How to Fit Hockey Skates
Fitting hockey skates is very important to the prospective hockey player. Since they are very expensive, it is not wise to buy skates that are big and figure that the young player will grow into them. The most important thing is feel and comfort. The skater must be able to feel the ice under his feet and the fit must be supportive and comfortable.
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Instructions
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Forget what you may have heard about hockey skates in the past. You do not want to put on two or three pairs of warm socks when you wear hockey skates. Instead, you want to wear the thinnest socks that still protect your feet because you want to have the sensation of feeling the ice beneath your feet. Former Boston Bruin defenseman and Hall of Famer Bobby Orr skated without any socks because it gave him greater control when skating.
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Put on the skates you want to try. Your heel should sit in the back of the skate firmly without wobbling around. The widest part of your foot should feel snug in the skate without being squeezed. There should be about 1/4 inch of daylight between your big toe and the front of your skate.
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Stand up in your skates after you lace them up. Bend forward so that your knees are over your toes. Your feet will shift in the skates. If your toes hit the front of the skate, they are too small and you need a bigger size. If they do not, you have the right size.
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Leave the skates on for about 15 minutes before you take them off. If the sides of your feet feel as if they are being pinched, you will need wider skates. Check with the sales rep to see if they have the same size skates in a larger width.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't worry that your skate size is a bit smaller than your shoe size. You want the skates to fit snugly.
Don't buy skates for a young player with the idea that they will grow into them.
