Kinds of Skates Needed for Beginning Ice Hockey

If you're interested in beginning to play ice hockey, regardless of your age, you'll need a significant amount of equipment. Your skates are important because before you learn to stick handle, shoot and pass, you'll need to know how to skate well. The kind of skates you purchase will depend on your budget and position.

  1. Position

    • Ice hockey skates differ slightly depending on the position played. Goalie skates are the most unique. They are built lower to the ice to allow the goalie to make quick, lateral moves. Goalie skates also have large, plastic toe caps and do not rise as high on the ankle as other skates. The skates of defensemen and forwards are similar but may have a few small differences. A defenseman's skates often have a harder toe cap and more padding around the tongue to help the player block and deflect shots. A forward's skates, on the other hand, may lack some of this additional padding to make them lighter, and thus faster. At basic levels of youth hockey, the skates worn by forwards and defensemen usually are the same.

    Brand

    • Popular brands of skates include Nike Bauer, Reebok, CCM, Easton and Graf. Each of these skate manufacturers produces skates for all levels of hockey. When selecting a skate, it is important not to be too insistent on one certain brand. Because of different companies' advertising, one brand may seem preferable over another. The most important factor when selecting a new skate, however, is its fit. If a skate is a popular brand but fits poorly, you'll have a difficult time performing well.

    Comfort

    • Comfort is important when selecting hockey skates. If you haven't worn skates in the past, don't expect them to feel like a pair of running shoes. While skate comfort has improved dramatically in recent years, skates certainly feel unique. It's important to wear the footwear you will wear during a game when trying on skates. Some players go barefoot, others wear athletic socks and others wear thick, wool socks. Hockey skates are sized slightly different than running shoes, so if you wear a size 10 shoe, don't just assume a size 10 skate will fit. Skate sizing is close to shoe sizing, however, so if you wear a size 10 shoe, you'll likely wear a size eight or a nine skate. When trying on skates, lace them up completely to see how they fit. Once they're tight, wiggle your toes to make sure that your skates aren't too tight. Your feet will get cold and sore if your toes can't move at all. The skate should be tight enough around your ankle that your foot cannot slide forward or backward.

    Price

    • Buying new skates can be a significant investment. The leading hockey skate manufacturers sell regular skates and pro-series skates. The latter are more expensive, but made for high-level players. Regular hockey skates typically begin around $70 for youths and $120 for adults, depending on the brand and where you buy the skates.