preferences of each person and his habits. My skates are, as they say, tight. There are players who choose skates even smaller than their feet,
in order to then distribute them. The idea here is that the longer the blade, the less maneuverability. To increase their mobility on ice, people deliberately use smaller skates. As for children just starting to learn to skate, then, in my opinion, those parents who take skates several sizes larger to grow are wrong. This is a surefire way to ruin a child's skating.
Hard or soft
It is very important to know in advance what you want from your skates. Accordingly, the worst thing is to choose skates without knowing what you want to get from them. There are a great variety of skates on the market now, and there is plenty to choose from. But this is a difficult and responsible process in which various nuances are important. Skates come with a high and low rise, soft, hard and very hard, with a high and low heel. It's easy to get confused here. The owner of a high instep, naturally, should take skates with a high instep - everything is more or less obvious here. With rigidity, not everything is clear. On the one hand, a hard boot is better at preventing injuries. On the other hand, it does not provide the freedom of action that a soft boot provides. Therefore, professionals whose feet are ready for specific loads mainly use soft skates. A new, insufficiently prepared person, going out on the ice in these, can twist his ankle. Therefore, I would advise beginners to choose skates that are stiffer, reducing the risk of getting an unnecessary injury, as they say, out of the blue. I would not strictly differentiate between skates that are better suited for defenders and attackers. It again depends on who is comfortable with what. It is believed that they should differ in the degree of protection of the leg. Of course, everyone needs protection. But no matter how hard the boot is, a direct hit from the puck will still hurt, unless, of course, you wear skates nine sizes too big. So, I repeat, first of all you should pay attention to how well the skate fits your foot.
Three pairs per season
During a regular season, I “kill” three pairs of skates - two are enough for the regular season, one more for the playoffs. The main sign that it’s time to change your skates is that as they wear out, they no longer support your feet. Which, of course, can lead to injury. For people who do not play hockey professionally, a pair of skates, of course, will last a long time - you can skate on one for several years. But it won’t hurt to notice in time that the shoes are worn out.
Thermal molding is not a panacea
Almost all skate manufacturers are now actively using materials that allow the skates to take the shape of the player’s foot when heated. This is useful thing. But I still think that it’s even more important to space the skates correctly so that they work like your leg, so that they, as they say, “bend” under your foot. Any person is initially uncomfortable wearing skates. And if they dynamically interact well with the foot, the discomfort is greatly reduced. On It usually takes at least a week to break in skates normally. Almost all professional skates are equipped with an anatomical felt tongue with a molded liner, an antimicrobial non-slip insole, and an improved system for fastening and adjusting the blade to the cup.
Adviсe:
1. Understand the unique structural features of your foot that may cause pressure points to form and lead to discomfort during use.
2. Study your old skates - they can tell you a lot. The wear of the insole will tell you whether the size was chosen correctly. High wear areas will indicate points of excess pressure caused by incorrect skate selection. For example, the insole in an incorrectly fitted skate has a foot print that does not reach the edge of the insole.
3. Socks. When selecting skates, wear the socks you will use when skating. It is recommended to wear thin socks, thanks to which the boot will quickly and accurately mold to your foot and take the unique shape of your foot.
4. Putting on shoes. Loosen the boot laces to the third hole from the bottom. Pull out the tongue, tilt it forward and put on the boot. The foot should feel comfortable while on the insole and “fill” the shoe entirely, without leaving the instep and toe areas empty.
5. Heel. Before you lace up your boot, vigorously move your foot back in the boot. The tongue of a properly laced boot should keep the foot pushed back and not allow the foot to move or move at the heel. If the heel area of the foot moves freely and is not held close to the heel of the skate, this means that you need to try on either a smaller skate or a skate that is less full.
6. Front part. Stand straight with your legs closed. In this position, the toes should only lightly touch the front inside of the boot and, when applying force, should touch more intensely, but not press or interfere.
7. First steps. Walk/sit for 10-15 minutes. This will help once again ensure comfort, correct selection size and model of skates. If the heel does not “slide” forward in the boot or move from side to side, if the boot fits snugly but not uncomfortably on the foot, and if the toes just lightly touch the toe of the boot, this means that the size is completely correct.
Steel nuances
When sliding on ice, the blade plays the main role.
The principle of sliding of a skate is as follows: from the friction of the sharp edges of the blade, the ice underneath melts, and the skate slides along a kind of “water cushion” (that is, actually over wet ice), due to which the sliding speed greatly increases.
Before purchasing skates, pay special attention to the glass used in the design (the segment of the skate between the blade and the boot itself). His most popular model today is TUUK Custom +. It is good in all respects - except, perhaps, for one thing: in extreme cold it can crack.
If you go out on the ice in severe cold, preference should be given to a frost-resistant model - the TUUK series Lightspeed.
Hockey skate size
To understand how to choose the right skates, you need to keep in mind that hockey skates have their own sizing system, so your shoe size will not be the same size as your skates.
Each hockey equipment manufacturer provides its own sizing chart. Thanks to these tables, you can choose the right size skates by comparing your shoe size and country of residence. But do not forget that tables vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Let's look at how to choose skates that suit your length. Put the boot on your foot, slide your foot back so that your heel is pressed firmly against the heel of the skate. In this position, your toes should lightly touch the toe of the shoe. If your toes rest on the toe, you should take a skate size larger.
Sometimes it happens that the length of a hockey boot fits your foot perfectly, but the width is either too narrow or too wide. In this case, you need to move on to choosing skates with the same size, but a different fullness (this will be written below).
The question often arises: how to choose skates for a child? Considering your foot height, it is recommended to choose skates half a size larger. A half size will be equivalent to the thickness of one finger between the heel of the boot and the heel of the foot. If you do not want to harm your child, then you should not buy skates larger than half a size. A large shoe will wobble on your foot, leading to poor balance, falls, and leg or ankle injuries.
Below we provide size correspondence tables for the most popular hockey skate manufacturers in our country.
Adults/SR
| Russia | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAF BAUER |
6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | ||
| CCM REEBOK |
5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | ||
| EASTON | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | ||
Adults/SR (continued)
| Russia | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAF BAUER |
9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | ||
| CCM REEBOK |
9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | ||
| EASTON | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | ||
Junior/JR
| Russia | 32.5 | 33 | 33.5 | 34 | 34.5 | 35 | 35.5 | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAF BAUER |
1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | ||
| CCM REEBOK |
- | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | ||
| EASTON | - | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | ||
Baby/YTH
| Russia | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28.5 | 29 | 29.5 | 30 | 30.5 | 31 | 31.5 | 32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRAF BAUER |
Y08 | Y09 | Y10 | Y11 | Y12 | Y13 | - | ||||
| CCM REEBOK |
Y8 | Y9 | Y10 | Y11 | Y12 | Y13 | |||||
| EASTON | Y09 | Y10 | Y11 | Y11.5 | Y12 | Y12.5 | Y13 | Y13.5 | |||