Hockey Skates question - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Sample00 · 03-22-2009, 04:55 PM

I have worn goalie skates all my life and have gotten quite use to them.
However, I have been advised that if I want to persue some officiating, I will need to acquire regular hockey skates.
Here's the problem, I havent worn a pair of regular hockey skates for 10-15 years. And even then, I only wore them for an hour. I had so much of a hard time with balance on them, I felt like a newbie skater.
So, having said that, I am asking the CP faithful to share some of your thoughts and ideas on hockey skates and their fit.
I need to find a pair of skates that dont have too much of a rise from toe to heel. I find that with regular skates I am leaning forward too much. I would prefer something "flatter" like my goalie skates.
One recommendation I had was the CCM Vector V10 Skates....
I would also need something that was a little bit flatter in the blade.
can the CP faithful make some suggestion as to what regular skates may fit more like goalie skates?
thanks

flip · 03-22-2009, 05:08 PM

I would actually suggest you go to either B&P or Tuxedo. Both tend to have people that know what they are talking about. Not always, but usually.

Sample00 · 03-22-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flip

I would actually suggest you go to either B&P or Tuxedo. Both tend to have people that know what they are talking about. Not always, but usually.

good thought, but dont live in Calgary. Small town Alberta here, so I thought I would do a bit of research first.

flip · 03-22-2009, 05:15 PM

Right. I'm no help. I haven't bought skates in like 8 years and I've been needing new ones real bad recently.

FlamesPuck12 · 03-22-2009, 05:17 PM

When you buy the skates, I recommend you get them profiled. It significantly improves your balance. Profiling flattens the blade so you won't be losing your balance when you lean forward.

Sainters7 · 03-22-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesPuck12

When you buy the skates, I recommend you get them profiled. It significantly improves your balance. Profiling flattens the blade so you won't be losing your balance when you lean forward.

Exactly, I was about to say the same thing. I'm a former goalie too who has recently switched back to regular blades, and this was recommended to me. Flattening the blade will also give them more of a "goalie" feel, it definitely helps as you make the adjustment. Then afterwards just gradually get them sharpened more and more every time, until you're back in the game.

For the record, it's much easier going from goalie skates to player skates than vice versa, so at least you got that goin for ya.

iggnuef · 03-22-2009, 06:04 PM

the guys at Adrenaline Source for Sports on Macloed tr are fairly knowledgeable aswell

Boblobla · 03-22-2009, 07:01 PM

I posted this in a hockey skate sizing thread a while back. Just some advice on sizing when you go to buy your skates.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I sold skates for 5 years. It really depends on your foot your skate size will be smaller than your shoe size. They are not measured the same way. Noone, from Bauer, Easton or CCM was ever able to explain why to me other than they fit different than shoes.

I am a size 9.5-10 shoe and anywhere from a 7.5-8 skate size. From what I recall CCM is about 2 sizes smaller than your shoe size and Bauer/Easton/Graf are 1.5 sizes. This is just a general rule. Wherever you buy skates from should have a SKATE sizer, not a shoe sizer. I know Bauer makes one and that was what I used.

There is also widths to consider, if you have a narrow foot you will want a D width, if you have a wider foot you will want an E or EE (depending on brand, it is called different things).

Being in a skate that is too big will actually squish the sides of your foot. The reason for this is when you tighten the skate your heel slides to the back of the boot, this causes all of your foot to slide back as well. The result of this is the widest part of your foot slides into a narrower part of the skate, resulting in pressure points on the outside of your foot.

From brand to brand at the same pricepoint you will get a similar quality of skate. Fit is what is important. The best thing to do is try them on, throw on some skate guards and walk around the store for a bit. Pressure points will begin to surface after about 5-10mins of standing if the skates are going to be problematic.

As far as the fit of brand new skates that will feel too small when you first try them on. Skates now have a lot of ankle padding and require some breakin. The fit you are looking for is when you put the skate on, laced up but not tightened, you should be able to feather the front of the skate with your toes. When you tighten the laces your toes should just suck back so they are no longer touching. That is a good fit.

One suggestion, make sure to cut your toenails before you go skate shopping. I have had some people take ages trying on skates complaining it was killing their toes only to discover they had a long toenail creating all the problems.

Berger_4_ · 03-22-2009, 07:36 PM

Pretty much everything Boblobla said is right on the money. If I were you, I'd wait until after next year's skates are released and you can get top of the lines from this year on for half price. That's what I've done for the past couple years and I've ben pleased with that plan of attack.

The one thing I'd say is that the higher end Easton's seem to break down pretty quickly. They're light and really responsive and everything, but by the end of the year pretty much all of the stitching had ripped and the toes were beat all to hell.