Boots should fit like a glove—snug but comfortable—and should hug the feet firmly. Try this six-step fitting process:- Be fitted for skates only at specialty hockey shops. They are knowledgeable about skates and will help you find the skates to best meet your needs.
- When being fitted for new boots, wear the same weight of sock you will wear when skating. A sock of a different weight can change the fit. Do not wear two pairs of socks as this “disconnects” your feet from the boots.
- Before putting your feet into skates, unlace them most of the way. Trying to jam your foot into a boot that is three-quarters laced is an exercise in frustration—your feet just won’t go in and you’ll think the boots are too small.
- When the skates are laced up, there should be a spread of 1.5 to 2 inches between the eyelets on the same row. If the laces are closer together than this, the boots are too wide for your feet and your ankles will cave inward when skating. If you heels slip or you can lift them the skates are too long.
- Your toes should come up to the fronts of the boots but should not be pinched or curled up on one another.
- Boots should fit snugly at the insteps and across the balls of the feet. If you can move your feet sideways within the boots, they are too wide. If you can lift your heels when you lean forward, the boots are too long.
Other skate-fitting tips include:
- Today’s skates tend to be extremely stiff and difficult to break in. High-level players who skate hard and wear them for hours at a time prefer stiff boots because they last longer. But youngsters, small adults, females and recreational skaters will have a hard time breaking them in. These skaters should consider a brand or model this is a bit less stiff.
- Another option is to buy secondhand skates that are in good condition. It’s better to have good-quality used skates than poor-quality new skates. When choosing used skates, be sure the blades are in good condition and not sharpened down excessively. Many hockey shops carry used skates. Hockey associations often hold skate swaps, usually at the beginning of the hockey season.
- It’s fine to wear corrective orthotics in your skates—they will improve your balance and performance. But the size of the boots must accommodate the orthotics so bring them along when being fitted for new skates.
- Skate sizes usually differ from street shoe sizes and from one brand to another. Each manufacturer builds boots on a different mold, so one brand might fit well but others might not.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Laura Stamm of Laura Stamm Power Skating for this story.
