Considering that your investment for a basic ice hockey skate will be $60 - $150 or up to $500 for a top-of-the-line competitive skate, it’s always best to do a little research before buying. You need not get the cheapest model nor the most expensive--you should choose just the right model for your own use and level of play.
Choosing ice hockey skates need not be a daunting task. Many companies make quality skates and all you have to do is keep in mind a few simple characteristics when choosing your equipment. The emergence of online retailers of ice hockey skates means that there is more competition and you can now find quality skates at lower prices. No matter where you buy your skates make sure you deal with people who are knowledgeable about ice hockey skates and can answer any questions you might have.
As with all other kinds of sports equipment, technology has made ice hockey skates even better with new kinds of materials and features. If you only play hockey a couple times a year you probably don’t need the features of someone who practices every day and competes on a team several days a week.
All ice hockey skates are a lot more comfortable than they used to be. Even the low-cost models have comfortable padding that molds to the foot, while the mid to top-of-the-line models have different types of micro-fibers and foams which not only mold to the foot cutting down on the breaking-in time, but dry out fast as well.
Today’s ice hockey skates are incredibly light especially as you get into the higher end models. Abrasion resistant quarters and lace-bite tongues are pretty common on all brands and models. As you move up to the professional models you will find high performance carbon composite outer soles and light, high-tech carbon fiber blades.
As you pick out your ice hockey skates, remember that the biggest mistake people make when buying skates is that they get sizes that are too large. In ice hockey skates bigger is not better. It’s better for them to feel short and tight when laced up than long and loose.
Also, ice hockey skates run larger than normal shoes or other sports footwear. Unless your feet are going to grow, always select a skate that is 1-½ sizes smaller than your running shoes or sneakers. So, if you normally wear a size 10, you need to buy a size 8-½ skate. Most skate models come in three different sizing systems: youth, junior, and senior. And as you go up through the various models, keep in mind that the more you pay to get a better model, the stiffer the skate is going to be. Beginners should stay away from stiff skates--for pros, most times the stiffer, the better.
A couple of really good skates for mid-level players in the medium price range are the CCM Vector V04 senior ice hockey skates and Nike Bauer Vapor XVI Sr. Hockey Skates.
CCM has what it calls its F-I-T System which means that the heat and pressure from your foot will mold the boot into a custom fit. That, combined with a special pro comfort foam around the ankles and an anatomical foot bed makes the CCM Vector V04 extremely comfy to wear. As with all CCM products they are extremely durable and abrasion resistant, with a Duratex professional lining that dries quickly. A low profile allows you to turn quickly and stop fast. Lightweight and with a very nice long-lasting steel blade, the CCM Vector V04 have the quality that’s built into every skate in the Vector line with a superb fit and high performance design. The CCM Vector skates are very popular with ice hockey players who like a more traditional skate.
The Nike Bauer Vapor XVI Sr. Ice Hockey Skates are also a mid-range skate with a sublimated tech nylon that’s a little stiffer than lower-priced models. They fit great with insta-form ankle pads and a lightweight, easy-drying, hydrophobic micro-fiber liner. A form-fit eva footbed and plenty of ankle support will allow you to have foot control, while this lightweight skate will give you plenty of power, and allow you to go faster and turn quicker. The Vapor XVI is a great skate for advanced beginners or intermediate players.
Friday, July 25, 2008
CCM Ice Hockey Equipment is made to Last
CCM ice hockey equipment has been around for more than a century and more kids have probably learned to skate on CCMs than on any other brand. The good thing about CCM is that they have never laid back and rested on their success. Even being bought by Reebok, who was consequently bought by Adidas, has done little to slow their technical prowess. It doesn’t matter what kind of CCM ice hockey equipment you purchase--skates, sticks, helmets, padding--it has always been well-made, quality gear.
CCM has stayed on the technological edge with their Vector line of ice hockey equipment. New materials, a whole new look, plus all of the reasons you buy a CCM product--comfort, durability, quality for the price--that’s what makes the Vector equipment so popular and highly recommended.
All of the Vector ice hockey skates come with what CCM calls their “F-I-T System.”
It wasn’t long ago that when you bought new skates, you went to a professional skate fitter and got your boots heat treated--molded to your foot for an exact fit. What CCM does is the same premise but they have created a boot that adapts to each person’s foot through a combination of heat from your foot in the boot and external pressure being applied from the boot itself. This makes every skate seem as if it was created exactly for the shape of your foot and gives you a virtually customized fit.
CCM ice hockey equipment, especially the higher end models of the Vector ice hockey skates, use a lightweight metal alloy mesh for the exterior of the uppers. This is a huge departure from the hard nylon normally used in boot construction. It’s seems odd but in this case metal actually makes for a softer boot. Plus, the outer soles are either Texalium Matrix composite or carbon composite, allowing excellent energy transfer and adding durability.
The Vector U+ Pro and the Vector 10, as well as some other models, have a material called Ultima Dry in the liner which is a hydrophobic, anti-microbial fabric. This means that it is anti-bacterial plus it wicks moisture away from your foot where it evaporates leaving your feet clean and dry no matter how long you are out there on the ice. Plus, pro-comfort foam around the ankles saves many weeks in breaking in the boot part of the skates. The bottom of the skates have an E-Blade holder with a replaceable runner, not a T-Blade which has a composite blade instead of a stainless steel one. Instead, this blade is stainless steel and optimized to allow it to be sharpened extra times before needing replacement.
CCM ice hockey equipment includes these Vector skates in many models that are numbered upwards from 01 up to 10 plus the U+Pro. That means the skates go from beginner to pro-level plus there are many models of the CCM Vector junior and youth skates.
CCM has also not been left behind in the composite hockey stick market. If you play a lot and want a quality stick to help you score, check out the Vector U+ ice hockey stick. It’s designed with 100% carbon fiber composite in the shaft and in the blade. It is lightweight--in fact, it is the lightest CCM stick ever, and it’s durable with a 360-degree full woven wrap. The CCM Vector U+ hockey stick is sure to help you get more shots in the goal. It has a 24” true taper and is just stiff enough to give you considerably more power on your shots. There’s nothing like light and durable carbon fiber construction to give you confidence and improve your performance.
CCM has stayed on the technological edge with their Vector line of ice hockey equipment. New materials, a whole new look, plus all of the reasons you buy a CCM product--comfort, durability, quality for the price--that’s what makes the Vector equipment so popular and highly recommended.
All of the Vector ice hockey skates come with what CCM calls their “F-I-T System.”
It wasn’t long ago that when you bought new skates, you went to a professional skate fitter and got your boots heat treated--molded to your foot for an exact fit. What CCM does is the same premise but they have created a boot that adapts to each person’s foot through a combination of heat from your foot in the boot and external pressure being applied from the boot itself. This makes every skate seem as if it was created exactly for the shape of your foot and gives you a virtually customized fit.
CCM ice hockey equipment, especially the higher end models of the Vector ice hockey skates, use a lightweight metal alloy mesh for the exterior of the uppers. This is a huge departure from the hard nylon normally used in boot construction. It’s seems odd but in this case metal actually makes for a softer boot. Plus, the outer soles are either Texalium Matrix composite or carbon composite, allowing excellent energy transfer and adding durability.
The Vector U+ Pro and the Vector 10, as well as some other models, have a material called Ultima Dry in the liner which is a hydrophobic, anti-microbial fabric. This means that it is anti-bacterial plus it wicks moisture away from your foot where it evaporates leaving your feet clean and dry no matter how long you are out there on the ice. Plus, pro-comfort foam around the ankles saves many weeks in breaking in the boot part of the skates. The bottom of the skates have an E-Blade holder with a replaceable runner, not a T-Blade which has a composite blade instead of a stainless steel one. Instead, this blade is stainless steel and optimized to allow it to be sharpened extra times before needing replacement.
CCM ice hockey equipment includes these Vector skates in many models that are numbered upwards from 01 up to 10 plus the U+Pro. That means the skates go from beginner to pro-level plus there are many models of the CCM Vector junior and youth skates.
CCM has also not been left behind in the composite hockey stick market. If you play a lot and want a quality stick to help you score, check out the Vector U+ ice hockey stick. It’s designed with 100% carbon fiber composite in the shaft and in the blade. It is lightweight--in fact, it is the lightest CCM stick ever, and it’s durable with a 360-degree full woven wrap. The CCM Vector U+ hockey stick is sure to help you get more shots in the goal. It has a 24” true taper and is just stiff enough to give you considerably more power on your shots. There’s nothing like light and durable carbon fiber construction to give you confidence and improve your performance.
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