What to look for in Ice Skates (first timer)

[Mysteek]

Not totally sure if it belongs in this forum, but it seemed fitting.

I'm about to go out and purchase my first pair of skates. With that said I have no experience in skating, nor do I know what to look for, for my first purchase.

Would it be unbearably uncomfortable if I cheaped out and bought the cheapest pair I could find that fits me? Or better yet--is there a cheaper, better alternative than going to Sport Chek?

Any words of advice would greatly benefit me, thanks for your time RFD!

[steve-0101]

Not totally sure if it belongs in this forum, but it seemed fitting.

I'm about to go out and purchase my first pair of skates. With that said I have no experience in skating, nor do I know what to look for, for my first purchase.

Would it be unbearably uncomfortable if I cheaped out and bought the cheapest pair I could find that fits me? Or better yet--is there a cheaper, better alternative than going to Sport Chek?

Any words of advice would greatly benefit me, thanks for your time RFD!

Do yourself a favor and at the very least go get fitted at a hockey store (Just Hockey, Hockey Life, etc... Sportchek may even do it). At least then you'll know what to buy, whether or not you buy them there. Do not buy the cheapest skates around - but you also don't need to buy the best either. You will want them to be comfortable or your feet will ache in them.

Note that you can expect to be on average 2 sizes smaller in skates. ie. I'm a 11-12 shoe but a 9-10 skate.

Good luck.

[Stock R]

Your number one concern is comfort. If you're in pain, you won't want to skate.

Get the cheapest pair of skates that are comfortable and can be "baked" to customize the fit to your feet (to a certain extent). Ignore brands and looks. Higher end skates can actually be detrimental to you as they have stiff boots for powerful skaters with tree trunk legs.

Go in to a store. Get fitted. Wear the socks you plan on wearing when you're skating (thin). All brands except Mission will have you go down about 2 sizes.

If you're not going to play hockey ever, consider buying comfort skates which are basically soft boot inline skate style skates.

[poedua]

Do yourself a favor and at the very least go get fitted at a hockey store (Just Hockey, Hockey Life, etc... Sportchek may even do it). At least then you'll know what to buy, whether or not you buy them there. Do not buy the cheapest skates around - but you also don't need to buy the best either. You will want them to be comfortable or your feet will ache in them.

Note that you can expect to be on average 2 sizes smaller in skates. ie. I'm a 11-12 shoe but a 9-10 skate.

Good luck.

+`1

[skwigglyline]

I'm assuming you mean hockey skates, I don't know about the other kinds.... but in regards to comfort, its hard to know until you're actually skating in them, just make sure they're nice and snug around your foot and ankle.

Any store rep should know the basics to help you, just let them know your budget. If you skate frequently, you'll probably end up buying a new pair within a year or two. Also on a side note, once you get them baked or sharpened you can't return them.

If you have any friends within a similar foot size, consider borrowing their skates to test/try.

[steve-0101]

If you skate frequently, you'll probably end up buying a new pair within a year or two.

I disagree. Spend the time buying the right skates and hopefully you won't have to replace them for a very long time. I bought my first pair about 8 years ago, and I dread the day I have to replace them as it took a long time to get them worked in to where they are now.

[Stock R]

I disagree. Spend the time buying the right skates and hopefully you won't have to replace them for a very long time. I bought my first pair about 8 years ago, and I dread the day I have to replace them as it took a long time to get them worked in to where they are now.

Well, durability probably has a lot to do with the build quality of the skates themselves and how you use/treat them.

I'm on my 4th year of my current skates and the boot is still holding up pretty well. I use to play hockey 2x per week. Dropped down to 1 game per week now.

I know some people prefer not to wear socks and their liners breakdown a lot quicker just due to sweat. Otherwise the holders and a lot of the other parts can always be replaced.

[ugly]

but in regards to comfort, its hard to know until you're actually skating in them
Yeah, buying skates is a pretty difficult thing to do. You can have them baked and walk around the store in them, but you really won't know for sure how they will feel after you've been skating in them for an hour. And, even if you get them baked the skates might still take a few weeks before they really start to break in for you.

For a first timer you may want to look into getting a pair of used skates. It's cheaper and used skates are already broken in so they shouldn't be as stiff as a new pair. Then if you later decide to buy a nice new pair you'll at least have a bit of reference in what to look for.

[Stock R]

For a first timer you may want to look into getting a pair of used skates. It's cheaper and used skates are already broken in so they shouldn't be as stiff as a new pair. Then if you later decide to buy a nice new pair you'll at least have a bit of reference in what to look for.

I would advise against. Used skates are broken in... for someone else's foot. You don't want to buy skates that have been heat molded to fit someone else.

Not to mention sharing hockey feet sweat. Eeks!

[Mysteek]

Thanks for all the input thus far!

And nope, this won't be for hockey--I just want to try new winter activities and learning to skate in general is one of them. (The other activities being snowboarding and skiing, which seem relatively more expensive to invest into equipment for).

[Stock R]

Thanks for all the input thus far!

And nope, this won't be for hockey--I just want to try new winter activities and learning to skate in general is one of them. (The other activities being snowboarding and skiing, which seem relatively more expensive to invest into equipment for).

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/2/HockeyIce/Skates/PRDOVR~0833603P/Reebok+BOA+Skate%2C+Men%27s.jsp?locale=en

Get something like that. Comfy. Warm. Not figure skates. DONE!

[phomp]

Higher end skates can actually be detrimental to you as they have stiff boots for powerful skaters with tree trunk legs.

All brands except Mission will have you go down about 2 sizes.



I have a really nice pair of Graf's that I now have this exact problem with. I have skated in most of the brands out there and wanted to try Graf so I got a pair and while they are the most comfortable boot I have worn and the smoothest skate I have had - they are heavier than most of their counterparts and stiffer (which I wanted as my last pair was lacking the boot support I wanted). Being a small player, these skates are not for me and I would only recommend them for heavier/powerful skaters. They are differently a different feel than everything else on the market.

These are the only skates that I ever had that actually made a signifigant impact on my game/skating ability, and not for the better. I have found my skating is smoother but I have lost a lot of speed. For the level I play at, the speed I had would be better to have. Grafs are good for the powerful strong skaters, not the small guys who are trying to move.

Mission is no longer making skates anyways. I haven't even seen many pairs around on clearance, hard to come across in the local stores (most didn't carry them to begin with). Mission was suppose to match shoe size at one time, when I used to sell hockey skates we had one of those sizing charts that you put on your foot to see your size, we had one for hockey boots and for shoes, the one for shoes was specifically because of Mission. Mission was under-rated, imo. I had a few pairs and loved them, they always went on clearance cheap and quickly so the top end pair would cost $199 by the next season/release while its counterparts were generally $350-399 by that time. Some online retailers have some left on clearance and I am sure there are pairs left around.

/post that didn't really give the OP any help:)

gl op!

[Stock R]

I have a really nice pair of Graf's that I now have this exact problem with. I have skated in most of the brands out there and wanted to try Graf so I got a pair and while they are the most comfortable boot I have worn and the smoothest skate I have had - they are heavier than most of their counterparts and stiffer (which I wanted as my last pair was lacking the boot support I wanted). Being a small player, these skates are not for me and I would only recommend them for heavier/powerful skaters. They are differently a different feel than everything else on the market.


Grafs have always had a heavy boot though that is built solid that people seem to love. I'd like to try a pair but not willing to pay the price.

I'm debating now whether I want to get a pair of nice high end skates (dirt cheap) and put myself in your position -> small player - stiff boot. I'm 5'7", 150lbs which for hockey standards is puny. I have tree trunk legs but my overall leg power obviously doesn't compare to a 200lb guy. I have 0 stick handling skills so it's important I get skates that work for me since that's where I pull my weight for the team...

[Nettles]

When you try on your skate then stand up straight and bend your legs/angles a bit sideways back and forth. This is to make sure that the inside sides of your skate don't dig into your skin otherwise it can hurt especially when you're playing hockey (in regular skating you're not really turning or digging into the ice much).

Also, you might wanna go to an arena and just rent skates if you haven't done it before to get an idea of how they feel so you'll get a better idea of what you want when you buy them. Pretty cheap to rent skates for one session.

[shannn]

This kind of applies to the OP, but what are everyone's thoughts on BOA skates? Canadian Tire sells BOA system skates by Reebok and I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on those?

I used to figure skate and play hockey, and the one thing I always hated was lacing up my skates (with Boa system, you just need to twist a nob and the skate tightens uniformly). I know you get less precision in terms of how tight the skate can be (i.e. it is uniform tightness everywhere, can't make it tighter in a specific area), but anyone have any experiences with them?

Boa snowboard boots are awesome, but I don't know how well they translate into skates...Also, anyone ever purchase them? I only see them at Canadian Tire, but are they sold anywhere else?

They look like this:
http://images.canadianlisted.com/nlarge/reebok-boa-skate-mens-size-7_4636269.jpg

[phomp]

Grafs have always had a heavy boot though that is built solid that people seem to love. I'd like to try a pair but not willing to pay the price.

I'm debating now whether I want to get a pair of nice high end skates (dirt cheap) and put myself in your position -> small player - stiff boot. I'm 5'7", 150lbs which for hockey standards is puny. I have tree trunk legs but my overall leg power obviously doesn't compare to a 200lb guy. I have 0 stick handling skills so it's important I get skates that work for me since that's where I pull my weight for the team...

Of the popular brands, Graf has always been the odd ball in the hockey skate industry, imo. They have the worst customer service in the business, I haven't had the misfortune of dealing with them but I have heard plenty of stories.

The boot is pretty solid, but whenever I take a puck off the boot, it doesn't feel any different than any other skate I have had. It is stiffer which I love. For a small guy, they are to get moving (compared to my other skates), smooth as hell, but they have slowed me down noticeably. You need to be a big strong solid skater and these skates are awesome. For smaller speedy guys, not so much.

A stiff boot could still be fine, as long as they fit well and are not to heavy (top end Graf's are still heavy), the style of the Graf boot is different as well. I have had stiff skates (stiff boot) and had no problem. This was a Graf specific issue. The old Nike Quest skates had a stiff boot, my first pair of high end skates (Mission Amp Flyweight) back when I started playing again, were pretty stiff. No issues. The Graf's even changed the way I skate, no other skate has done this.

Plus Graf's come with the awful cobra blades/holder, I couldn't even skate on that, had to put tuuk's on them just to be able to use them. If they are not graf's and they are a good deal - for your body type/skating type Id say go for it!

[Stock R]

If they are not graf's and they are a good deal - for your body type/skating type Id say go for it!

Well, I went for it and ordered yesterday. Ordered a pair of Mission NME Nine-1's from 2009 last night online. Trying to find a pair of Missions in 2011 in store to try sizing was quite the ordeal but I actually succeeded!

http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm347/jboucicaut/NME-1.jpg

[golfer]

Well, I went for it and ordered yesterday. Ordered a pair of Mission NME Nine-1's from 2009 last night online. Trying to find a pair of Missions in 2011 in store to try sizing was quite the ordeal but I actually succeeded!

http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm347/jboucicaut/NME-1.jpg

Looks like a nice pair of skates...i thought they stopped making mission i.e. Bauer bought them.
I had an old pair of Mission that i really liked until my blades broke. I replaced the blades but it was never the same. Bought a new Bauer X50 this year and I like them although the wear and tear looks awful...but then again i'm playing more hockey now.

[Stock R]

Looks like a nice pair of skates...i thought they stopped making mission i.e. Bauer bought them.
I had an old pair of Mission that i really liked until my blades broke. I replaced the blades but it was never the same. Bought a new Bauer X50 this year and I like them although the wear and tear looks awful...but then again i'm playing more hockey now.

Yup. They were bought out. I got them as new old stock. Can't wait to try em out...

[phomp]

Yup. They were bought out. I got them as new old stock. Can't wait to try em out...
I still believe Mission makes roller-skates, they have always been kind of big/more popular on that side.

The NME series was made right before they were bought out. There is some still floating around for sale on various internet retailers and to be honest, I would love to try out a pair. I had a pair of Mission L7's for a while, the steel and adjustable runner was awesome! The boot was comfortable and the skates were light as hell.

Mission was always under-rated imo, which worked for me because I liked them and because of how under-rated they were they were always cheaper to get on clearance.

Let us know how you like the skates. Were they expensive to get here? I am thinking of trying out a pair... After my L-7's I was going to get another pair of Missions but the Fuel series did not float my boat and that is when I got the Graf's I have now. I hate them though, so these could be awesome for me...

[Stock R]

The NME series was made right before they were bought out. There is some still floating around for sale on various internet retailers and to be honest, I would love to try out a pair. I had a pair of Mission L7's for a while, the steel and adjustable runner was awesome! The boot was comfortable and the skates were light as hell.

Let us know how you like the skates. Were they expensive to get here? I am thinking of trying out a pair...

That's exactly it. My now obsolete t-blades needed replacing and stupid me didn't think of just replacing the holder/runners and I saw the NME Nine-1's on hockeymonkey.com . They had a coupon code (off main page but might still be valid- SNDMISSION40 i think) for 40% off all clearance mission skates/sticks/gloves. Worked out to be $169!!!They arrive at my US shipping address next week. Will let you know how they are... Top tier skates for <$200 was hard to pass up, even if i'm not at that skill level.

Otherwise I had to do some digging as it seems the NME line was only semi-released because it was right at the buy out time. THere's a big thread on modsquad with people talking about their anticipated release at the time.

[owenator]

to purchase the right skate. A good pair of skates, even as a recreational skater may last you up to 15 years. I play in quite a few recreational hockey leagues, and play pick-up hockey twice a week, not to mention the fact that I instruct ice skating for young children. As an adult, you are obviously not going to grow anymore, and thus, the reason to invest both time and money to pick up a pair of good skates - assuming, that you are going to in fact, skate enough times to use them. If you plan on using them to actually play ice hockey, then I'd say $150-$250 is a good amount to spend. If it's strictly for recreational ice skating, you should be able to find something decent within the $100 - $150 range. What you should be looking for is something that is comfortable, even when doing your fitting. Things to look for is, the flexibility of the boot and if you are experiencing tightness in your ankle or any part of the foot. Typically, you need to purchase a skate ONE size down from your regular shoe size primarily because of the fact that there is a need for more flexibility of your skates and you need to make sure that it is a snug fit to be able to perform these moves. They also have sizes that compensate for different types of wider feet, such as D, or E sizes. If you are flat footed, you may have to purchase a custom made in-sole to compensate for the arches of the boot. A couple of good brand names that you should look out for are: Bauer, Easton, and CCM. Only because they've been producing skates much longer than the other manufacturers, unless you intend on purchasing figure skates. Molded skates or skates with tension buckles, are an absolute no-no for adults, simply because you have better balance than a child would. You are far better off with regular adult skates and the transition from these types of skates to an ice hockey skate would be a bit of a shock (due to the versatility of a hockey skate). I personally wouldn't recommend SportChek, only because they over price their skates and their staff are typically not knowledgeable in their products. I would actually visit Goalie Haven (Bloor and Jane St.), Just Hockey aka Source for Sports, Majer Hockey (Dufferin and Finch) - presuming you live in Toronto. Message me if you have any further questions.

[phomp]

I would actually visit Goalie Haven (Bloor and Jane St.), Just Hockey aka Source for Sports, Majer Hockey (Dufferin and Finch) - presuming you live in Toronto. Message me if you have any further questions.

Source for Sports (Dukes in my area) have always been quite expensive. Most of the stores mentioned above have a good used selection as well but timing is everything. Majer hockey has always been my personal favorite.

I bought my Graf's off ebay from Goalie Haven. I pick them up in store (they come sharpened). First time I go to use them I fall over and cant skate. I had to leave the game. I'm thinking wtf is with the skates and then I take them to another store. They ask me where I had them sharpened and they start laughing because it "was the worst hack job sharpening skates ever" and they wondered if they were playing a joke on me....

One skate was done backwards (who ever sharpened it put it through the machine backwards) and the other skate had a goalie cut on the blade.... I will never have work done at that place again....

Wow, that is an awesome price for the NME, if I had an american address I'd be all over it at that price.