How to ACTUALLY fit hockey skates! Yours are probably too big!
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
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0:00 What is in this video
2:29 My history of skates & my fit
3:56 How people get fit incorrectly
8:05 3 different types of length fits
9:58 Look at imprints on your insoles!
11:19 Relaxed fit is my recommendation
13:00 My Producer's fit story
14:29 Problem w/ inconsistent skate sizes
16:05 Why are the recommended sizes SO off?
19:31 How to fit when trying on skates
27:08 What NOT to do!
28:43 You STILL have to try skates ON
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First date - "Those skates are too big for you I'm fixing this"
This is not THAT far off haha
Sir, thanks to you I have now the best fitted skates ever. I skated for 20y+ in half to full size bigger skates and didn’t realize until I watched your video. Thank you!
Glad you have something that works now!
This is the best skate sizing video period. Everyone uses the conventional 1.5 or 2 sizes lower compared to shoes but really it's about heal lock and skating position feel vs anything else. I did the Bauer foot scan at Pro Hockey Life and they had me in a 10 skate. I'm an 11 shoe. I told the guy I've never worn anything bigger than a 9 in my skate and even those were pretty loose. I opted for a Bauer Vapor 9 in a D size and eventually they were too big for me after they were worn in. Dropped down to an 8.5 and now they fit perfect! But 8.5 for me is snug.
Glad you got something that works
There is this incredible obsession from hockey players to think that the tighter/smaller, the better. This does not equal a better fit.
@@alexanderh.999 if you watch this video, and are still pretend you are in the right size skate there is nothing anyone can do to change your mind. But yes, the tightest and smallest size you can get your foot into is the best fit for hockey skates. It is all about removing negative space.
@@HockeyReviewsand creating bunyons for yourself over time apparently
I just wanted to say I just watched your video a couple weeks ago, super happy I did. Thank you!
I got back out on the ice about 2 months ago. It’s been about at least nine years.
I never remembered my feet hurting so much in my skates, granted I was younger. Blah blah blah.
Fast forward to watching your videos, i sized my skates on your recommendation on how to size. I went to my local skate shop with what you had said in mind. Found I was a whole size and a half to big. Before spending money on a brand new pair that might still not work. I decided to buy a used pair on Facebook to see how a seven would fit. Absolutely perfect.
I now have been back out on the ice half a dozen times zero pain in the feet.
I’m so happy I found the video and as well your channel.
Now it’s time to go buy some new skates!! Thank you!
Glad this helped!
Good stuff Matt. My shoe size is 8 1/2 and I have always worn size 6 skates. I first tweak the fit (eliminate negative space) with socks, going with the thinnest possible sock. I bake them once or twice. I have a pro shop punch out the boot for my right foot little toe and I put foam adhesive pads in the top of my toe caps. I use and highly recommend Form Ultra Thin heat moldable insoles. Superfeet take up too much volume for me. It takes a few sessions to get totally dialed in but that’s what works for me.
Always good to hear other opinions on skate fit. I wear a size 13 shoe but size 9 Bauer vapor or 9.5 ccm skate.
I am not quite sure how people are actually do it without hurting their feet.
One of my foot is 30,3 cm. I bought some inline skates (Powerslide HC Evo Pro to be precise) size EU 46 (Mondopoint 29,6 cm). I had to return them, because they were to short.
For ice hockey skates I had the Bauer Vapor x1.0 size 46 or 47 (can't remember actually) but after years I got a blue toe out of them.
So how can you downsize 4 sizes? What is your mondopoint? It is like 2 cm difference and that seems to be very fishy.
@@klerkusmaximus The only way this makes sense is if they wear shoes that are technically way too big in their regular shoes 😂
Im a size 13 in shoes and wear a 10.5 EE in Vapors, if I recall correctly I had been wearing a size 11 or 11.5 D skates since I was 17/18 years old, up until I got properly fitted at a proshop a couple years ago.
I never wouldve even looked at a 10.5 EE, if I hadnt been recommended them... I thought for sure the dude was fitting me wrong but sure enough they were right.
There was a hot spot or two near the balls of my feet but a skate bake made all the world of difference and really did help mold the skate to my foot and I also use the the yellow superfeet insoles in my skates.
Bauer specs recommend 10.5 EE for a size 12 shoe.
I'm a 12.5-13 in most shoes and fit a 10.5 vapor. Tried a size 10 and my right foot which is slightly larger was jammed even when locked in the heel pocket. Not sure how some people are going down 4 full sizes.
So I started to play goalie a few months ago in size 5 Reebok skates I found new on SidelineSwap. They however don't feel right. I also have an old pair of Bauer Vapor player skates I wore once and always thought were too small. They're a size 3. I just realized they might not be as small as I thought... Thanks for your video. Super informative and helpful as always!
Skeptical about the title at first, u hit the nail on the head tho. Spoke facts about how skates are supposed to fit
Toe box is always a problem for me. My little toe is only a half inch or so shy of my big toe and I typically wear a EEEE width normally. Last set of semi-comfortable skate boots I had were an old set of CCM Kevlar10EE and Bauer Pro Comp 10.5EE. Was fitted with a Bauer Supreme 9EE (baked) and told repeatedly how it was perfect... I've since rendered 3 different toes bleeding and a broken small toe from those boots. Have been interested in the True if they can accommodate a decent toe box config but CCM custom may end up in my future if not.
Thanks so much for this video. We only have a small rink pro shop in our area, and we’ve had mixed experiences with skate fittings for our family. The first time we bought skates for my daughter she clearly got fit by someone who knew what they were doing. We went in a few weeks ago for skates for my husband and I, and it was a new guy. I told him the pair he was trying to sell me felt really loose and roomy, and he said it was supposed to feel that way. I didn’t know any better at the time. Yikes. I wish I had seen this video sooner! I’ve since measured my feet myself, and I think I’m in a skate that’s 1.5 to 2 sizes too big.
I had to get skates again recently after my ones from ~13 years ago finally crapped out. I wear a 12 shoe and had 9.5 skates previously, but the store only had 10s. I tried them for a week or two, and they just didn't feel quite right. Felt like they were just a little loose. Went back down to 9.5, and instantly they felt perfect again. I was pretty baffled by the shoe size on the tags for them; it made me think I must be weird and like a really small skate or something. Glad to know I'm not alone!
I really wish they just didn't put a shoe size on them...
love this video!! Explains so much! Now if skate companies would stock EE or Fit 3 that would be great lol
Thank you for posting such a detailed video. I am fairly rural and at least 4 hours from the nearest dealer. I've been talking with a Bauer representative and may have order 4-5 skates and eat the return shipping fees but try them on at home. I also have an accessory navicular and hope to size for new skates this year with a medial heel wedge with my superfeet to rotate the foot a bit away from the pronator collapse even more. My feet measure 285mm from heel to long toe. Attached is a picture of my superfeet in Supreme 9.5D. I can easily put a pen behind my heel with my second and big toe brushing the end. I'd appreciate your opinion, but should I try 8.5 and 9.0 in the test order? My width is probably Fit 1 in 9.5, but thinking about ordering Fit 1 and Fit 2 in both Vapor and Supremes to try them on side by side. If you have thoughts, I'd very much appreciate it to hope to order 4 skates for initial side-by-side comparison.
Thanks for a very informative video . I just got a part time job at a hockey shop . They have a scanner which is helpful for starting the process but your info is invaluable. I'm assuming your advice is pertaining to all skates , goalie and player . Correct ?
The other thing I learned is that higher end skates don't come with the blade . The person gets to choose what type of blade they want . Which is another decision seeing that there's different types of blades . Maybe that's a topic you can cover in the future. Thanks again for sharing.
Yeah, this works for a skate fit for players and goalies.
Blades is WAY too much personal preference and really just how much people are willing to spend. So I don't think I would do a specific "Which blades to buy" video or anything.
Matt this video was amazingly helpful and got me in the right size skate going from a size 6 Vapor 2x to a size 5 ultrasonic and have never been more pleased with a skate
Glad you found a skate that works for you!
Nice video! I had to learn the hard way, but now I have skates that are my size and baked to my feet.👍
Glad you have got a good fitting pair now!
Thank you very much for the detailed information and leaving out the boilerplate marketing speech in your videos. I absolutely agree that the toes seem to come back a little once you tie down the heel back into the skate and then bend your knees forward. Do you have any tips for players struggling to get into the skate due to high arches? I have to either use longer laces or remove the laces from the top two eyelets to be able to get in and out of the skate. This way, I can push the tongue forward enough to get in or out of the skate.
I have rarely seen where proper fitting skates can be removed easily WITHOUT taking the lace out of the top 2 eyelets. Every skate I wear I ensure I pull those out, you don't want to have to force your feet out of the skates and put any pressure on the tendon guard.
Easier to put my feet in as well, but then I have to put laces in from under the tongue once they are on.
@@HockeyReviews Makes sense. That's what I did before, but found it troublesome to get the laces through the top eyelets again on my ccm ft4s while wearing them. My lazy hack is extra long laces 😁. A big plus of tight fitting skates is that I barely have to tie them.
Killer info here and Im finding it at the perfect time. About to go grab some of the new Jetspeed skates and the customer experience at my local shop greatly varies based on who is working. I did all of your tests on my current skates and was happy to see its correct. Im scheduling time with the same guy who fitted me last time and Im curious to see how many of these checks he does. I do remember doing the pen on the heel check.
Hope the next fit went well!
Hey do you find that the new hyperlites fit long? Ie if you were in a 7 vapor or ccm you have to size down?
Great video. I’m also a size 10.5 / 11 shoe and over the years I have downsized my skate size from a store recommended 9 to a size 8. I’ve also replaced the insoles with super feet but didn’t notice much of a difference. I recently did buy a pair of prostock true skates at hockey supremacy and insisted on a size 8. The salesperson wanted to sell me an 8.5 but they were too long after they baked them. Actually even with the size 8 my feet move slightly but I beleive that the skate boot has slightly more volume than my previous Bauer Mach skates. I opted for more superfeet insoles but foot still moves enough to bother me. I currently use two insoles in each skate. The superfeet and the original true insoles on top. Skate is nice and snug now and foot doesn’t move at all. However with more breakin time I would suspect it will get loosened up a bit. Any suggestions. ? Also. Where are you located. Canada or USa. Perhaps next time I need a pair of skates I will visit you for a better fit. Thanks.
I just went with a 8.5 in True, but sort of wish I did go with 8, but I think the 8.5 will give a little comfort. I hear you...once you start skating, you want them as snug as possible without pain. One struggle is my left (like many people) is about a 1/4 size smaller than my right. If I could, I'd by a 8.5 right, 8.0 left. 19:38 has great info on how to try on in store.
So I watched this the other week and I’ve been following the 1.5 size down from street shoe since the 90’s. Did a Bauer 3D foot scan recommended me 3 sizes down. It’s snug and a great length going of what you said. I have for the last pair of skates I got felt they were a little too clunky and I felt disconnected especially after a season. Time will tell how the smaller size fits long term.
Sounds about right. I wear 11 running shoes and 8 or 8.5 EEs.
Thank you for this video. I thought I was in the right size (13 running shoe in a 10 skate). This video made me question that, and I ended up moving down a whole size to a 9. So much better! What I found is you need to try on a skate that is definitively too small to find the right size. Even the Bauer foot scanner had me in a half size too big.
Glad this video helped! Bauer scanner has never fit my foot correctly once, so I totally understand.
I'm a shoe size 10.5 got fitted with 9.5 now wearing 7.5 appreciate the video.
Thanks for watching!
I wished I would have seen this video years and years ago... decades. I'm a size 9 shoes and for the longest I thought I was a size 8 after this guy fitted me. My feet always hurt and I kept trying everything possible to tie my skate tighter because it felt off, it's hard to explain. Well fast forward to this year and having ankle and foot surgery, the doctor said I could skate lightly. Well all I had was goalie skates so I needed a pair of player skates for more support, came close to pulling the trigger on pair of True F7s, online, but everyone kept saying the sizing was way off. Then looking for reviews I saw your how to fit skates (I always watch your goalie stuff) and you showed the insert and how the toes were almost at the edge. I went to the garage, pulled out the inserts and I had any where from 3/4s of an inch to 1 1/4 inch of space. I basically just sat there and giggled in shock/disbelief/anger, I had a pair of skates barely a year and a half old that I spend lots of money on and twice I had been sized wrong. Instead of going off the 1.5 size smaller guide I followed your advice and drove from Seattle to Vancouver, BC. Cheaper exchange rate and the people there have been really helpful. Took off my shoes and socks and told him I was a size 8, but I was thinking it may be wrong after seeing your video He took one look at my foot and said "dude, you are not an 8; I think you are a 7, maybe even smaller. I told myself, no way. He measured my foot and it said 6. If you only knew what was going through my head. He brought out a 6 and 6.5. Put the 6 on and could feel my toes barely feather the box and I was in disbelief. They were a bit snug (something the baking would help with), but most important they felt great. I was 2 sizes SMALLER than my skate and 3 smaller than my shoe. Best of all it was an Intermediate size skate so I saved even more money! Now just waiting for the ankle swelling to go away before getting those Konects, except now I have a valid reason for buying new skates. THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Glad it helped and you are now in skates that will fit you!
Thank you! I wear a 8.5 to 9 in a street shoe. I bought a pair of 7 skates earlier this year because that's what the guy at my local hockey shop put me in. This was after spending over an hour trying on different skates. I went back after this video and was able to fit in a 6 wide. I asked him why he steered me to a 7 and never suggested anything lower and he said that he has given up on trying to convince people that they need a smaller skate. I wish I had seen this sooner, it would have saved me about $400!
That's interesting. I'm in a 7ee for CCM, the wides feel good, I don't think a shorter wide would fit.
Nailed it! ... I rock size 10.5 shoes and size 8 bauer vapors
I have several pair of inline skates and just ordered my first pair of hockey skates a week ago. Called two big hockey online stores and were told by both places I’d be an 8 based off of my shoe size. I gave them my mondo point which is 265mm and they both said “oh no we don’t go off of that”. They were adamant about asking for my shoe size which I wear 10-10.5. Skates came and I had what felt like almost an inch of toe space. Went to a local hockey shop and was told by the lady I should be a size 8. Tried on size 7.5 still had toe room. Size 7 was the perfect fit, toes just barely brushing the toe cap, snug fit everywhere else. It sucks that people who sell these for a living are steering people the wrong way. If I didn’t know better I would’ve been in skates way too big.
As someone that worked in retail, fitting people for skates is tough. Our store had some solid staff that would fit properly, but people would see the numbers on the box and instantly think "no way that fits". So you had to battle that thought that is already in their head.
Then, most people think toes or sides touching means it is too small, so we knew people were in skates too big and we could see them shimmy their foot forward to make it so their toes would touch more and instantly be "need bigger". I'd point out how I could fit an entire pen behind their heel and they still wouldn't do it.
Not to mention the whole "I need a big shoe and skate size to be a man!" Thing that we constantly had to fight 🤦♂️.
I kind of get why retail people just throw a bigger size on people, even if it is the wrong fit.
I was happy to fit in the intermediate-sized previous year model skates…it was a bargain!
@HockeyReviews, Thanks for the very informative video! A few questions: How long can you keep skates in the oven (True retail)? At what temperature should they be baked? Do you keep the oven on the whole time the skates are inside? I normally wear a 10.5 tennis shoe and a 10 dress shoe. I just got some true hzrdus 7x size 8 and my toes are pretty scrunched against the front of the toebox. It would be painful to wear them for more than a minute or two. I am afraid that they may be too small. However, I also already had a pair of true catalyst 7 size 8.5 converted to roller blades. I baked the catalysts (twice) and wrapped them and they felt pretty good but my toe never brushed the end of the toe cap, even before baking. Now that I have skated in them a few times, they don't feel quite as snug and I have a larger gap between my toes and the front of the boot. I can easily push my toe forward and put about a finger and a half behind my ankle. So, I decided to go down a half size with the hzrdus for ice skates. The new hzrdus skates feel extremely tight compared to the catalyst at a half a size smaller. The reason I baked the catalysts twice is because the reccomended heat settings from true did not seem to make them pliable at all the first time I baked them. I ended up baking them again for 11 minutes instead of the suggested 6 minutes and it seemed to do a bit better. However, I have also seen videos where skate shops will take super stiff skates out of the oven and be able to pull them around like taffy while they are heated. I'm thinking that it should be somewhere inbetween. There are some hot spots on the hzrdus skates that I'd like to smooth out in the baking process but especially I need more space in the toe area (length wise). Thank you for your time!
So... this is totally not a suggestion but I have always baked my True skates like this...
You heat up the over first, so run it for about 2 minutes to make sure it is warm. Then you put your skates in and I did my True skates at about 9 minutes.
When they come out, you do one at a time, leaving the other in the warm oven and you use the saran wrap method for getting them wrapped on your foot.
True skates usually open up length wise and width wise when you bake them, and they usually feel WAY too small before you bake them.
I never got to try the Hzrdus pairs though, so I can't REALLY comment on those as I used the TF and Cat ones.
Good luck!
Thanks for the info! Do you bake at 180 degrees? Is there a point where you can leave them in for too long? Like I said, I left my catalysts in for 11 mins and that seemed to be much better than the suggested 6 mins. Thanks again!
I just used skate ovens at a store, so I am unsure what their temperature is sorry!
I haven't played competitively in years so the skates I have are early 2000s CCM Super Tacks 652 size 9. I wear an 11.5 shoe and can manage to get my foot in with some effort. I never baked them. I wonder if 20 years later, I could try to bake these old skates? Any thoughts?
No point in baking them at this point. Baking helps mold the interior foams to your foot, at this point the foams would be molded to you.
Great suggestion on the downsizing, I wish I had known that years ago, but I did have a follow-up question regarding how the heel or heel lock should feel on a pair of new skates.
I tried on a pair of tapered tacks, and it applied pressure to the top of my heel. Is that normal or a sign of the misfit. I did try all the suggested tips you mentioned, and it appeared to pass.
I simply have never had a good heel lock before and don't know what it should feel like.
I don't know if I have ever felt pressure on the top of my heel before. So not sure what that is. Where abouts in the heel do you feel that?
Good heel lock can be tested by tying up the skates, and simply trying to raise just your heel out of them. If you can get someone to hold down the top edges near the ankle than that works ever better. You should feel the heel slipping or rising when you try that
@HockeyReviews I talked to one of the fitters at the local shop and he thinks my heel is moving up into the achilles channel at the back of the skate (until it narrows enough to stop it, causing the pressure). He had me use the Bauer 3d scanner and it has my heel at the max narrowness on the chart.
I'm not sure if you have any suggestions beyond going custom. Thanks for the assistance either way.
For really small heels we have clamped skate heels in the past. Heat the skate up and use a clamp to compress the heel.
Other option is looking for Stable 26 socks that help lock the heel in place but having removable pads on the ankles of the socks. But it seems like full custom would be your best bet if you can't get a heel lock in retail
Funny thing with me is I was looking for new skates and went on the Bauer foot scanner and it said I needed a size 9.5 EE supreme skate. But im wearing a 9.5 D Vapor 2X right now, the sales guy helping me could not believe that my Vapor’s fit me and im like idk man I just put them on and they fit lol
This was an excellent vid! Eye opening for sure.. I might be in the wrong size myself. Although I don’t have much pain with my Bauer 2S Pro’s.. I could have to much space in the toe box though 🧐 Thanks for this! 10 shoe size, wearing 8.5 in my skates 😱
Yeah, your skates are too big... sorry!
So I just got new skates a few weeks ago and skated on them a few times but I keep getting this like painful cramp kinda feeling on the sides of my feet. Could this be because they need to be broken in, or are they to small. Also when I tie them at the ankle they feel kinda lose ive never felt loseness in the ankle like that. They are Bauer Hyperlites if that helps anything.
Generally if the skates are painful to just wear, they are too small. But I can't confirm that without seeing the fit in person.
Hi Matt. Great content as always. Two questions:
1. At 23:11 , are you saying your big toe is supposed to barely touch the toe cap while sitting down? Most of the hockey shops I've been to suggest the big toe should barely touch the toe cap when you stand up and the skate not laced up.
2. Is brannock device still good for accurate skate sizing?
Thanks in advance.
Ideally your toe should be touching and not just brushing when you are sitting down and laced up. But not a lot of people like the Pro-Fit so going relaxed is a bit better for that.
You should be able to brush your toes on the ends while sitting down and laced up, and when you stand with your knees straight your toes will get closer to the end of the skate more.
Not sure why anyone would tell you to mention the toes and not having the skate tied...
Brannocks are pretty bad, they are a starting point but I have known of a few good shops that moved the stickers on them to make it closer to a proper fit.
Hey, late to the party. Had a hyperlite specific question. Do you find they fit longer than most? I had old vapors (7ee), sized down to a 6.5 fit 3 and they still feel too “roomy”. My toes brush the endcap but heel doesn’t feel locked in place. Should I size down to 6? Feels kinda crazy as I’ve never worn a skate that small
@@rockybrowder5302 I sized my self for Hyperlites when they originally came out as I wanted to see if they'd fit me and I wanted to test their flex profile.
I found an 8 fit the same length wise as an old 8.5 in Vapor and Supreme. So I had to size down half a size to get a similar fit to previous ones.
So happy I did a True custom 2 piece 4 years ago
Im 10 in Vans sneakers and a 7EE in Bauer supremes. Could probably wear a 7D… but wide is comfier for my pinky toe without having to punch out. 🎉
Hi , I got question about in my country there’s no shop selling ice skates here so I have to buy them online, can i just follow my foot length by measuring with paper and choose the size that suitable for me
Unfortunately I don't have experience in this and can't make a recommendation off of it. I don't think there has ever been a real "foot length compared to skate size" chart before. I know shoe companies have them everywhere, but skate companies not so much.
Hey thanks for the video. How crunched are your toes in the catalyst? I have narrowed my search down to a catalyst but am contemplating between a size 8.5 and 8. My toes are touching and somewhat crunched in the 8.5 and are fairly crunched and almost curling in the 8. I am curious if after molding and breaking them in will an 8.5 turn out to be a sloppy fit? Also I should mention I am using custom foot beds in these skates.
They are touching but not crunched. Can you bake the skates to get an idea of the fit before buying?
@@HockeyReviews Ill see if I can bake them before buying them, I am doubtful because it is pro hockey life. Do you know how the skates felt before molding and how they felt after molding?
When I worked at PHL we ALWAYS baked skates when helping with a fit, there were a few skates (Bauer Nexus) that required a bake because of how thick the heel padding was.
If they don't say "yeah, you can bake these" before buying them. Ask the store about the True 30 day money back guarantee that True has on their website (www.truetempersports.com/en-ca/hockey/). That means you can buy them and bake them and return them if they don't fit right.
@@HockeyReviews Thanks for your help and making this video explaining how skate fitting actually works! I ended up with True Hzrdus in an 8R, my foot is 28cm (so 28cm foot into a 26.8cm skate) and the skate fits decently well, though I am considering a 7.5W. Also PHL did not allow me to bake the skate before buying and no one there was aware of the 30 day skate fit guarantee.
For any one reading this, as for fitting at a big box store, try on all the skates you can, and once you find one that works, start down sizing one size at a time until the skate becomes tight, baking and playing will make the skate fit. My feet are very messed up from skiing, haglunds deformity (bauer bump), very long big toe, high arch, etc, if I can find a skate that works most people with normal feet will find something! Also if you can get some custom insoles made if your feet are wierd.
Edit: I ended up taking advantage of the 30day fit guarantee and going down a size to a 7.5. I realized two things, first I was not getting very good heel hold, and two the skates seemed very large for a size 8. How True size their skates is they make one boot for the size (size 8 and 8.5 are the same boot) then to make the smaller size smaller they add a piece of foam to the toe box that shortens the boot by half a centimeter. However if you are like me and have long but narrow feet, you will be floating the smaller size, but you toes will be crushed. Eventually the boot will fit like a size 8.5, so I recommend everyone trying true skates to try going down to the half size, since this the size where there will be no foam shortening the toe box!
Also for anyone taking advantage of the 30 day money back program at PHL, good luck. No one at the store had any clue what I was talking about, they had to search it up online, and then once they found out about this they did not uphold the warranty fully citing that you can only exchange the skates for a smaller size, not get your money back, also the new skates are no longer covered under warranty (of defects) according to PHL.
I have bauer entry level skates XLS model, size 10 -28,5cm is big and size 9 / 27,7cm is small for me.. I need something between 9,5 but there is no such... I have 10 and it is Ok.
How do you like those custom ASV-Pros? Review coming soon?
How do you recommend sizing super feet?
Been on the fence with them for a couple years. Just using stock insoles. But i have been wanting to try out super feet.
You have to get a pair and stand on them. You have to make sure your entire heel (including the fat pads) is inside the heel cup and not sitting on the edges. Then you trim them to fit into the skate.
Starting point is 1 size BIGGER than they recommend for the equivalent skate size. I wear an E which is recommended for a 9-10 skate size but obviously... I am in an 8-8.5
@@HockeyReviews nice advice, appreciate it. Thats been why i havent tried yet. im a 7EE Bauer. So maybe whatever superfeet recommends for an 8? Sounds good 👌.
Honestly... just have to try them haha. I think that equates to a D, but it really just depends on how big your heel is.
Yo I’ve never been able to skate when I’ve gone before like 3 times, I’m size 11 was always getting 11s or 10.5 tried 8.5 tonight and was finally able to speed tf up.
i also have EE sized feet and the only skates that did not hurt in the toe box area were (current generation) vapors believe it or not. There's not as much boot depth (top of laces to heel pocket) as i would like but the trade off for a more comfortable forefoot is 1000% worth it
Same as you. My Bauer EE were the only skate I could even get my foot in. CCM were so tight it was painful just to try them on.
This makes me feel like I got fit properly. I'm a 12 in sneakers, I was about to try on 10.5 skates and the guy at the shop measured my foot. I ended up a 9.5 EE in Bauer Vapors. They feel snug on the sides, but not painful and my toes are right at the end, but I can wiggle my toes a little. My feet are weird too. I don't have traditionally wide feet, but my toes are wide. When I get basketball shoes I often have to stretch them with a shoe stretcher or I'll get crazy blisters on my big toe and pinky toe. Haven't skated yet, but I think I got a good fit. Also they baked them for me too.
Damn! I went to a pro hockey store on saturday to browse and see if they had the size fitting machine, which they did. The guy who i delt with asked if i knew my size and if i had skates. I told him yes and that my size was a 9 ee. He also asked what size i normally wear.. told him a 10.5 or 11 because i have weird feet as well. My left foot is wider but my right foot is longer. I told him i went to store back then and they'd recommend supremes but i also said i have a vapor which feels better to me because the supremes gives me pain around my arch area. He said it sounds like i'm in the right skates but i just need some proper insoles. He took my size using the machine which he said looking at the results that i was a size 9.5 in a regular fit. That didn't sound quite right to me but i went with his advice and purchased a 9.5 ccm insole. I was curious of these new results and ended up buying a older model bauer vapor x4.0 in a 9.5 d... they're supposed to arrive in a few days but it sounds like i've wasted my money according to the video. Smh. I believe ccm jetspeed and bauer vapor are my fit in those brands because simply just looking into the boot of a supreme (forget about nexus) or something else like reebok, the ankle area are wide but i have narrow ankles especially at the back. Seems i may need to start over and give these skates away. My current comfortable skates that i'm using now is a bauer vapor x2.0 in 9ee. I also have a reebok 7k pump in 9d but those feel a bit narrower than my supremes in a 9d. Yea, i was just buying skates like sneakers. 🤭 even have a vapor x1.0 in 9d. That guy might had recommended me the incorrect size and width.
thank you for all of the information, do you have any tips for younger skaters? like U6/U8
Not my area of knowledge sorry!
@@HockeyReviews sorry maybe I wasn't clear, not playing tips but skate fitting tips for younger players. Should we approach it the same? even though their foot can grow out of a skate in one season. Or I have heard fit them to new skates with a thick sock and play with that until it gets tight and then go to a medium sock, thin sock, no sock to maximize fit and lifespan. Is that good advice? Thoughts?
How much space should there be in the area above the ankle? Like the lower leg. Should there be whiggle room from left to right?
It honestly depends on the skate and the rest of your foot fit.
Ideally you have as little space in there as possible. True skates usually wrap that area very well, while my CCM for example don't wrap as much and the tongue takes up some of that space.
If you have a very wide foot and smaller legs, that can lead to a bigger gap as well. But as long as your foot itself is locked in place I don't see huge issues with space around the lower leg. You shouldn't be able to move your foot really at all though.
Hey, so we have to bake our skate? I’d just purchased code 9 tour skate. I got major blisters. My question is we have to bake it before use?
Baking skates helps a lot for break in and to get the best fit. But I haven't ever touched a Tour skate so I don't have any experience with them.
@@HockeyReviews ok thank you very much. I’ll do more research on it.
I have a pair of CCM Tacks Vector Premier in wide 10, but the forefoot almost feels like it’s too tight. Do you know if the forefoot on any of the catalyst line, (I’m leaning the most towards the cat 7’s) are wider in the forefoot? I’m just trying to find a skate that doesn’t make my toes numb and feet hurt.
Also, just did the pen test for my instep height and the pen just brushes over my instep. Very very slight contact.
TF line would have a bigger forefoot than the Catalyst line does. Catalyst isn't a wide fitting skate.
@@HockeyReviews okay cool, how is the instep on the tf? As I said in my last comment, the pen test with wide tacks resulted in (however minor) contact with my instep poppin out over the eyelets.
For me the instep on the TF wasn't deep enough, but I never fit for instep on Tacks either. If you have minor contact with the pen test and haven't noticed lace bite issues you might be fine. True is coming out with a replacement line for the TF though that I would suggest waiting for.
What were the things socks brand and model? Just got new skates and I’m looking for three thinnest socks possible
Those are Tuff n' Lite Thins, but check out CutShieldHockey as they are thin as well and I believe better quality.
Can you drop a link to the foam you're talking about? I just bought a pair of Machs and I'm pretty upset. I had 7.5s and they hurt too bad to even break in. 8s are too big. I'm slopping around on the ice in them and am getting frustrated.
They are called Powerfoot, I don't think that will help with length issues though. Here they are on Pure Hockey bit.ly/3qHNag4 (obligatory affiliate link disclaimer).
You could try Superfeet as well to try and lock your foot better.
Going down a holder size is always awkward for some when getting a proper size. Have you compared blade sizes across brands? I'm pretty sure 263mm on CCM is bigger than Bauer or True 263mm.
I haven't gone into blade sizes
I got sized by one of the machines that measures your foot and recommends what size to get, it told me 9/9.5 im an 11.5/12 in shoes, should i go lower?
That sounds pretty close to bang on. I would try things on and follow what I say in this video to figure out if the fit is right.
I'm thinking of buying a size 4.5 CCM AS1 skate, but I'm afraid it will run small. I'm short and I wear size 7US running shoes, but I also wear dress shoes in size 5.5 and 6.0. My foot is approximately 24 cm. Your producer's skates, which are size 4, are for an 23.5 cm foot (at least that's what the label says). Could you measure her foot so we can have a reference as to the size of the skates? Thanks in advance.
My feet measure 24.9 and 25.1 cm. I'm in a size 5.5 bauer gsx pro fit 1 (super narrow heel). 5.5 should be somewhere between 24 and 24.5 cm. That's a performance/pro fit for me. Hope this helps
My problem is my left foot is a whole shoe/skate size larger than my right foot... any time I am getting my skates fitted and they are measuring my feet they always comment on how they have only ever seen a half-size difference but never a full-size difference like in my case. So I always either have to decide between going with a size that kills my left toes and is the perfect size on the right foot, or a perfect fit on the left side foot but my right foot is swimming a little. I went with the better fit on the left and the looser fit on the right because the left toe hurts way too much if I go down from an 8.5 to an 8.0 in the True TF7 skates. For my next pair of skates, is there something I can do to remedy this situation other than buying two different skate sizes? I feel like my right foot tends to have a bit too much negative space thanks to this dilemma.
You can get to go with Superfeet and see if that helps. But it sounds like you should try and get customs!
@@HockeyReviews I actually have a Superfeet in my left skate to bring my toes a little back, and then the normal footbed in the right skate so I can fill the boot a little, at least that was my thinking. I honestly should just save up and take the plunge into customs, eh. Thanks for the advice @HockeyReviews!
I have a problem when i skate that i have alot of pain on the side of foot and it gets swollen by the end of the practice. Are there any tips or should I go one size higher
however, they still have not been bakes and nearly brand new
Probably have to go wider or try on thinner socks. Rarely would I ever suggest going up a size to fix a width issue. You should also get them baked before that.
is there a way to find the depth? there aren't many skates where i am and i usually get lace bite. i can only get skates online and yes my foot is at the very back
Previously it was Nexus for people with depth issues. Now Tacks and Supreme are your best bet unfortunately.
thanks i'll look into them @@HockeyReviews
Can you please share how long your feet are in centimeter? Is you right and left foot equally long? Mine are for instance 28.6 cm (right) and 28.8 cm (left). I did try a size 9 ccm ASV pro today and my right foot felt fine but the left skate felt to short. In my case would you go with the skate size 9 or 9.5? In the 9.5 my big and middle toes are brushing the end when I stand with straight knees. Everything else felt perfect with both sizes, just need help on what to pick lengthwise. Anyone, feel free to answer this question.
Ps: I wear between 10.5 and 11.5 in sneakers and with this size I can not touch the end of the shoe at all with my toes, I just like it this way.
Thank you!
I always would tell people to get in as small of skate as possible, and if you can manage it, fit for the smaller foot.
You can use Superfeet to try to lock your small foot in place, but it should also help with pulling the big foot toes back by not allowing your foot to "collapse" when you stand up.
I don't like giving suggestions on fit, since everyone is different and prefers different things. But I would try the pen test behind the heel to see if you have too much room with them and try to ensure you can't get a pen behind the heel there.
You find Superfeet give you more length to work with in those Trues?
They help keep my foot from collapsing, so in turn pull my toes back a bit. So it has that affect for me.
Had 6.0 bauers for 5+ years (toes barely brushing the cap) competed on a national level, got ankle broken, then inlined with a 7.0 size Bauer for 4 months and then....couldn't even stop on my old ice skates....till today. For months I pushed really hard, did exercises, developed ankle strength, but still feel unstable on the 6.0. I even fall forwards and backwards...which is horrible. Almost to the point it stopped me from playing hockey...Any advice - should I get them profiled or a bigger skate?
Probably need a profile, inline wheels end up being a massive radius compared to normal skates.
@@HockeyReviews much appreciated 👍😁
Good info I am a bit more curious on the room to grow fit. Seems like you didn’t cover how many pencils should fit there, my kids skates are absolutely too big though 🤦♂️ dad fail.
I was never comfortable with fitting people for "room to grow" as I don't have kids and didn't have enough experiences with them to know how much space to give.
Hockey shop employee here. I would say it depends on the skate. Cheap recreational skate/skater, size to size and a half up. Mid tier skates, half size. Anything high end, EXACT FIT. At the end of the day, parents want value for their kids and don’t want to have to buy skates every year. Also, room-to-grow fit is incorrect, it does not fit. Try to keep as many people out of it as possible. Also, as this was a great video, NEVER put a real hockey player over 13 years old in the room to grow fit. They are playing real hockey and need the exact fit.
TL;DR. Don’t do room to grow. Always do relaxed fit
I’m only a couple of minutes in, but I want to comment that I use the yellow Superfeet as a figure skater with custom Harlick boots. Love them.
What size do you recommend for a size 8.5 shoes in men’s sizes
I never recommend sizes, you just have to try stuff on unfortunately and hopefully can follow this to help a bunch.
This video seems like an exact re-telling of my struggles over the last 3 years to find skates that fit me and my wide hobbit feet
Nice tip for the top of the foot, to avoid lace bits.
I have the same feet it's driving me crazy I'm trying get into hockey and finding skates that fit properly has been a process
After watching I went to the store and got the same skates half size smaller, I hope it's good.
Hope they work for you!
@@HockeyReviews hey thanks, yes wow what a difference, it took me a few days to get used to it, but now I like it a lot more, and I'm even thinking of trying a half size smaller 😂 ( but I do think I have the correct size now)
I literally can't buy shorter skates. I wear 7 wides in CCM, my bauer goalie skates are 7.5EE. My issue is more the width in the forefoot. I do love the superfeet yellows.
Unfortunately sounds like custom is really the only option then :(
What thickness sock is typical with hockey skates?
Is it personal preference and depends on how you foot fits into the skate. Personally I try and go as thin as possible but my feet are a bit wider than most.
How long and what temp do you bake skates?
Usually the companies have instructions in the box, generally recommend following those.
i had to get custum skate. i went with tru for player i need to get some goalie skates now have not found a pair that dont kill my feet yet
True goalie hurt your feet?
@@HockeyReviews yes all goalie skates hurt my feet so do player skates i had to buy custum try skates few years ago .and people donated some goalie gear to me and i cant fidn goalie skates that fit proper they are not wide enough i really dont have money i had to jsut sell pretty much everything i own and alot of other stuff going on so i went to pure hockey nothing fit and i ordered two pair offline they did not fit im using some tacks at the moment and i dont tie them at all but the last loop
You deserve way more subscribers!
A goalie telling us what to fit… just joking :) Super helpful - the best video to understand the fitting. Thanks!!!
😂 goalies are the worst for skate fittings... Like 90% of them are in skates too big but won't listen. It's a losing battle.
The premise here seems to be if you can try everything you'll figure out what works best for your feet... most of us live in a strictly retail environment where we have to make the best guess based on initial fit before baking... If I went 3 sizes down from my shoe size I'd probably give up hockey...
I made this video for a lot of people who can't visit a store and try on a bunch of skates. There are a few stores that have fantastic return policies so you can figure out what skate fits you best.
@@HockeyReviews Really?.. many years and several pairs of skates... retail stores always tell me that once they bake 'em to my feet they're mine for good...
My problem is that my right foot is bigger than my left so I add foam to the toe area on my left skate.
Holy crap!! So I checked….my skates are gigantic!! I went to Pure Hockey this past weekend and they scanned my feet and let me try on some new skates. I couldn’t even believe it. I had bought size 4 skates from Play It Again to initially start playing hockey. I didn’t want to invest because, I’m older and wasn’t sure if I would commit the time or if I was just too OLD lol. Well, I got hooked, but once I was into it a bit more I felt that it was annoying to have my foot slip around constantly and my toes just wouldn’t relax! It finally dawned on me to investigate more. Really I thought I’d find a video on how to tweak your skates by stuffing them haha or there might be some kind of magical contraption that you could buy. Instead, I found your video and well, I went down an entire size to a 3 and can happily shop junior! The difference is amazing!! Now I will actually be able to get a proper push off. Many thanks!!!
"I need a 110 flex stick" guy is the same guy who wears his shoe size in skates. It's a macho thing. I wear a 9 shoe and a 6.5 fit 3 in CCM
this came out right after i bought pair a 0.5 size up
I’m from Germany and when I’m talking to people here they’re always telling “why are you wearing those tiny skates? They’re too small.”. No, they’re just properly fitted 😅
My shoe size is 6.5 and right now I’m in 3.5 EE skates. Tiny but so comfortable 😅
I skate with a guy that could actually be a decent player, but is skates are so sloppy on his foot that his ankle flop around and he has no control. I wear a 8.5 shoe, 5.5 Bauer custom skate.
I have size 12 shoes and I am in size 8.5 EE skates that fit perfectly
Good way to find good hockey shops. If it is a hockey crazed area like say Detroit or Minnesota, talk to veteran hockey parents or former professional players (if you can) and ask them where to go. Most of the time the best shops are small. For example, pure hockey has often been not knowledgeable in my past visits. The best way to test if they are just someone who knows a script or a real “fit expert” is to ask unique questions. If they just try to put you in the most expensive bauer skate because of the scanner, chances are they don’t know shit
As a Canadian that lives in a hockey town with our vary own OHL team, I can say your absolutely right about smaller sporting good stores... our towns top proshop is smaller then your average Tim Hortons.
Word of mouth is huge for such shops and the locals will absolutely know if theres any kind of "proshop" in town. If you talk to any of our towns OHL players or hockey parents, even a local player at an ODR rink about where to go locally for the best service/fitting, im sure they'd all recommend the same shop or two.
and its funny to think, ive see a few big retail sports stores open up and shutdown shop in my town over the years... but theres a couple small sports stores that seem to
And if you end up getting fitted at a small proshop but intend to go ahead and buy your skates online, at least make an effort to support the small sports store in other ways, by buying some tape, pucks or other small affordable stuff, even better if you actually buy a stick, skates or other equipment there and be sure to ask about skate sharpening and be sure to bring your skates there for sharpenings... not only will the staff be far better trained and skilled at sharpening then the big box store employee... the revenue from things like consistent skate sharpening through the season can go a long way to helping a small shop out.
If you see a brannock device near the skate fitting area or the salesman pulls one out (and actually knows how to use it) id say thats a pretty good sign.
Ive never been 3D foot scanned but from what I hear about them I aint missing out, it seems a good old brannock device will give a far more accurate and useful measuring of the foot.
Also Id say its a good sign if they are trying to fit you into something smaller then the brands "recommended specs"
In my experience a big box store employee is much more likely to simply recommend the standard retail sizing that brands use, whereas a good proshop staffer will know you can go upto a full size lower in some cases and know key tricks of going smaller but wider to best optimize comfort.
A good proshop employee is going to understand and know the different fit profiles of the various skate models... they're gonna have a much better idea of whether you need a vapor or supreme, jetspeed or tacks etc
I just can’t understand how some of ya’ll can fit 3 sizes down. I understand shoe sizes range from brand to brand, I myself can be a 12 to 13.5, but tour foot can only fit a given length.
Are the insole lengths not what the manufacturer specifies? For example when Bauer says size 12 is 11.89”, is that not actually so or is that the length before you bake and sink the heel deeper? How much room can you expect to get after baking & forming? Perhaps the specified lengths are for a really comfortable fit & there is actually more space if going for a tighter (pro) fit?
The specified lengths are for people who put on skates and would feel the sides and toes and instantly say they don't fit.
If their sizing was so correct, you'd think they'd match a shoe size 1-1 to a skate size.
@@HockeyReviews So back to the Bauer size 12 at 11.89”, by how much would you estimate a larger foot would still fit? 12.10”? Even longer foot?
@@YaH_Gives_WisdomAll I am going to say, is watch this video, learn how a skate SHOULD fit you. Then put on a skate and hit that criteria. If you don't want to believe or listen that people are fitting in 3 sizes down that is your choice.
I wear a size 11 shoe and am currently wearing size 7.5 fit 3 bauer 3 s pros. My feet are hella jammed and I feel like I’m falling forward. Y’all think they too small
Yeah, most likely small! Pretty sure I responded to you somewhere else right?
@@HockeyReviewsHello there! Great video, I am a beginner and I just bought a pair of CCM Tacks in a 43 EUR = 8, I use a 42 in shoes but I take cm as a reference. Anyway, I put them on and I can touch with my fingers all the front hard plastic...I thought they will come with a padding, soft material or something similar, this hard plastic feels uncomfortable and even painful so I have not started to skate with them. Now after watching your video I guess that I should kinda get used to it or should I buy a toe gel cap?😅
What I needed to hear when buying skates:
“It’s supposed to feel like it doesn’t fit out of the box. Baking and bending your knees while skating will make a lot more room.”
I bought my first pair of adult skates as I began to play hockey a couple years ago.
My shoe size is an 8.5 and I bought a 6.5 skate and played 2 years. I’ve sized down to a 5.
What’s everyone’s favourite / best store in the GTA for skates?
Just Hockey has been fantastic when I was there even before I started working with them.
Any particular staff member at Just Hockey you would recommend?
I know Sean, Dana are really good. Plus another older guy but I can't remember his name.
@@HockeyReviews I like dealing with Dave or Earl @justhockey
IMO theres no such thing as a skate “that doesn’t even require a break in!” My machs killed my feet the first couple skates.. now they pop on my feet like a glove and i forget im wearing them on the ice. A brand new skate is always going to have some soreness along with it.. especially when like you said there is minimal negative space in the boot. Baking at least once is crucial as well.
Im a 10.5US in shoes and had no idea about the skate size difference... till about 3 skates later. Had the Bauer scanner tell me the real size (8 EE) and I have never had a set of skates feel so good.
Glad you found something that works for you!
Good video
Thanks for watching!
Hello, where can I join the discord please and thank you!
discord.com/invite/yqWMThf
I'm so confused by Bauer fit system. I had hyperlite 9 fit 1. Too long. Tried 8.5 fit 2 and length was good needed depth. Then try 8.5 fit 3 and it's long again... even had a size 9 footbed when I pulled it out. waiting to try 8 fit 3 via mail now cuz no LHS has any. Have store ppl arguing with me that fit 3 isn't longer. Like measure it then dude. It's for sure a half size longer
played hockey for 15 + years without issues, suddenly, every pair of skates i try on gives me extreme pain in the back of my heel on both feet. might have to use bunga pads from now on, but i can’t find a pair of skates that don’t kill me
Okay, but does anyone not feel great when taking their skates off after a game or practice? Skates are so tight I always love that tongue going forward and sliding my foot out.
Was size 13 size shoe boots size 10
I got custom AS-V pros and I find it interesting that the pencil test across the eyelets fail. Barely fails when using the stock insoles, but the stock insoles don't feel as good as superfeet, and with those superfeet the pencil test fails. Kind of unfortunate.
Pencil test is a general thing, but it isn't the be all and end all. Especially for custom skates.
I fail the pencil test on a bunch of my True skates, but don't really have issues for them with lace bite. So as long as it isn't causing problems it shouldn't matter.
But it is a good tool to show people what depth is and why it can be an issue.
19:00 What’s your Discord?
I don't have one. But there is a r/hockeyplayers one:
discord.gg/yqWMThf
Manufacturing is not good at time. Recently bought 2 pairs of same model same size Ribcor 76k skates both new. One fits perfect the other is too big and I have foot movment and have to tie down my laces too much. So whatever you do don't buy blind, sometimes the maker will not build them the same.
You feet are exactly the same size? It is extremely common for people to have feet 1/2 size to a full size different from each other.
@@HockeyReviews Both feet fit Bauer M4 5.5 fit 2 perfect. I think CCM just made one if my 76k skates a bit bigger than the advertised size cause the 1st pair was beyond perfect fit.
I’m a men’s 9 shoe in a 5.5 skate
CCM 10size D
do not know way funny am size shoe 11 go down one be in size 10 boat what am hem do not know that is work boat I wear is size 10 running shoe is 11 or 12 sometimes 13 all shoe boat are different do not know way Am R have bauer nexus n77 ice hockey skates