Youth Hockey Skates

I need the proper way to size a youth hockey skate and what to look for to achieve an appropriate fit.

I would definitely recommend going to your hockey shop and having them sized properly. There is nothing worse than trying to skate in skates that do not fit. Get them sized to their foot. Do not buy larger skates thinking that they will grow into them. Hockey is expensive, and you will have to be buying skates as the feet grow. However, your child will not grow to love the game if they can't skate because they are wearing the wrong size.

2006-05-06 06:29:55 by mediclawler

Available at icewarehouse.com The Reebok Extendable ice hockey skates are perfect for the little guys out there and learning how to ice skate ...

My son will be turning four next month and I want to start him in a learn-to-play program. Can anyone help me on how to size him for skates?

Thanks

for kids its tricky since they grow so fast, but the rule is a size to size and a half smaller than shoe size. You want to only be able to fit one finger behind the foot with the toes just touching the front. I know that parents want the most time out of the skates but if you go to big it will hamper them. The best bet starting out would be used skates.

Hope this helps

2008-09-10 14:04:32 by Jay

I am a novice hockey dad, is there any special care in taking the ice off the skates after use? Is there a special towel? Do they make blade guards in youth size 11?

I'm glad that you're asking, because I see so many skates that have issues before they really should because of parents who haven't really bothered to figure out what they should do...

Ok, first, DEFINITELY purchase the cloth skate guards. They will keep the steel safe in the bag and will help soak up excess moisture after the skates have been used. They typically come in only "Junior" and "Senior" - there are no specific sizes, just those general ones, as they are stretchy. You'll want Junior ones. Don't purchase the hard plastic ones that are "good" to walk on. They aren't adequate for storage because they don't soak up moisture, the cloth will protect the skates enough in the bag, and every rink has a rubber mat for walking on anyway.

Here's your process at the rink, after removing the skates:
1) Dry off the steel, holder, and rivets keeping it on the boot (doesn't matter what you use, I use an old pair of hockey socks)
2) Put on the cloth skate guards (also called soakers), toss 'em in the bag.
3) When you get home, remove the soakers and let the skates sit in open air until dry. Wipe again if necessary. If the insoles are removable (some youth skates have them glued in), take them out and let them air our separately. This will help to keep moisture off of the rivets where they come through the foot of the boot, and also will keep the boot drier. This will help to ward off the lovely stench of hockey gear. Moisture ruins equipment, and the insides of boots aren't built to resist it like the outsides are.

The third step is what most people miss. If you leave the soakers on, you are keeping the steel in standing water and that is what causes rust.

When your kid is playing, the way that his foot will grow should mean that you'll need a new pair of skates roughly every year (if they were sized properly when they were bought). Many parents don't know what to do to make sure that they get at least that much time out of the skates and end up wasting their money buying a new pair because the old ones broke down!

Youth skates usually have steel that can't be changed, insoles that are glued, and other things that make repair either more difficult or more money than the skates are worth. Follow the incredibly simple steps above and you won't have to worry about anything short of a manufacturer defect.

I hope I've helped!

2009-11-02 06:36:52 by soxrob

Price: $61.99

Carbon Steel Blade
Foam Footbed
Comfort Deluxe Padding

We have recently signed up our 4 year son for beginner ice skating lessons to prepare him for ice hockey in the fall. Last week he used the traditional ice skates, but this week we bought him youth size hockey skates and he used those. What is the best way to train him? Do we start with the tradtional skates until he gets a hang of things and then switch him to the hockey skates, or does it matter? Please give me your opinion.

I am a coach for the younger kids im a figure skater as well. im only 14 but i do know that most of the kids starting out in skating to get to hockey ARE using hockey skates, figure skates have picks [sharp pointy pieces at the top] and hockey skates are curved, when he feels the big difference in that he might not want to move over to the hockey skates because of the fear when he first tryed them cause he wasnt used to them. i am almost certain to put him in hockey skates, but dont go out and buy expensive ones cause he will grow out of them fast. but hockey skates over figure skates if hes interested in hockey..

2008-01-15 17:03:43 by laurie0802

Good choice. CCM tacks are good also.At that age it does't really matter as long as the skate has good support.I wouldn't go overboard on price as at that age they will quickly outgrow them.

2010-11-12 08:41:37 by annie