I live in the Deep South of the United States, and we have plenty of Hockey Fans and Athletes down here thanks to the opportunities for us to watch, learn, and participate because of the popularity of the Southern NHL teams and the SPHL (Southern Professional Hockey League) creating different places to play Hockey recreationally... However, the rarity of Hockey Stores makes this sport somewhat frustrating for us. We can't even go to General Sports Stores because they do not carry Hockey equipment/items to sell despite the many opportunities we have to play, that being Ice Hockey or even Roller Hockey for that matter. Now I'm not saying this is the worst-case scenario, but I hope this puts in perspective for you how we struggle to keep Hockey alive down here sometimes.
@@TheRedWingHawk hopefully with the expansion of e-commerce y’all can get what you need. RU-vid can show you how we’ve been baking out skates for years
This is great info. My son (12 years old, playing since he was 4) tried a lot of different skates and has his preference. His current skates he's been in for 3 weeks. He needed no break in time with them and he seems more effortless with his skating. This video has helped me understand his preferences. His current skates: Graf PK4900: size 6 Cobra 3000 stock steel Radius: Q-XS Pitch: -0 Hallow: 90/1
I'm a figure skater who just got a job at a skate shop. I've got the figure side down, and I've been really relying on your videos to study up for the hockey side of things! Thanks~
Really like this channel. Wanting to try Hockey as a 36 year old and learning a lot. Found a place here in my city in the states that has all the resources. Really looking forward to trying this sport out!!
You only touched on this briefly at the end, but profiling my blades recently was HUGE for me. Your videos are always so informative! I think a video just dedicated to blade profiles would be awesome.
I'm 57 next month. I play hockey from 7 years old...I play I live...last week I got new vepors 3x pro..is a best skate I ever had.. worth every penny..
Just upgraded from my 20 year old Easton zAirs... this vid is so on point. I'm a 6'1" 225 lb defenseman and I wanted to fall in love with the Vapor 2X Pros but in 2 sessions, I couldn't stop thinking about the skates the whole time and the feel was wildly different. I noticed the benefits of the skate when I would breakout a puck or back check, but also that I was struggling to do the things that I did normally in my old ones... Maybe not so much struggle, but it seemed like I needed to pay more attention to it than normal? It's hard to explian. Regardless, I moved to the Ultra Sonics and they felt just like the old Easton's did and it didn't take long to acclimate. A friend of mine once said "A good new pair of skates should feel about 80-85% like a good old pair of skates" and that helped me realize the Vapor line just wasn't for me.
I had a pair of the Easton zAirs and they were my favorite pair of skates ever. Would you say the Supreme line is more comparable to the zAirs than they Vapors?
Your not wrong about your old skates. I'm also new to buying skates after 20 years and can't believe the crap these manufactures are making. It’s like they are racing to the make ski boots for hockey; plastic garbage they sell as stiffness. There is no breaking skates in anymore -you can’t break plastic in, you can only adjust the foam inside to fit your ankle. You don’t see figure skating heading towards plastic land; no because they figured (pun intended) out how to make good skates a long time ago, just like hockey skate manufactures did. It’s all about making the skate as inexpensive as possible but still charge hundreds of dollars. The only hockey skates I’ve seen that are reasonably built are $1300.
For people with short toes I would recommend only going 1 size down and when they have a really wide foot too, maybe even only go a half size down. If you imagine that you would measure the average toe length for your foot you maybe would get a different result buying online when you do the length check like shown in the video. As always great vid Chris!
I would say that toe length mostly affects the amount of change in total length your foot undergoes while skating. For instance, I have long toes, so they tend to curl a little more when gripping the footbed, thus shortening the total length. The same happens with my cycling shoes. So I would guess shorter toes would mean a more consistent foot length when comparing in store feel to on ice feel. This also assumes your arch is properly supported. With my new CCM Jetspeeds, I immediately put in some insoles with high arch support, heat molded with the new insoles in the skate. Jetspeeds 10.5 tapered, reg shoes are 13. Buying skates (or cycling shoes) online is a nightmare if you do not know your size in the specific brand. Be prepared to return if you buy online.
I'd def say more than that. I have 11.5 wide feet and wear 8.5 wide skates. Actually I wear rbl 50k now and rock 8.5 regular. If I put.onnanytbing over 9 they are total gunboats lol. Even for growing feet 2 sizes down I'd say
As I’ve said before your reviews and advice is so much more comprehensive than anything I’ve seen on the internet. Yes, I can go to a pro shop and get personalized service. I live in a hockey country. That being said the last pair of skates I purchased were a 7.5 EE. That’s changed. I’m not. Sure that at my age I will need another pair of skates but if I were to your explanation would be my first point of reference. Even if my next point of reference is my pro shop.
I have a thrifted pair of entry level skates that I ADORE and feel that I am a strong skater in but finally upgraded to a new, mid-range skate and am struggling to translate the skills. This video was really helpful and makes me feel better that I’m not as coordinated in this stiffer pair
Brilliant video. Just started skating with the kids and ended up loving it myself so looking to get my own skates so I don’t have to hire those plastic welly boot ones with chipped blades. Thanks a lot. 👍🏻
Good video, your five points and order are spot on in my opinion. What you did not mention is that feet don’t vary by volume alone. Mine are wide at the front, narrow at the heel with a very small ankle wrap. Consequently Bauer skates don’t fit me at all, not even customs. Yes I had Bauer customs, they are not fit for purpose. For years I blamed my mediocre edge control on my lack of ability despite several years of lessons from skating coaches. I doubt CCM fit me either. Inlines do fit me because they have a flexible shell and a ratchet mechanism to tighten them. Stock True ice skates do fit, and my edgework has improved to a high level thanks to these skates. Basically they give me the support that I need to control my skates properly. I don’t agree that only elite or heavy players need stiff skates, they massively improve edge feel and make skating much easier. I suspect many players have skates that are not suitable for them and hinder their skating.
I'm located in Canada Pacific Northwest, I've skates 30+ years , in CCM, Bauer, and currently, use the Top tier, the True Brand custom made skates, my latest pair. The True Skates are 1100 Cad, and are custom- based on 3d scan of your foot. My former CCM Uplus + 8years ago- heat moldable , had to be punched in the arch to accommodate a calcium growth caused by pressure on inside of the foot- the navicular bone in the arch area "Bauer bump". I decided to use True, and addressed the fit issue for difficulty in find a proper fit. I would say it is the Tesla of skates, that don't have the marketing budget to provide the "Reviewer a pair to use.. that Bauer, and CCM have. FYI Pavel Barber uses True skates, for those with difficulty in finding comfortable fitted skates, not mentioning True as an alternative to CCM or Bauer is an oversight....True also offers two more affordable versions for those that can fit "off the self"....
Why do you not recomend True? Or the custom price of True compared to the price of the top line of bauer and CCM? I'm a bauer guy since I started. Been playing for thirty years. But I might take a plung of the True customer for a same price I would get for the top line bauer or CCM that are not custom. Thoughts?
I am laughing at myself throughout this entire video..! Having been away from junior hockey for (dear lord) 24 years, and even beer league for about 10, I can say the information/tech upgrades in that time are INTIMIDATING. Now my kiddo wants to play, and I was like a fish out of water! The most recent pair of skates I bought are One9 (and got a kick out of telling the shop kid I played jr-A In Bauer supreme 5000’s 😂) and they were lighter and stiffer that I’ve ever felt. I would start with BUDGET. It’s pretty degrading to tell someone they’d be best in an $1,100 skate when they can only spend $500. To me, the value of the boot is there either way (if they know, they know), but the new fit systems are really remarkable! Great, informative lecture!
Hi! I used to play loads when younger and now I want to skate and play... I am super confused about all the choices etc. Nice channel that clarifies the whole thing.
My first pair of skates are "Canadian" brand mega cheap from a second hand store. Terrible foot pain with those. Once things calm a bit, I'll be investing into a proper pair - this is perfect timing, thanks!
I really appreciate these skate videos. I now realize I should be using the Supremes. I'm 200 lbs and and play defense. I have always used the vapors and the cheaper ones. Gonna pay the extra money for the stiffer boot that will stop the lace bite I get too. Gotta make a change. Anyways great videos. New subscriber!
Thank you for the amazingly informative video! I have a question about distance from the ice type of skate. I was told by a friend that CCMs tend to be closer to the ice/ground than Bauers. Is this true? Furthermore, which skate brand/model would give you the closest clearance (which I am looking for) to the ice/ground? Many thanks!
@@justcallmexbhsx1068 yeah man i work at pure hockey and the amount of people that wanna take my head off because there Bauer customs aren’t coming in is insane. A buddy of mine waited for 5 months for his ultra sonics
Skates now a days are so trash. Hyperlites don’t even come with blades and my new ft4 pros I’ve had for a year are already falling apart. God skates used to actually last back then wtf is happening to hockey!?
Thanks for mentioning how important weight is when considering stiffness/price of the skate. That's definitely often overlooked. I wish you didn't make the new Bauer/CCM fit systems seem like a good thing, because honestly it kinda sucks. We went from having 6 different unique options for foot shape, down to 3. For the benefit of what, being able to wear red instead of blue if you have wide feet? Idk seems mostly like a marketing decision that negatively affected consumers. If you look at Bauer's size chart, it says that if you used to be a supreme EE, nexus D, or Nexus EE, that should correlate to fit3. However that's a ridiculous claim because fit3 is less volume than even the supreme EE was, and doesn't even come close to the volume of the nexus skates. At least True's EE in their retail skates is still wider to fill that gap.
I totally understand your point but the new fit system accommodates a bigger portion of players than the previous system (90%+ of global players). In addition to this, both Bauer and CCM offer custom at a retail level. This is there to fill the gap between retail, and custom requirements. For example, pair of Hyperlites is £711. Custom Hyperlites, £899.. hands down better than what was offered before.
@@HockeyTutorialOfficial Thanks for the response. I would have to say I'd agree with everything you said, but with one small point of contention. The customs that are available now for average players are fantastic, and have been a God send for me. However as you mentioned in the video, for some people top end spec is not ideal. Also let's also remember the vast majority of players don't really want to drop $1000-1500 on customs. It would be fantastic if both brands offered the same custom experience, with cheaper materials. Considering the custom up charge on the top end spec is about $200 more, it would be nice if they offered a midrange skate in the ~$350 range like the 3S/9380 for $550-600 custom built. If either one of these brands filled that gap I'd be happy with the state of skates. But unfortunately right now for a lot of people that aren't in the majority, their only options are to spend over 1k USD or suffer with ill-fitting skates
@@HockeyTutorialOfficial first, love your videos!Unfortunately, my first-hand experience is that Bauer 'custom' is grossly insufficient. My feet aren't that odd -- just EE wide, but thin. Even 'customized,' my $1200 ultrasonics are a pretty miserable experience.
While I liked the fact that you could get a quicker Vapor or a more powerful Supreme no matter what size your foot is, I agree that the Nexus fit is still different. I wound up buying my Nexus 9000's because, like was said, I'm a big guy AND experienced. At 280lbs, I broke my first pair of skates in 3 years. Literally broke the foot bed out. If I have to get new skates any time in the future, I'll probably go with the custom fit.
wow things have changed! now I'm thinking I'm going to need a top of the line skate. 6'6" 230 lbs have a lot of experience but haven't played in a bit. I'm hoping some of my old gear will work for me but ill have to get to my parents house to try it all on again
I always feel too flat-footed with most skates. What are the best choices for a forward angled, aggressive skate? Like a 15 or 20 degree forward lean? Or would this be more of a blade profile issue??
I bought the vapor 3x fit 2 and it was so tight and narrow. I got the same in fit 3 and still was narrowly hurting at the point to be more off on ice than on. I bought a supreme fir 2 regular M1 very cheap and was a lot better and a relief. sometimes the cheapest are the best. unfortunately after using the vapor can't be returned. a lot of money wasted and I ended with a cheap par and more comfortable for my flat feet.
I manage 2 pro shops, one in a low-middle income area and the other in a wealthy area. I treat both shops the same and try to get people the best skates for them specifically. People often tell me "so and so down the street said I needed $800 skates" and I'm always like absolutely not. In my opinion if everyone simply bought the most expensive skate they can afford they'd be throwing money away and possibly holding themselves back. Everyone is different and needs a different skate, the highschool team I work with 99% of the time should not be using CCM Tacks AS3 Pro's even if you can afford it. Some of the pro team players I work with I don't even recommend them. I feel like the CCM Tacks AS line was like the default shops recommended when that skate is not good for most people. Maybe it's just my area, but I swear the CCM Tacks Pro skates were the one everyone knew by name and pushed.
where is that loooong promised Detailed skate comparison video based on on-ice review vs just comparing marketing brurbs?! it's been several months in the making, time to pump it out! ;)
Great info! loved the vid! Just out of curiosity, what was the big differences between the hyperlites and ultrasonics that made you prefer the Ultrasonic skates? Thanks!
How is someone supposed to know which skate fits their skating style, where I'm from you can't try before you buy. You get a pair fit and hope for the best unfortunately
Not sure if the UK has them because they are based in Canada, but their stock skates come from Korea.. True Temper. 230+ NHL skaters this year, and all but 7 goalies.
Regarding College Level Player. The skate category breakdown was terrific. How can you feel and determine the your best performance skate between manufactures. You mention fit and blade runners. Other than your local hockey sporting chain store, Is there a facility in the states that can truly determine the right manufacturer for fit, compare performance, blade runner feel, etc. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Another video related to blade profiling will also be helpful. I have the luxury of having a blade pro in my city. They really want you to feel perfect on the ice. Experiment and keep going back until you’re happy
It's very hard finding a larger size and volume skate right now. Size 11 fit 3, I haven't been able to find one in a store since I began looking, approx 3 months.
Hey, I recently was on the ice after around 20yrs not skating. I used my Nike skates and felt I need new ones. I am more of a recreational skater but would say I can skate ( crossovers, dancing, hockeystops) I went back n forth n my go to skate would be the Bauer supreme M1 after watching the videos I was wondering if this shoe might be to stiff. Otherwise I think my abilities are good enough for it. Or should I rather go with the vapor x 250 instead? Would appreciate some. Feedback. TIA
I've been playing hockey for 30 years now and I wish this kind of information was available when I first started playing. I bought skates based on what I saw the pros wearing, not what was best for my skill level, playing style, and my physical build. Thanks for this video.
Love your channel but this is a little off question. I was playing hockey last night I caught a rut in the ice full speed went sirborn head smacked on the ice.the helmet cracked saved my life wound up with a mild concussion. What would you recommend helmet wise 150 and under
I have played hockey for most of my life (about 45 years). I have always understood the importance of wearing a protective helmet. Often times, when I was younger, the popular helmet that most of my teammates wanted to wear was not my choice as it did not fit my head properly or downright hurt my head. Many of my teammates wanted to wear the CCM helmet in the late 1970s and 1980s. I opted for a Cooper helmet in the 1970s and then the Northland Makita in the early 1980s. In the mid-1980s, I went back to a Cooper wearing the XJ7. Those helmets fit my head the best and also offered the best protection! I never had a concussion or experienced a head injury. I eventually ended up purchasing a CCM M-HT3, because of improvements, it became the best option but to me it was still sub-par. My helmet before the current helmet was the ITECH Fusion HC100. It was a drastic improvement but no longer an option. My current helmet is the CCM Fitlite 3D S L. This has been a very nice helmet! It took a little getting used to but it fits my head well. It's adjustable, comfortable, durable, helps prevent concussions and injury. I think that most people will say it is a nice looking helmet. I also wear a half-shield (purchased separately). You should be able to find it for under $150 each. Of course, do your own research but I think it is a good option! My helmet certification expires the end of August 2022 so I will be looking for the same helmet or the next best option.
My next hockey helmet will probably be either the Bauer Re-Akt 150 or the CCM FitLite FL500. Both retail for around $210 each. The Bauer helmet is higher rated but is will come down to fit and comfort for me.
@@toddmazzitelli3159 I currently have had a bauerI forget which model but it was super comfortable and did its job. There's a Pure Hockey near me but they're virtually out of stock with everything and even local rinks i play at they're out of stock with everything
What do you think would match the bauer x40s back in the day? I tried buying new skates and just cant match that comfort I have in my x40 skates that are like 12 years old now.
I think you forgot the 4th category for players who get top-end skates: hockey shop employee who like having nice things! 🤣 I fall into that category big time, but I'm very happy with my Hyperlites!
Fantastic breakdown as always, especially helpful was the breakdown on blades and the bladetech recommendation, those are great steel. My fav part of the video was "the looks - let's not pretend like that's not a real thing" lols
I really need new skates this is my first year back playing hockey after a 3 year break (I’m now 13) so I had to get new skates by skates are to lose and I have to tie them so tight where my feet hurt I think I need new ones
Okay, but if I'm looking for my first pair so I can learn to skate how do I pick which line to get from? Just by looks? ( I love the Jetspeeds with all the red, because it's my favorite color lol)
Hey could tge next video you make be about who makes the best equipement like example who makes the best shoulder pads, or who makes the best hockey pants who makes the best shin pads,etc..
i would do the measurements on your feet i did that to mine cause the skates i have hurt my feet so fucking bad i cant skate in them for more then 3 mins cause my feet feel like they are being crushed i have a vapor x 350s and i guess they are a narrow skate so after i measured my feet i need an EE which is for wider feet
I had to buy skates couple years ago .everything was so stiff. I found a skate Botas i like the forward flex and the fit . Hardly tighten. Any thoughts on the botas
i wish i saw this video before i bought my skates i wanted the tacks but they are to big im waiting for the tacks to get the fit later on this year and this is the second time im writing this first time i discarded it by accident
I cringe when I see the companies suggesting a skate size 1 to 1.5 sizes smaller than shoe size. I realize it's only an estimate, but I'm a shoe size 9, CCM skate 6.5. My son is a shoe size 8, CCM skate size 5.5. Otherwise really like the vids.
noted i just did the measurements on my feet im a 9.5 i guess even tho i can wear 8.5 with no problems right now i have bauer vapor x 350 that are 9.5 i bought like 2 yrs ago never used them a whole lot cause they were hurting my feet really bad i just started using them again thinking maybe they were just hurting my feet cause they were not broken in yet so after measuring my feet it seems i need a wider skate cause my feet are pretty wide. so i guess i need an EE size 7
question, the guide you linked says that when putting on the skates on a normal stance your toes should brush against the toe cap, i have a pair of supreme s35s, my right foot is 264mm which the guide says is a size 7.5 aswell, yet i never ever even felt the toe cap, granted the skates fit tightly, i got it punched cause i have bunions on both feet and now the only problem i have with them, is my right foot navicular which sticks out alot, and even though i got it punched in that area too i think i need to get it punched more, so im wondering did i get a bigger size than what i am actually, i tried a pair of size 6, i wanted to chop my feet off while wearing them
i know this is probably not common at all, but personally for some reason i just got new skates and they are 2 and a half sizes smaller than my everyday shoes and both shoes and the skates fit perfectly. I don’t know if anyone has had a similar situation, i don’t think any of my teammates have. I’be played hockey now for about 7+ years and am 15, and i’m not sure but i think it’s been a similar situation for that entire time.
With a new skate unless you really know hockey, play on the blade that comes with the skate because it’s a disposable. Then upgrade the steel. I prefer Step. Nice upgrade
I know this video is old but can u please help me, I’m trying to buy Bauer Supreme M4 Junior Ice Hockey Skates from hockey monkey but I don’t know the right size and My shoes size is 36 please help and what is the right size I have to get ?
Dude I love your accent ,I'm black female age 37 from USA and new to hockey , working with a floorball kit and want to gradually get the gear for ball hockey then inline hockey..I love y'all's site and coach Jeremy site and it great to see a brother leading the way with all the other hockey nationality represent bro.any tips on inline hockey skates or is it basically the same? I got some beginner rollerblade skates and I'm gonna work on learning to skate with them.
