The most essential piece of ice hockey gear you can own are the skates you put on your feet. The wrong ones can prevent you from covering enough ground with speed or agility while the right skates will allow you to play at your ultimate best. There are several factors to consider when picking a pair of skates such as your budget, size of your feet, experience level and the shape of your feet.
You will find many manufacturers with a vast array of models and price ranges to suit your needs. Your own common sense may tell you to buy the best skates you can afford, this is not always the best indicator however. The pros favor skates that are stiff but for the beginner this can become counterproductive since stiff skates restrict movement ad can be uncomfortable. You should, therefore, look for skates that are suitable for your current level of experience and ability.
Despite this it is always wise to try on ice hockey skates before you buy them unless you are extremely familiar with the style and brand. Don't make the decision to buy online, no matter how wonderful the bargain may seem, until you've at least tried the skate on in a local store. That way, if it fits properly you can always go back online and order it. It's possible to return purchases made online with many vendors but this process takes time and can cost valuable shipping fees. On the other hand, if you're a beginner, you may not really be able to tell how well your skates fit until you've played in them for a while, so trying them on won't necessarily help you that much.
If you want to save money on your ice hockey skates you can try to find a good used pair, but you have to be careful with this approach. The blades of skates need very specialized care including frequent sharpening and the occasional replacement. Replacing the steel can be almost as costly as buying a new pair of skates.
Therefore skates that have been heavily used are not really worth buying. You should also understand that new skates can be broken in to your foot but used skates were broken in by someone else and aren't likely to feel comfortable on your feet as a result. You may just decide that your deal is a better idea to pass up unless it's an exceptional bargain.
Putting on a pair of skates for the first time is unlike many other things you will have experienced. These skates will not feel right on your feet from the very beginning in most situations. Just remember that this isn't exactly a natural activity; it will take time to feel natural to you. At first, your skates should feel somewhat tight. After they've been properly laced they will begin to feel tighter still. As you break them in, they will begin to feel more comfortable. If the skates aren't painful to the point of limiting mobility or cutting off circulation it's wise to allow them the opportunity to be broken in naturally.
A beginner might not fully recognize the distinct type of skate and the fact that they are not interchangeable with other types of skates. Hockey is a rough sport that you must be aware of the risks in. Your skates need to be able to stand up to the brutality of the game and the hits they may take from sticks or pucks. This is the primary reason to have skates formulated to the sport.
Keep these things in mind and they'll help you choose a better pair of skates. For hockey players this is only one of many skills that will need to be developed over time.
There are more hockey skates available in the market today than ever before. Your needs will be different according to your experience on the ice, the size and shape of your foot, and the position you'll be playing. Keep these things in mind as you look for skates and you'll be sure to find skates that will bring your game to new levels.
You will find many manufacturers with a vast array of models and price ranges to suit your needs. Your own common sense may tell you to buy the best skates you can afford, this is not always the best indicator however. The pros favor skates that are stiff but for the beginner this can become counterproductive since stiff skates restrict movement ad can be uncomfortable. You should, therefore, look for skates that are suitable for your current level of experience and ability.
Despite this it is always wise to try on ice hockey skates before you buy them unless you are extremely familiar with the style and brand. Don't make the decision to buy online, no matter how wonderful the bargain may seem, until you've at least tried the skate on in a local store. That way, if it fits properly you can always go back online and order it. It's possible to return purchases made online with many vendors but this process takes time and can cost valuable shipping fees. On the other hand, if you're a beginner, you may not really be able to tell how well your skates fit until you've played in them for a while, so trying them on won't necessarily help you that much.
If you want to save money on your ice hockey skates you can try to find a good used pair, but you have to be careful with this approach. The blades of skates need very specialized care including frequent sharpening and the occasional replacement. Replacing the steel can be almost as costly as buying a new pair of skates.
Therefore skates that have been heavily used are not really worth buying. You should also understand that new skates can be broken in to your foot but used skates were broken in by someone else and aren't likely to feel comfortable on your feet as a result. You may just decide that your deal is a better idea to pass up unless it's an exceptional bargain.
Putting on a pair of skates for the first time is unlike many other things you will have experienced. These skates will not feel right on your feet from the very beginning in most situations. Just remember that this isn't exactly a natural activity; it will take time to feel natural to you. At first, your skates should feel somewhat tight. After they've been properly laced they will begin to feel tighter still. As you break them in, they will begin to feel more comfortable. If the skates aren't painful to the point of limiting mobility or cutting off circulation it's wise to allow them the opportunity to be broken in naturally.
A beginner might not fully recognize the distinct type of skate and the fact that they are not interchangeable with other types of skates. Hockey is a rough sport that you must be aware of the risks in. Your skates need to be able to stand up to the brutality of the game and the hits they may take from sticks or pucks. This is the primary reason to have skates formulated to the sport.
Keep these things in mind and they'll help you choose a better pair of skates. For hockey players this is only one of many skills that will need to be developed over time.
There are more hockey skates available in the market today than ever before. Your needs will be different according to your experience on the ice, the size and shape of your foot, and the position you'll be playing. Keep these things in mind as you look for skates and you'll be sure to find skates that will bring your game to new levels.
About the Author:
This author is an up-north semi-retired writer who likes writing articles about outdoors issues for sites including www.hockeyequipmentguide.com.
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