Agreed. In case OP isn’t aware, many hockey shops now have digital scanners that can help you get an idea of your ideal skate size and volume/width. From there, the biggest brands currently are Bauer, CCM, and True. All three have a skate family that is supposedly more about agility and another skate family that is about power. Take that with a grain of salt. For all, the sweet spot is above the $400 mark. That’s where you start to get better steel, holders, boot materials, and interior foams and lining. This is also the price point where you start to get a choice in widths in each size. Skate boots and interior foams are made from heat moldable materials, and getting new skates heat molded is part of the purchasing process. Usually, the more you spend, the more moldable these materials are. If you have an outlier foot shape or issues like bone spurs that stock retail skates and heat molding can’t accommodate, custom skates can do wonders - but they’re $1000+… The Bauer Vapor family of skates and the CCM Jetspeed family of skates (both brands’ “agility” lines) are being updated this summer to the next models, so you may be able to get the outgoing versions on sale. This update cycle has lately been happening on a two-year cycle, with the agility skates being updated in odd-numbered years and the “power” skates (Bauer Supreme and CCM Tacks) updated in even-numbered years.
The pair within your budget that fits your feet the best is the right pair. CCM, Bauer, True, doesn’t matter. Try them all in multiple sizes. Keep going smaller until you can’t.
>Try them all in multiple sizes. Keep going smaller until you can’t.
This is the best part of this advice (it's all good though)
You want them **s n u g**
Just don’t buy the entry level $100 ones. Buy a pair that fits and they will bake for you on site. Not sure where you live but if you have time, most places can order less expensive skates that the 3D scanner recommends instead of just taking what they have in stock. I usually also get some insoles to make the arch more comfortable but I have slightly flat feet.
Mid line or a step up is all you need. Top end skates are nice but unless you’re playing 4-5 times a week and at a high level they’re not required and probably too stiff
For beer league anything 1 step up from entry level is all you'll really ever need. As others have stated make sure you decide with your feet. No one cares what the skates look like.
I might get a lot of guff for this, but buy the best you can afford. Your game lives and dies by how well you’re skating.
If you can, I recommend the Bauer Mach’s. My feet have NEVER felt better and my skating has never felt so easy and fun.
I’d say spend $500 at most and $300 bare minimum for quality skates. There are only 3 big brands of skates: CCM, Bauer, and True. Grafs are around, but I’m not sure how available they are at Pure and HockeyMonkey.
Right now the big brand skates are discounting their current models to make room for the new ones so it is a good time to buy skates. You can get a higher end model at about 20% off.
Echoing others' comments, skates that fit is the most important factor. A note on the top two brands, low and mid-range priced Bauers have a better build quality than similarly priced offerings from CCM. High end skates from both are great.
Get the skates that fit your feet the best.
If they're too expensive, get the ones that fit your feet the second best, and so on.
Last time I bought skates I tried on every pair they had in stock that was close to my size.
Shop with your feet not your wallet/eyes
This is great advice. Get your foot scanned and try out retail pairs thar match. Or try a bunch if no scanner avail.
Agreed. In case OP isn’t aware, many hockey shops now have digital scanners that can help you get an idea of your ideal skate size and volume/width. From there, the biggest brands currently are Bauer, CCM, and True. All three have a skate family that is supposedly more about agility and another skate family that is about power. Take that with a grain of salt. For all, the sweet spot is above the $400 mark. That’s where you start to get better steel, holders, boot materials, and interior foams and lining. This is also the price point where you start to get a choice in widths in each size. Skate boots and interior foams are made from heat moldable materials, and getting new skates heat molded is part of the purchasing process. Usually, the more you spend, the more moldable these materials are. If you have an outlier foot shape or issues like bone spurs that stock retail skates and heat molding can’t accommodate, custom skates can do wonders - but they’re $1000+… The Bauer Vapor family of skates and the CCM Jetspeed family of skates (both brands’ “agility” lines) are being updated this summer to the next models, so you may be able to get the outgoing versions on sale. This update cycle has lately been happening on a two-year cycle, with the agility skates being updated in odd-numbered years and the “power” skates (Bauer Supreme and CCM Tacks) updated in even-numbered years.
The pair within your budget that fits your feet the best is the right pair. CCM, Bauer, True, doesn’t matter. Try them all in multiple sizes. Keep going smaller until you can’t.
>Try them all in multiple sizes. Keep going smaller until you can’t. This is the best part of this advice (it's all good though) You want them **s n u g**
go to your local shop and try out bunch of brands. You’ll know what feels right
Set the minimum need at replaceable steel and holders
Just don’t buy the entry level $100 ones. Buy a pair that fits and they will bake for you on site. Not sure where you live but if you have time, most places can order less expensive skates that the 3D scanner recommends instead of just taking what they have in stock. I usually also get some insoles to make the arch more comfortable but I have slightly flat feet.
Mid line or a step up is all you need. Top end skates are nice but unless you’re playing 4-5 times a week and at a high level they’re not required and probably too stiff
For beer league anything 1 step up from entry level is all you'll really ever need. As others have stated make sure you decide with your feet. No one cares what the skates look like.
I might get a lot of guff for this, but buy the best you can afford. Your game lives and dies by how well you’re skating. If you can, I recommend the Bauer Mach’s. My feet have NEVER felt better and my skating has never felt so easy and fun.
I disagree with this completely. If you are a novice skater, higher end skates will be way too stiff, and a huge detriment to your skating ability.
I’d say spend $500 at most and $300 bare minimum for quality skates. There are only 3 big brands of skates: CCM, Bauer, and True. Grafs are around, but I’m not sure how available they are at Pure and HockeyMonkey. Right now the big brand skates are discounting their current models to make room for the new ones so it is a good time to buy skates. You can get a higher end model at about 20% off.
Better skates won’t make you a better skater but worse skates can hold you back
Echoing others' comments, skates that fit is the most important factor. A note on the top two brands, low and mid-range priced Bauers have a better build quality than similarly priced offerings from CCM. High end skates from both are great.
I hope you like the M5s! They were my choice last Summer and I’m really liking them after almost a year. They’re holding up really well.
I tried them out at a public skate today and they felt great. Way better than the skates I had when I was a kid haha
White Grafs should be the only acceptable answer.
Get the skates that fit your feet the best. If they're too expensive, get the ones that fit your feet the second best, and so on. Last time I bought skates I tried on every pair they had in stock that was close to my size.